Which Heavyweight Is Possibly Overrated Because Of Nostalgia?

Forward thinking,

it's a joke mcvey, though a pointed one...

 

Well my old brain didn't get it ,so the joke was on me T!

 

Usyk, Fury , Joshua and especially Wilder are simply overrated. No Nostalgia involved.
But Johnson, Dempsey and Marciano does fit the conversation.

 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Louis. I have him second to Ali on my 'list' but perhaps 'bum of the month' and his potential fragility against defensively prudent big bangers should take some colour from our rose tinted retrospective view...?

 

Lol I thought you'd say Marciano.

 

It took three and a half pages for a poster (me) to say George Foreman. There's your answer.

 

I didn't nominate George because I don't think I do overrate him but by gosh, you are right, so many others possibly do...

 

Yes, his best wins were

PattersonX2- 189 pounds
Machen- 196 pounds
Foley- 198 pounds

He lost to Ali twice, so I am not sure why you would put that on there. Works against your narrative.

 

Does that make Liston a weight bully ? Or was that era of heavyweights just smaller ? Even Liston is small nowadays, so maybe your view is a little outdated ? Liston beat Plenty of guys his size, and you can't be a weight bully at heavyweight unless you consistently fight guys moving up and avoiding other contenders

 

No one has said he was unhittable. But bringing up a 35 year old Ali to prove he was easy to hit is comical. Ali clearly beat Shavers although he did lose to Norton in the 3rd fight.

Still, no heavyweight in history has even close to Ali's resume in terms of wins. If you can name me one heavyweight whose resume comes even close, i will eat my hat. Ali's wins (even excluding Norton 3, Young etc.) are still by and far the best in heavyweight history.

 

While nostalgic favouritism can exist, on the other side of the ledger, people’s views can also be coloured by recency bias = “Newest
has to always be the best by default”.

 

In respect of fighters like Louis and Liston, I very much objectively like what I see on film.

They were well before my time so my views on them can’t be coloured by nostalgia per se.

In fact, with the advent of the net and the release of far more affording vision, my estimations of the aforementioned fighters has risen over time.

On the flip side, I’ve seen more vision of other older fighters that, at least imo, belies their more popular ratings and assumed viabilities against the current crop.

 

Hello, Fergy.

It would be disrespectful to my Grandfather's memory if I said anyone except: GENE TUNNEY!

 

Mcvey, You didn't make a response on post 23900065, that I can see.