Most overrated HW of all time.

Good call.

I never understood why Monte Cox rates Bowe at #13.
What's even more suprising is that he rates Holyfield at #14, who basically Bowe's entire legacy is built upon.

 

I agree, that's a wierd rating right there. Outside of Evander Bowe did little to impress me whist Holyfield has many many highlights. His two wins over Tyson launch him to places Bowe can't even see IMO.

 

Bowe was definitely an unfulfilled 'potential'. On occasions he looked truely great (ie: Holyfield I, II & III, Ferguson), however outside the Holy trilogy his resume is too thin to make a case for him getting near the Top 10. Something like 15-25 for 'aul Riddick sounds right depending on your view.

I personally have him at around #16

 

I feel any fighter who's claim to fame is based more on potential than actual accomplishment like a Tua or a Ike are badly overrated. They were great in certain areas, but badly lacked the other characteristics needed to become a top fighter like dedication (Tua) or sanity :nut (Ike).

Media hype jobs are probably worse though like a Conney. I don't think Tyson is overrated because he actually was on top and won in dominating fashion, so he was great in his own right.

As for now, Sam Peter is too hyped on this board off the beating Klit gave him. He has a great power, heart, determination, and chin which always give him a chance but his skills will never be good enoguh to dominate imo. Saying that, he will likely be a multiple beltholder in his career.

Wald :yep is both badly underrated and overrated. Both Wald haters/fanboys drive me nuts. Right now, Wlad is a very solid hw w/all-time physical skills and questionable intangibles with the potential to become a dominant champ in the same mold of Lennox. I don't think it helped matters he was Europeon.

 

I absolutely agree that Bowe should not be ranked above Holyfield. At the same time, I don't have a big problem with Evander's ranking since three of his most prolific fights were against Bowe, and he lost 2 of them.
Since I've always contended Bowe was overrated, that doesn't reflect well on Holyfield. There is no doubt that Evander had a lot of heart and determination, but his ranking is just about right in this list.
Of course, it's all so subjective that no single list will ever be anything more than one guy's opinion.

 

Bowe is a good contender.

I tend to think that if you overrate Bowe, it also follows that you overrate Holyfield, given that the 2 boxers are [SIZE=-1]irrecoverably linked through their trilogy. For Bowe his position is especially weak given this, as he hardly did anything else of note. Bowe's legacy is one of unfufilled potential and waste of talent IMO. He wasted a huge opportunity in not meeting Lewis as was planned and he wasted his career by lack of focus and indifference. I'd probably have him between 20-25 myself off the top of my head.
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It's a tough call since everyone is underrated and overrated (especially Mike Tyson).

I'll go with Vitali Klitschko. Decent wins over fringe contenders, a couple of solid wins over fat contenders, LOSSES to an undertrained Lewis and also Byrd, and some people here have called him a top 15, or even top 12 HW all-time.

 

I don't necessarily disagree with this, just pointing out that many others have, that's all.

 

I love your criteria (in bold below) but not your conclusion!

1) Lewis lost to Rahman and McCall. The two worst opponents in HW history that a prime ATG has been KOd by.
2) The Lewis Akinwande fight is the most mediocre HW fight I have ever seen on film.
3) Lewis 'avoided' Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe when it actually mattered, accepting the ridiculous pay-off from Tyson.

Applying your own criteria to Tyson, Lewis, Bowe and Holyfield shows you that Lewis is not a lock for TOP10 HW of all time. He is borderline TOP15.

 

brilliant post!

 

Unfortunately, Lennox Lewis, though he was definitely a good fighter.

 

Exactly. Lewis is top 15, nowhere near a "lock" top ten. ANd not the best HW of his era either. THe best of an era don't get laid out cold by Hasim Rahman or knocked into ***** street by Oliver McCall. And they face the other top guys of their era when they aren't shells of their former selves.

 

L.Lewis is so overated its sick.
For all that size he was fragile & lacked a warriors heart.
Who wants to see a 6'5 245 ib man constantly fight safty first because he knows his chin has glass in it.
Not me for one.So glad he retired.