I have spoke to alot of people that actually think this. So I wanted to get your thoughts on it. There is no dout Wilde was a freak of nature and devastating hitter. But I belive he never beat a fellow ATG. He never had a dominant title reign, making only a few defences, and he was knocked out by Peter Herman when he stepped up in weight. And when he did fight a fellow ATG in Pancho Villa he was destroyed, but he was washed up. He was also belived to get alot of fighters to boil down to a certain weight. So there are alot of questions on his legacy. Or shall we always just judge him on his peak being no more than around 100 pounds and still being the best Flyweight in the world? And how hard he punched for his size? Alot of people say Wilde is the best of all time, or some people say he was greater than the likes of Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Willie Pep, Ray Leonard, etc. So what are your thoughts on Jimmy Wilde? Do you think he was overrated? If so why?, and was he greater than the likes of Charles and Leonard?:think
Stepping up in weight from lower weight classes is infinitely more difficult then doing so from say... Cruiser to Heavy. Anyway, Wilde is very much like John Sullivan. Supposedly fought hundreds of fights against tough men and bar room brawlers but their credentials are lacking at a world class level despite how they demolished many fighters in official bouts. Also, I've never seen anyway on classic say he was better then Charles, Leonard, etc.
Definitely overrated in many circles. I'm not sure where to rate him personally, but I wouldn't have him cracking the top 30 or anything like that, as many do.
His record does overrate him but he was great. Has to get credit for fighting and beating future Bantamweight champ and hall of famer Joe Lynch twice despite a huge weight difference. He also fought and beat Tancy Lee, Young Zulu Kid, Memphis Pal Moore and Frankie Mason who were all elite level fighters at the time. I rank him at least top three flyweights ever, very possibly no.1 and I think he has to be at least top thirty ATG. Devestating punching power for such a small man.
Dont think much of my opinion obviously? He made the step up eventually and faired very well. You could say that about alot of ATG fighters, particularily the latin variety, although they moved up eventually many stayed fighting lower level boxers for 30,40,50+ fights including Chavez, Locche, Zarate etc. He cleared out the weight class to be the first undisputed flyweight champ so he must have been pretty good.
Nopety. Who can say they knew who his opponents were? Wilde crushed many quality men whilst weighing waaaaayy under a legitimate poundage.
There are a few facts you need to take into acount. 1. Fights at flyweight, of that era, are not recorded today, unless they were at least at commonwealth level. 2. Wilde was light on the scales for a flyweight. 3. Wilde beat an all time gretet bantem in one of his last fights.
Think Wilde is getting underated if any. Today, he is almost forgotting, compare to say Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis.
Wilde Ko clips can be seen. He comes in with a low guard, but rips body punches, and had great power for his size. Wilde is not over rated. He's one of the best fly's of all time.
But i've heard people call him the best of all time, and ive seen him rated higher than the likes of Charles, Pep, Leonard etc. Isn't that overrating him?:think