The Most Overrated British Fighter?

Yes, he had learning difficulties, I read part of his biography and it was stated that he really struggled with basic academic work at his school as a kid, he also started screaming when he saw the statue of liberty when first entering the New york harbour, however the word simpleton is horrible.

 

Jones was 5/2 to beat Calzaghe.

 

Just to wade into the Calzaghe debate, objectively he was clearly a very talented fighter. However he suffers as a lot of recent champs from the state of the modern fight game. Cautious match ups, endless negotiations and arguments about money to make a match and obsession with meaningless titles and perfect records. In the 50s he would have fought Eubank 5 times, Reid 4 times & Jones 3 times even before getting a shot, losing some and winning some.

This is why I find it really difficult to judge modern champs. Sometimes they are clearly technically better boxers and in better physical condition than champs from the past but tend to spend there career working towards one or two "legacy defining" fights. If those fights ends up being a damp squid their rating suffers, even though head to head I feel Joe would have given many other great Super Middles trouble, if not winning. Also, possibly due to the pressure, many burn out (like Hatton) after a mega fight loss rather than bouncing back which I think tend to weigh against fighters like Hatton in the all time UK stakes.

 

Hamed

 

Hamed is a perfect example of the meteoric rise and quick burnout of several exciting British fighters...and also not recovering from a poor loss. I sort of put Hatton, Hamed, McGuigan and maybe Honeyghan in this group. I don't think Hamed has as good an individual win as these guys, but overall may have a slightly stronger resume? Honeyghan does have the advantage of beating "the man" at his weight and regaining his title after a lose. I also think he deserves credit for taking on quality fighters like Blocker, Starling and Breland.

 

Henry was limited but incredibly brave. No opponent had a bad word to say about him, win or lose. Yes, over rated to a point but by no means the most over rated.

 

Excellent post this. Never thought of Jack's career in this context.

 

Some good points here. A few 0-0 fights in Joe's pre Lacey career.

 

Plus he went 37 rounds with Ali and Frazier. Over rated ? Hardly.

 

Well, at least you're over it Yank. If you had known some of the old gym rats and ex pro's who used to hang round the gym where I trained as an amateur, you would have known how great Randy was. His name was literally mentioned in hushed tones.
Here in the English Midlands, the local BBC channel did a "Sportsman of the Millennium" competition at the end of 1999. Against great Footballers, ( Soccer ), Cricketers, Rugby players etc... Who won ? Randy Turpin. Most of the people that voted for him weren't even born when he won the Title.
Over rated ?

 

Mills and Woodcock fought some terrific American opponents in the days of post War austerity and rationing. Nothing but respect for those two. Freddie in particular was brave beyond the price of a ticket.

 

Not like you to chat nonsense George. How did the exams go young man ? Have you had your first fight yet ? Good to see you back here.

 

Lovely post pal. Ours can be a very tough game.

 

Well Mills certainly had a very brave manager Ted Broadrib, it was scandalous and terrifying the amount of punishment this merciless man put the immensely courageous Mills through, Woodcock, London, and the huge avoided Baksi were more than a match for most HWs let alone a natural LHW like Mills, notwithstanding the life altering beatings at the hands of Maxim and Marshall, no wonder he suffered from chronic headaches and severe migraines for the remainder of his troubled life, Broadrib should have been brought up on charges.
stay safe guys.

 

The most over rated British Fighter is Frank Bruno. I'm astonished to see names like Freddie Mills, Randy Turpin and Jack Berg on here, although some good points were made, without mention of Frank.
Manufactured from day one by Duff / Barrett / Levene and their lackey, Terry Lawless. Frank never beat a live contender.
I was young amateur, doing my roadwork on my paper round and he was back page headlines for sparking some dead body in the first on his debut. I couldn't believe it. His ABA Title win was a robbery against Rudi Pika. And so it went on.
The only other contender for Most Over Rated British Fighter is Ricky Hatton. Like Frank, brilliantly manged.