hopkins6 By Wilmar Patino (Boxing’s Finest): From upsets to comebacks we will explore some of the greatest moments in Boxing that had us in disbelief. Some of the greatest moments in any sport occur when the unexpected happens, and boxing is no different. What makes boxing so amazing and different from other sports is that it is the only sport in which a participant can lose 99% of the match and in the blink of an eye end up in the winner’s bracket.

Here is a brief journey through some of boxing’s biggest moments when we all uttered the words… It happened! In no particular order here are some examples:

#1 Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson – Buster Douglas was 42-1 underdog, but on one night in Japan Buster Douglas fought like the favorite. Nearly winning every round on his way to dismantling “Iron” Mike. Buster Douglas got floored by a vicious uppercut by Tyson almost being counted out. Buster Douglas got back to his feet to rally on knocking Mike Tyson down and out for the first time in his young career. Becoming the new Heavy weight champion of the world. Surely one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

#2 Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo – In a fight that was about proving who is #1 in the division we were all in for a treat. The fight for the most part played out exactly how we expected when it came to the ebb and flow between these two warriors. It was a very even fight up until Castillo hit Corrales with a crushing left hook that dropped Corrales a bit awkwardly to the canvas. Corrales spit the mouth piece and got up at the count of 9. Only to get back up and knocked down again. Diego was looking extremely hurt at this point and took the mouthpiece out again costing him a point deduction and earning him some much needed time to regain some of his senses. At this point with more than half a round to go it was quite easy to assume Jose Luis Castillo was going to stop Diego Corrales. Then it happened… Diego Corrales starts putting some combinations together and Castillo keeps on swinging catching Corrales. Yet Corrales doesn’t stop throwing back and starts connecting very hard leaving Castillo’s body looking like a rag doll on his feet. Leading the ref to stop the fight in one of the most dramatic rounds and comebacks in recent memory.

#3 Meldrick Taylor vs Julio Cesar Chavez – In a fight that saw Meldrick Taylor winning most of the first 8 rounds one thought that he was on his way to a comfortable win. Then Julio Cesar Chavez rallied in the last 4 rounds. It seemed that Meldrick Taylor in the 12th round would still win the fight as long as he could hold on. Then with less than 20 seconds to go it happened… Julio Cesar Chavez drops Meldrick Taylor to the canvas. Taylor is wobbly in getting up and Richard Steele decided to bring a halt to the fight with 2 seconds left! Chavez gets the win in one of the most nail biting and memorable comebacks in the sport. Remaining undefeated while Meldrick Taylor is left with coming oh so close to giving him his first loss.

#4 Roy Jones Jr. vs Antonio Tarver 2 – This was the rematch to a competitive match that had Roy Jones Jr as the victor the first time around. This time at the introduction of the fight when the ref asks the fighters if they have any questions. Tarver replied with “Any excuses tonight Roy?” Then the fighters went to their respective corners and the bell rang. First round was close. The 2nd round had Roy Jones Jr. throwing a left hook at the same time as Tarver did. Tarver threw his shorter and crisper and then it happened… Down goes Roy Jones Jr. It was obvious he was seriously hurt from the moment he hit the canvas. He wasn’t able to make it up by the count without looking lost. Roy Jones took his first true loss being that his only loss at the time was a disqualification. Roy Jones was 48-1 coming into this fight. After the knockout loss he was never the same.

#5 Michael Moorer vs George Foreman – 45 year old George Foreman came to this fight with everything to win and nothing to lose. At the time history was on the line as George Foreman had the opportunity to become the oldest fighter to win a title in the history of boxing. Michael Moorer came on strong being ahead on the fight by the time we all got surprised in the 10th round. Moorer was standing right in front of Foreman, Foreman was looking tired but also looking to score some of his power and then it happened… Down goes Moorer and George Foreman becomes the oldest man to win a title. Later on Bernard Hopkins would become the oldest champion in boxing history.

Which leads me to touch upon the Sergey Kovalev vs. Bernard Hopkins fight. In a night where history would be made again I pose a question to my readers. What if it happens? What if Kovalev finds a way to Knockout the ageless Bernard Hopkins? Wouldn’t that moment be one for the books? What if Hopkins unifies the belts at the age of 50? With these possibilities on the line for the 8th of November there is no question we might see another moment in boxing where we say… It happened! Recently we had Marquez knocking out Manny Pacquiao. So there are many big moments in the sport of boxing in which we will all remember. What was YOUR favorite moment? Which fight had you off your seat? As you can see from my article we journeyed along big upsets and great comebacks. Tell us what you think about the upcoming fight in November. Let’s discuss and have a civilized conversation as adults and fans of this brutal and beautiful sport.

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