The Most Shocking Mismatches in Combat Sports History



After rigorous thought and inner debate (about 20 minutes worth) I believe I have found 10 of the most shocking mismatches in the history of combat sports. So here it is, the top 10.

10. Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson - Sure people that really knew boxing knew this was going to be a public assault on Tyson. But most of america couldn't foresee the ass whooping that Tyson was about too take. Tyson won the first round and was finished from that moment. Lennox worked Tyson over on the inside and outside, completely dominating Tyson. In the 8th round Lennox finally lowered the boom and officially slammed the door on Mike Tyson's heavyweight contender status.

9. Anderson Silva vs Rich Franklin 1 - Rich Franklin had been a dominant middleweight champ, Anderson Silva had an impressive rise to the title shot, it was supposed too be a battle for the ages. Instead it was a beat down for the ages. Anderson Silva showed who had the better Muay Thai Plumb (and all around game). Franklin was owned the entire fight before being stopped and we all realized how good Silva could be.

8. Kazushi Sakuraba vs Renzo Gracie - Renzo is one of the best Gracie's around, possibly the best, he should offer a tough challenge for Sakuraba and have a good chance at gaining redemption for the family name. Instead he is toyed with and dominated by Sakuraba before enduring one of the sickest submission's in MMA history.

7. George Foreman vs Joe Frazier - Joe Frazier is the heavyweight champion of the world, has just beaten Muhammad Ali, and knocked out 2 bums (Ron Stander and someone else). It looked like he would be champion for a long time. Then George Foreman arrives and proves to be all wrong for Joe Frazier. Stylistically Foreman was all wrong for Joe Frazier, Joe would take 3 punches to land 1 of his. You couldn't do that against George Foreman. Joe Frazier's late trainer Yank Durham knew this and wanted to avoid Foreman, Frazier took the fight anyway and ended up paying for it. Foreman knocks Frazier down 7 times in 2 rounds, landing some of the hardest blows ever seen in boxing.

6. Roy Jones Jr vs James Toney - James Toney was the Pound for Pound king in boxing and the legitimate bad boy of the sport. He was tough as it gets and a nasty fighter, Roy Jones Jr was a flashy fighter but hadn't faced a big time test yet (Bernard Hopkins was in no way shape or form a complete fighter when they fought). This fight had people thinking Leonard - Hearns type action. Instead Roy Jones Jr completely owned (a weight drained) Toney. Toney was clowned and embarrassed by Roy Jones Jr. Toney has never forgotten the fight and the fight really serves as Roy Jones Jr's biggest win.

5. Ken Shamrock vs Tito Ortiz - It was finally going to happen. Ken and Tito were going to fight and settle who was top dog once and for all. People actually ordered the UFC 40 too see what would happen. The fight was considered a pick em. It was close... for about 25 seconds. Tito put on one of the most dominant performances in Zuffa's early history. The fact that he was destroying a Hall of Famer only added to the shock of the beating.

4. Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries - Jim Jeffries was the greatest heavyweight boxer ever until 1908. That is a pure fact. The man was a god, he retired undefeated too his alfalfa farm. However when Jack Johnson won the Heavyweight Title and became the first african american to hold the title, white america needed Jim Jeffries (or so they thoguht). Jeffries was supposed to restore the title to the white race, instead Jack Johnson taunted and blungeoned Jeffries. Johnson even began taunting Jeffries corner (who was shouting racial insults). By the 14th round the crowd was in utter shock and John L. Sullivan (1st Heavyweight Champ and Jeffries second) stopped the bout. Jeffries was beaten to a pulp and said he could have never beaten Johnson even in his prime.

3. Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez - These were the 2 best boxers in the world. One was an attacking destroyer the other a defensive countering wizard. Rarely they hovered near the same weight and were able to fight each other (extremely rare a 1 and 2 fight). This was going to be a war and a classic. Instead Pernell Whitaker did the impossible, he made Julio Cesar Chavez look like a baffoon. Whitaker easily won 8 rounds and had Chavez angered and out of sync the entire fight. Somehow the bout was ruled a draw but everyone knows who really won.

2. Randy Couture vs Vitor Belfort - Vitor Belfort was supposed to smash the tough guy that won a tournament winner. It was supposed to be fun and entertaining, but in no way shae or form was Couture supposed to dominate the Phenom. Well, thats exactly what happened. The fight wasn;t even close and Randy Couture pulled out his first big upset. I consider this fight evenly matched because Vitor was considered the best fighter in the division at the time (even though he wasn't the champ) and Couture was a tournament winner. The fight was as dominant as it gets.

1. Larry Holmes vs Muhammad Ali - Muhammad Ali was a magician, there was the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manilla and the Leon Spinks rematch. The man could dig into the well and pul of enormous victories when he needed too. Larry Holmes was a good champion but come on, he was Ali's sparring partner. Ali was a popular bet going into the fight and many thought that he could win. Nobody thought it would be as one sided as it was. Ali was beaten so bad it is hard to fathom how it was not his last fight (millions of dollars will do that). Nobody thought it would play out like this however, it wasn't even close.

Honorable Mention : Pacquiao vs De La Hoya, Hopkins vs Trinidad, Forrest Griffin vs Anderson Silva, Mike Tyson vs Mike Spinks