Most underrated heavyweight boxer of all time

Wish he had a stint as a MW-SMW before HW… he’d be a P4Per of the modern era, imagine a 160lber having a win over David Tua on Haglers record… Jones and Byrd actually are probably similar sizes and durability, Byrd himself said he had no chin to speak of at HW and was I believe… 10-20? Lbs lighter then he actually was “officially”

 

Its very surprising to me that Deontay Wilder isn’t more popular and more liked than he is. I get that he never unified and had unremarkable opposition but this guy was literally putting people out cold for MINUTES with one punch during his run.

People aren’t watching heavyweights to see philly shells or intellectual counter-punching, they watch heavyweights to see 6’5 250 lbs giants knock each other’s brains off. A heavyweight champion boxer doesn’t necessarily need to be the most celebral guy in the ring, but he HAS to be the last guy on the planet you want to take punches from, that’s the whole appeal of the weight class in my eyes and Wilder caught that vibe perfectly. I love Usyk but watching him arm-punch somebody to a standing TKO, to me, will simply never match up to watching Deontay shake the whole arena with the sound the falling body of his opponent makes after he hits them.

 

Wilder is the ultimate monster trucks and hot dogs fighter… I enjoyed watching him, Fury vs Wilder was actually a PPV watch party in my circle because DW’s whacky highlights got around.

 

Mr Farr

 

Why so? I don’t know much about him, besides he was pretty good and a Louis opponent so I’m sorry.

 

This. Byrd was a damn good fighter and had a pretty good run prior to be Ling stopped by Wlad in the rematch.

 

Tony Thompson!

 

I have several times made the point that in any sane world, Byrd is higher than Jones. As you pointed out, they re a similar natural size. Yet Byrd is the one with wins over Vitklit, Tua , and Holy.

 

Yes. Poor. As in this is a sad ass resume.

Pov's so great all his fans tell you all about what he could have done.

Ruslan is a name that is independently dropped on atg lists never.

Chambers wouldn't even have a name if the us had a hw with a pulse

Pulev had fans but they're so ****ing old they died during the pandemic

Haye might be the only english hw in history to fail to get the english behind him also super helpful cw for your but dey was big doe section preceeding this. Lastly ... toe

Byrd was dope, legit

Tigro has a career because mfers aint notice he aint Tucker

Mercer older than Moses

 

Liston because of the 2 stinkers vs Ali who had right skills to beat him. Prior to that he had probably been the GOAT up to Ali emerging. Ripped through the division pulverizing everyone. Joe Louis said he thought he was the best ever.

 

Perhaps a bit harsh but you’re not wrong
The point about Haye made me laugh out loud.
Wlad gets points for consistency, but his opponents while champ seemed almost hand picked.
Mind you I prefer him to Fury, by a lot. Sadly his losing that that fight ushered in a few years of hot garbage that has only recently started to get sorted out.

 

Riddick Bowe especially on a H2H and prime for prime sense.

 

And still no better wins over prime versions of Holyfield...

Haye, and Povetkin were good wins, but a lot of these guys listed such as Wach were complete hype jobs.

 

Yet the Marciano argument can be applied to many, Haye, Povetkin, Peter, Ibragimov, even Brock... that Wlad beat the fight out of them, ended their careers for all intents and purposes. Holyfield never did that to a fighter, maybe the coked-up shell of Tyson he faced.

Wlad a sustained prime like only Louis. He is closer to being in the discussion of Top 3 than 8-10.

 

I'd suggest thats disrespectful towards the elder statesmen of the sport.