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Quiz about Worlds Greatest Sporting Upsets

World's Greatest Sporting Upsets Quiz

World sport is full of anecdotes of a 'lesser' team overcoming the odds to win. Identify the winners in this diverse quiz. Good Luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by hews. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
hews

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
34,251

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1077

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who defeated Jack Dempsey to win the World Heavyweight Boxing title in 1926? Hint

Max Schmeling

Jack Sharkey

Jack Johnson

Gene Tunney

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which little known unseeded player defeated Kevin Curren to win the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in 1985, and went on to become one of the greatest players in recent history? Hint

Stefan Edberg

Boris Becker

Pat Cash

Mats Wilander

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Question 3 of 10

3. Anton Geesink defeated Akio Kaminaga to win the 1964 Olympic Gold Judo Medal. Which country did he represent? Hint

Denmark

USA

Germany

The Netherlands

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who defeated the Chicago White Sox to win Baseball's 1919 World Series? Hint

New York Yankees

Atlanta Braves

Toronto Bluejays

Cincinatti Reds

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Question 5 of 10

5. Australia were defeated in the 1996 Cricket World Cup final by which little fancied nation? Hint

Malaysia

Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka

Canada

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Question 6 of 10

6. West Germany was defeated in the preliminary rounds of the 1974 Soccer World Cup in one of the most famous matches in World Cup history. Who was their opponent? Hint

Australia

Cameroon

Portugal

East Germany

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the heavily favoured Soviet Union did not win the Gold Medal in Basketball. Which team won?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 8 of 10

8. In the Grand Prix, the 1966 World Driver's Championship was won by a man who designed and built his own car. What was his name? Hint

Jack Brabham

Niki Lauda

Juan Manuel Fangio

Bruce McLaren

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which team defeated the Baltimore Colts in 1969 to win Superbowl III in probably greatest upset in Superbowl history? Hint

Green Bay Packers

Cincinatti Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

New York Jets

10. In Rugby League's J.J. Giltinian Shield, South Sydney were beaten in the 1969 Grand Final (something about that year...) in arguably the biggest upset in the history of the sport. Which team defeated them? Hint

St. George

Parramatta

Manly

Balmain

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who defeated Jack Dempsey to win the World Heavyweight Boxing title in 1926?

Answer: Gene Tunney

Several newspapers were so certain of the result that they had to delay back page headlines to reflect the outcome of the bout. Tunney won in 1926, and eventually retired in 1928.

2. Which little known unseeded player defeated Kevin Curren to win the Wimbledon Tennis Championship in 1985, and went on to become one of the greatest players in recent history?

Answer: Boris Becker

Becker competed in six more finals, winning two.

3. Anton Geesink defeated Akio Kaminaga to win the 1964 Olympic Gold Judo Medal. Which country did he represent?

Answer: The Netherlands

Although a two-time world champion, Geesink was still a definite underdog in front of a parochial home crowd for the Japanese champion.

4. Who defeated the Chicago White Sox to win Baseball's 1919 World Series?

Answer: Cincinatti Reds

How this came about is still to some extent a mystery.

5. Australia were defeated in the 1996 Cricket World Cup final by which little fancied nation?

Answer: Sri Lanka

The whole tournament was something of an 'upset' for Sri Lanka, who emerged from the backwaters to consistently remain one of the world's best national teams.

6. West Germany was defeated in the preliminary rounds of the 1974 Soccer World Cup in one of the most famous matches in World Cup history. Who was their opponent?

Answer: East Germany

East Germany won 1-0. West Germany went on to win the championship.

7. In the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the heavily favoured Soviet Union did not win the Gold Medal in Basketball. Which team won?

Answer: Yugoslavia

8. In the Grand Prix, the 1966 World Driver's Championship was won by a man who designed and built his own car. What was his name?

Answer: Jack Brabham

Brabham failed to win a single race in the previous five years, but dominated in 1966 in his own vehicle.

9. Which team defeated the Baltimore Colts in 1969 to win Superbowl III in probably greatest upset in Superbowl history?

Answer: New York Jets

Led by Joe Namath, the Jets won 16-7.

Answer: Balmain

South Sydney won the following two years.

Source: Author hews

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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