Fighters with the biggest post-career reputation boosts?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019.


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  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Should be self-explanatory. Looking for the best examples of fighters who, rightly or wrongly, came to be thought of far more highly after they retired than during their careers.

    For example, Schmeling and Walcott seem like two of the best examples at heavyweight.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    #1
    Bokaj likes this.
  2. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    Muhammad Ali
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Apr 22, 2019
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Apr 22, 2019
    #2
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  3. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Yes, but because he was vastly underrated when he was fighting
     
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    #3
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Wladimir Klitschko
     
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    #4
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  5. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    I think it's less that Wlad was underrated and moreso that nobody cared about boxing during his reign and, therefore, didn't know who he was
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Apr 22, 2019
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Apr 22, 2019
    #5
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  6. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I think his beast performance against AJ had a lot more people (myself included) reading into him
     
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Apr 22, 2019
    #6
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Ezzard Charles has the biggest enhancement I can think of. Lots of people seemed really displeased with him as HW champ and Europe even tried to usurp him. I also don't think he was seen as GOAT material at LHW in his own time, and he's almost become one of two default choices now.
     
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2019
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2019
    #7
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  8. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis, without question.

    During his career, he was routinely badmouthed. Hell, in his final interview after his last fight, against Vitali Klitschko, Larry Merchant was giving him a hard time. I first joined boxing message boards during Lennox Lewis' reign, and people rarely had a kind word to say about him. I remember arguing with people who insisted Lewis had no chin and was BORING. You can count the number of "boring" Lennox Lewis fights on a couple fingers.

    Now, most have Lennox among the top heavyweights ever.
     
    Dubblechin, Apr 22, 2019
    Dubblechin, Apr 22, 2019
    #8
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  9. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sonny Liston - throughout his career I believe he was known as a goon/shady/tank artist whose age and death would always be cloaked in mystery. But I think today his career is looked at as a whole and people see during his prime years ('58-'60) he was one scary fighter.
     
    scartissue, Apr 22, 2019
    scartissue, Apr 22, 2019
    #9
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    That's a question of geography, that one.

    In the UK (not sure about the rest of Europe tbf) he was regarded as a lock, though it took time.
     
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2019
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2019
    #10
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  11. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Harry Greb

    Faded away and was virtually unknown 20 - 30 years ago.

    Now he's back in his position as the best baby.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 22, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 22, 2019
    #11
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  12. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    How so? He was certainly already considered a top-level ATG well before 1981.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    #12
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  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Walcott ,Charles.Neither were highly thought of as heavyweights when they were fighting.
     
    mcvey, Apr 22, 2019
    mcvey, Apr 22, 2019
    #13
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  14. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Calzaghe comes to mind. A lot people called him a protected paper champ for most of his career but after beating Lacy, Kessler, Hopkins and Jones at the end of his career he rightfully got his respect.
     
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 22, 2019
    AwardedSteak863, Apr 22, 2019
    #14
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  15. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Not sure that this counts, since this was a more or less instant reaction to what eventually turned out to be his last fight (so far), months before he announced his retirement.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 22, 2019
    #15
    George Crowcroft likes this.
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