The Underrated/Overrated thread

Overrated: Ezzard Charles, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson.

Underrated: Bernard Hopkins, Ricardo Lopez, Mike McCallum.

 

Hagler
Hearns
Leonard
Whitaker
Jones Jr.

All fighters of the modern era certainly better than Mayweather. That isn't even going into the old timers. His list including Mayweather while excluding all of the above just of the modern era is bad enough. That's not even taking into account the old timers. I have no problem with a fighter of the modern era being ranked high on someone's list, but no way in hell Floyd has the resume of so many greats that should be ranked ahead of him.

 

Why Ezzard Charles? You've said it before but never given a reason. I think he's comically underrated. His resume is clearly one of the best of all time, much more stacked than a Willie Pep while having half as many fights, so I don't get that one. If it has to do with amount of losses, you have to realize most were at the tail end of his career, otherwise someone could have the same argument against your personal favorite Duran.

 

I did say I never agreed with it. Mayweather's record is pretty impressive, and he's been consistent. I wouldn't say the fighters you mentioned are head and shoulders above Mayweather. Certainly when it comes to skills he's on par or thereabouts with them all. But his level of opposition when it comes to winning isn't as the same calibre of Leonard. I would put him near Jones and Whitaker, again not saying his level is better or worse, but it's debatable.

 

Lets not factor in how much longer Ezzard's career was than Floyd's as of right now, that Charles killed a man in the ring and it affected him for the rest of his career, and then he ended up being a legitimate HW in his own right.

 

When I say Charles is overrated, I'm not saying he's a bad fighter by any means. But when he was a light-heavyweight he never won the title, and that should work against him. How much it should be held against him will differ from one person to the next. I do appreciate his wins over Burley, Moore, Marshall, Bivins, Walcott, etc, but looking back he never achieved much apart from a brief reign as heavyweight champion. Now, when he came back to try to regain the heavyweight title he failed. The first man to regain the heavyweight title was Patterson, and many tried and failed before him, so that shouldn't be held against Charles. He wasn't just inconsistent at the end of his career, but also at the start.

With all that said, Charles doesn't deserve a spot inside the top 10 in my eyes. He's a top 15-20.

 

He was never given a shot at the LHW title, I don't think that should work against him considering he beat all the best. Based on his career there, he was pretty easily in my opinion the best LHW of all time.

 

Regardless, black fighters weren't exactly treated with respect in regards of title shots on the whole back then unless your name was Joe Louis.

Just ask Archie Moore.

 

Would you accept that Charles never achieved as much as Duran?. Duran not only dominated the lightweight division, but he came back from the dead on more ocassions than Charles did, thats for sure. After Charles had a great resume at light-heavyweight without ever winning the title, then his move up to heavyweight and winning then losing the title, he never came back from the same setbacks as Duran did.

 

Charles is one of the best light-heavyweights of all-time based on his opposition, some would say the best, others wouldn't agree. How would you feel if Michael Spinks or Bob Foster were rated in the top 10 P4P of all time?. Would you agree?. Not too sure you would.

Mind Pea, Im only dropping him down 5-10 places compared to where others rate him, thus in my opinion overrated.

 

How can I fighter occupy your top 25 and still be "overrated"?

Foster was dominated by literally every heavy he ever fought, including getting blown out in two by Frazier.

Ezzard gave Marciano absolute hell for 15 and damn near stopped him with a split nose towards the end of his career.

 

Duran was given far more chances than Ezzard not to mention he didn't have killing a man on his conscience, resulting in him holding back constantly.

 

He's overrated IMO to where others have him ranked. Yeah, but giving someone hell and splitting their nose and winning are different scenarios altogether.

 

Under rated - Gene Tunney

Over rated - Lennox Lewis

 

He was the sole man to ever go 15 with Marciano.

And once again, he was multiple weight classes out of his best, years past his prime, and he had the fact that he had killed a man on his conscience.

There's nothing to be ashamed about there.