Life is not fair they say,and it certainly applies to some great overlooked boxers...Such as Ken Overlin,ex middleweight champ...Look at his record--165 fights, lost only 19 bouts...Look who Overlin beat... Ezzard Charles Won and drew Fred Apostoli al Hostak Oscar Rankin Ceferino Garcia etc Overlin seldom trained properly, and was a hard drinker...He was called by sportswriters " the poor man's HARRY GREB ". but was quoted saying this "We are just a bunch of bums alongside Harry Greb...I think Harry could lick me and Ceferino Garcia in the same ring,the same night, with no rest between " Unquote, by the modest Overlin..Could lick when trained most any middleweight icon since his day...Why is he forgotten now ?
His style, apparently, didn't set the world on fire, as he tended to be much more craftsman than kayo artist. Having stated that, of the lost generation of 30's middileweights, he was one of the very best, and is almost certainly one of the more undderrated fighters in that division's history. Not an easy out for anyone, to say the least.
Well he's not forgotten on this board. As for why he's forgotten in the mainstream - There's a derth of footage. The only thing on YouTube is his loss to Henneberry and before My2Sense uploaded that I had never seen him move. Fighters who aren't readibly available on film rarely have mainstream recognition, it's not exactly normal to hear people chatting about even Harry Greb down the pub. He was 2-2 in World title fights, I believe? And held the title for only a year. He was not a great champion. The title was passed between many excellent fighters in the previous decade but there was no great champion. He was followed by Zale-Graziano and then Robinson-LaMotta, who are very famous. There's only so much oxygen in any given weight division for any given era. He was not a puncher. Punchers echo down the ages to a much greater degree than boxers. He neither took, nor lost his title to a great fighter.
Very good explanation. Eventually, voters for the IBHOF will take a closer look at his record and induct him. Less worthy candidates have been enshrined, so I'm satisfied it's just a matter of time before he receives the same recognition. (I was under the impression he was already in, and had to look him up to confirm otherwise.)