how do guys such as Kirkland get over rated for a SECOND time?!

He might be too big for Cotto, but I think Miguel would outbox him, and Canelo would fight him and beat him.

He's not a bad fighter at all, and is very dangerous at that weight. His chin is just a huge liablity and somebody like Canelo who has many flaws as well, would expose that.

 

While Kirkland and Lacey have similar styles, they mentally are two different animals. When Lacey lost to Calzage, he was never the same. When Kirkland got knocked out, he came back stronger. As for him being over rated, every up and comming fighter is deemed over rated untill you put some of them so called rated fighters in the ring with him. Talk is cheap, line them bitches up and my money will be on Kirkland.

 

I agree with this.

Plus- If you don't think he's good enough for the top fighters in the division then bet against him if (and when) he does fight them. I would not be confident of either Margarito or Cotto beating Kirkland given the physicality and pressure he brings.

 

Lacy was on the receiving end of a systematic beatdown though, and that really broke him mentally. In that sense, Kirkland's quick 1 round loss should be better to bounce back from. Had Kirkland got his ass kicked for the entire duration of a 12 round fight and came back stronger, that would be great. But the commonalities of Kirkland and Lacy shouldn't be entirely denied.

 

IF Kirkland tightens up his D he has a chance to go far. As of right now, to step in the ring with Cotto and his poor D , would be a big mistake. Cotto is too sharp a puncher and has enough power to dismiss Kirkland. Canelo IMO would be a good fight. Both have spotty D, Kirkland moreso than Canelo. I favor Kirkland over Canelo.

 

The commonalites end with the style period. Lacey got beat down for twelve rounds because he couldnt adjust,and he never got back to form because he was mentally weak, thats not Kirkland. What I hear you saying is because they fight in a similar fashion that theyer the same people and thats an lii fated ideoligy. As men, they are miles apart. Kirkland has the heart of a gunslinger and he dont bow down to nobody. Like I said, Line all the 154 pounders up and when the smoke clears I bet money that Kirkland will be on top.

 

No, what I was implying was that Kirkland hasn't received the type of beatdown that Lacy received causing his mental collapse. So while they are surely similar, their respective losses are very different. His mental fortitude hasn't really been tested yet, like Lacy was.

 

I feel you, but a fighter dosnt have to get beat down like that for thier mental fortitude to be tested. Are you saying that a beatdown like that is in order for every fighter to prove thier worth. I think not. Kirkland went through a great deal of mental anguish in his personal life and walked through it like a true champion. His metal has been tested and shown to be worthy.He did eighteen months in the penitentary ( where theyre cutting off heads for real ) He has seen and experienced things in real life that an ass whoopin in the ring cant touch. If Kirkland gets beat down, he will come back stronger and this time it will be his turn. Hes made like that. He aint no Lacey. The man is a monster and hes ready for any 154 pounder out there.

 

I like Kirkland. I liked him before he went to jail his fights were always full of action. Then he got knocked down 3x and everyone dismissed him. His fight with Angulo was a great fun fight also. We'll see how he does down the road.

 

It comes with the territory of breaking a reputedly unbreakable chin and will of Angulo. We should all be happy that Kirkland not only won, but also showed vulnerability because if he didn't have a shaky chin, he'd be the most avoided fighter on the planet. It would be a shame for an exciting fighter such as Kirkland to be avoided.

 

How's he overrated? He can certainly beat Cotto, Chavez and Canelo. Now those guys at 154 ain't really that good to begin with.

 

Kirkland is like a second coming of Jeff Lacy with a china chin.