You guys like to list shit so go at it. List some cases of almooooost there but not quite. Obviously Taylor vs Chavez would be THE example. List more.
Cooper-Ali is the best example I can think of off the top of my head. I personally think Ali would have found a way through it but it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if that punch had landed earlier in the round, it was a great shot. I remember Maidana landing a great punch on Floyd which hurt him just before the bell in the second fight, caught him totally off-guard as it was a counter to Mayweather's pull-counter. Again though, I think Floyd would have made his way through the storm if it had happened earlier in the round.
I don't think it qualifies as huge but the first one that came to mind is Jirov-Mesi. I recall this one more vividly because I predicted a late round stoppage for Jirov and it came so close to unfolding as I foresaw.
Taylor beating Chavez would not have been a HUGE upset. Taylor was extremely highly regarded going into that fight, and it was a unification fight. Chavez was the favorite, but not an overwhelming favorite.
Not sure how much of an underdog dauthuille was since he already beat lamotta before, but i think it qualifies
Yeah I think it was the 4th round at the bell, in their second fight. Floyd went into the ropes but I think he would have visited the canvas had it been at center ring. That said, Floyd would have absolutely regained his composure and assumed control to dominate Maidana.
Quartey-Lopez I remember thinking was close to an upset win when Lopez put him down again in that 11th round. Calzaghe-Jones. More of a forearm than anything. Had Roy's timing and accuracy been a bit better with that right hand, he may just have been able to finish Calzaghe.
I don’t even remember Maidana hurting Floyd. I do remember thinking Maidana appeared to be winning the fight though so that goes on the list for a different reason IMO. I actually think Mosley may have been closer to finishing Floyd than Maidana was. Also let’s not forget the Floyd Castillo fight which could have gone the other way.
Cotto vs Corley. If Corley had any idea how to finish it would have been over there and then. I was screaming at the TV for Corley to finish him off because at the time I was sick and tired of the hype on the forum from Hex One and Illuminati about this Cotto cat and wanted to see him exposed.
Neither guy was close to stopping Floyd but Maidana definitely shook Floyd up and Mayweather was lucky it happened at the bell.
Holmes had two terrifying brushes with disaster, the famous Shavers bomb that looked like it killed him and the surprise Renaldo Snipes right hand that was perilously close to costing him the big Cooney payday