Obscure Near Upsets

Irish Kevin Finnegan Bought in as opponent for for Marvin Hagler, at Marvins Boston Gardens, shocked the crowd with his spirited effort, he as stopped afer the 8th on severe cuts, but they were level on the cards, but Kevin had won the two preceeding rounds and looked to be closing like a train, Could be without the cuts Kevin would have joined the Worm ? - Kevin was prone to cuts, and could be prone to going through the motions when fighting abroad, but when "Up" for a contest Kevin was world class, The Hagler camp nearly found a Bannana skin in Mr. Finnegan, - Despite the horrendous cuts from Marvins Slashing Fists, surprisingly only two month later Kevin was back to do it all again, and Again Kevin was stopped on cuts but his time was not competitve on the scorecards, They were going in different directions - Kevin, high class trailhorse - Marvin All time great status.

As an upcoming Lt Middle, Bad Bennie Briscoe Ran into Mexican Puncher Rafeal Guttireaz (?) Bennie was floored twice in the first round, and looked to be seconds from extinction, when he hit Rafeal Low, flooring Rafeal, an amazing first round, in the second Bad Bennie had obviously recovered the better, and battered Rafeal to stoppage defeat - a two round bombfest all but forgotten.

 

Kalambay vs Dell'Aquilla


Kalambay looking mentally affected by the Nunn loss, comes out stiff and frozen...gets put down a few times by the solid hitting-but otherwise nondescript-italian, in what initially looks like the end of his career.

However, he manages to ride things out, regains his poise and slowly dismantles the unbeaten prospect.Del'Aquila never did anything meaningful after this domestic showdown loss, yet somehow got a title shot against Toney.

 

SRR - Levine, not very obscure though

 

Troy Waters vs Terry Norris

 

Allen Green vs. Donnie McCrary.

Green was viewed, by and large, and the next big contender at 168 pounds, and took a fight with a smaller, overmatched former sparring partner on an ESPN card to get more visibly, show off his stuff, and further strengthen his position to sign a big fight.

The bout started out completely predictably. Green soundly outboxed McCrary, and almost saw him off with some really hurtful body shots.

Suddenly, when it looked like McCrary was literally seconds from being stopped, he lashed out against Green, caught him with a hail mary left hook, and completely short circuited the favorite's brain. Green didn't know his own name, and McCrary went absolutely ballistic with bar-room style haymakers, landing absolutely laughable looping power shots and literally battering Green to his knees.

It looked like one of the largest upset knockouts of the decade loomed.

But, inexplicably, Donnie didn't press his advantage. Green appeared shaken for several minutes, mauling and clinching and barely working, but the upstart journeyman just wouldn't respond.

Finally, in the sixth, Green, with his legs back under him, averted disaster by reasserting himself, and knocking McCrary out clean with a classic left hook to the jaw.

 

Barkley--Nunn comes to mind. Nobody was giving Iran any sort of chance whatsoever and this was at the peak of the Nunn career. It sure looked like a softie defense going in.

Cobb--Dokes #1. That was supposed to be all Dokes, and he was digging deep early against a guy he likely widely outclasses a few years earlier. Kind of like Young/Occasio or Occasio/Dokes 1, come to think of it.

Eubank--Schommer. Sure did not see this as a close bout either.

Foreman--Crawford Grimsley. All the matches to make and we got this. Spited effort and kind of like George underestimating Stewart.


Hagler--Geraldo. What a spoiler and Marvin was trying to get that Vito rematch. He should've fought a face first guy instead of this guy.

Snipes--Scott Frank. Snipes blew hot and cold alright, but who really thought much of Frank?