Greatest sporting shocks in light of Leicester City’s remarkable success
Published:
Lee Gormley | May 3, 2016
Leicester complete greatest sporting shock
Football followers around the world are running out of ways to describe the remarkable achievements of Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City this season, having finally secured the Premier League title.
Such are the astonishing heroics of the fantastic Foxes, that their victory has gone down as one of the biggest sporting shocks in history, after beginning the campaign as 5000/1 outsiders for success with Coral.
With Leicester having now achieved sporting immortality, bookmakers all over the country have taken a combined £20m hit (with Coral losing just over £2m in ante post singles), after many bets were placed during the height of the Foxes’ title-winning price.
Did we mention Leicester were 5000/1? Here's a re-cap of their odds journey: pic.twitter.com/BuaJOzjAd9
— Coral (@Coral) May 3, 2016
Following the sensational success which Leicester (28/1 to win the 2016/17 Premier League) have enjoyed, Coral bring you other sporting shocks which stunned the world from massive outside odds.
Douglas stuns Tyson in 1990 (42/1)
Leicester may be enjoying a gallant success story on the pitch but, back in 1990 in Tokyo, American Buster Douglas stunned the world in the ring, incredibly knocking out then-heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to reign supreme.
Douglas’ achievement was so unlikely that only one Las Vegas casino was offering odds on a victory for the Ohio-born fighter, entering the squared-circle as a huge 42/1 outsider to prevail.
Sending Tyson sprawling to the canvas in devastating fashion in the 10th round of their bout, Douglas instantly cemented his name into the history books, before losing his heavyweight titles to Evander Holyfield eight months later.
Ivanisevic wins 2001 Wimbledon title (250/1)
To this day, retired Croatian Goran Ivanisevic remains the only man ever to win a Wimbledon singles title after entering as a wildcard, with his odds being held at a mammoth 250/1 before taking to the famous grass courts.
Ivanisevic rallied to this unthinkable victory having finished runner-up at the Grand Slam in all of 1992, 1994 and 1998, and was ranked 125th in the world standings before lifting the trophy, with his final win over Patrick Rafter subsequently taking him to 16th afterwards.
Greece triumph at Euro 2004 (150/1)
Euro 2004 witnessed one of the biggest upsets ever to occur in international football, with minnows Greece battling to European glory, despite taking to the Portugal-hosted tournament as 150/1 underdogs for victory.
The Greeks toppled the hosts 2-1 in their opening match-up in Group A, then earning a narrow 1-0 triumph in the final to overcome Luis Felipe Scolari’s star-studded roster, which featured the likes of Deco, Pauleta, Luis Figo and a young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Johnson claims 1986 Crucible crown (150/1)
In 1986 Joe Johnson caused shockwaves at the Crucible, becoming a surprise world champion by dispatching snooker great and then-overwhelming favourite Steve Davis, securing an impressive 18-12 coup.
That title was the Bradford potter’s one and only ranking event success during his career, and also got the better of Welsh baize legend Terry Griffiths on his road to victory.
Japan stun South Africa at 2015 World Cup (66/1)
Last year, Japan completed arguably the biggest upset in rugby union history, gallantly fighting past two-time world champions South Africa to clinch a narrow 34-32 World Cup win.
Karne Hesketh crossed in the final minute to make history and see the Japanese claim a sublime Pool B encounter in Brighton, after being tipped at 66/1 to record such a success.
Other 5000/1 sporting shots available
Leicester’s sensational season is proof that anything can happen in sport and, as well as past success stories, there are other possible, but unlikely, fairytales than could come true in the near future.
The Foxes started their campaign at 5000/1 and currently, the same odds can be had on Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland side winning the 2018 World Cup, with Leicester having paved the way for many more glorious sporting shocks.
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