Sacrificial lambs that won in boxing

Kirkland Laing
Roger Stafford

 

Not so much a sacrificial lamb, more like a sacrificial tough bit of mutton, but James Bonecrusher Smith was not expected to halt Frank Bruno’s inevitable march to a World title challenge.
But halt it he did with a 10th round KO victory.

 

Quarry beating Shavers
Brown beating Norris
Benn beating McCllelan
Garcia beating Khan
Matrinez beating Galahad

 

Buster Drayton - Mark Kaylor

 

Indeed.

"And he's had a workout" Commentator Harry Carpenter talking about Frank just before Smith's pay off punches landed in the tenth round.

 

Yeah you sum it up well. Nobody thought Spinks would win. He was a skinny LHW a few months earlier knocking out Jim MacDonald. Macky Shilstone did a great job turning him into a HW. And Eddie Futch devised a game plan for Spinks to move and throw quick flurries, then tie up Holmes. It was boring but effective. And Spinks was smart and disciplined enough to stick with the plan. He fought totally differently than he had at LHW save maybe the Qawi fight. He usually had the power advantage at 175.

 

Yes I remember Harry’s words Stevie. And I remember my shock as I watched in open mouthed amazement as I saw Frank…heading for a hard fought victory…throw it all away.

 

When I first started following boxing locally back in Indianapolis, we had it happen twice. The papers and local promoter were pushing a big matchup between local stars Gary Guiden and Slamming' Sammy Nesmith who were both on the verge of national ranking and recognition. Nesmith got whacked and laid out by trialhorse Raul Aguirre and Guiden got zapped the same year by journeyman Don Meloncon. Set both of their careers back years and really was an eye opener for me.

You guys did a good job covering the big ones. Betting there are a bunch of local main eventers who got derailed by some traveling nobody who was expected to do a vertical job.

 

Steve Robinson, i enjoyed watching him after he became champion unexpectedly, then he ran into Naseem Hamed.

 

Damn it, Roughhouse, I remember Guiden and Nesmith so well. I really thought Guiden was going places. Saw him fight in Don Elbaum's World TV championship tourney and saw him stop a fighter in 7 rounds (can't recall his name) but Guiden's beautiful short punches made me a believer. See where that got me.

 

Holyfield vs Tyson, 1 ...

 

Thanks Saad, you know the era back to front. Just one thing, Futch opted to stay at home and stay neutral as he was tied to both men. From memory Holmes was a bit irked as he'd been with him longer.

 

Anyone they threw at Miguel cotto on the day of Puerto Rican parade in NYC. Would've upset the mood/ vibe. He was SUPPOSED to win.

Paulie Malignaggi said he felt like in NYC "that he was in hell and was fighting the devil himself and that everybody was out for blood wanting to watch him lose. " He thankfully came out of it ok. But not really. He had a crushed orbital bone and a broken jaw, no joke. Those left jabs of Miguel were smashing his injured face oh! And he also said he had bruises on his thighs and shins, this dubbing Miguel: kneeguel. It was a dirty fight. But Paulie was a gun. No power plus all heart.

 

Lloyd Honeyghan v Curry

 

Teddy Sanders 8-15-4 was brought in as a sacrificial lamb for the hugely touted up and coming Alex "The Bronx Bomber" Ramos. In his previous 7 fights Teddy had 2 draws and 7 losses.

Ramos was an amateur star who won 4 New York Golden Glove titles. He was built like the proverbial brick outhouse and Ring at one stage said he might be the hardest puncher in the division with either hand.

Anyway he was stopped by Teddy amid stories of him sneaking out his window each night visiting his girlfriend. I believe a rematch was set but Teddy simply didn't show up. Alex lost every time he stepped up tho he probably should have beat Murray Sutherland but for being penalised 3 rounds fr low blows and it was still razor close. Ramos did drop the durable Scot.

So he ended up on the streets post boxing and was saved by a lady and together they started the "Retired Boxers foundation".

But this is a perfect example of the sacrificial lamb growing teeth.