most under rated and most over rated heavyweight

In terms of general public recognition, I'd say Mike Tyson was the most overrated. I think they looked at him as an unstoppable monster without taking into consideration the quality of his opponents (that said, he can't really be accused of avoiding anyone during his 87-91 run). But he never seemed to be able to get it together when the going got really tough - see the Douglas and Holyfield fights. That said, I wouldn't bet against a focused Tyson versus any heavyweight in history. In a way he never reached his potential. He was sort of like Elvis Presley - Presley and Tyson both had a GREAT first few years but then coasted, stumbled, but occasionally looked fantastic. So in the general public sense, I view Tyson as over rated.

Again in a general public sense, I think Lennox Lewis is most under-rated. With the exception of the two losses, he did everything right. He fought everyone who would fight him (Foreman and Bowe wouldn't). He unified the belts. He made sure he took the lineal belt from Briggs (many at the time were questioning why Lewis would fight Briggs, without taking into consideration Briggs' legitimate claim to the lineal title). He emphatically avenged the KO loss to Rahman; a loss that could've started him on the trail to oblivion. He was an active champion. I don't recall, off the top of my head, any cancelled Lewis fights, unlike Tyson's many. He conducted himself like a gentleman and represented the sport well. In his last bout he took on an incredibly tough last-minute sub in Vitali Klitchko and pulled out a hard-fought win. That victory looks even more impressive considering the now-retried Klitchsko never lost again. Then Lewis retired on top and stayed retired. Lewis, like Larry Holmes, should be a superstar in the eyes of the general public. But he's not.

 

I would say David Tua for most overrated.

There are people who sincerely believe that he would have beaten may all time greats, but his record at world level really doesn’t warrant this belief.

For most underrated I would say Ray Mercer.

There is a guy that gave a prime Lewis and a prime Holyfield all that they could handle.

 

Lennox Lewis is the most overrated. He was mainly just big and awkward. His footwork was poor and he refused to box against the complex stlye of a southpaw.

Carl Williams is underrated. There was great talents in the 80's but the yeyo got the better of them all.
Williams vs Tillis is a great showing of skill.

 

overratted ...sam peter...I detested him after his showing when vitali won the wbc title again from him.

underrated. ..maybe razor ruddock....just thought he was very durable..big...powerful...I knew lewis was great when he beat him the way he did.

 

That goes without saying. 38 year old fat James Toney was faster and had better stamina.

 

Sam peter is a very good shout for most overrated

Not sure about most underrated maybe terrible tim or Carl Williams

 

carl williams is a good underrated shout too....that jab !!
an old favourite of mine was fransesco damiani who doesnt get spoke about...I thought he was good....not saying he was great...but he was good.

 

A lot of the guys from the 80's and 90's get underrated.

And Marciano seems extremely overrated, great fighter, but I see people say he is the greatest cause he was undefeated...

 

:good Greg page is in with a shout. He fought everybody. Chaplin, Monroe, Alexander, Stan Ward, ledoux, Berbick, snipes, Douglas, Coetzee, Witherspoon, Tubbs, Ruddock, tillis, bugner, Orlin Norris, bonecrusher, Damiani and Bruce seldon. I actually think Damiani was quite underrated too.

Most over rated was Michael Grant.

 

Overrated? Ike Ibeabuchi
Underrated? Riddick Bowe

 

Overrated - David Tua
Underrated - Jimmy Young

 

Good input!:good

 

Grant was abysmal.

 

:dead