Craziest Knockouts in Sports

Two syllables that say what they mean: "knock" and "out." Knock as in "clobber." Out as in "out of consciousness."

Generally we think of the knockout as the crowning, climatic moment. It often comes from a stunning final blow at the end of a hard-fought battle.

But not always. Sometimes the circumstances are a bit...well, odder than that.

Here now are 25 of the most bizarre knockout videos you'll ever see.

25. Harris English Drops Volunteer at Sawgrass

TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium Course: May 12, 2012

Poor Denny Meredith, tournament volunteer. He gets thoroughly clocked in the bean with English's errant shot off the tee.

What does he get for his pain? Well, his loot bag includes an apology, a thank you and two autographed gloves.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 25,000

24. Vojislav Skoric Destroys Back-Row Player

Time and Date: Unknown

What is known (and can be seen here in lovely high def) is that Vojislav Skoric sends a missile right into the face of a libero on the opposing team.

Someone's going to have a nasty headache when he wakes up.

YouTube Views: Over 40,000

23. Jerome Ropati Shellacs Joel Clinton

NRL Round-Robin Game, New Zealand Warriors vs. Brisbane Broncos: 2009

At a height of  5'9" (176 cm) and a weight of 214 pounds (97 kg), the Warriors' Jerome Ropati need not look both ways when he crosses the street; if he's hit, it'll be the car that crumples.

Unfortunately, poor Joel Clinton didn't even have the meager protection of a vehicle frame when he took this nuclear hit.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 88,000

22. Gareth Raynor Lays Sam Tokins Flat

Bradford Bulls vs. Wigan Warriors, Challenge Cup: May 22, 2011

No doubt many athletes have daydreamed on the field. Zoned out mid game. But Sam Tomkins very well might be the only athlete in history to score while utterly unconscious.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 165,000

21. Robert Allenby Fells Spectator

Australian Masters: Nov. 12, 2010

Allenby owes this spectator big time. Firstly, for the gent's amicable attitude—he reportedly smiled and gave a thumbs up as he was being stretchered away—and secondly for stopping the ball from careening farther into the gallery.

Allenby ended up making par for the hole.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 280,000

20. Massive High School Lacrosse Hit

Chandler Wolves vs. Desert Vista Thunder: Date Unknown

Desert Vista player No. 55 becomes a human wrecking ball as he takes down Chandler player No. 27. 

Twenty-two seconds into the video, it looks as though the Chandler player will just jump back to his feet, but keep watching. Poor kid is going to need another minute...or 20.

YouTube Views: Over 368,000

19. Jack Tatum Obliterates Sammy White in Super Bowl XI

Super Bowl XI, Oakland Raiders vs. Minnesota Vikings: Jan. 9, 1977

Vikings receiver Sammy White makes a great snag, but before he has a chance to pick up some more yardage, Oakland free safety Jack Tatum explodes into him.

White's helmet rockets off his head like a cork popping off a champagne bottle.

It was a hit that, according to The New York Times, "has become enshrined in NFL history."

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 445,000

18. Sinister Lacrosse Sucker Punch

St. Andrew’s vs. St. Thomas Aquinas, South Florida High School Lacrosse Finals: May 1, 2012

STA's Jake Champion was ejected from the game for throwing a punch. No, not the punch you see in this video. That was the punch after the punch.

The receiver of slug number two, St. Andrew's Jordan Todd, was down for a 20 count, then went on to finish the game. Tough kid.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 467,000

17. Mike Richards Bushwhacks David Booth

Florida Panthers vs. Philadelphia Flyers: Oct. 24, 2009

David Booth's jaw gained intimate knowledge of Mike Richards' shoulder in this stunning wallop.

"I just wanted to separate him from the puck," Richards said later.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 500,000

16. Ryan Clark Freight-Trains Wes Welker

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots: Nov. 30, 2008

Welker is the man. After surviving this hit, which by all means should have vaporized him, he shrugged it off, saying: "It's football. You get hit a lot."

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 780,000

15. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Collide

Asia Cup 2012, India vs. Pakistan, 5th Match, Inning 1

Like two molecules in an animated chemistry tutorial, India's Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma slam into one another. 

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 800,000

14. Holy Trinity Gal Delivers an Epic Spike

Holy Trinity Catholic High vs. Winfield-Mount Union (Iowa High Schools), Women's Volleyball: October 2012

The devastating spike drops a Winfield-Mount Union player, ricochets and takes out a spectator. Now the notorious shot careens and carooms through cyber space as a certified viral-video hit.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 830,000

13. Jesse Boulerice Settles an Old Score

Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sept. 22, 2010

Looking for a riveting exchange of punches? Well, you won't get your fix here. Jesse Boulerice lays out Aaron Downey with a single haymaker.

For Boulerice, this was likely sweet revenge for a 2003 scuffle with Downey that had ended quite differently.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 1.08 Million

12. Paul Griggs Gets Knocked Out by a Tap

Danny Green vs. Paul Briggs, International Boxing Organization Cruiserweight Title Fight

This fight was over so fast, and the deciding punch was so insignificant that Briggs was accused of taking a dive. He was found guilty, but in March 2012, the decision was overturned.

The exonerated fighter made this proud Facebook posting (via PerthNow.com):

"

108Fights 99wins 9loss 73ko's AND '0' F--KING THROWN FIGHTS.

"

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 1.75 Million

11. Andrew Symonds Puts Nekkid in Its Place

Australia vs. India, The Gabba, Brisbane, Australia: March 3, 2007

Note to streakers: Streaking is not cool. We don't want to see your junk; we want to watch the game. If you don't heed this advice, at least do yourself this favor: When streaking amongst powerful, fast athletes, maintain a wide berth.

Here Andrew Symonds expresses his thoughts on the matter to a streaker from Adelaide.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 1.8 Million

10. Tyler Bryan and Shaun Parker Practice Synchronized Sprawling

Legends of Fighting, Tyler Bryan vs. Shaun Parker: May 16, 2008

So perfect is this double knockout that it's hard to believe it wasn't choreographed. And here's the icing on the cake: The song that was playing as both men donned their halos of stars? "We Are The Champions" by Queen.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 1.8 Million

9. Didier Drogba Imapled by Cleats

Chelsea vs. Manchester United: Nov. 8, 2009

Chelsea's Drogba gets kung-fu kicked in the chest by Manchester United's Jonny Evans. Drogba writhes in pain, and...then inexplicably gets booked with a yellow card.

Check out this hilarious and biting blog post, which puts forth theories to explain the ref's unpopular decision.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 3.3 Million

8. Veronica Rothlenhauser Doesn't Like to Waste Time

Tuff-N-Uff, Festibrawl 2: July 6, 2012

As of publication time, Veronica Rothlenhauser has fought and won three times. Her total time in the Octagon is 130 seconds. Oh, and 120 of those were from her first fight.

Yeah, you do the math.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 4.7 Million

7. Philadelphia Field Crasher Gets Tasered

Phillies vs. Cardinals: May 3, 2010

"

Steve Consalvi: Dad, can I run on the field?

Wayne Consalvi: I don't think you should, son.

"

Yeah, that is reportedly a real conversation that transpired via mobile phone shortly before Stevie boy got lit up with 50,000 volts.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 4.77 Million

6. Chelsea Captain John Terry Knocked Out Cold

Chelsea vs. Arsenal, Football League Cup Final: February 25, 2007

Terry's attempted diving header does make contact. Only along with the ball, Terry's head catches Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby's foot. 

WHAM!

You'd swear Terry was stone-cold dead when his hands stop flailing and he goes limp. But after being stretchered away for medical attention, he returned to celebrate Chelsea's victory.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 5.4 Million

5. Elvis Bowling Metes Out a Monstrous Sucker Punch

Uruguay: November 2000

Unhappy with a call, former Argentine player Elvis Bowling slugged referee Fabia Bloominblate. The ref was out cold for more than three hours and needed surgery to save his eyesight and set his broken jaw.

Bowling was of course banned from the league for life.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 6 Million

4. Zab Judah Is Knocked Out but Doesn't Know It

Zab Judah vs. Kostya Tszyu, Championship Fight: Nov. 3, 2001

Tszyu connects with a sharp right, and Judah goes down to snack on some canvas. But while Judah's mind seems to be conscious, his body doesn't. He does a little harvest jig then goes down again before the ref makes the controversial call to end the fight.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 10.6 Million

3. Keith Herring Doesn't Want to Be Kissed

Keith Herring vs. Yoshihiro Nakao: Dec. 31, 2005

Hey, doesn't everyone hope for a kiss on New Year's Eve? Guess not. When Nakao plants one on Herring before the match, he gets a New Year's migraine in return.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 12.5 Million

2. Marcus Aurelio Helicopters Keegan Marshall

Marcus Aurelio vs. Keegan Marshall: April 4, 2009

Hopefully YouTube views are not at all akin to voodoo-doll pins. Otherwise poor Keegan is feeling the pain of Aurelio's stupendous capoeira kick thousands of times per day.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 13 Million

1. James Thunder Blanks Crawford Grimsley...and Fast

James Thunder vs. Crawford Grimsley: March 18, 1997

About a second and a half into the first round, Thunder throws the first and only punch of this fight. At 13 seconds, the fight is over.

If you're thinking Grimsley must have been a scrub, know that not long before taking on Thunder, Grimsley had gone 12 rounds with the mighty George Foreman.

YouTube Views (From Various Uploads): Over 16 Million