Fighters Who Came Out Of Nowhere?

[Russell]

As in fighters who made a splash out of nowhere. No Ray Leonard/ODLH expectations from day one. The exact opposite, basically.

Martin Rogan slaughtering the UK's best comes to mind recently. Goes from fighting a 3-1 guy, then takes 8 months off and takes apart Harrison and Skelton within two months. :yikes

[Addie]

As in fighters who made a splash out of nowhere. No Ray Leonard/ODLH expectations from day one. The exact opposite, basically.

Martin Rogan slaughtering the UK's best comes to mind recently. Goes from fighting a 3-1 guy, then takes 8 months off and takes apart Harrison and Skelton within two months. :yikes

Christian Mijares was supposed to get knocked out by Arce. He came out of nowhere, and then dropped out of nowhere. I still have faith, though.

Manny Pacquiao was expected to get knocked out against Marco, and we all know how that one turned out.

Steve Robinson, a journeyman, won the title and then made successful title defences before meeting Hamed.

[janitor]

Max Schmeling

Gene Tunney had just vacated the title.

Schmelings first fight on American soil was against Johny Risko who was the betting favourite to win Gene Tunneys vacated crown.

He was an unknown Euro fighter, and the decision to give him a position in the tournament to find the next champion had been heavily criticised.

He battered Risko into oblivion and two fights later he was the heavyweight champion.

[GPater11093]

As in fighters who made a splash out of nowhere. No Ray Leonard/ODLH expectations from day one. The exact opposite, basically.

Martin Rogan slaughtering the UK's best comes to mind recently. Goes from fighting a 3-1 guy, then takes 8 months off and takes apart Harrison and Skelton within two months. :yikes

well rogan won prisefighter before beating harrion and skelton so he was known bur prisefighter made him

Baldomir a journyman from Argentina comes from nowhere to beat Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti setting himself up for paydays aginst Mayweather and Forrest that was crazy

Hagler when he turned Pro people didnt have high hopes for him then he becomes arguably the greatest MW ever

arturo Gatti was an exciting fighter but noone thoguh he was as good as his brother but he went on to win world titles and become a cult hero

what about Breidas Presscott came from living in a gym to destroying Amir Khan and now being touted as a hot prospect

also Roman Martinez came from nowhere and KOd Nicky Cook taking his title

[doug.ie]

i was going to say stevie robinson too :-)

[CottoDaBodykill]

two words..

ricardo mayorga!

[SuzieQ49]

Jersey Joe Walcott returned to boxing after 4 year retirement in 1945 at age of 30. Upon his return, the papers considered him a poor over the hill ex journeyman who had the talent but never had much luck with his health in the 30s. Well Walcott from 1945 -1947 defeated 8 Ring Magazine top 10 contenders including the # 1, # 2, and # 3 ranking challengers..... to earn a shot against Louis at age 33.

[GPater11093]

Jersey Joe Walcott returned to boxing after 4 year retirement in 1945 at age of 30. Upon his return, the papers considered him a poor over the hill ex journeyman who had the talent but never had much luck with his health in the 30s. Well Walcott from 1945 -1947 defeated 8 Ring Magazine top 10 contenders including the # 1, # 2, and # 3 ranking challengers..... to earn a shot against Louis at age 33.


great shout

also James J Braddock

[CottoDaBodykill]

ceferino garcia !

[djanders]

I agree with GPater11093. Jimmy Braddock.

[janitor]

In the bareknuckle era in Britain most of the top fighters came from nowhere.

The fighters and promotors would not know about any fight that was not reported in the national press, which meant that you had no record on boxrec untill you started meeting well known fighters.

To add to this promotors would try not to expose a young prospect to the media early in his career. This meant that they could get long odds betting on him when he stepped up in class and that the top fighters would take him lightly.

The first time that Jem Mace knew that Tom King existed (as far as I can tell) was when King ran up to him and threw a boxing glove at his feet saying "I am Tom King and I wish to challenge you for the title". Mace then apointed an oponent for King to prove that he was not wasting his time and when king won impresivley the title fight was agreed.

This would be like if Riddick Bowe had turned up and thrown a glove at the feet of Evander Holyfield to challenge him for the title with his previous record unknown. Holyfield then says "fight Carl Williams to prove that I am not wasting my time". Bowe then puts a beating on Williams and Holyfield gives him the title shot.

[TBooze]

The (formerly KO and now Ring) annual highly unofficial, official award for this, is named in honour of Azumah Nelson (after the Sanchez fight).

[GPater11093]

The (formerly KO and now Ring) annual highly unofficial, official award for this, is named in honour of Azumah Nelson (after the Sanchez fight).

yeh good shout

[lefthook31]

Paul Vaden. He shook up the world with his stoppage of Vincent Pettway in the 12th to win the title. :D

[booradley]

My pick will surprise some of you, but pop over to BoxRec and check out Arguello's first 15 fights.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[GPater11093]

My pick will surprise some of you, but pop over to BoxRec and check out Arguello's first 15 fights.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]


good pick although he had fought ernesto Marcel before he won the world title

[kosaros]

Timothy Bradley
Ken Norton

Just a couple I thought of.

[GPater11093]

Timothy Bradley
Ken Norton

Just a couple I thought of.

great shout hadnt even fought outside of California comes to Britain and beats Junior Witter whos a tricky tricky fighter to outpoint and now hes unified the division

[papptheking]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
winning wbc title in third fight!

[My2Sense]

Perhaps Duran when he smoked Buchanan?

He'd won a fight with local favorite Benny Huertas on the undercard of one of Buchanan's defenses, and that got him just enough notoriety to get a shot at Buchanan, but he was not well known to many boxing fans at that time, and he was not supposed to be in Buchanan's class.

[My2Sense]

Salvador Sanchez when he beat Danny Lopez.
Livingstone Bramble when he beat Mancini.

How about Benitez when he beat Cervantes?

[djanders]

Leon Spinks.

[rydersonthestorm]

This would be like if Riddick Bowe had turned up and thrown a glove at the feet of Evander Holyfield to challenge him for the title with his previous record unknown. Holyfield then says "fight Carl Williams to prove that I am not wasting my time". Bowe then puts a beating on Williams and Holyfield gives him the title shot.
The main difference to what you mnetioned there would be bowe throwing the glove in the bin and refusing to fight :D

[Jear]

Not really unknown but Vince Phillips after the Tszyu fight probably rates a mention

[4Rounder]

Carlos Manuel Baldomir - Shows up to beat Judah for the Welter championship
Ricardo Mayorga - BAM!!! some nutjob in the ring takes out Forrest
Cristian Mijarez - Obliterates Arce and gets a string of impressive victories and unifies his division.
Vic Darchynian - Makes some noise, gets knocked out, then makes bigger noise.

[booradley]

Salvador Sanchez when he beat Danny Lopez.
Livingstone Bramble when he beat Mancini.

How about Benitez when he beat Cervantes?

Danny himself knew fuck-all about Sanchez. It was suppose to be a "routine title defense." Shocked the shit out of me.

[My2Sense]

Leon Spinks.

I don't know about that. Spinks was already well known as an Olympic gold medalist, and got a fair amount of media attention and TV exposure for his early pro fights.

[JohnThomas1]

Carlos Monzon didn't enter the bigtime arena with many bells and whistles. Especially considering he went on to possibly become the greatest 160 of them all.