We discuss potential winners for the 2017 upset of the year award in world boxing and invite you our readers to cast your vote!
Voting available at the bottom of this article and will be open until December 29th – with a winner announced on December 20th, 2017.
So here goes.
Caleb Truax vs James DeGale
After losing inside a round to Anthony Dirrell a year before, no one outside of his camp expected Truax to dethrone IBF Super Middle champ Degale. But a stunning show of persistance inside and outside the ring paid off as Truax claimed a deserved victory on the scorecards to spoil Degale’s maiden fight under Frank Warren.
Tony Bellew vs David Haye
Very few gave Bellew a chance when moving to heavyweight to conclude an ugly rivalry with Haye. But expectations of an early knockout for Haye did not come off and after a crippling Achilles injury for Haye, Bellew took over before forcing a late stoppage against a Haye struggling to simply stand.
Jeff Horn vs Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao may have been past his best, but 2016 victories had suggested there was still enough left to cruise past the unheralded Aussie. But the atmosphere in Australia lifted Horn to perform beyond his capabilities and score a controversial shock win on points.
Sadam Ali vs Miguel Cotto
It was meant to be the perfect ending to the great Cotto’s career. But at Madison Square Garden, Brooklynite Ali spoiled the party as he boxed wonderfully to take a points triumph over the Puerto Rican. Cotto was no longer at his best, but having been counted out over his previous defeat to Jessie Vargas, it was a grave upset to end the year.
Jason Welborn vs Marcus Morrison
Morrison’s rise through the British rankings was set to really come to light in 2017, but all plans were put on hold when Welborn utterly dominated and stopped the outgunned young man. Welborn had been at the end of a major upset himself in 2016 – losing to journeyman William Warburton – but claimed his biggest scalp in a major shock on Sky Sports.
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