10. Micky Ward vs. Alfonso Sanchez (watch it on YouTube)
In 1997, Micky Ward, the man who gave us so many classic wars in his remarkable career, was just another fighter.
Ward was, by no means, a bum, but he also wasn’t considered destined for any kind of notoriety in the squared circle. In fact, from 1987-1991, he went 10-7 before taking three years off to work construction.
And then came the Alfonso “Poncho” Sanchez fight and the first glimpse of the magic “Irish” Micky could produce.
Fighting on the undercard of Pernell Whitaker versus Oscar De La Hoya, Ward was pitted against undefeated Mexican Sanchez who, at 16-0, 15 KOs, was considered possibly destined for notoriety.
From the opening bell, and much to the ever-increasing chagrin of the HBO broadcast team of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Roy Jones Jr., Ward fought like a scared man, circling around Sanchez and refusing to engage in any kind of violence. Aside from Ward getting dropped by an uppercut in round five, the passive monotony continued through the middle rounds, as Ward moved around the outer edges of ring like it was a game of tag, rather than a boxing match.
By round seven, the HBO team was urging referee Mitch Halpern to stop the drubbing while pondering if Ward should even get paid and suggesting viewers were owed a partial refund… And then, the miracle.
From out of nowhere, Ward landed a body shot that Jones noticed bothered Sanchez. Seconds later, Ward moved in and landed what would become his signature punch: a perfect left hook to the liver. Sanchez crumbled to the canvas instantly and was counted out while writhing in pain as a bewildered Merchant humorously shouted “What am I looking at here?… I still don’t believe what I just saw!”
Sanchez had won every second of every round of the fight before the unbelievable ending.
