Boxing’s Most Bizarre Moments in Ring History During the Modern Era
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Through the magic on YouTube and other online sources and video compilations, historical footage can be found documenting some of professional boxing’s most bizarre moments.
Jack Dempsey holds the distinction of two of boxing’s most bizarre moments in the pre-television era, Dempsey was knocked out of the ring in the first round against ‘The Wild Bull of the Pampas’, Angel Luis Firpo and then pushed back into the ring by fight fans at ringside, and subsequently came back to win the bout. By knockout in the second round. The bout had an incredible 11 knockdowns in the brief two round affair. Dempsey received assistance to get back into the ring to barely beat the ten count, which is not allowed today.
Dempsey versus Firpo entire bout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NN0vGHnCLo
Dempsey had Gene Tunney down in the seventh round for 14 seconds in their world heavyweight title rematch, but failed to go to the neutral corner on direction of referee Dave Barry, who was enforcing the new rule. Dempsey’s instincts were to finish Tunney upon arising, based on the ‘old school’ rules. Later in the bout, Tunney drops Dempsey for a one count. The referee, still confused by the new rules, begins the count on Jack when Dempsey’s knee hits the canvas, but before Gene Tunney has gone to the neutral corner.
Dempsey versus Tunney long count
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OeeCfbahwQ
A compilation video running two hours on YouTube found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p33bQCojtc covers many controversial bout endings, including some of my favorites:
1. Tiny Michael Moorer versus 6’10” heavyweight Mike White
2. Round 7 of the Riddick Bowe versus Evander Holyfield rematch, where the ‘Fan Man’ guy flies into the side of the ring ropes in his one man helicopter contraption, and by the grace of the heavens does not kill anybody at ringside with crashing his helicopter blade, or when his parachute ropes got tangled in lights above the ring.
3. Andre Golota gives up against Iron Mike Tyson after two rounds, and gets pelted with soda, popcorn, and beer. Turns out Golota was seriously injured. Bout winds up a no-contest after Tyson failed the post-fight drug test. Bowe had a broken bone in his head. If he continued, it could have pierced the brain. Golota did not fight again for the next three years. GOlota claimed Tyson was illegally head butting him.
4. Iron Mike Tyson bites Evander Holyfield’s ear twice in the WBA Heavyweight world title rematch, in retaliation for what he claimed was head butting by Evander.
5. James Butler sucker punches Richard ‘The Alien’ Grant after losing the decision.
6. Andre Golota, ahead on points, gets disqualified for low blows against Riddick Bowe, triggering the worst ever televised riot at Madison Square Garden. The referee was the late Wayne Kelley. Trainer Lou Duva collapsed at ringside.
7. Andrew Golota versus Samson Po’uha ‘Dracula’ bout. A battered Golota takes a bite out of Po’uha’s neck in desperation and should have been disqualified-as Mike Tyson was against Holyfield. The referee did not see it. The injured Pa’uha, winning the bout to that point, gets knocked down three times in round five and then loses.
8. George Foreman gets a facelift and gift split decision over Alex Stewart.
9. Riddick Bowe versus Elijah Tillery, first meeting. (Bowe also won a rematch later)
Referee Karl Milligan separates the two boxers as round one ends, but keeps moves forward as he separates them, allowing Bowe to sucker punch Tillery with a left hand to the head behind the referee, which the referee cannot see. Tillery defends himself with punches and kicks as chaos results. Bowe’s manager, Rock Newman, climbs onto the ring apron and restrains Tillery on the ropes from behind. Bowe hits Tillery in the face, who is unable to defend himself with Newman holding his arms from behind. Tillery does a 360 backwards over the top rope out of the ring after getting hit in the head by Bowe, and somehow does not get killed. Strangely, Bowe wins by disqualification, claiming he punched Tillery after the bell due to Tillery’s trash talk, and won the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight title. The WBC immediately vacated the title belt.
Newman’s move looks more like the late Freddie Blassie on the World Wide Wrestling circuit back in the day, restraining an opponent so his fighter could get in the free shot.
10. Louis Curtis versus Pedro Feliciano flyweight bout. Curtis, winning on points, has a space alien type swelling of his left eye and the left side of his head, similar to Hasim Rahman’s when he lost to Evander Holyfield. The bout is stopped after five rounds.
11. Chris Organtini versus Sterling Staton Blue Horizon Rematch in Philadelphia. Light welterweight prospect Organtini knocks down Staton in round two, who twists his right ankle and breaks his right ankle and foot. The leg was twisted around in horror.
12. Riddick Bowe versus Frankie Swindell rematch. Bowe head butts Swindell’s right eye. Ruled unintentional. Swindell could not continue. Bowe wins by strange TKO.
13. Jimmy Thunder versus Crawford Grimsley. This a famous bout found on YouTube at
14. Roy Jones Jr. versus Glen Kelly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awSsfxYkBW0
Jones knocks out Kelly with a punch thrown from behind the back. Nutty knockout.
15. Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Victor Ortiz. Did referee Joe Cortez say time in? Did he say box? This bout might have been declared a no-contest because referee Cortez failed to send both fighters to the neutral corner after he stopped the time clock.
YouTube clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW0ydYusj-kYou be the judge.
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