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by Cliff Rold
Jim Braddock.
Leon Spinks.
Buster Douglas.
Hasim Rahman.
This quartet of names stands with a special place in Heavyweight history. They are the men that pulled what most would agree were the greatest upsets in history to win boxing’s most prestigious crown.
Alex Leapai could top them all.
Those men, despite the odds against them, had performances in their past that hinted they shouldn’t be taken lightly (or in the case of Spinks an Olympic pedigree and youth). Leapai has a come from behind stoppage of Travis Walker that was highly debatable and an upset of Denis Boytsov.
The gap between Boytsov and Wladimir Klitschko is interplanetary.
On paper, the sheer improbability of Leapai pulling the upset could put this in Douglas territory. Is there any reason to think the upset is possible on Saturday (ESPN, 5 PM EST/2 PM PST)?
Klitschko enters maintaining a control of the division he’s held since winning the first of the titles he currently holds in 2006. He does enter with fans thrilled by his last appearance. Matched with an opponent who looked like he posed at least a modicum of threat, Klitschko fought a mauling, grabbing, brutally ugly fight. He scored multiple knockdowns and still left room to criticize.
Leapai, if he is dangerous, will be so early. The Samoan has quick hands early and some thud to his shots. He often winds up those shots and can be off balance on the attack, but he does more than headhunt. Leapai does go to the body, if sometimes inconsistently, and can get low in the pocket.
Let’s go to the report card. [Click Here To Read More]
Jim Braddock.
Leon Spinks.
Buster Douglas.
Hasim Rahman.
This quartet of names stands with a special place in Heavyweight history. They are the men that pulled what most would agree were the greatest upsets in history to win boxing’s most prestigious crown.
Alex Leapai could top them all.
Those men, despite the odds against them, had performances in their past that hinted they shouldn’t be taken lightly (or in the case of Spinks an Olympic pedigree and youth). Leapai has a come from behind stoppage of Travis Walker that was highly debatable and an upset of Denis Boytsov.
The gap between Boytsov and Wladimir Klitschko is interplanetary.
On paper, the sheer improbability of Leapai pulling the upset could put this in Douglas territory. Is there any reason to think the upset is possible on Saturday (ESPN, 5 PM EST/2 PM PST)?
Klitschko enters maintaining a control of the division he’s held since winning the first of the titles he currently holds in 2006. He does enter with fans thrilled by his last appearance. Matched with an opponent who looked like he posed at least a modicum of threat, Klitschko fought a mauling, grabbing, brutally ugly fight. He scored multiple knockdowns and still left room to criticize.
Leapai, if he is dangerous, will be so early. The Samoan has quick hands early and some thud to his shots. He often winds up those shots and can be off balance on the attack, but he does more than headhunt. Leapai does go to the body, if sometimes inconsistently, and can get low in the pocket.
Let’s go to the report card. [Click Here To Read More]
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