Boxing doesn’t follow scripts. That’s part of what makes it so gripping. You can study the form, the records, the odds and still get it completely wrong. Sometimes, all it takes is a single punch to flip everything. Over the years, there have been knockouts that didn’t just end fights; they changed how people looked at the sport itself.
That said, in this piece, we will take a look at the knockouts that shook up the boxing world.
Unexpected knockouts in boxing
Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson
Going into this boxing fight, Mike Tyson looked untouchable. He had built an aura around him that made opponents seem beaten before the first bell. Buster Douglas wasn’t expected to last long, let alone win. But the fight didn’t follow the narrative. Douglas stayed composed, boxed with intent, and in the tenth round, he finished Tyson. The shock wasn’t just in the result, it was in how convincingly it happened.
36 years ago today, Buster Douglas upset Iron Mike Tyson in what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in sports history 😲
Heading into the fight, Douglas was a massive underdog at 42-1 odds 😳 pic.twitter.com/fPUVsZzA4T
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) February 12, 2026
Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao IV
By the time these two met for the fourth time, fans knew it would be competitive. Manny Pacquiao was pressing forward, looking sharp, when Juan Manuel Marquez found his moment. A perfectly timed right hand landed clean, and Pacquiao went down hard, face first. The suddenness of it left the arena silent for a moment. It’s the kind of knockout that people remember exactly where they were when it happened.
Andy Ruiz Jr. vs Anthony Joshua I
This one had all the signs of a routine title defense for Anthony Joshua. Andy Ruiz Jr. came in late, without much hype behind him. Early on, it seemed like things were going as expected, until they weren’t. Ruiz responded to adversity with speed and sharp combinations, dropping Joshua multiple times before the fight was stopped. It was chaotic, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
A great round of heavyweight boxing. Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz round 3. Ruiz down then Joshua down twice pic.twitter.com/CWmP12YpbF
— El Guru (@FYMTommyGuru) September 23, 2025
Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury II
The first fight had been close, so the rematch felt like it could go either way. What unfolded was something else entirely. Tyson Fury came forward with intent, taking the fight to Deontay Wilder and breaking his rhythm early. The pressure never really let up. By the seventh round, Wilder’s corner had seen enough. It wasn’t a single punch that shocked people here, but the complete shift in control.
Moments like these are why boxing holds its edge. No matter how much you think you know, there’s always room for surprise.
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