What heavyweight title win is / was the most SHOCKING?

Well that was my first thought but that was not his question, he wanted us to pick from his choices I assume..

 

Tyson-Douglas in my eyes is clearly #1..

Its the most surprising thing that I had ever seen in sports period!!

And I have been watching all sports for over 25 years!!

 

In my years of watching boxing, from '76 or so, Spinks-Ali I and Douglas-Tyson.

I saw Foreman-Moorer coming a mile away and was not happy when it happened 'cause I knew Foreman would never defend against anyone worthwhile and would just **** the title away.

 

It happened! IT HAPPENED!!!

 

I don't know why Douglas-Tyson isn't the only answer.

 

For me it's Foreman KO Moorer. Most felt Moorer was going to win a lopsided decision. It was huge at the time due in large part to Foreman's age.



What about-

Douglas KO10 Tyson... Douglas was a 42-1 underdog. I wasn't suprised once the bell rang for the 10th... Douglas had almost stopped him in the 9th. Going into the fight noby thought Tyson would lose let alone be stopped.

Holyfield KO11 Tyson... Holyfield was a 25-1 underdog but the odds were about 6-1 just before the fight. At that time it was huge, Holyfield was looking less than great in those days and Tyson didn't have to go past the 3rd round vs. any of his last 4 opponents (WDQ1 McNeeley, KO3 Mathis, KO3 Bruno (for the WBC belt), and KO1 Seldon (for the WBA belt)).

 

I don't think Foreman over Moorer was a shocker as such - before that fight I was thinking if Foreman lands something huge on Moorer's at times weakish chin then anything could happen

and Holy-Tyson I was no shocker at all to me - before that I was only really leaning with Tyson by maybe 60% to 40% for Holy - so that was not huge to me

my dad always said to me that around the time of Foreman-Ali - everyone virtually to a man was saying Foreman in 2 or 3 rounds and Ali would literally get seriously hurt so I think that is one which must have been a shocker at the time

Douglas-Tyson takes it for me - i didn't see it live - didn't bother because I thought it was maybe the biggest mismatch Tyson had ever signed for - thought Tyson would starch him in about 60 seconds - when I heard it on the radio the next morning I literally thought I was still asleep and was having some wierd dream - when I went downstairs I said to my brother "I had this funny dream last night?" and he was going "no it's true - I told you so, Buster is the man!! Him and Tyrell are the greatest fighters ever!! haha"

 

Spinks over Ali.

Especially if you'd bothered to watch the pre-Ali bouts Leon had.

 

Initially I jumped to say Tyson-Douglas but all of those choices are pretty shocking to be honest.

For me its between

Foreman vs. Moorer: Epic. It was a fight in which Moorer was winning anyway and it has literally moved Foreman's standing up a few notches. It is one of his most significant achievements in his career. But it was just shocking that a man of his age had enough in him to win a HW title from Prime Michael Moorer who had just beaten Evander Holyfield. It didn't even seem plausible. The most we This one given how recent it is resonates the most.

At the same time:

Walcott Charles 3: Up until the third fight, Charles seemed to always get the better of Joe. He had beaten him soundly in two affairs and Joe's was simply getting older. In today's environment a third fight in all likelihood would never have been made. The man was 37 years old facing a guy who seems to have his number; I gotta say it was a shocker.

 

This

 

20 years of hindsight put it in a bit more context. Douglas' personal issues, meaning he had motivation and drive to go with his potential. And Tyson's seemingly 18 months of hellish self destruction really affecting his performance for the first time.

So people get a little blase, the same as Spinks/AliI; Liston/Ali (Clay)I; Braddock/Baer and Sullivan/Corbett.

That is perhaps furthered shown rightly by the mention of Moorer/Foreman, which maybe would of not happened so much at the turn of the century.