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]

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.

[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

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.

good. Bill most people forget that Jerry quarry was very very very highly touted during those early seventies

[Bill Paxtom]

Triple 'B',

Just when everybody wrote off Jerry Quarry, he would come back with a good win.

1973 'Comeback Fighter of the Year'

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #56'

Saturday ~ January 22, 1972

The Coliseum ~ Denver, Colorado
Attendance ...... { 7826 }

Fight Card
* Ron Stander .................. vs. ..... Rico Brooks
* Ron Lyle ........................ vs. ..... Chuck Leslie
* Rahman 'Rudy Clay' Ali ... vs. ..... Jasper Evans

Ron 'The Council Bluffs Butcher' Stander was ranked as the #8 Heavyweight,
and was using this bout as his 'next-to-last' tune-up, before challenging
World Champion - Joe Frazier.

Rico Brooks from Chicago, was now a Phoenix-based 'club-fighter' who had
won '11-Straight' in 1971. Rico had started his Professional career way back in
October 1955 as a 20 year-old.

Rico had retired in March 1963, but after 7 1/2 years, he decided to return in
January 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Rico was competing in the 'monthly' fight cards at the Riverside Ballroom in
Phoenix, Arizona - and had won all '11' of his bouts there in 1971.

Ron Stander ~ {Omaha, Nebraska}
Age.......... 27 years, 3 months
Height...... 5' 11'
Reach...... 70"
Weight..... 235 lbs.
Record..... 21-0-1 {15 KO's}
Rank....... #8

Rico Brooks ~ {Chicago, Illinois}
Age.......... 36 years, 3 months
Height...... 6' 1"
Reach...... 74"
Weight..... 210 lbs.
Record..... 16-11-5 {5 KO's}
Rank........ {NR}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Skinny"

Ron Stander was 'expected' to have an easy time with Rico Brooks. Most of the
Boxing Pundits predicted, that as soon as Ron hit Rico, the veteran would cave in.

Dick Noland {Manager for Ron Stander} figured that Ron would need only 3-Rounds,
before taking out the 36 year-old Rico Brooks.

So much so, that they had scheduled bout in Omaha, Nebraska set for February 2nd,
only 10-Days away.

"The Bout"

The bout was 'not' a crowd-pleaser. There was little action in Rounds 1 and 2,
as Rico Brooks would not allow Ron Stander to get close and inside to deliver
his hard hooks to the body.

In Round 3, Stander moved in close and started to wing in his heavy left-hook into
Brooks' body. But, Brooks countered and unleashed several wild right-hands into Ron's
head, and opened up a cut over Stander's right-eye at the {2:00 Mark}.

From that point on, Stander was reluctant to get in close, and Brooks was able to
utilize his longer reach and better movement to build up a 'solid' points lead in
this 'little action' bout. Stander did little, other than swing wildly from the outside
and hitting little other than air.

Thru 8-Rounds, it was Rico Brooks' bout to win as he had a 'wide' points lead.

Realizing that he was losing the bout, Stander made a charge in Round 9, as he
landed his best punches of the bout {left hooks to the body}, that had Brooks
in some trouble throughout the latter half of the Round.

Coming out for Round 10, Ron Stander knew he needed a Knockout to win.

In Round 10,

Stander went after Brooks with a 'bull-rush' and unloaded his heavy left-hooks
to the body. But surprisingly, Brooks instead of running, went 'toe-to-toe' trading
good punches with Stander in the best action Round of the bout.

Stander was desperately trying for a Knockout over the tiring Brooks, but the
'veteran' took everything that Stander could offer throughout the Round.

Scorecards
* 47-44 > {6-3-1 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}
* 47-46 > {4-3-3 in Rounds} > {Ron Stander}
* 48-44 > {6-2-2 in Rounds} > {Rico Brooks}

[Bill Paxtom]

Triple 'B'

It isn't only the 'Odds', but also historical impact.

#1 ...... Muhammad Ali .. {10-1} ..... Leon Spinks
#2 ...... Joe Frazier ......... {3-1} ...... George Foreman
#3 ...... Muhammad Ali ... {5-1} ...... Ken Norton
#4 ..... George Foreman . {3-1} ...... Muhammad Ali
#5 ..... George Foreman . {5-1} ...... Jimmy Young

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #30'

Wednesday ~ December 19, 1979

Good Hope Centre ~ Cape Town, South Africa

Kallie Knoetze ~ 19-3-0 {18 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 213 lbs. ~ Reach; 76" ~ {Age; 26 years, 8 months}
vs.
Mike Koranicki ~ 21-5-2 {11 KO's} ~ 6' 4" ~ 207 lbs. ~ Reach 80" ~ {Age; 27 years, 4 months}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kallie Knoetze > Had won '2' straight since losing to John Tate by {L TKO 8} on June 2, 1979
in a WBA Heavyweight Elimination bout.

In comeback bouts, Kallie had scored Knockouts over {TKO 6} George Butzbach on September 14th,
and a {KO 3} over Randy Stephens on {October 20th}.

Kallie was back up to the #1 WBA Heavyweight, and was looking forward to a rematch and WBA Title
bout with 'Big' John Tate for early-mid 1980.

Mike Koranicki > Was a lanky boxer/puncher who was from Youngstown, Ohio. Mike had lost
both 'two' previous bouts in 1979 > a {L TKO 9} to John L. Gardner in London, United Kingdom on
February 20th, and a {L Unan Dec 10} to George Chaplin in Baltimore, Maryland on May 25th.

Mike's career appeared to be over as a Top 20 contender. But, back in August 1979, Mike hooked up
with 'Big' John Tate and became his #1 sparring-partner while helping him prepare for his bout with
Gerrie Coetzee on October 20, 1979 in South Africa for the WBA Heavyweight Championship.

While in South Africa, Mike enjoyed the Country and relocated there, hoping to re-establish his
'faded' boxing career.

> Betting-Odds > Kallie Knoetze was list as a {6-1} Favorite.

[brocktonblockbust]

Bill...what exactly was Rico doing to ~keep~ Stander away ? Clinching and/or running away are both "ways" to use.

[Bill Paxtom]

Bill...what exactly was Rico doing to ~keep~ Stander away ? Clinching and/or running away are both "ways" to use.

Good Question ~

> Ron was 5' 11" with a 70" Reach, and was 235 lbs. "Tubby Slow"

> Rico Brooks at 6' 1 with a 76" Reach, and 210 lbs.

Ron came out too slow, and let Rico set the pace for the first 2-Rounds.

In Round 3, Rico caught Ron with several right-hand 'Sunday Punches' and
opened a bad cut over Ron's right-eye.

Ron then panicked, and was not his usual aggressive self in Rounds 3 thru 8,
as he was worried about the cut opening up, causing a TKO stoppage.

Rico was smart, and used the lack of aggression from Ron to send out poking
left-jabs and long-range right-hands over the top.

By the end of Round 8, Ron was hopelessly behind.

So no, Rico didn't 'run-or-clinch', he just did a better job of boxing as Ron was
too worried about the cut over his right-eye.

Ron was an over-whelming favorite {9-1} by the Las Vegas odds-makers.

"Big Upset"