Gene Fullmer, Overated Middleweight Champ

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by burt bienstock, Feb 17, 2010.


  1. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Strong,and bullish, Overated...I can name at least 5 middleweights in the 1930 that would lick Fullmer
    !.Freddie Steele
    2.Fred Apostol
    3.Tony Zale
    4.Ken Overlin
    5.Billy Conn
    Your opinions...
     
  2. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    I don't know who's overrating him, I rarely hear anyone singing his praises. Heck, I don't see much conversation about Fullmer as anything other than a side note to other fighters like Robinson, really.
     
  3. bladerunner

    bladerunner El Intocable Full Member

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    If anything hes underrated.
     
  4. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Maybe overrated in his time but I think he was better than the one-dimensional brawler that he is made out to be now. He fought the Basilio fights, the first Robinson fight and the second Tiger fight very disciplined.
     
  5. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Agreed.
     
  6. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes and no. TheGreatA said righfully that he is made into something that he was but not just. He was more than a one dimensional brawler. If you see him as one, you underate him. On the oither hand he is overated compared to other fighters, for example the 5 burt bienstock mentioned. Who ever talks about hem? Hell, Steele, Apostoli and Overlin aren' even known by most people. In this context he truly is overated.
     
  7. kidargentine

    kidargentine Member Full Member

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    Fullmer was a scrappy and dirty fighter almost in the same vein as Fritzie Zivic, but I actually think he's quite underrated. A Top 20 Middleweight for sure.
     
  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I have never rated him very highly,I certainly would not call him a great fighter.
     
  9. kidargentine

    kidargentine Member Full Member

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    I'm not to fond of him either just like how I'm not too fond of Zivic and Saddler, but the guy was tough as nails.
     
  10. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    One of the best mauling spoilers.

    Not my kind of fighter, though undeniably effective.
     
  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Zivic was a very good fighter ,who often had a weight advantage over his better opponents.
    6 1/4lbs over Angott.
    8 lbs over Montgomery.
    8 lbs over Jack
    7 lbs over Bell.
    Weight over Armstrong in all their fights.And Jenkins
    In this he had something in common with Fullmer,whose beating of Paret was a big middle over a welter.
    His wins over Basilio were effectively the same, a welter against a big middle weight.Likewise his fights with Vejar,and Turner.
    Fullmer beat some very capable middles,but he was not a great 160 pounder to me.
    Saddler was undoubtedly a great featherweight,and also beat bigger men of the calibre of
    Young 8lbs heavier
    Demarco 8lbs heavier.
    I can't bracket Fullmer with Saddler.
     
  12. anarci

    anarci Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Im another who thinks he is underrated, NOT overrated.

    I also think he beats up any one on your list, although Zale might be even money. I think Fullmer is real close to a top 10 Middle, havent done a list in a little while but i wouldnt be surprised if he cracks it.
     
  13. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I wouldn't be confident about all these guys beating Fullmer. For starters, he never lost to anyone who couldn't punch and hurt him, so that right away makes picking Overlin very questionable. Conn wasn't at his peak yet as a MW and it showed in occasional losses to Solly Kreiger and others. Fullmer had flaws that a number of these fighters could theoretically take advantage of, but he also had a difficult and unpredictable style that could pose potential problems for any of them as well.