Agreed, though I think its a little of both, Kings manipulation and Ruiz (who Im sure was being set up as a patsy to give Holyfield another title) overachieving. Without Kings manipulation he wouldn't of been given the chance to overachieve and without overachieving he wouldn't of done well in Kings system.
Dwight Qawi. Considering his extreme height and reach disadvantages.( Him being 5'6" the average height of Lt.heavies and above typically 6'0" and taller ) Which he somehow turned to an advantage The level of competition he competed against. Where he learned boxing (Rahway State Prison) while doing time on a robbery conviction. He was a classic overachiever
Daniel Zaragoza. Not the most gifted in any department but he made the most of his tools by solid skills, sheer grit and determination.
It depends how you look at it. His resume was short and he didn't fight much. But on the flipside he got more oppurtunities for doing less than anyone in boxing history even Holyfield. Corbett milked acheivements from 1891 and 1892 well into the 20th century. After beating Sullivan he fought 6 times in 11 years went 2-4-1 and got 2 title shots after losing his claim to the lineage. He got his first shot at Jeffries coming off a 2 fight losing streak. Now Corbett fought well in that fight but at this point most of Jeffries opponents had fought well. Yeah he was the ex champ thats nice wheres the other ex champs who got the same oppurtunity. Fitzsimmons had to beat Sharkey and Ruhlin to get his rematch.
Wasn't compa Wasn't comparing Ruiz to Quarry or Parker. Just pointing out that he did beat Holyfield, Johnson, Rahman, Oquendo, and Golota. Not a bad run.
Landing a title shot, let alone a long reign, due to a draw with an injured Peter Jackson does seem like overachieving to me.
Jimmy Young, if you actually look at his fights. He should have wins over Norton and Shavers, and would've won out over Ali if he didn't keep ducking through the ropes.
I think that Peter Jackson was a bit better head to head, but Corbett was always going to outlast him. Corbett got the title shot because his backers could meet Sullivan's price. Between him winning the title in 92, and loosing it in 97, you have a five year period where he could potentially have beaten anyone, and he squandered it.
Teddy Yarosz has a splendid win resume given his relative dearth of power. YC3 too. I'd argue that wins up at MW over Billy Conn, Gus Lesnevich, Fred Apostoli and (an admittedly faded) Mickey Walker are a substantial overachievement for a 5ft 5ins natural WW who Jimmy McLarnin stopped in a single round. Of active boxers, Chris Billam Smith seems to have beaten more physically talented fighters multiple times.
If you’re waking into a boxing gym for the first time and you’re already in your 20s……he’s about as good a fighter as you can hope to become