Fighters you did not appecaite until they retired

Andre Ward. I wasn't fond of watching his fights and he was pretty dull to watch most of the time but when he puts on a dominant clinic there's definitely a lot to appreciate. His fights with Carl Froch, Arthur Abraham, and Chad Dawson are fights that I'll rewatch from time to time. It's just unfortunate that he can be dirty sometimes with his ugly grab and hold, headbutting style.

Still, I do appreciate his elite level ring IQ and well rounded game. While he doesn't have great speed or power his ring IQ alone is enough to beat everyone that he's fought. He just always finds a way to win.

 

I kinda hated Eusebio Pedroza as a corner-cutting cheat at the time but came to respect his dark arts and just the depth of his resume. He’s not my all-time favorite by any means but starting around the Patrick Ford fight I began to realize he was very good, even though I still didn’t like him yet.

 

Hopkins. Never really liked him back in the day, although I did appreciate his wins and his longevity.
But in the last few years I really respect him for all he achieved in the sport - and in interviews etc he comes across as a really interesting guy.

 

Lennox Lewis & Thomas Hearns.

 

Rudi Lubbers