Boxing Experts Blog - Boxing

Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:56 pm EST

Upsets of the decade

You can follow Martin Rogers on Twitter at @mrogersyahoo.

Yahoo! Sports' decade in review takes to the ring for a series of boxing-related top-fives.

First up is upsets of the decade and if you even think about arguing that the decade doesn't really end until next year then we're going to send Corrie Sanders 'round to have some harsh words. Now you're scared.

5. Danny Williams beats Mike Tyson

Tyson already was well past his prime by the time he took on British journeyman Williams in Kentucky in July 2004. Even so, "Iron Mike" had dispatched Clifford Etienne inside a round in his previous contest and was expected to have little trouble in disposing of Williams in similarly quick time.

It was even suggested that a Tyson victory could put him back in the title picture following Lennox Lewis' retirement. However, Williams silenced that talk with a fierce flurry toward the end of the 4th, to which Tyson had no answer and was counted out.

4. Glen Johnson beats Roy Jones Jr.

Jones was still one of boxing's biggest stars when he took on Johnson in Memphis in September 2004, despite having being knocked out by Antonio Tarver four months earlier.

His bout with Johnson, who was 35 and had lost nine times, was supposed to get his career back on track but instead ended with him flat on his back once more. A huge right hand from Johnson put Jones out cold in the 9th, and Jones hasn't been the same since.

3. Corrie Sanders beats Wladimir Klitschko

The younger of the Klitschko brothers was unbeaten in five years and was defending his WBO heavyweight title for the sixth time when he faced South African southpaw Sanders in Hannover, Germany, in 2003.

Klitschko was an overwhelming favorite but got tagged by a big left hand in the first round and never recovered. Big Wlad went down twice in the opener before being saved by the bell, but the Sanders assault continued and he finished it off less than 30 seconds into Round 2.

2. Bernard Hopkins beats Felix Trinidad

Few gave Hopkins a chance against Puerto Rican superstar Trinidad, who was 40-0 going into the final of Don King's 2001 middleweight unification tournament. Hopkins taunted Trinidad mercilessly before the fight, and even placed a $100,000 wager on himself to emerge victorious.

Once the contest started, Hopkins swiftly assumed control, fighting brilliantly on the outside and never giving Trinidad a chance to settle. He was at least five points up on each scorecard going into the final round, but capped it off in style by knocking Trinidad out midway through the 12th.

1. Hasim Rahman beats Lennox Lewis 

Lewis was the dominant heavyweight on the planet when he took on unheralded Rahman in South Africa in 2001. Even though the Brit had spent some of his precious training time filming on the set of "Ocean's Eleven," it was expected that he would be too big and too strong for Rahman.

But Lewis looked jaded and sluggish in the ring and was never able to generate any serious momentum. Even so, the fight was still even until the fifth round, when Rahman sent Lewis crashing to the canvas with a monstrous right hand that turned the heavyweight division on its head.

Comparisons were immediately drawn between this fight and Mike Tyson's loss to Buster Douglas. It might not be as big an upset, but it's the biggest one of this decade.

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31 Comments

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  1. ANTHONY B
    1. Posted by ANTHONY B Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:24 pm EST

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    The Lewis loss was a big upset, but certainly, by that time Tyson lost to Williams, he was a non-event, and that shouldn't be considered an upset. Johnson victory was not nearly as surprising as Tarver's simply because Tarver upset him first. Before Sanders beat Klitschko, Wlad was upset by a 24-13 fighter called Ross Purrity. Bernard was favoured against Trinidad, not considered much of an upset either. What about Pac beating Barrera, that was an upset, or Kostya losing to Ricky?
  2. Enrique M
    2. Posted by Enrique M Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:01 pm EST

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    Once a boxer is at the end of any upset loss, moreoften its a wake up call to reevaluate one's position and consider a career end. When it is time to hang the gloves, just do it or suffer negative consequences!!!
  3. Lincoln
    3. Posted by Lincoln Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:34 pm EST

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    Yea, I agree Anthony, the Tyson fight wasn't that big of an upset, at least not compared to when he was KO'd by Buster. Based on this particular list, I would agree that the Lennox fight was the biggest upset. If we are going off of upsets for this decade, any of the recent Pacquiao fights could make their own case.
  4. Mangler
    4. Posted by Mangler Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:35 pm EST

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    How can anyone say that Hopkins win was a upset. Felix only had i fight as a middleweight before this one. Hopkins was the undisputed champ. The only way it would have been a upset is if Tito won. Mangler Out
  5. MR.MVP
    5. Posted by MR.MVP Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:02 pm EST

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    Bernard Hopkins beats Felix Trinidad isn't much of an upset Tito's success had been at welterweight not at Middleweight.. Lennox Lewis getting Ko’d by Hasim Rahman was totally unexpected!!! Glen Johnson beats Roy Jones Jr. that was a Vicious KO, it was just suppose to be a comeback fight after a loss to Tarver!!! The beginning of the end..
  6. Alvin Robertson
    6. Posted by Alvin Robertson Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:33 am EST

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    List sucks. Mayorga-Forrest I and Tarver-Jones II belong there.
    Maybe...Bojado-Leija, Williams-Quintana I, Baldomir-Judah.
  7. vinoy
    7. Posted by vinoy Fri Nov 27, 2009 4:01 pm EST

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    pacquiao tko delahoya
  8. Sly
    8. Posted by Sly Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:49 pm EST

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    Pacquiao-DLH (I agreed with vinoy)
    Glen Johnson-Roy Jones (I agreed with MR. MVP)
    Williams-Quintana 1st Fight ( I agreed with Alvin R.)
    Pacquiao-Barrera 1st Fight (I agreed with Anthony B)
    Mayweather-DLH (split decision)
  9. rhon
    9. Posted by rhon Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:18 am EST

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    upsets? How about Pacman over Ledwaba or his 1st fight against Barrera? If one is to measure upsets based on the betting odds, Pacman's win over DLH would be tops!
  10. demonloc5150
    10. Posted by demonloc5150 Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:30 am EST

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    some ppl have the NERVE to call the FIGHTER of the DECADE a PRETENDER!! shows how much they know. i guess that 40-0 25 ko 6 time champion in 5 weight classes record ACTUALLY means something!!
  11. MICLO915
    11. Posted by MICLO915 Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:12 pm EST

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    this list proves Brett Rogers is an idiot. Hopkins beating Trinidad does not constitute a real upset. if it was such a mismatch, why was it on PPV? Hopkins is a first ballot HOF'er. Mike Tyson losing to Danny Williams isnt much of an upset either considering McBride kicked his ass too.
  12. yetbaje
    12. Posted by yetbaje Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:14 pm EST

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    What about Pacquiao beating Barrera
  13. zyrusmeniano
    13. Posted by zyrusmeniano Sun Nov 29, 2009 10:31 pm EST

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    Pacquiao - Barrera 1st Fight
    The biggest upset of the Decade
    Pacquiao rose to stardom
  14. kidgavilan1
    14. Posted by kidgavilan1 Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:57 pm EST

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    Lewis vs Rahman was definitely the biggest upset of the decade (although I was rooting for the underdog at the time).
    Hopkins' win over Trinidad is not really an upset. I picked Hopkins to boxed his way against Trinidad. The only persons who would list this as an upset are those who knew little about boxing and just joined the "Tito" bandwagon at the time with Tito's impressive run (decisioning a washed up Whitaker, squeaking over Dela Hoya, blowing out uptart David Reid, beating 154 lbs. Fernando Vargas [ok, this was really impressive!], and blowing out William Joppy [another impressive outing but Joppy is not Hopkins]). Hopkins on the other hand is a versatile middleweight, with strong chin and above average power whom a prime Roy Jones had trouble boxing.
    Glen Johnson's KO over Roy Jones is an upset, but not as a big as that of Tarver's KO over Jones.
    Barrera's loss over Pacquiao does not seem to be that big right now as before considering the latter's meteoric rise in boxing. I think the following should be or at least near the list of upsets of the decade:
    Zab Judah's loss to Baldomir (ook, it's easy to dismiss Judah now)
    Donaire's knockout over Vic Darchinyan (ok, this happened at 112 lbs. and Darchinyan also lost to IBF Bantamweight champ Kingkong)
    Juan Diaz's loss against Nate Campbell (at the time, Diaz was the hottest thing at 135 lbs. and Campbell, despite being a wordclass veteran was perceived only as an "opponent")
    Tzsyu's loss over Hatton (Going into the fight, the Russian had just dusted Sharma Mitchelle and while Hatton would become a star himself, the Russian is already considered a Hall of Famer)
  15. John-Kick-O
    15. Posted by John-Kick-O Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:58 am EST

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    I dont believe what Martin Rogers wrote this dude spend so much time listening to Floyd Mayweather Sr. now his brain is as good as a dumb mule.......but i still read it coz it entertain's me......
  16. .
    16. Posted by . Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:31 am EST

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    Good points kidgailan1........Rahman vs Lewis was the biggest upset.......Hopkins vs Trinidad, not really an upset.....Tarvers win over RJJ was more of an upset than Johnson, though I can see why the writer would chose Johnson (many felt that maybe Tarver just had RJJ's number, while Johnson probably put the icing on the cake).
  17. gil
    17. Posted by gil Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:07 pm EST

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    yahoo sport people you are loosing and anoying the interest of the reader who love the sport of boxing and your yahoo sport column by just puting the ranking without analising the result for the interest of the readers as well as the fans of boxing. as you know this year the boxing has come back again to his pick that you said before even the non boxing fans got thier attention to wach boxing, i love boxing and i do love yahoo sport! so please, to the concern of this column please cheack this person to work for the interst of the reader not his interest... thanks, a concern citizen!
  18. Legal Eagle
    18. Posted by Legal Eagle Mon Nov 30, 2009 6:04 pm EST

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    Rahman Lewis might have been the biggest upset but Rahman was the luckiest man in the world when he landed that shot, sorta like Oliver McCall's win over Lewis. Lewis set the record straight in their rematch when Lewis picked Rahman apart.
  19. K NEL
    19. Posted by K NEL Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:53 am EST

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    Yea Rahman was a big time upset at the time. I agree Williams beating Tyson wasn't much of an upset. Johnson - Jones was definitely an upset. You can't call Tarver - Jones I a upset. You just had the feeling Tarver was going to pull that one out. Especially the classic line from Tarver before the opening bell "You got any excuses tonight Roy?" calassic...
  20. Big dillz stylo
    20. Posted by Big dillz stylo Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:04 pm EST

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    how is Hopkins over Trinidad an upset? Johnson over Roy wasn't really an upset either b/c Tarver already exposed Roy's chin and deminishing skills due to age. If Johnson beat Roy in his prime then I'd call it an upset. Tyson/Williamson shouldn't even be considered here b/c Tyson's star burned out in the previous decade when Buster laid him out.
  21. SHANNON
    21. Posted by SHANNON Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:18 am EST

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    Yahoo Sports doesn't know boxing? Uh-oh, that's not good.
  22. xerxex dan
    22. Posted by xerxex dan Wed Dec 02, 2009 8:28 am EST

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    yahoo really sucks!!! its really a shame to them, they really dont know boxing....please martin rogers KEVIN IOLE get another job...
    YAHOO SUCKS BIG TIME!!!!
  23. BjornO
    23. Posted by BjornO Wed Dec 02, 2009 10:34 am EST

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    I think Pacquiao Barrera 1 should at least be in the top five biggest upsets of the decade!
  24. Jorge Casillas
    24. Posted by Jorge Casillas Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:44 pm EST

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    Barrera vs Hamed was a big upset
  25. monde_aka.kasino
    25. Posted by monde_aka.kasino Thu Dec 03, 2009 2:04 am EST

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    this yahoo realy is brilliant %^%#$!!!
    no pacquiao fight in top5 - almost all his fights are upsets

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