The Sporting Blog - Sports Interviews, Trivia, Stories, Reviews, Fitness & Training. Evergreen sports content, covering all sports.  The best non-news sports website in the world. The best sports blog on the internet The Most Memorable Upsets in Sports History — The Sporting Blog
The Most Memorable Upsets in Sports History

The Most Memorable Upsets in Sports History

What Are the Most Memorable Upsets in Sports History?

Everyone loves a great comeback story or watching the underdog win against all odds.

The Sporting Blog lists the top most memorable upsets in sports history - crazy twists that surprised the world!

Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson boxing

Buster Douglas vs Mike Tyson - one of the greatest upsets in sports history

Once in a while, an underdog proves everyone wrong, achieving a victory nobody thought possible!

Some of the most memorable moments in sports history are the unexpected upsets that nobody saw coming.

We take a look at the most memorable upsets in sports history - from boxing to the NFL.

Leicester City Wins the Premier League, 2015-2016

Football fans have witnessed their fair share of upsets throughout the years - and the sport's history is full of great comeback stories.

However, Leicester winning the 2015-2016 Premier League title is considered one of the greatest upsets in the history of all sports.

Nothing prepared football fans for Leicester City's remarkable victory. The odds were not in the team's favour, yet they managed to secure first place, leaving even their most loyal fans dumb-founded by how they'd done it. 

When Tottenham Hotspur failed to secure a victory over Chelsea on May 2, 2016, Leicester City clinched the title.

The team pulled off their stunning achievement just one season after being promoted to the Premier League, making their accomplishment that much more impressive.

Nobody could have predicted Leicester's rapid ascent. It was a welcome change for a league where the same six clubs won the title during the previous 10 seasons. 

football stadium with the words "The Football Blog" and the sporting blog logo

Check out our football blog for more

Buster Douglas Beats Mike Tyson, 1990

From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, Mike Tyson dominated the boxing world.

Although he wasn't one of the fastest boxers of all-time, he pummelled fighters with ease, leading to almost five years of continuous knockouts in the ring.

His prowess attracted new fans to the sport, with everyone wanting to witness his right uppercut. He was so good that Nintendo's Punch-Out video game carried his name.

When people tuned in to watch a Mike Tyson fight, they were generally confident he would win. However, at the Tokyo Dome on February 11, 1990, Buster Douglas had other plans.

Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when he faced off against Douglas.

Everyone thought Douglas was just a warm-up before Tyson faced his real competitor, Evander Holyfield, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time.

In fact, a few commentators predicted the fight between Tyson and Douglas would be over in less than two minutes.

However, Douglas would land a knockout punch against Tyson in the 10th round, solidifying his place on our list of the greatest upset stories in sporting history!

The Miracle on Ice, 1980

The Soviet National Team was the favourite to win gold for ice hockey at the 1980 Olympics. The Soviets dominated the sport and were considered the most talented group of hockey players in the world.

However, a group of collegiate players from the US shocked the world when they unexpectedly beat the Soviet Team. This victory would go down in sports lore as The Miracle on Ice.

Mike Eruzione landed a tie-breaking goal with 10 minutes left in the third quarter to secure the US victory.

Although the Soviets tried to mount a comeback, the US team would win 4-3, achieving one of the biggest upsets in American sports history.

New York Giants Beat the New England Patriots, 2008

The New England Patriots were unstoppable during the 2008 season, finishing with a 16-0 record. This made the Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants look like a mere formality on their road to an inevitable championship.

The Patriots were 12-point favourites to beat the Giants in the biggest game of the year. However, they couldn't get past the Giants’ formidable defensive line, which limited Tom Brady's impact during the game.

Michael Strahan and Eli Manning at Super Bowl XLII

Michael Strahan and Eli Manning at Super Bowl XLII - no one expected the Giants to win!

The Giants trailed the Patriots until late into the fourth quarter, when Eli Manning saved the day by avoiding a sack and getting the ball to David Tyree.

Manning would go on to throw the winning pass to Plaxico Burress for a touchdown, derailing the Patriots’ road to victory and making this game one of the most surprising Super Bowl wins of all-time.

What sporting moment would you add to our list of the most memorable upsets in history? Tell us in the comments.

Bears coach with the words "NFL Blog" and the sporting blog logo

Read more on our NFL blog

Know the Game: Hurling

Know the Game: Hurling

The 5 Most Successful Football Clubs in Europe

The 5 Most Successful Football Clubs in Europe