For these fighters: - Muhammad Ali - Joe Frazier - George Foreman - Larry Holmes - Mike Tyson - Evaner Holyfield - Riddick Bowe - Lennox Lewis - Vitali Klitschko - Wladimir Klitschko
- Muhammad Ali Over: Frazier 3 Under: Patterson 1 - Joe Frazier Over: Ali Under: Ellis - George Foreman Over: Frazier 1 Under: Lyle - Larry Holmes Over: Norton Under: Witherspoon - Mike Tyson Over: Rudduck Under: Williams/Pinky - Evaner Holyfield Over: Foreman Under: Mercer - Riddick Bowe Over: Holy 3 Under: Golota 2 - Lennox Lewis Over: Rahman 2 Under: Mercer - Vitali Klitschko Over: Peter Under: Sanders - Wladimir Klitschko Over: Brewster Under: Ibragimov
- Muhammad Ali Over: Maybe Foreman, to a degree. Frazier II & Norton II also qualify. Under: Chuvalo I/Bonavena - Joe Frazier Over: Ali I Under: Bonavena II/Chuvalo - George Foreman Over: Frazier I Under: Lyle - Larry Holmes Over: Mercer Under: Witherspoon - Mike Tyson Over: Bruno I Under: Tubbs - Evander Holyfield Over: Bowe II Under: Qawi I - Riddick Bowe Over: Under: - Lennox Lewis Over: Bowe in the Olympics Under: Golota - Vitali Klitschko Over: Under: Peter - Wladimir Klitschko Over: Haye Under: Pulev
- Muhammad Ali Underrated: Norton 3 Overrated: Foreman - Joe Frazier Underrated: Foster/Ellis 1 Overrated: Ali - George Foreman Underrated: Briggs Overrated: Frazier 1 (Moorer due to stylistic advantage- hammer vs glass) - Larry Holmes Underrated: Weaver/Williams Overrated: Norton - Mike Tyson Underrated: Spinks Overrated: Ruddock - Evander Holyfield Underrated: Dokes/Rahman Overrated: Tyson - Riddick Bowe Underrated: Tubbs Overrated: Holyfield 3 - Lennox Lewis Underrated: Tucker Overrated: Holyfield 1 - Vitali Klitschko Underrated: Chisora Overrated: Peter - Wladimir Klitschko Underrated: Byrd 1 Overrated: Povetkin
For these fighters: - Muhammad Ali under Liston1 over Frazier3 - Joe Frazier under Ali1 over Ellis - George Foreman under Frazier1 / Moorer over - Larry Holmes under Mercer/James Smith over Ali - Mike Tyson under James Smith over Spink - Evaner Holyfield under Mercer over Tyson - Riddick Bowe under Holy1 over Holy3 - Lennox Lewis under Vitaly over Tyson - Vitali Klitschko under Sanders over Sam Peter - Wladimir Klitschko under Byrd / Haye over povetkin
Good post. When it comes to Bowe do you feel that his win over Golota is underrated because he hung in there and showed heart and determination? I always felt Riddick had those attributes in the ring. Not necessarily disipline outside of it. Two separate things.
Didn't think of Povetkin for Wlad. That one's the most underrated for me. Not near the statement Pulev was for Wlad, but a great conquest of a decorated professional.
OK, here is my take: - Muhammad Ali Underrated: Lyle - stoppage win over, tough, hard-hitting opponent who was in his prime while Ali himself was past it Overrated: Liston 2 - Sonny was still very dangerous, but it looked that he didn't want to be in the ring with Ali that nigh - Joe Frazier Underrated: Ali 1. Ali was rusty and slightly past his prime physically, but nobody else could beat Ali conclusively until he became totally shot. Overrated: Quarry. Jerry was very good fighter, but he just couldn't compte on the highest level (Ali, Frazier, Norton). Plus the fight itself wasn't as good as was advertised IMO - George Foreman Underrated: Cooper. Bert was on and off fighter, but he was still very dagerous which wass proven later in his fights against Norris, Mercer, Moorer, Hipp and Holyfield Overrated: Cooney. He was much younger than George, but he hadn't fought for 2 years and 7 months. He was rusty as hell - Larry Holmes Underrated: Mercer. Clear, unquestionable win over prime unbeaten version of Mercer at the age of 42. Especially considering inactive and overweight version of Mercer gave Lennox Lewis all he could handle years after - I think that fight showed how skilled fighter Holmes was Overrated: Ali. It's not like this win is conisdered among the best wins in Holmes' resume, but Ali still had a name. Nothing else except of chin and heart though - Mike Tyson Underrated: Bruno 2. Frank was good fighter. He beat McCall and was competetive against Lennox. But Tyson just walked through him and the fight was much easier than the first one Overrated: Ruddock. Well, Donovan was just ridiculously overrated fighter. He never beat realy good fighter who was close to his prime and every time he stepped up he got beaten badly - Evander Holyfield Underrated: Quawi 1. To beat an ATG fighter in your 12th pro fight - well, that was an achievement. Add here that step up in class from previous opponents to Qawi was ridiculuos and Holyfield went into 15-rounds fight never going past 8 rounds before Overrated: Tyson. Although clearly not the best version (just like Holyfield himself), Mike was still very good, but stylistacally he was tailor-made for Holyfield - Riddick Bowe Underrated: Golota 2. Bowe went through everything in this fight - brutal beating, two knockdowns, huge headbutt and tons of low blows and still outthoughed Golota. He hurt him badly and knocked him down in round 4 and rocked him again with right hand to the head in round 9 Overrated: Seldon. Bruce just crumbled in that fight without any resistance (although it wasn't obvious dive like against Tyson) - Lennox Lewis Underrated: Mercer. Lennox has shown he can go through hell to win the fight against opponent who could take all his power and had better, harder and more effective jab. IMO, this fight was the most exciting in Lewis' career, and the most underrated win for Lennox Overrated: Tyson. He was just a shell of his fromer self. One-round fighter whose only assets left were power and name - Vitali Klitschko Underrated: Sanders - yes, Sanders was older than Lewis, more overweight than Lewis (comparing to his best weight) and less active than Lennox. So if Lennox was clearly past it when he fought Vitali then Sanders was even more so. But I just think that Sanders was very talented fighter - big, very hard-hitting southpaw with amazing handspeed. He was lazy and had awfl stamina, but even that, old and overweight version of Sanders would likely KO Vitali in the first round if Vitali had Wlad's chin - he hurt him really bad with that left hand in the first round Overrated: Adamek. Tomasz was very good at LHW and CW divisions but at HW he was so small and light-hitting... - Wladimir Klitschko Underrated: Ibragimov Overrated: Povetkin. Alexander is excellent fighter, and Wlad beat him conclusively, but he held him so much that it was awful to watch
