Boxing is a sport full of tradition and drama, so many people across the globe set their alarms at night to watch a match. They wanted to testify about two gladiators entering the ring and pushing themselves to the limit in a violent test of skill and will. In addition to the sporting spectacle, boxing has always brought emotions as it has been associated with betting since its inception. Spectators bet on the outcome of matches, and sometimes, those bets have led to serious historical upsets. Before we get into the five most astonishing examples in boxing betting history, let’s start by looking at how betting odds are determined.
Betting odds
Bookmakers consider the fighters’ records, the athletes’ recent form, their respective boxing styles and their physical abilities in general. Fight contexts such as weight class and title implications are just as important as direct head-to-head comparisons. Simply put, the odds reflect Who do bettors think will win, with adjustments to balance the bets for sports betting.
These odds were eventually released prior to the competition as initial odds to the public. This process is consistent across all platforms and sports, whether it’s mobile gaming Football betting application, a general betting site or one that focuses on esports or a local bookmaker. From that point on, public betting adjusts the odds by the amount bet per fighter, so even sharp (professional) bettors can influence the odds.
Top 5 defeats in boxing history
Surely the victory of the outsider always completely overturns these calculations. Here are five examples of the biggest upsets in boxing betting history:
- James “Buster” Douglas defeated Mike Tyson (1990).
This unforgettable fight is often considered the most unforgettable fight in boxing history because undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was undefeated (37-0) until that day. Buster Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, entered the fight and knocked out Tyson to our surprise in the 10th round in a disappointing fight. - Max Schmeling defeated Joe Louis (1936).
Joe Louis was a favorite before the match even started. He was the official heavyweight champion and was undefeated in his career (24-0) until that day. Max Schmeling, a German boxer, shocked Louis by defeating him in round 12. This fight took on even more significance due to the political situation of the time. - Hasim Rahman defeated Lennox Lewis (2001).
Lennox Lewis is the undisputed heavyweight champion and a huge favorite going into this fight. Hasim Rahman, a 3-1 underdog, knocked out Lewis in the fifth round to win the championship. This upset was overshadowed by Lewis’s dominant victory in the rematch later that year. - Andy Ruiz defeated Anthony Joshua (2019).
Anthony Joshua is the unified heavyweight champion and a huge favorite in this fight. Andy Ruiz, a significant underdog (about 25-1), knocked Joshua down four times and won by TKO in the seventh round. Similar to the Lewis-Rahman fight, this upset was avenged by Joshua with a dominant rematch. - Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali (1978).
Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was past his prime when he fought Leon Spinks, but he remained a popular fighter. Leon Spinks, a relatively unknown fighter, surprisingly won the fight by split decision to pull off a huge upset.
The lasting appeal of sadness
These five fights represent just a fraction of all the incredible fights that have been recorded throughout boxing history, and there are certainly many more in other sports. They will remind you that even in a sport with seemingly predictable outcomes, nothing is taken for granted when two fighters confident of victory step into the ring. The allure of the underdog, the fighter with nothing to lose, is a powerful force that continues to attract fans and bettors alike.
You can always find each fighter’s profile to investigate the fighter’s strength, but next time you watch a big fight, remember our previously mentioned stories. Even when the favorite seems unbeatable, there’s always a chance for a real underdog to carve his name into boxing history.
