Real results you wouldn’t believe if they never happened and someone picked it in a fantasy matchup

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Saintpat, Nov 24, 2022.


Page 1 of 4
  1. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,272
    26,411
    Jun 26, 2009
    Long title, I know.

    But when we see people of ability in fantasy matchup, we often get ‘split decision for so-and-so’ (which means someone is literally picking one judge to go against two others, haha) or ‘close decision for so-and-so’ or maybe a late competitive KO with both guys on the canvas.

    Which is fine. No harm in projecting it anyway you want.

    But there have been real fights that have been early KOs for one guy or the other when top fighters have met in real life.Yet if they hadn’t ever fought and you or me predicted it would go that way, most people would scoff.

    I think you can see what I’m getting at. I’ll provide a few examples and see what others have to add:

    Iran Barkley KO 3 Thomas Hearns — the first fight, of course. Most people would probably pick Hearns (although in real life he lost to Iran twice), and if they didn’t they’d probably see it more as the Hit Man fading late and getting taken out.

    Mike McCallum KO 5 Don Curry and KO 2 Julian Jackson -- McCallum wasn't known as a knockout artist but his resume includes two very impressive stoppage wins over top-tier guys you wouldn't probably expect.

    Michael Nunn KO 1 Sumbu Kalumbay -- Sumbu was a terrific boxer who wasn't an easy out for anyone ... except Nunn, who did it with one shot. If they had never fought and someone said this would be the result they'd be laughed off the board.

    Just goes to show you how unpredictable this sport can be. So what are some other real results that wouldn't pass the reality test if the guys had never fought and you proposed them as a fantasy matchup result?
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2022
    Saintpat, Nov 24, 2022
    Saintpat, Nov 24, 2022
    #1
    Unnecessarily Hostile, Paul McB, Journeyman92 and 7 others like this.
  2. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

    19,036
    20,482
    Jul 30, 2014
    Tyson Douglas being an obvious one.

    I've always thought Ali Shavers fell in this category as well. Seeing as Ali was aging and showing signs of Parkinson's and Shavers' reputation, most would've been seriously concerned for Ali's safety at this point, at the prospect of such a fight.

    Williams-Machen, which is a much lesser-known example. Considering their respective reputations, most probably assumed Machen would've wiped the floor with him as he did other punchers.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Nov 24, 2022
    swagdelfadeel, Nov 24, 2022
    #2
    MaccaveliMacc, Spreadeagle, Smoochie and 5 others like this.
  3. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,272
    26,411
    Jun 26, 2009
    I imagine most people would probably pick Sonny Liston to stop Floyd Patterson, but not in one round (especially not twice) … and many would project how much trouble Floyd would give Sonny before Liston’s power hit home.
     
    Saintpat, Nov 24, 2022
    Saintpat, Nov 24, 2022
    #3
    TipNom, swagdelfadeel, Spreadeagle and 2 others like this.
  4. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,290
    11,658
    Mar 19, 2012
    First one on everyone's has got to be Hector Camacho knocking out Ray Leonard.

    If someone came around in 1983 and told me Camacho is gonna put Ray out I would have thought it a bad joke.
     
    ETM, Nov 25, 2022
    ETM, Nov 25, 2022
    #4
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Flash24, cross_trainer and 4 others like this.
  5. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich A lot of people have pools Full Member

    2,038
    2,994
    Aug 15, 2020
    Man I clicked on the thread just to say Nunn vs Kalumbay. How could you do this to me?

    No mas would be my second pick.
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Nov 25, 2022
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Nov 25, 2022
    #5
    Fergy and Saintpat like this.
  6. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich A lot of people have pools Full Member

    2,038
    2,994
    Aug 15, 2020
    Ebihara vs Kingpetch 1 and 2. Ebihara knocking out Pone Kingpetch in one round? Doubt many could predict that. Kingpetch winning the rematch? Sure the scorecards were awful but its still the official result.
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Nov 25, 2022
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Nov 25, 2022
    #6
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Rope-a-Dope, Fergy and 1 other person like this.
  7. Sivaro

    Sivaro Member banned Full Member

    153
    185
    Oct 16, 2022
    Duran beating Barkley.

    After the KO Hearns gave Duran, and that Barkley just Ko'd Hearns . Almost no one would have seen the aging Duran making he final bell against him.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2022
    Sivaro, Nov 25, 2022
    Sivaro, Nov 25, 2022
    #7
    Smokin Bert, The Undefeated Lachbuster, Flash24 and 10 others like this.
  8. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,364
    31,880
    Jan 14, 2022
    Tommy Morrison with his weak chin outpointing Foreman
    Junior Jones beating Barrera twice and stopping him once well i count it as a stoppage
    Vince Phillips stopping Tszyu
    Sugar Ray Robinson losing to Turpin
    Edwin Rosario destroying Bramble in 2 rounds
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Nov 25, 2022
    Dynamicpuncher, Nov 25, 2022
    #8
    Smokin Bert, The Undefeated Lachbuster, Paul McB and 8 others like this.
  9. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

    6,129
    13,369
    Aug 18, 2019
    Andy Ruiz Jr. (AKA the fat kid from Pixar's "UP") using his T-rex arms to batter Joshua into submission.
     
    Oddone, Nov 25, 2022
    Oddone, Nov 25, 2022
    #9
    Smokin Bert, The Undefeated Lachbuster, Journeyman92 and 7 others like this.
  10. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,973
    18,999
    Oct 4, 2016
    Duran Leonard II that was surreal
     
    Reinhardt, Nov 25, 2022
    Reinhardt, Nov 25, 2022
    #10
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, BrotherFred, Spreadeagle and 6 others like this.
  11. FastHands(beeb)

    FastHands(beeb) Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,496
    407
    Oct 28, 2010
    Honeyghan v Curry
     
    FastHands(beeb), Nov 25, 2022
    FastHands(beeb), Nov 25, 2022
    #11
    Decy, Smokin Bert, Flash24 and 4 others like this.
  12. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

    5,485
    6,989
    Aug 17, 2011
    I did pick Barkley to KO Hearns, called the round and the punch, too. Originally I was talking trash to my friend that was a huge Hearns fan but I talked myself into it and the fight played out how I came to believe that it would.
    To this day I cannot understand how Gomez beat Zarate.
     
    greynotsoold, Nov 25, 2022
    greynotsoold, Nov 25, 2022
    #12
    Reinhardt, cross_trainer, Smoochie and 1 other person like this.
  13. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,446
    35,950
    Jan 8, 2017
    Let's say Hearns V Duran never happened.
    Even tho the chances are, at some point Tommy ko s Duran, I don't think anyone would predict him to stop him THAT fast.
    Duran had proved he had a great chin, he was really only stopped twice I believe.
    Even against a killer like Hearns, I'm sure no one's picking Ko 2!
     
    Fergy, Nov 25, 2022
    Fergy, Nov 25, 2022
    #13
    Unnecessarily Hostile, mhudson, Flash24 and 1 other person like this.
  14. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,446
    35,950
    Jan 8, 2017
    Nunn v Kalambay!!! What the hell happened there???
     
    Fergy, Nov 25, 2022
    Fergy, Nov 25, 2022
    #14
    Saintpat likes this.
  15. CANNONBALL

    CANNONBALL Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,644
    758
    Mar 18, 2007
    Iran Barkley KO 10 Gerrie Coetzee
     
    CANNONBALL, Nov 25, 2022
    CANNONBALL, Nov 25, 2022
    #15
Page 1 of 4