Who for you was a fighter you never really rated throughout their career and it wasn't until they retired you could really appreciate what they achieved? Lewis (obvious one) Naz (hated him) Eubanks and Benn Kostya Tszyu (can't get enough of this guy)
For me it was Lennox Lewis. Being an American boxing fan I always just played the homer and took for granted that Bowe or Evander would have easily beaten him in their primes. They may or may not have but I appreciate him more now that he's retired. Of course it could possibly just be that the heavyweight division is so bad today that since he was the last decent champion we had that just makes him look so much better.
i agree with kostya tszyu. he was a fighter that brought the crowd together here in oz to watch him fight.
I know he hasnt retired yet but I had a major problem with B-Hop for years... but its only in the last year or so I've really started to appreciate him, after he beat Winky, but moreso Pavlik I'm now a big fan of his.
Lewis for sure. Naz I hate as much now as I did then. Infact it's better to see what Naz has accomplished now that he isn't coming back. Mayweather would be another choice for me.
Hopkins after the Tarver fight Up until that fight I always felt he was overrated for beating undersized superstars, Im glad he came out of retirement so I could appreciate him while he was active. Oh and Vargas too, never liked him while he was active but watching some of his old fights, I appreciate the kid's style and heart.
Lewis, definitely. When you see the shitty ass division he's left us with you begin to appreciate how great a fighter he really was. Plus, I hadn't seen too many of his fights prior to him retiring, but lately I've been watching a lot of his stuff on youtube and the guy really was something special and explosive.
I'm amused that you call yourself "Gneus" but say that Hopkins (an active fighter) is the retired fighter who you appreciate the most :rofl Genius!