Boxing history is full of come-from-behind victories and on Saturday night
Fabio Wardley produced a true classic of the genre
when he poleaxed Justis Huni late in the 10th while trailing on all three cards. "That's boxing," a dejected
Huni would later say.
With the dust still settling on Portman Road and what it might mean for the wider heavyweight division, we take a look at some of the previous best smash-and-grab victories in the sport.
Carl Froch TKO 12 Jermain Taylor, 25/4/2009, Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Having won the vacant WBC super middleweight title against Jean Pascal in the December 2008, Froch crossed the Atlantic to make his first defence against former undisputed champion Taylor.
But things were not going to plan for the Englishman, who was dropped in the third round and was trailing 106-102 on all three cards going into the 12th. However, the Cobra stormed out for those final three minutes and piled on the pressure, eventually securing a well-deserved stoppage with just 14 seconds left on the clock.
Julio Cesar Chavez TKO 12 Meldrick Taylor, 17/3/1990, Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Those 14 seconds seems like an age compared to just how late Chavez left it to beat Taylor in their "Thunder v Lightning" clash. Behind on two cards and just about to lose his lengthy undefeated record and WBC super lightweight title, Chavez dropped Taylor with a big right hand with 15 seconds left of the fight.
The Philadelphian clambered to his feet and looked certain to hear the final bell. But, with just two seconds remaining, referee Richard Steele waved it off in one of boxing's most controversial moments ever. "I don't care about the time," Steele said. "When I see a man who has had enough, I'm stopping the fight."
Pernell Whitaker TKO 11 Diosbelys Hurtado, 24/1/1997, Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
What is it they say about all the best-laid plans? Well Cuban Hurtado was about to ruin Whitaker’s mooted superfight with Oscar De La Hoya as he dropped Sweet Pea in the very first round and then built up a lead on all three cards.
But with the fight seemingly slipping away from him, Whitaker trapped "Black Money" on the ropes and unleashed a series of 10 unanswered left hands to force a stoppage and send the loser flopping backwards through the ropes. He got his superfight with De La Hoya just three months later but lost on points.
O’Shaquie Foster TKO 12 Eduardo Hernandez, 28/10/2023, Poliforum Benito, Cancun, Mexico
The 34-1 challenger
"Rocky" Hernandez looked to be sailing to victory in his challenge for
Foster’s WBC featherweight title. Like Huni on Saturday, Hernandez had built up a solid lead on all three cards and one judge had even given him all 11 rounds as they went into the final three minutes.
Hernandez had one job — stay on his feet and win the world title — but Foster had other ideas. He dropped Hernandez with 1:45 left of the round and then closed in for the finish. Another knockdown came as the round entered its final minute and Foster refused to let up, forcing referee Hector Afu to step in with 22 seconds left.
Diego Corrales TKO 10 Jose Luis Castillo, 7/5/2005, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
Although the scores in this one were much closer than the other fights on this list, the comeback from Corrales in the 10th round of this famous lightweight unification was truly iconic. Corrales went down from a big left hook early in the round and only just managed to beat the count.
He was over moments later as defeat looked certain, but up he climbed once again. "You gotta [expletive] get onside on him now," his trainer Joe Goossen famously said as he replaced his fighter's mouthpiece. Two big right hands later and it was Castillo in trouble before a final flurry of hooks from Corrales ended this scarcely believable contest once and for all.