9. Giant heart, crappy shoulder: Danny Williams knocks out Mark Potter fighting one-handed with a dislocated shoulder (watch it on YouTube)

Previously: 10

British heavyweight Danny “Brixton Bomber” Williams was a promising 21-1 when given a second shot at the then vacant BBBofC British heavyweight championship against 14-2 Mark Potter in October 2000. 

Williams had fallen short in his first try for the esteemed UK belt, losing a decision to Julius Francis in April 1999. However, Williams had gone on to win the Commonwealth Boxing Council Heavyweight championship, that was also on the line against Francis, by decisioning Harry Senior in December 1999.

Williams vs. Potter was staged in support of up-and-coming super lightweight sensation Ricky Hatton’s 12-round decision over Jon Thaxton in the main event.

For the first six minutes, the fight was eventful but not outside the realm of normal. Williams had already been docked a penalty point for a low blow by Referee John Coyle and Potter had a knockdown of Williams incorrectly ruled a slip, then was questionably ruled down himself in round two.

In round three, all sense of normalcy of a domestic heavyweight title fight went out the window when Williams quite clearly dislocated his shoulder, rendering the limb useless for all intents and purposes. While 999 of 1000 fighters would call it a day at this point, considering it a fool’s errand to keep fighting, Williams was the one in a thousand who refused to quit. 

To the awe and wonderment of all who witnessed, Williams fought on, mostly one-handed, as his shoulder popped in and out for the next two rounds, while absorbing the onslaught of Potter who saw the opportunity in front of him and went all-out looking to capitalize.

Adding to his adversity, the battered Williams was docked two more penalty points in round four. 

And then in round six, with his drooping shoulder popped all the way out and grievously wounded, Williams miraculously discovered he could still land his left uppercut by timing Potter coming in and threw a wicked one with all the leverage a 200 lbs fighting slot machine can generate.

It worked and a badly hurt Potter went down for a count of nine. 

Discovering the formula to win, Williams did it again and again, dropping Potter two more times before Referee Coyle waved it off at 2:41 of round six.

Behind on the cards and the only person among the millions watching live who still thought he could win, Williams’ heart pulled out an incredible victory and produced a boxing classic for the ages.