VIDEO: Ali, Foreman, Hurst, Bannister, Redgrave, Botham, Maradona and Lomu provide seven of the world’s most memorable sporting moments

Britain’s Tyson Fury wrote his name in the sporting history books with a momentous win over Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday night.

It was a shock result, at least for fans of the Ukrainian heavyweight who had not suffered a professional loss in 11 years.

But was it such a memorable sporting moment that people will always recall where they were the night Fury captured the world title?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are seven sporting moments that can never be forgotten.

1 - Rumble in the Jungle

Undefeated world heavyweight champion George Foreman was knocked out by Muhammad Ali, a former heavyweight champion in front of 60,000 in Kinshasa, Zaire which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The fight was one of Don King’s first ventures as a professional promoter and has become one of the most famous bouts of all time.

Ali regained his title, against the odds, knocking out a younger and stronger man, and told the world he was the greatest.

2 - England win the 1966 World Cup

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

English football can’t yet let go of this triumph, the country’s only World Cup victory, and the rest of the footballing world hasn’t been allowed to forget.

The match winning goal and its now iconic commentary by Kenneth Wolstenholme were fitting for the last World Cup final to be broadcast in black and white.

A crowd of 98,000 watched England beat West Germany 4-2, with two extra-time goals from hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst.

England’s third was one of the most controversial goals in history, adding to the game’s intrigue and spectacle.

3 - Roger Bannister breaks four-minute mile barrier

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In 1954 Sir Roger Bannister became the first person to run a sub-four minute mile, breaking what had become an almost mythical barrier.

On 6th May at Iffley Road track in Oxford, the English runner ran 3 min 59.4 sec in front of around 3,000 spectators.

The 50th anniversary of Bannister’s achievement was marked by a commemorative British 50-pence coin. The reverse of the coin shows the legs of a runner and a stopwatch stopped at 3:59.4.

4 - Redgrave wins fifth Olympic gold

Sir Steve Redgrave said in 1996, after winning a fourth Olympic gold medal, that if anyone found him close to a rowing boat again they could shoot him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the rowing sensation was back at it four years later, winning gold at a fifth consecutive games.

His amazing medal haul came between 1984 to 2000.

It was that final gold, in Sydney, that earmarked him as Great Britain’s finest ever Olympian.

Redgrave is the most successful male rower in Olympic history, and the only person to have won gold medals at five Olympic Games in an endurance sport.

5 - Botham hits the Aussies for six in 1981 Ashes

With a backdrop of adversity, Ian Botham inspired one of Test cricket’s greatest victories in 1981.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He had resigned the England captaincy after the second Ashest test at Lord’s, after a poor run of results.

England were one down and looked to be heading for a series defeat again.

At 135-7 they needed 92 runs just to make the Aussies bat again, but Botham – who had taken six wickets and made a half century already in the Test – made a scintillating 149 to spur England on to a famous victory.

6 - Maradona’s Hand of God goal and sensational second

The 1986 World Cup game between Argentina and England saw the worst and the best of Maradona.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His first goal became known as the ‘Hand of God goal’ after he jumped to challenge Peter Shilton and clearly knocked the ball into the net with his hand - but the match officials failed to spot the infringement.

It was one of the most high profile officiating errors in football history.

Then came one of the best goals in the sport’s history, as Maradona dribbled the ball past Beardsley, Reid, Butcher, Fenwick, Butcher again, and finally goalkeeper Shilton.

7 - All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu destroys England

The recent passing of All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu brought to mind some of his career highlights.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And he was at his explosive best against England in the 1995 World Cup.

The giant winger scored four tries in that match to help the All Blacks qualify for the final, the first of was the most memorable as he received a pass behind him, beat two defenders and then, after a stumble, ran straight over the top of Mike Catt.

Illness derailed his career, but he still played 63 times for New Zealand and scored 37 international tries.

News you can trust since 1952
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice