Hate is probs too far but disliked Yarde but now want him to do well and look forward to watching him
I never hate a boxer, but as far as disliked then respected, it's gotta be Wlad. During his reign, the HW division just felt dead to me, due to his often ( but not always ) boring dominance, coupled with not the best run of contenders around for a few years. My dislike probably peaked around the Povetkin fight which was terrible. However, in his last few fights, and especially now, I look at his career with immense respect. Getting KO'd 3 times and then going on to dominate a division for a decade takes a hell of a lot of mental fortitude. Sure, it wasn't pretty half the time, but purely from an achievement point of view I respect the hell out of it. I also love that he took on ( and passed the torch to in hindsight ) the current top 2 heavyweights in the world in the twilight of his career, seems like a fitting way to draw a line under his career.
John Ruiz. He kept Winning but everyone disrespected him. He was huge in Puerto Rico until the haters criticized him for too much holding. He was a class act and the epitome of a team player, Norman stone was a fire cracker in his corner. He even had the chance to go to the Whitehouse after defeating the reigning champ. Being the first Latino hw champ he even switched his style up for the James toney fight in order to be more aesthetically pleasing/ exciting.
Actually I don't respect him but I'm not so virulently anti-Haye as I once was. Since retirement he's not been so obnoxiously self-centred as he once was, and actually makes some OKish predictions from time to time (though he's no genius in this category). Eff anyone that says he was an ATG cruiserweight though.
Timothy Bradley for ducking Khan but I respect Tim. His whole chiseled physique but hitting like a girl annoyed the heck out of me.
Chris Eubank. Floyd Mayweather might have said we pay to see him lose, but I never wanted to see him lose as much as Eubank. Then when he did start to lose that is when I start to soften up. Always could talk. I find him more amusing these days. ''My son will win because he has the code.'' Right on.
Didn’t like Fury after beating SS Cunningham and singing terribly. He’s now my favorite fighter currently.
Mayweather and Jones. I think both are bad people out of the ring, but in it the skills are too good not to appreciate them. While Jones was knocked out, much to the applause of half the fans, Mayweather was too much of a pound for pound business man to take that of risk.
I hated Antonio 'Mr. Tony' Margarito for a long time because of his glove loading antics, but after hearing that he took the time to know forum regular 'C.J' intimately and knowing the kind of mental sacrifices he must have made to endure such a smothering, obsequious presence, my stance towards him has softened somewhat.
