Ten most shocking KOs in heavyweight boxing including Anthony Joshua’s loss to Ruiz Jr after Povetkin floored Whyte
DILLIAN WHYTE was shocked to the core by Alexander Povetkin’s knock-out blow at the weekend.
The Brit was the big favourite to win the heavyweight clash that would have set him up to face the winner of the Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder trilogy scrap.
But Russian veteran Povetkin didn’t read that script, and delivered a vicious fifth-round uppercut that sent Whyte to sleep.
Of course, it’s hardly the first time shocks have played out in heavyweight boxing.
Here, SunSport ranks the top 10 biggest shock KOs to ever happen in the land of the giants of the sport.
1. BUSTER DOUGLAS vs Mike Tyson, Feb 11 1990
The fight was billed as “Tyson Is Back” but it was Douglas who made the headlines.
The 42-1 shot delivered what most consider as the biggest ever shocks with a 10th round KO.
It ended Iron Mike‘s stunning 37-win record and ensure Douglas would go down in the history books.
But next time out Douglas was floored himself by a certain Evander Holyfield – who of course went on to feud with Tyson.
2. ANDY RUIZ JR vs Anthony Joshua I, June 1 2019
Billed as the out-of-shape Mexican, Ruiz Jr became unified heavyweight king with a demolition job on previously unbeaten Joshua.
Ruiz Jr was a late stand-in after Jarrell Miller failed a drugs test – but he took his opportunity in explosive style.
It was Joshua’s US debut – but he must have been left wishing it was all an American Dream.
He was clubbed to the temple in round three, floored and never recovered. Three more knockdowns followed before the fight was waved off in the seventh.
3. HASIM RAHMAN vs Lennox Lewis I, April 22, 2001
Lewis wasn’t too fussed about heading to Brakpan, South Africa to acclimatise for the fight despite it being 5,200ft above sea level.
Rahman trained over there for almost a month before his shot at the big time and the IBF, IBO and WBC heavyweight belts.
Using Las Vegas as his training base, Lewis was also balancing boxing with acting – he was working on his cameo appearance in the hit movie Ocean’s 11.
In the fifth round the 20/1 shot Rahman landed a huge right hand on Lewis that sent him crashing to the canvas, and then asking his corner “what happened” as the fight was waved off.
4. INGEMAR JOHANSSON vs Floyd Patterson I, June 26, 1959
Champ Patterson was expected to make a routine defence of his world title against colourful Swede Johansson.
But there was certaintly more to Johansson than partying in the nightspots of New York.
He dropped Patterson an incredible SEVEN TIMES before referee Ruby Goldstein waved it off.
Patetrson got the ultimate revenge in the rematch with a grotesque fifth-round KO, but Johansson had his couple of years as a hero
5. MUHAMMAD ALI vs George Foreman, Oct 30, 1974
He might be considered by many as “The Greatest”, but Muhammad Ali was not expected to beat George Foreman at the Rumble In The Jungle in Zaire – the 5/1 odds reflecting that.
Foreman had battered Joe Frazier in the lead-up – who of course beat Ali on points.
But using his new “rope-a-dope-tactics” that saw Foreman only land on gloves and body, Ali delievered a stunning eighth-round stoppage.
Foreman demanded a rematch, which he never got, and it seemed to affect the rest of his career.
6. OLIVER MCCALL vs Lennox Lewis, Sept 24, 1994
Lewis had already negotiated a fight against Riddick Bowe when he was told his next opponent would be little-known Oliver McCall.
The American had 24 wins and five defeats on his record, and wasn’t expected to cause any trouble for undefeated Lewis.
But the Brit had his knockers in the media and his wins in the lead up were more regulatory than spectacular.
And after just two rounds against McCall at Wembley Arena, those watching had their fuel for the fire, as the American KO’d Lewis – meaning the Bowe fight was canned in the process.
7. LAMON BREWSTER vs Wladimir Klitschko I, April 10, 2004
Klitschko had already suffered a shock defeat to Corrie Sanders a year earlier, but you’d be hard pressed to find many who thought Brewster could replicate that.
The American was mourning the death of his trainer Bill Slayton in the build-up, but that seemed to inspire him to to the greatest night of his career in Las Vegas.
He was well behind on the cards when he unloaded a flurry of punches that rocked Klitschko to the ropes in the fifth and finally to the canvas.
The Ukrainian made it to his feet as the bell went to end the round, but Chris Byrd had seen enough and waved it off.
8. JOE LOUIS vs Max Schmeling II, June 22, 1938
Schmeling handed Louis his first ever stoppage defeat in their first fight on June 19, 1936 with a 12th-round stoppage win.
The second clash had a dark undertone to it in that the Nazis started to use Schmeling for its own propaganda purposes.
But they were to be disappointed as the German was blitzed after just over two minutes of the fourth round after some crippling body shots from Louis.
Afterwards, Schmeling was hopsitalised for ten days during which it was discovered he had broken vertebra in his back.
9. TYSON FURY vs Deontay Wilder II, Feb 22, 2020
Althought Fury was the slight favourite for his rematch against Wilder, the way he battered the American from pillar to post means he can’t possible be left off this list.
Wilder was undefeated heading into the fight and described by many as the most fearsome puncher the sport has ever seen.
But what played out was a stunning boxing exhibition that surely puts the Gypsy King as one of the best ever.
Fury righted the wrongs of the first fight where many think he was cheated out of the WBC belt after a draw, and secured a seventh-round TKO when Wilder’s team threw in the towel.
Most read in Sport
10.MUHAMMAD ALI vs Sonny Liston, Feb 25, 1964
Ali’s second appearance in the list, he really was Liston’s nemesis.
Just like against Foreman, Ali was the outsider, 7/1 with most bookies but many think he won the fight before even stepping through the ropes.
Then known as Cassius Clay, Ali had used the build-up to wind up Liston and get under his skin, even turning up at his rivals house at 3am in the morning.
But Liston’s heart was really gone at the end of the sixth, where after being systematically outboxed he failed to come out for the seventh.