What are the most memorable upsets in Sports History

The biggest upsets in the history of professional sport

Everyone loves a great comeback story or watching the underdog win when all odds are against them. If your team is usually the underdog, you probably don't have many reasons to cheer.

However, 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.

In this article, learn about some of the most surprising upsets in sports history.

Leicester City wins the Premier League, 2015-2016

Football fans have witnessed their fair share of upsets throughout the years. 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 had won the League title during the previous ten seasons. 

Buster Douglas beats Mike Tyson, 1990

From the mid-1980s to the early-1990s, Mike Tyson dominated boxing like few boxers had before him. 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, such was his ferocity. However, Buster Douglas had other plans at the Tokyo Dome on February 11, 1990.

Mike Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world when he faced off against Douglas. Nobody took Douglas seriously and everybody thought he was just a warm-up before Tyson faced his real competitor, Evander Holyfield.

A few commentators predicted the fight between Tyson and Douglas would be over in less than two minutes. Ultimately, Douglas would land a knockout punch against Tyson in the 10th round, solidifying his place as one of the greatest upset stories in sporting history. 

The Miracle on Ice, 1980

The Soviet National Team was the favourite to win gold in the 1980 Olympics by a long shot. The Soviets dominated the sport and were considered by many to be 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 Giant's formidable defensive line, which limited Tom Brady's impact during the game.

The Giants trailed the Patriots until late in 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 Patriot's road to victory.