In Chronological Order: 1) James J Corbett def John L Sullivan 2) Jack Dempsey def Jess Willard 3) Gene Tunney def Jack Dempsey I & II 4) James J Braddock def Max Baer 5) Max Schmeling def Joe Louis I 6) Inegemmar Johansson def Floyd Patterson I 7) Cassius Clay def Sonny Liston I 8) Muhammad Ali def George Foreman 9) Michael Spinks def Larry Holmes I & II 10) Buster Douglas def Mike Tyson 11) Michael Bentt def Tommy Morrison 12) Oliver Mccall def Lennox Lewis 13) Hasim Rahman def Lennox Lewis 14) Corrie Sanders def Wladimir Klitschko 15) Tyson Fury def Wladimir Klitschko 16) Andy Ruiz Jr def Anthony Joshua
Then Douglas is probably the first on this list. Then I'd argue for Braddock, Ali vs Foreman and Ruiz over Joshua. I think that Schmeling's win is the best among here, but mostly because I know the rest of the history. If you look at this from contemporary perspective, then former champion beating young prospect is not really that surprising.
1. Schmeling vs Louis 2. Douglas vs Tyson 3. Clay(Ali) vs Liston 4. Ali vs Foreman 5. Braddock vs Baer 6. Sanders vs Wlad 7. Ruiz vs Joshua 8. Rahman vs Lewis 9. Tunney vs Dempsey 10. Mccall vs Lewis 11. Spinks vs Holmes 12. Dempsey vs Willard 13. Fury vs Wlad 14. Johansson vs Floyd 15. Corbett vs Sullivan 16. Bentt vs Morrison 1. Max over Joe is monumental Louis wouldn’t lose again for something like 15 years. 2. Douglas Tyson another insane upset. Only place it second because Tyson’s private life was already going off the rails and he didn’t achieve what Louis did post loss 3. Ali defeating the invincible Liston fight was viewed as a mismatch 4. Ali again defeating a invincible viewed opponent past prime but Ali was a known commodity at this point 5. Braddock with a very pedestrian career steps out of mediocrity and beats man killer Baer 6. Sanders a South African with few notable names on his ledger destroys the “next big thing” in Wlad. Once Wlad righted himself, he would rule for over a decade 7. Ruiz with a doughboy body crushes the young Adonis champion 8. Unheralded Rahman destroys the best in the division in Lewis 9. Tunney a phenom at light heavy but not given much a chance against the great Dempsey - boxes circles around the rusty champ 10. McCall a career sparring partner of Tyson’s knocks out Lewis with one shot. Lewis was not viewed near the best in Division at this time 11. Spinks another great light heavy prevents Holmes from tying Marciano’s hW record. Holmes writing was on wall after Williams bout-he was ripe 12. Dempsey vs a flabby Willard not a monster upset although some feared for Dempsey health going in 13. Fury with physical advantages vs a ripe Wlad not a monster upset. Jennings and Pulev fights showed Wlad was slowing down 14. Johannsson crushes the number 1 contender in previous bout against a good but not great heavy - not a monster upset 15. Sullivan was alcoholic and washed up 16. Morrison wasn’t great and Was chinny
