Fighters whose greatness may be overrated

At the risk of sounding humourless, your list was a bit confusing there. I am not alone in thinking Pele overrated. Great, sure. Not as great as, to name one player, Cruyff. Anything Pele could do, Cruyff did just as well. And there were things Cruyff did which Pele couldn't. I've spoken to Brazilians who are surprisingly scornful about Pele. And while I have little interest in golf, dance, formula one (lost interest when Senna died), and swimming, I know that there are followers of those sports/arts who DO think Nicklaus, Lewis, and even Astaire (something about Kelly being far more animalistic and natural, Astaire more a supremely polished 'spot-hitter') overrated. When I read your list I was wowed. (Impressed by many of the posts on this forum, actually. Some darned clever articulate guys here. ) Thought - until I was put right - that you were one helluva renaissance man. Knows a lot about boxing AND dance AND swimming...
You DO know a lot about boxing!
All the best.

 

JohnThomas1's explanation is sound. I shouldn't have stated it as baldly as that.

 

As i said no-one in any sport is safe no matter what names you come up with someone will always find them overrated. Nature of the beast Jack.

 

There are quite a few golfing nuts, for example, who think that Nicklaus is overrated. I don't have an opinion either way, because I have zero interest in the sport. Just saying.
Best, D.

 

Thanks buddy, truly humbling, and big of you to write such, as always it's just my opinion, yours is equally right and valued by myself and many like minded posters, I have noticed over the last 2 years or so, this forum has become less confrontational, of course there is always the haters, but in the main the group has become more tolerant of other posters opinions and feelings, which can only be a good and forward thinking approach, witness your kind and measured response to my post.
You stock has risen in my esteem, and look forward to crossing verbal swords with you in the near future, we need and welcome members such as yourself, stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

Top man! Always enjoy reading your posts.

 

Totally agree about Holyfield.

 

Have to confess, I was a bit dull there. Thought Mike was the ultimate Renaissance man (this guy even knows about dance!) when, as is usually the case, there is a simpler explanation: he was being sarcastic!

 

Ha!!! Well at least we all got there in the end.

 

Ain't that the truth.

 

I’ve noticed that there’s been some obvious humour being missed of late.

As to Spitz, I’m glad he didn’t have a contemporary arch rival named Mike Swallows.

Imagine being asked “Who have you got, Spitz or…..?”

I should round this post off with “Double Oh, Behave!”

PS - Fred Astaire couldn’t sing for sh*t.

 

Gotta admit, I don’t entirely get the glowing rep. for Stanley Ketchel.

From what I know of his record, it doesn’t seem to entirely marry up to the praise.

I don’t consider his KD of Johnson as legit -that KD being one of the more celebrated testaments to his P4P power.

Not a dive on Johnson’s part per se, but rather a slip while in the process of evading the overhand right.

A forced slip being enough reason for Johnson to be p*seed and angrily put out Stanley’s lights several seconds later.

Maybe I need to research Ketchel and his other opp. more.

There have been several fighters that deeper research has turned me somewhat around on - Jack Dempsey for one.

 

Hi Buddy.
I am with you re: Ketchel. prior to YT for me he was a lock for top 3/4 MW, after watching his fights with Johnson @ Papke sadly that does not now apply, he was uncoordinated, had no rhythm, his hands were dangling down by his side, no defence to talk of, his fighting style ( if it could be called ) consisted of lunging, whilst out of range, then back peddling, on what I saw, he isn't even a top 10, let alone 3/4, such a shame, because I had expected to see a monster ( as befits his standing with contemporary scribes ) alas it was not to be.
Like many a fighter at the turn of the last century, the written accounts of their feats, would in a lot of cases fall short when the fighter is actually seen on film I suspect.
stay safe amigo.

 

My final word on the subject. In future I will refrain from posting comments the morning after drinking. Not even a heavy drinker. The problem is, I'm a featherweight when it comes to booze. I'd have realised that Mike was being sarcastic had I not been a touch hungover. I hope!

 

I wouldn't be remotely worried mate. It's all part of the fun.