Fighters you did not appecaite until they retired

I think many come to mind. I didn't appreciate Whitaker and in many instances got overly excited when an opponent had ANY success against him because he was so dominant.
I did appreciate Roy Jones because I knew that blend of power and speed was special.
Didn't appreciate Buddy but now when I watch him what a throwback !!!!!

 

Not that many I’m pretty young but I’ll say I’ll miss Inoue when he’s gone, I’ll miss Canelo, I didn’t appreciate him till only a few years back and oddly enough despite usually hating on the clowns… the king of them Derek Chisora played his role in the division so well he’s been an old school contender as has Joseph Parker though he’s quite a bit more successful but not the entertainer “Del Boy” has been.

One guy I don’t miss is GGG if I’m honest… looking back he was one big “eh” for me his career was so-so the Muruta bout was awesome in recent times but I never found him exceptional, buying his fights never crossed my mind he was a good boxer overall but just not worth the bread to watch, he lacked “it” as they say in the movie world and I think he’ll be easy to forget in time, sad for me to say as he did his job very well he did his best but in another time or with different managers he could’ve been great.

"I avoid starring in movies, appear on magazine covers. I love boxing, and I don't want to divert from it. Right now my sports career is more important for me." - GGG

 

Might sound crazy--but it really took Sugar Ray Leonard's retirement for me to sort of "revisit" his career and realize how great he was!! (I always sort of "took him for granted" when he was an active fighter.)

 

Didn't like Leonard when he was active. His skills were obviously teir one I just didn't like him. Too flashy and I hated the way he immediately through his hands up when he dropped an opponent. My stance has softened on him in time

 

Wladimir Klitschko.

Took a champion defending his belt every 6 months against a new top opponent for granted. Was lamenting what a shame it was the HW division was boring. The 4 ducks taught me an important lesson.

 

I don’t appreciate Anthony Joshua.

Maybe he will retire and we can see if I come to appreciate him. (I doubt it, but it’s worth a try.)

 

I hate the way Ali did the same thing, have some respect, somebody can die in the ring, celebrate when you win. I like seeing guys in the old school just shuffle away politely, no bicep poses (that I’ve seen?) when you drop someone fighting to pay his mortgage.

 

Same here. I never liked Holmes back when I first got into boxing and think the only time I rooted for him back then was vs Tyson. I started liking him during the comeback and the Mercer fight onwards (although I still rooted for Evander in their fight).

 

Same. The Mercer win changed it for me, too.

 

Aye, I think it was the fact that a). He was champ for ages and b). He never came across as very likeable and c). He said British heavyweights were useless. Years later, I look back on his personality and think "He just never gave a toss when anyone thought" and admired him for it (and think he's a really great fighter too, of course).

 

Yeah, I always rooted against him when he was the champion. (I liked rooting for the underdogs and always wanted to see big upsets). I wasn't too fond of him up to that point during his comeback. Thought he was trying to copy Foreman. I wanted Mercer to fight Moorer, but Mercer dumped the WBO belt to fight Holmes. Seemed like a worthless match, but I ordered the PPV anyway because Mercer was an exciting fighter.

I found myself rooting for Larry as the fight went on. At the end, he and his wife cried in the ring. And I got choked up. I changed my opinion on him after that. I always thought he was a great fighter. But I cut him more slack as a person after that.

 

Same here mate. I have some favourites, but they're only 'favourites out of the top guys' really. Example- i was with mates in Corfu in 1993 and we met up with these lads from Dundee, one of them "The Blade" (his surname was Barkley) loved Nigel Benn, as I did, so we arranged a good night on the ale for the Benn fight (vs Lou Gent). Obviously Gent was nowhere near the class of Nigel but for a couple of rounds he has a rally good go and i'm cheering him on, and The Blade was looking at me like WTF. And I said "Oh come on, this guy looks like he drove to the fight on his Fork Lift Truck, of course I want him to win".

I love a good upset, the best thing in all of sport. Any sport.

 

Eubank Snr... I was a Benn fan and disliked CES, looking back after his career Eubank was a warrior and deserved his respect.

 

Absolutely Holmes