Big single shot KO artists like Julian Jackson, Earnie Shavers, and Diego Corrales have that great eraser that makes every fight interesting. Even when way behind, they are always in every fight. However, they are not the only ones who score these miracle KOs. In fact, when they do it, it is not really a miracle. When more average punchers like McCallum and Sergio Martinez score highlight reel KOs over men like Donald Curry and Paul Williams, respectively, it is more impressive. Not only because of the caliber of opponent who was felled, but because it seemed so unlikely. here are a handful of fights where a supposed light hitter came up with a big (usually one-punch) KO.
Bryant Paden over Calvin Grove
Grove was a former world champion trying to get back on track, when he took on journeyman Paden. Paden only had 4 KO's in 21 previous fights, but came up big with a huge overhand right, in front of his hometown fans in Philadelphia. Grove hit the deck hard, and could not rise. It was a peak for Paden, but televised on USA, what a peak it was. Grove would go on to right the ship, and still score some more impressive wins, but no one else stopped him the way Paden did.
Calvin Grove over Jeff Fenech
Yes, Grove appear twice on this list, because he too is a light hitting fighter, albeit at a much higher level. 3-division champion Fenech was coming off a year layoff, and his first defeat, in a rematch with Azumah Nelson. It seems that once the granite was chipped away, it revealed a more exploitable weakness. Grove took the fight to a surprised Fenech, and knocked him out with one punch in round 7 of their matchup in Australia. Fenech would make it back for one more title challenge, but once the chin went, so did his championship-winning ability.
Paul Malignaggi over Kevin Watts
This New England matchup is another where the hometown fighter was the victim. Maliganggi had won his first 3 fights by KO, then scarcely scored another as he rattled off more than a dozen straight wins. He was dominating journeyman Watts, yet the Massachusetts fighter kept wading in, unafraid. That lack of fear ended in round 6, with one big right hand. Watts struggled to rise, but was clearly finished. Malignaggi's career included two world titles, and not a single other KO win like this.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
