The Most Hated Boxer Whilst Active/The Most Respected When Retired

My Question is who is The Most Hated Boxer Whilst Active/The Most Respected When Retired.

I thought about his when looking at a recent Poll on ESBF that had Lennox Lewis ranked as Number 3 greatest Heavyweight ever.

I now that's a bit high but he is always mentioned in top 10 Heavyweight ATG lists.

I remember he used to get so much stick when he was active, he was Never in the Pound for Pound top 10 on the ring/and yet now he's ranked so high in ATG rankings.

Deserved or not, can you think of any other examples like this.

 

Jersey Jones

 

Ali was hated by many people during his career because of his refusal to fight in Vietnam.

 

Roy Jones Jr? Still gets **** about not fighting anyone who isnt driving a taxi and with recent losses still fresh in mind. Being 40 years old and with a style based on speed & reflexes everyone shits on him for fighting nobodies in his prime, but he "just made them look like nobodies".. Look what he did to Hopkins & Toney all those years ago, who else has even come near to doing that to 2 legends and true students of the game. IMO in 10 years we'll be looking back and appreciating how great a fighter he actually was.

Mayweather is very much hated on but theres no denying he is an amazing talent and arguably the most SKILLED, not greatest, fighter of all time.

 

bullseye! T

 

I agree.

And he beat them both when they were bang in their prime as well. Very impressive.

Roy Jones was massively appreciated in his time though. Always in the Pound for pound rankings, and he won fighter of the decade.

People just want him to retire now.

I think he will be a top 10 ATG once he hangs them up.

 

I want Roy to retire even more than I want Holyfield to retire. I think a lot of people feel the same way. Roy was an amazing fighter who lost his very essence once his reflexes went on him and it sucks watching him in the condition he's in now. I think a lot of people feeling that way is appreciation.

 

mayweather is a good example, when retired everyone screaming for the comeback, when he is around people will want to mock him.

the same is with calzaghe

 

when Mayweather was retired, boxing had one of its best years in a long long time (2008). Not that its related but noone was screaming for PBF's comeback.

 

I'd say Lennox Lewis. Absolutely none of my friends liked or appreciated Lewis until long after he retired.

 

Mayweather are Jones Jr are fine, but despite having alot of Hate flying around, they are still massively respected.

Mayweather gets alot of Hate on FOrums. But the guy only has to announce he's back from retirement to be ranked number 2 in the world.

The guy came 2nd in fighter of the Decade.

Jones and Mayweather get major respect when they are both active.

Of course they have haters, everyone at the top does.

I'm more thinking of people that get hate by everyone, media included. Then retire with a great record.

The Klitcko's could be an example. they get zero respect in america. they wont even show there fights, never in any p4p lists. Yet with there records cud become ATG's

 

#2 Jack Dempsey, #1 Jack Johnson

 

Spot on !

 

I wasnt really fond of Lennox Lewis, like most people were'nt. But I feel he's much more appreciated now.

 

Easily Lennox Lewis. Lewis was unappreciated when he fought and is now, imho, grossly overappreciated in light of the weakeness of the currect crop.