Fighters that you mistakenly underrated.

[the_churn]

Are there any fighters that you previously underrated who, with their retirement or the passage of time, you have realized that you were mistaken about their greatness?

For me it is/was Evander Holyfield. As a young boxing fan the 90's, I never thought he was all that interesting; especially in the wake of Tyson's youthful metoric career. With time, however, I have come to appreciate Holyfield as being a greater fighter than Tyson and certainly all of the bums who currently are stinking up the heavies. I don't know why I wasn't a huge fan when he was still in his prime, other than I didn't know enough about boxing to appreciate him.

Anyone else feel a similar way about another fighter?

[WiDDoW_MaKeR]

I would have to go with Barrera. I knew that he was good, but after watching his fights with Junior Jones... coming into his first fight with Morales, I really thought that Morales would beat him, and that would be about the end of seeing Barrera in there with the big guns. Obviously I was dead wrong at it being the end of Barrera, although I did have Morales winning that first and second fight. Barrera ended up having a great career after that fight.

[EARL]

Tyson.

[DanePugilist]

Hmm - can't really think of anybody at the moment. Maybe Calzaghe.

[booradley]

Larry Holmes lived in Ali's shadow. It's only been in retrospect that I really started to appreciate how great he was.

Boo

[I_Neutral]

Yes....larry holmes is one of the most underrated fighters in history.

[the_churn]

Yes....larry holmes is one of the most underrated fighters in history.

I recall everyone in my neighborhood growing up giving him no shot whatsoever against Cooney. Why I have no idea, because Holmes' talent seems without question in retrospect.

[pelican]

JMM. i though he was nothing but a b level fighter content on fighting b-c level fighters but the pac rematch proved otherwise. hes good

[puga_ni_nana]

JMM. i though he was nothing but a b level fighter content on fighting b-c level fighters but the pac rematch proved otherwise. hes good


haven't you watched his fights against juarez and barrera aside from the first pac fight? i'm surprised how many pinoys underrate marquez prior to the rematch.

[I_Neutral]

JMM underrated?? The guy has been one of the best fighters in the world for a looooong time.

[kg0208]

Foreman.....what he did in his 40's was remarkable.

[C Money]

Miguel Cotto!

I picked him to lose vs Malignaggi and Quintana. I erroneously believed he was as mechanical and weak chinned enough to get beat by truly slick fighters who could jab.

I cant remember a fighter who beat my opinion in such fashion. I took Paulies lumps and winced with CQ.

Thats the type of R-E-S-P-E-C-T that comes with fighting and beating tough opponents. Add Judah and SSM? And whats he get for his troubles? DUCKED by the supposed P4P Champ:-( :-( :-(

Out of respect for what he's done in between the bells? I wil VOCIFEROUSLY speak out for his EARNED RIGHT to face Floyd Mayweather Jr.:yep

Go ahead Miguel Cotto keep your mindset, routine, and DESIRE. This guy cant duck you forever without losing serious respect in the game:good

[Musashi]

I underrated Lennox Lewis in the 90's. I didn't really appreciate him until after he retired. I had to really look at his career as a whole before I realized how good he really was.

Max Kellerman of all people had a really good article on ESPN a few years ago explaining why he thought that '90-'98 was the 2nd best heavyweight era ever. That argument clinched Lewis for me. I say that, because Lewis was pretty clearly one of the two or three top heavies of that era, and definitely the ruler of the heavies going into the 21st century.

[Musashi]

Miguel Cotto!

I picked him to lose vs Malignaggi and Quintana. I erroneously believed he was as mechanical and weak chinned enough to get beat by truly slick fighters who could jab.

I cant remember a fighter who beat my opinion in such fashion. I took Paulies lumps and winced with CQ.

Thats the type of R-E-S-P-E-C-T that comes with fighting and beating tough opponents. Add Judah and SSM? And whats he get for his troubles? DUCKED by the supposed P4P Champ:-( :-( :-(

Out of respect for what he's done in between the bells? I wil VOCIFEROUSLY speak out for his EARNED RIGHT to face Floyd Mayweather Jr.:yep

Go ahead Miguel Cotto keep your mindset, routine, and DESIRE. This guy cant duck you forever without losing serious respect in the game:good


Gotta respect this argument.

[pelican]

haven't you watched his fights against juarez and barrera aside from the first pac fight? i'm surprised how many pinoys underrate marquez prior to the rematch.

oh yeah, i saw those fights and im not impressed. juarez is another b-level one dimentional fighter and barrera was already washed up then. remember how he struggled against some of his b-c level fighers, specially against southpaws? and he actually lost to one of them bums (chris john)

[pelican]

JMM underrated?? The guy has been one of the best fighters in the world for a looooong time.
uh?? i didnt know he was one of the best for a LOOOOOOONG time.

tell me any remarkable name in his resume, aside from a washed up barrera.:deal

[BigBone]

Miguel Cotto!

I picked him to lose vs Malignaggi and Quintana. I erroneously believed he was as mechanical and weak chinned enough to get beat by truly slick fighters who could jab.

I cant remember a fighter who beat my opinion in such fashion. I took Paulies lumps and winced with CQ.

Thats the type of R-E-S-P-E-C-T that comes with fighting and beating tough opponents. Add Judah and SSM? And whats he get for his troubles? DUCKED by the supposed P4P Champ:-( :-( :-(

Out of respect for what he's done in between the bells? I wil VOCIFEROUSLY speak out for his EARNED RIGHT to face Floyd Mayweather Jr.:yep

Go ahead Miguel Cotto keep your mindset, routine, and DESIRE. This guy cant duck you forever without losing serious respect in the game:good
Wow! Same with me man! What a mistake of mine! I had money on Malignaggi, Quintana and Mosley to win a decision.

I never thought he could pull it off vs. Mosley bacause the only style worked well against Shane was the perfect jab-based, defensive, technical boxing. What a performance... Cotto is there now with Hopkins - both can pull it off everytime somehow...

[Fat Joe]

David Haye - Dropped by a SMW, beaten by an old Carl Thompson and looked on his way out against Fragomeni. I can't stand his arrogance and couldn't wait for him to be exposed. But after taking out Mormeck and Maccarinelli I grudgingly accept he is the real deal.

[TFFP]

Nate Campbell

[PaddyD1983]

Kelly Pavlik

I really thought he was a laboured, stand up boxer. I picked JT for the rematch on the basis that Taylor fought the wrong fight the first time round. Taylor did change his style for the rematch but so did Kelly and dismantled him again.

Respect to Pavlik - wont be betting against him anytime soon!

[nickthegreek]

oh yeah, i saw those fights and im not impressed. juarez is another b-level one dimentional fighter and barrera was already washed up then. remember how he struggled against some of his b-c level fighers, specially against southpaws? and he actually lost to one of them bums (chris john)


Chris John is a bum?

This forum is being overrun with retards :patsch

[Totomabs]

joan guzman...he's got serious skills and could give pacman or even JMM a lot of problems.

[PH|LLA]

Jmm.

[RICH]

Lennox Lewis. At The Begining I Thought He Was Just A Big Guy That Was Winning Fights Do To His Size Advantage And Not Skills. Never Really Gave Him Props.
Sorry Lennox I See It Now.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Liston, even though he always cost me money, I bet Patterson 2x and then Liston 2 x verses Clay/Ali and then against Leotus Martin.
For 35 years he was down rated by eveyone...unill late 1990's.

I had rated Holms higher than I now rated him...after the Kiddy Parade...I can not rate him that high...never unified .... never tried.
a man who could have been some one except for King. IMO

[Irish Steel]

Abraham,Kessler

[THN]

Calzaghe

[Motor City Sam]

Kelly Pavlik. I thought he would lose to Miranda and Taylor and he stopped both of them. Prior to the Miranda fight I thought he was an overhyped fighter who had a great record due to questionable competition. He's proven to be better than I gave him credit for.

[PH|LLA]

oh yeah, i saw those fights and im not impressed. juarez is another b-level one dimentional fighter and barrera was already washed up then. remember how he struggled against some of his b-c level fighers, specially against southpaws? and he actually lost to one of them bums (chris john)
Chris John is not a bum.

[Vantage_West]

i wasnt in to boxing back then but i always brushed over ricardo lopez,chris eubank and terry norris.

i saw ricardo lopez as a lucky fighter to fight at a weak division with a decent amount of skill.....but i can actually agree with some people he prolly is the most textbook fighter of the modern era if not of all time a top 10 in the all round department.

terry norris i knew about but i just remember him getting destroyed by jackson. and the first time i saw him was when i was young about 8 seeing him doing alritgh then getting absolutly a bombed by kieth mullings who i also saw get destroyed by steve roberts when i was 11 and just totally bought that he was a guy got beat by a bum...

but ive been looking at some tapes and he has defintly become my favourite fighter to watch without a doubt. great handspeed perrrttyful left hook and right cross. went to the body coulde fight in the back foot and on the front.

possibly the most versitile fighter i have ever seen.

eubank
eubank i just didnt like him,even when i was young i can remember my grandad betting every fight against him and was exceptionally angry after what must be the benn II and malinga fight but i remember him getting a whole ton of cash for the collings fight.

only after the collins fight did you see what he was capeable of. we saw his career and he did beat the who's who of the division. what he had was an awkward herky jerky style mixed in with elusivness a jba aritgh hand a lefthook and possibly the hardest jaw in the sport. he was dropepd but mostly eot being of balance. against calzaghe he got knocked down got up in think in 3 seconds.

his cruserwieght challenge was also a good scrap.

[diamondDave]

I was wrong about Pavlik. I didn't think he had the skills or the chin to become champ.

[Vantage_West]

im still not bought on cotto. he may have beaten good oposition and now a 2 wiegh tworld champion the problem is he is too easy to hit. he also is huge on fight night usually wieghting over 158 pounds. which is remarkable.

i dont think he has a weak chin i just think he doesnt have the defence to block simple 1-2's.

this may be miscrediting his win but mosley is not a pure boxer he can box a bit but he stays kinda upright and prefers to use quick flurries of hooks not striaght punches.

[davilex]

Joe Calzaghe
I always liked David Haye but I never once thought he'd go this far.

[PH|LLA]

im still not bought on cotto. he may have beaten good oposition and now a 2 wiegh tworld champion the problem is he is too easy to hit. he also is huge on fight night usually wieghting over 158 pounds. which is remarkable.

i dont think he has a weak chin i just think he doesnt have the defence to block simple 1-2's.

this may be miscrediting his win but mosley is not a pure boxer he can box a bit but he stays kinda upright and prefers to use quick flurries of hooks not striaght punches.
147 to 158 is not that much. Both JMM and Pacquiao recently added more weight then that in their rematch

[PaddyD1983]

eubank
eubank i just didnt like him,even when i was young i can remember my grandad betting every fight against him and was exceptionally angry after what must be the benn II and malinga fight but i remember him getting a whole ton of cash for the collings fight.

only after the collins fight did you see what he was capeable of. we saw his career and he did beat the who's who of the division. what he had was an awkward herky jerky style mixed in with elusivness a jba aritgh hand a lefthook and possibly the hardest jaw in the sport. he was dropepd but mostly eot being of balance. against calzaghe he got knocked down got up in think in 3 seconds.

his cruserwieght challenge was also a good scrap.

Sorry... i still dont rate Eubank. Only ever held the WBO. Beat a good Nigel Benn in their first fight but for me that is all he ever done!

[FourtyOunce]

In 10 years from now when Sam Peter is a ATG... peeps are going to be wondering how did I underestimate this guy:good

[PaddyD1983]

In 10 years from now when Sam Peter is a ATG... peeps are going to be wondering how did I underestimate this guy:good

If that happens I will happily say I underrated him.

Truth be told. I can see him being KTFO by Haye

[EARL]

In 10 years from now when Sam Peter is a ATG... peeps are going to be wondering how did I underestimate this guy:good

Vitali's gonna dust that china chin off once and for all.

[C Money]

Vitali's gonna dust that china chin off once and for all.

Wlad couldntand he hit him withe EVERYTHING. Vitali aint Wlad:nono

[FourtyOunce]

Vitali's gonna dust that china chin off once and for all.


china chin :rofl Don't think so, don't even mention the McCline fight. He had a reputured ear drum. watch the punches he took from wlad and that right he took from maskaev at the end of the 5th:good

[Ilesey]

Johnny Nelson. As much as I hate the cunt I didnt expect him to beat Thompson and survive as long as he did. Junior Witter would probably be my other choice.

[Illmatic]

Pavlik...i picked him to lose in 3 straight fights...by the time of the Taylor rematch, I stopped.

[TroubleLurks]

I guess Cotto. I thought Mosley would get him. Oh well.


shane is old now.

[BigReg]

I guess Cotto. I thought Mosley would get him. Oh well.


shane is old now.

Damn right he is. Young Shane probably beats Cotto. Young Shane would also have a good chance against Judah. However, old man Mosley is going to have a hard time dealing with Super Judah.

[C Money]

Damn right he is. Young Shane probably beats Cotto. Young Shane would also have a good chance against Judah. However, old man Mosley is going to have a hard time dealing with Super Judah.

Yeah Shanes old huh?

So why is it anyone should buy a DLH REMATCH??


:rofl

[TroubleLurks]

Damn right he is. Young Shane probably beats Cotto. Young Shane would also have a good chance against Judah. However, old man Mosley is going to have a hard time dealing with Super Judah. We'll see. I have no doubt Shane will have a hard time with Judah early, most fighters do. But I also have no doubt that Mosleys arm will be raised in victory at the end.:yep

[BigReg]

Yeah Shanes old huh?

So why is it anyone should buy a DLH REMATCH??


:rofl

Shane is damn near 37, that is old in boxing. I'll still be buying the Shane/Judah fight. DLH is also old. People will buy that fight because they want to see the best p4p fighter kick the crap out of Hoya. They will also watch because they mistakenly believe Oscar actually won the first fight and has a chance in this fight.

People like you probably shouldn't watch the fight. You should probably sit at home and pop in old Spadafora sparring session tapes. Maybe you could gush over some SRL tapes, and talk about how you hate Mayweather as well. :good

[BigReg]

We'll see. I have no doubt Shane will have a hard time with Judah early, most fighters do. But I also have no doubt that Mosleys arm will be raised in victory at the end.:yep

They don't raise the hand of unconcious fighters. It's not safe.:smoke

[TroubleLurks]

They don't raise the hand of unconcious fighters. It's not safe.:smoke:lol: :lol:

[Samurai]

I underrate Manny Pacquiao due to Johnco and PacD

[Brian123]

Miguel Cotto!

I picked him to lose vs Malignaggi and Quintana. I erroneously believed he was as mechanical and weak chinned enough to get beat by truly slick fighters who could jab.

I cant remember a fighter who beat my opinion in such fashion. I took Paulies lumps and winced with CQ.

Thats the type of R-E-S-P-E-C-T that comes with fighting and beating tough opponents. Add Judah and SSM? And whats he get for his troubles? DUCKED by the supposed P4P Champ:-( :-( :-(

Out of respect for what he's done in between the bells? I wil VOCIFEROUSLY speak out for his EARNED RIGHT to face Floyd Mayweather Jr.:yep

Go ahead Miguel Cotto keep your mindset, routine, and DESIRE. This guy cant duck you forever without losing serious respect in the game:good


:good :good

[Brian123]

Is Holmes underrated when everyone says you are underrated?

Holmes is mention all the time!

Hell right now there is story on Yahoo boxing talking about how he was so great and wait, that's right-underrated!!

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Sweet Pea]

I underrate Manny Pacquiao due to Johnco and PacDShut up noob!









:D

[eliqueiros]

Cotto. I thought he would loose to Judah and for sure to Mosley. He has definately won me over to his camp.

[Samurai]

Shut up noob!









:D

:lol: :thumbsup

[booradley]

Nice to see "The Ghost" get so much attention on this thread. Believe it or not, I picked Bronco McKart to beat Kelly Pavlik! After that fight I told everyone who would listen that Pavlik would be the next middlewieght champion. It was THE WAY he beat McKart that impressed me. Bronco made one freaking mistake, Kelly's corner told him what to do about it, and Kelly closed the show!

Boo

[El Puma]

I underrate Manny Pacquiao due to Johnco and PacDYou hater!!!! Pac ko1 Samurai











:D

[Asterion]

Wladimir Klitschko before 2006.

[brooklyn1550]

Damn right he is. Young Shane probably beats Cotto. Young Shane would also have a good chance against Judah. However, old man Mosley is going to have a hard time dealing with Super Judah.

You make it seem as though Judah would be the one who's favored. A young Shane, who had more bounce in his legs, more handspeed, better stamina, and better reflexes would have no doubt beaten Judah. He may have had some difficulty with Judah's speed and quick counters early, but he had the ability to make it a dog-fight. Judah breaks down mentally in those situations and tends to get quite gunshy.

[brooklyn1550]

I underrate Manny Pacquiao due to Johnco and PacD

Welcome back:lol:

[El Puma]

You make it seem as though Judah would be the one who's favored. A young Shane, who had more bounce in his legs, more handspeed, better stamina, and better reflexes would have no doubt beaten Judah. He may have had some difficulty with Judah's speed and quick counters early, but he had the ability to make it a dog-fight. Judah breaks down mentally in those situations and tends to get quite gunshy.Zab would crumble when he realizes what kind of beast he was in there with. Even at 140lb's, Shane would crush Zab.

[C Money]

Shane is damn near 37, that is old in boxing. I'll still be buying the Shane/Judah fight. DLH is also old. People will buy that fight because they want to see the best p4p fighter kick the crap out of Hoya. They will also watch because they mistakenly believe Oscar actually won the first fight and has a chance in this fight.

People like you probably shouldn't watch the fight. You should probably sit at home and pop in old Spadafora sparring session tapes. Maybe you could gush over some SRL tapes, and talk about how you hate Mayweather as well. :good

Maybe Floyd should act like a Champion and stop dissing real champions and fight Miguel Cotto rather than milking the world with fights no one wants.

You just hold on to you're irrational logic in dissing Shanes age while you're hero tries to be like Shane and beat DLH twice. Keep on huffing and puffing.

[Brian123]

Current:
Joe Calzaghe
Kessler
Cotto

All-time:
Gene Tunney-without a doubt #1
Willie Pep

[Samurai]

Welcome back:lol:

Thanks :thumbsup

[Samurai]

You hater!!!! Pac ko1 Samurai











:D

I don't know about that:bart

Certainly not if Pac isn't wearing reyes gloves, is weight drained, has blistered feet because he didn't wear socks, the headbutt cut is affecting him, he isn't throwing enough punches, he's distracted by the ringcard girls, too many distractions in his outside life and an ankle injury

:yep

[El Puma]

I don't know about that:bart

Certainly not if Pac isn't wearing reyes gloves, is weight drained, has blistered feet because he didn't wear socks, the headbutt cut is affecting him, he isn't throwing enough punches, he's distracted by the ringcard girls, too many distractions in his outside life and an ankle injury

:yep:rofl:rofl:rofl:roflNicely played.:thumbsup

[BigReg]

Maybe Floyd should act like a Champion and stop dissing real champions and fight Miguel Cotto rather than milking the world with fights no one wants.

You just hold on to you're irrational logic in dissing Shanes age while you're hero tries to be like Shane and beat DLH twice. Keep on huffing and puffing.

What the hell are you talking about? How am I using irrational logic? Mosley is old, so is DLH. I'm not dissing anyone, I'm simply stating the truth. Are you going to try to tell me that Shane isn't old for a boxer?

Miguel Cotto was begging for a DLH fight. Him and his camp were all for that fight. The only reason Cotto won't be fighting in June is because they were waiting to see if DLH would agree to fight him. So it was either going to be DLH/Cotto, or DLH/Mayweather II. Cotto will get his ass kicked in due time. While he's waiting, he needs to keep improving and keep racking up victories.

[stevebhoy87]

Haye, didn't rate him that highly till around his 15th fight, lewis is another as is hopkins

[Mikey]

Miguel Cotto - Looked like against Torres if you hae trouble with Torres how can he mke it at 147lbs but he is jusrt a machine up there.

Junior Witter - He can look very crappy due to negativity but he always gets the job done and now puts more risk in his game which is paying off right now. Severly underrated power.

Amir Khan - Got put down by Willie Limond, I even thought he was a bum after this, but has looked real good eer since and has really improed his temperment, I think Khan will make it big and not just lightweight. Khan would have beaten Katsidis imo. He probably can beat most lightweights out there if he uses his skills and doesn't trade. Plus made Graham Earl look like a complete laughing stock.

[pasky2000]

For me it was Calzaghe before the Kessler fight !

[Addie]

[quote=TroubleLurks]I guess Cotto. I thought Mosley would get him. Oh well.


Same here.

I wanted Mosley to win but I hate Cotto winning by at least two rounds. Cotto is the real deal.

[a.arthur.h]

Israel Vasquez

[Bslice]

Calzaghe comes to mind

[McGrain]

Whitaker, Marciano and Peter Jackson are all fighters i've been guilty of underating in the past.

[Chiko_Tech]

Kelly Pavlik