1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

1 ... February 15, 1978 .......... Leon Spinks {W Spilt Dec 15} Muhammad Ali ~ {'I'}
2 ... January 22, 1973 ........... George Foreman {TKO 2} Joe Frazier ~ {'I'}
3 ... March 31, 1973 .............. Ken Norton {W Split Dec 12} Muhammad Ali ~ {'I'}
4 ... October 30, 1974 ........... Muhammad Ali {KO 8} George Foreman
5 ... March 17, 1977 ............. Jimmy Young {W Unan Dec 12} George Foreman

6 ... June 18, 1973 ................. Earnie Shavers {KO 1} Jimmy Ellis
7 ... July 2, 1970 .................... Jose Luis Garcia {KO 8} Ken Norton
8 ... March 23, 1979 ............... Earnie Shavers {TKO 1} Ken Norton
9 ... September 10, 1973 ........ Jeff Merritt {TKO 1} Ernie Terrell
10 .. February 11, 1975 .......... Jimmy Young {W Unan Dec 10} Ron Lyle ~ {'I'}

11 ... February 4, 1978 ........... Kallie Knoetze {KO 3} Duane Bobick
12 ... June 24, 1979 ............... Gerrie Coetzee {TKO 1} Leon Spinks
13 ... June 23, 1973 ............... Chuck Wepner {W Unan Dec 12} Ernie Terrell
14 ... March 4, 1974 ............... Henry Clark {TKO 1} Jeff Merritt
15 ... March 28, 1976 ............. Earnie Shavers {W Unan Dec 10} Henry Clark ~ {'I'}

16 ... June 17, 1970 ............... Jerry Quarry {KO 6} Mac Foster
17 ... May 21, 1973 ................ Joe Alexander {KO 1} Jose Luis Garcia
18 ... June 9, 1978 ................. Ossie Ocasio {W Split Dec 10} Jimmy Young ~ {'I'}
19 ... December 12, 1979 ........ Lynn Ball {TKO 2} Ron Lyle
20 ... February 9, 1973 ........... Jerry Quarry {W Unan Dec 12} Ron Lyle

21 ... October 23, 1972 ........... Ernie Terrell {TKO 6} Jose Luis Garcia
22 ... November 4, 1974 ......... Bob Stallings {W Unan Dec 10} Earnie Shavers
23 ... December 12, 1973 ....... Boone Kirkman {W Split Dec 10} Jimmy Ellis
24 ... May 5, 1972 .................. Jose Luis Garcia {W Unan Dec 10} Al 'Gould's Terror' Jones
25 ... October 4, 1971 ............ Alvin 'Blue' Lewis {W Disq. 7} Oscar Bonavena

26 ... April 9, 1974 ................ 'Memphis' Al Jones {KO 3} Boone Kirkman
27 ... January 27, 1979 .......... Ossie Ocasio {W Unan Dec 10} Jimmy Young ~ {'II'}
28 ... October 26, 1977 .......... Randy Stephens {TKO 5} Johnny Boudreaux
29 ... June 9, 1972 ................ Juergen Blin {W Unan Dec 15} Jose Manuel Urtain
30 ... December 19, 1979 ....... Mike Koranicki {KO 10} Kallie Knoetze

31 ... June 30, 1973 .............. Bob Stallings {W Unan Dec 10} Mac Foster
32 ... August 9, 1972 ............ Jack O'Halloran {W Unan Dec 12} Henry Clark ~ {'II'}
33 ... April 15, 1972 .............. Chuck Wepner {W Unan Dec 12} Randy Neumann ~ {'II'}
34 ... September 27, 1971 ..... Jack Bodell {W Unan Dec 15} Joe Bugner
35 ... December 17, 1971 ...... Jose Manuel Urtain {TKO 2} Jack Bodell

36 ... August 25, 1978 ........... Randy Stephens {W Split Dec 10} Stan Ward
37 ... March 20, 1973 ............ Jimmy Summerville {KO 9} Jack O'Halloran
38 ... September 27, 1977 ..... Dale 'Ibar' Arrington {KO 1} John L. Gardner
39 ... April 3, 1972 ................ Jose 'King' Roman {W Unan Dec 10} Jose Manuel Urtain
40 ... November 24, 1971 ...... Larry Middleton {W Unan Dec 10} Joe Bugner

41 ... May 11, 1970 ............... Ron Stander {KO 5} Earnie Shavers
42 ... April 3, 1979 ................ Bernardo Mercado {KO 1} Trevor Berbick
43 ... February 11, 1972 ........ Floyd Patterson {W Unan Dec 10} Oscar Bonavena
44 ... December 1, 1975 ........ Bunny Johnson {KO 2} Fonomanu 'Young Sekona'
45 ... March 1, 1973 .............. Jack O'Halloran {W Unan Dec 10} Alvin 'Blue' Lewis

46 ... July 16, 1974 ................ Mani Vaka {KO 1} 'Irish' Pat Duncan
47 ... October 2, 1970 ............ James J. Woody {W Unan Dec 10} 'Irish' Tony Doyle ~ {'I'}
48 ... October 24, 1974 .......... Fred Houpe {TKO 3} Jody Ballard
49 ... August 24, 1974 ............ Mike Weaver {W Unan Dec 10} Mani Vaka
50 ... March 8, 1971 ............... Danny McAlinden {W Unan Dec 6} Rahman 'Rudy Clay' Ali

51 ... January 18, 1978 .......... Mike Weaver {TKO 9} Stan Ward
52 ... August 23, 1973 ........... Terry Krueger {KO 4} Pedro Osvaldo Lovell
53 ... April 23, 1975 .............. Scott Ledoux {W Unan Dec 10} Rodney Bobick
54 ... November 23, 1973 ...... Wendell 'Fig' Newton {TKO 9} Terry Hinke
55 ... November 4, 1976 ........ Mike Weaver {KO 6} Fonomanu 'Young Sekona'

56 ... January 22, 1972 ......... Rico Brooks {W Split Dec 10} Ron Stander
57 ... February 15, 1977 ....... Jose 'King' Roman {W Split Dec 10} Dale 'Ibar' Arrington
58 ... March 14, 1973 ............ Morris Jackson {TKO 3} Danny McAlinden
59 ... October 22, 1978 ......... Mike Weaver {TKO 5} Bernardo Mercado
60 ... September 13, 1974 ..... Chuck Wepner {TKO 11} Terry Hinke

61 ... October 29, 1971 ......... Robie Harris {W Unan Dec 10} Jose 'King' Roman
62 ... March 12, 1977 ........... Jean-Pierre Coopman {KO 4} Jose Manuel Urtain
63 ... April 23, 1971 .............. Guiseppe 'Bepi' Ros {KO 12} Mario Baruzzi
64 ... March 11, 1975 ........... Jody Ballard {W Unan Dec 10} Rodney Bobick
65 ... August 24, 1971 .......... Jack O'Halloran {TKO 4} Terry Daniels

66 ... October 24, 1975 ......... Dante Cane {TKO 8} Lorenzo Zanon
67 ... May 7, 1977 ................. Lucien Rodriguez {W Unan Dec 15} Jean-Pierre Coopman
68 ... November 18, 1971 ...... Robie Harris {TKO 5} Joey Orbillo

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #19'

Wednesday ~ December 12, 1979

Veterans Memorial Coliseum ~ Phoenix, Arizona

Attendance ....... { 4175 }
Gate Receipts..... $32,475

Ron Lyle ~ 37-5-1 {25 KO's} ~ 222 lbs. ~ 6' 2 1/2" ~ 76" Reach
vs.
Lynn Ball ~ 10-4-0 {7 KO's} ~ 212 lbs. ~ 6' 0" ~ 77" Reach

Ron Lyle {Age; 38 year, 5 months} was taking a 'tune-up bout', as he was scheduled
to face WBA Heavyweight Champion - John Tate in February 1980.

Ron was currently ranked as the #4 WBA Heavyweight

Ron, had last fought {7-Months earlier} on May 12, 1979 where he won a 'close'
10-Round Split-Decision over Scott Ledoux.

Lynn 'The Bullet' Ball {Age; 27 years, 6 months} was a Heavyweight from Dallas, Texas.
Lynn had lost 4 of his previous 5 bouts, and appeared to be a relatively safe opponent.

Lynn did have quick-hands and a pretty good left-hook, but he had a 'suspect chin'.
__________________________________________________ _________________________

~ Ron Lyle Beaten In 2 Rounds ~

Ron Lyle the #4 WBA-ranked Heavyweight was 'upset' as he was stopped by Dallas, Texas
Heavyweight - Lynn 'The Bullet' Ball at 2:55 of Round 2.

The 38 1/2 year-old Lyle {222 lbs.} came into the bout slightly puffy against the little known
27 year-old Lynn Ball {212 lbs.}

Lyle got off to a steady start in Round 1, as he used a thudding left-jab on the shorter Ball.
Lyle showed off some of his power, as he tagged the 'stocky' Dallas Heavyweight with '2'
jarring right-hands to the head late in the Round, as he had Ball a bit groggy at the Bell.

But, Lyle was very slow in Round 2, and had no answer when Ball attacked with fast
'left-right' combinations.

Lyle looked out-of-sorts, when he was tagged by a hard left-hook at the 1:40 Mark, and
backed away from the forward-pressing Ball.

Ball continued to explode with 'smashing' left-hooks to the head, as Lyle wobbled to the
back Ropes. There, the Dallas Heavyweight unleashed with a barrage of fast 'left-right'
punches to the head as Lyle sagged into the Ropes.

Ron Lyle was 'out-on-his-feet' as he laid back on the Ropes, where Referee - Bobby Ferrara
jumped in at the 2:55 Mark of Round 2.

Fight Purses
* Ron Lyle ..... $10,000
* Lynn Ball ..... $2200

[SlimTrae]

That's a lot of upsets. Nice when promoters didn't intervene like they do now- to keep their meal ticket.

Good thread/facts.

[Bill Paxtom]

That's a lot of upsets. Nice when promoters didn't intervene like they do now- to keep their meal ticket.

Good thread/facts.

Thanks SlimTrae,

As you can see, there were quite a few significant upsets.

As for Ron Lyle, he took what he thought, was as an easy 'tune-up' and
$10,000 Pay Day against > Lynn 'The Bullet' Ball on December 12, 1979.

Waiting for Ron, was a $140,000 Fight Purse to challenge WBA Champion
John Tate in mid-February 1980.

'Ready, Aim, Shoot'........ Ron Lyle got taken out in 2 by a 'Bullet'.

[brocktonblockbust]

That's a lot of upsets. Nice when promoters didn't intervene like they do now- to keep their meal ticket.

Good thread/facts.

I agree. Bill has so many intriguing facts that add so much personalizing detail to boxing nostalgia.

[SlimTrae]

That's a lot of upsets. Nice when promoters didn't intervene like they do now- to keep their meal ticket.

Good thread/facts.

I agree. Bill has so many intriguing facts that add so much personalizing detail to boxing nostalgia.

A thread akin to a movie that when you re-watch it, you see something you missed last time out.

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #66'

Friday ~ October 24, 1975

Palazzo Dello Sport {Sports Palace} ~ Milan, Lombardia, Italy

'Italian Heavyweight Championship'

Lorenzo Zanon ~ 14-0-1 {2 KO's} ~ 6' 2" ~ 207 lbs. ~ Age; 24 years, 1 month
vs.
Dante Cane ~ 37-12-5 {28 KO's} ~ 6' 4" ~ 230 lbs. ~ Age; 35 years, 4 months
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Skinny'

Lorenzo Zanon >
Was the 'Toast of Italy', as he had earlier upset Guiseppe 'Bepi' Ros on May 26, 1975
to capture the Italian Heavyweight Championship. He was the hometown boy here in
Lombardia, where the bout is to be held.

Zanon is a fast-handed boxer, who can snap off quick-punches in {3-and-4} punch bursts
with precision. But, Lorenzo lacked power and there was a question about his chin.

Lorenzo was favored to defeat the 'old' Italian veteran Dante Cane. Lorenzo was expected
to win here, and then move on to challenge for the European Heavyweight Championship
next.

Lorenzo's fight plan > is to box-and-move, and make the slow-footed and plodding 35 year-old
veteran chase him. And then, to attack with fast combinations, and get out of there. In the
'speed department', Dante will be no match for Lorenzo.

Dante Cane >
The fading Italian from Bologna. Dante was a '3-time' Italian Heavyweight Champion, and
was hoping to re-capture the Championship one more time.

Dante had fought in '11' Italian Heavyweight Championships, and was an experienced fighter
with '54-Bouuts in his career.

A big fighter at 6' 4" and 230 lbs., Dante could still 'punch' despite his slow-plodding style.

Dante, who at one-time was being mentioned as a Challenger for Muhammad Ali in early
1975, saw that hope get extinguished, when he was stopped {L TKO 5} by Joe Bugner on
February 28, 1975 in a challenge for the European Heavyweight Championship.

Dante's fight plan > to pressure the fast-handed but light-punching Zanon. Try to work the
body and wear Zanon down, and hope to catch the 'suspect chinned' Champion late in the
bout with his heavy hooks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Bout'

In from of 8000 hometown Lombardia fans, Lorenzo Zanon utilizes his quickness and
accurate punching to control the first 3-Rounds over the slow-footed Dante Cane.

Lorenzo mixes in quick left-jabs, and fast right-hand leads into the face as Cane moves
forward. Dante has done next-to-nothing thru the first 3-Rounds.

In Round 4, Lorenzo rakes over the 'old veteran' with fast-flurries and sends the awkward
Cane reeling backwards from right-hands to the chin.

In Round 5, Lorenzo again is having his way over the first {2:30}, but he gets a little
too brazen, and during 'one-exchange' late in the Round, he gets tagged by a hard
right-hook, and is badly staggered.

Luckily for Lorenzo, the punch comes at the end of the Round, and he survives.

In Round 6, Lorenzo was now more cautious, and was reluctant to move in to throw
his fast-combinations. On the other hand, Dante was more aggressive, and moved in
throwing looping right-hands and left-hooks as the 'veteran' dominates the Round.

In Round 7, Dante went to free-swinging as he pressed Lorenzo, and trapped him
several times on the Ropes, where he unloaded with is heavy hooks. By the end of
the Round, Lorenzo looked 'groggy' after taking several punches to the head.

Coming out for Round 8, Dante immediately went after Zanon, and raked him over
with a barrage. At the {0:40 Mark}, Dante landed a hard right-hook to the chin that
sent Zanon down on 'all-fours'. Lorenzo was up at the '6-Count', but looked in
bad shape.

Dante moved in, and landed several hard punches to head as Lorenzo reeled around
the Ring on unsteady-pins.

Dante then added in a left-hook and right-cross to the chin the dropped Zanon again.

Zanon struggled up at the 7-Count, but Referee - Bruno Amaglia had seen enough, and
called the bout over at {1:08 of Round 8}, awarding Dante Cane the TKO victory.

[brocktonblockbust]

I don't understand how Jose could get off several good left jabs and then suddenly just back up into the ropes there must be some explanation for this

[Bill Paxtom]

I don't understand how Jose could get off several good left jabs and then suddenly just back up into the ropes there must be some explanation for this

Jose Luis Garcia did 'not' like to get hit in the body.

At Center-Ring, after taking about '15' left-jabs to the face, Joe Alexander ducked
low and rushed forward into Jose.

Jose, who instead of tying up Joe, backed up to the Ropes. When he reached the
Ropes, Jose dug in a left-hook underneath into Joe who was coming in.

Then, Jose tried to throw a right-uppercut at the same time that Joe was winding-up
with a 'Home Run' left-hook.

"Crash, Boom, Kersplat"

[brocktonblockbust]

what about his 7 inch height and 9 inch reach advantages shouldn't he have been able to land earlier even from the outside with a right uppercut?

[Bill Paxtom]

what about his 7 inch height and 9 inch reach advantages shouldn't he have been able to land earlier even from the outside with a right uppercut?

Jose Luis Garcia

Was not into studying his opponents style. He was a wide open 'slam-bang artist'
who had no fear.

Also, Joe Alexander was brought down to Puerto Rico to be 'an opponent'.

Jose Luis just under-estimated Joe's power, and walked into a 'wicked' left-hook
that was all torqued-up.

[brocktonblockbust]

top 19 seventies upset I would definitely Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali can Norton except Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali upset George Foreman Jimmy young upset George Foreman George Foreman upset Joe Frazier Jerry quarry upset shavers

[Beanflicker]

What about Muhammad Ali upsetting George Chuvalo in '72? A fight Chuvalo was robbed in BTW

[brocktonblockbust]

What about Muhammad Ali upsetting George Chuvalo in '72? A fight Chuvalo was robbed in BTW

know anybody who has bike shorts trololo destroyed Muhammad Ali to the body in the rib cage to the kidneys to the hip blast to the appendix to the spleen deliver to the heart or lungs

[Bill Paxtom]

top 19 seventies upset I would definitely Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali can Norton except Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali upset George Foreman Jimmy young upset George Foreman George Foreman upset Joe Frazier Jerry quarry upset shavers

Triple 'B'

Jerry Quarry was favored {2 1/2 to 1} over Earnie Shavers.

Though the result was a 'shock', it was not an upset.

Most of the Boxing Pundits predicted that the bout wouldn't go past 3-Rounds.