Underrated Power on this forum ..

I would say pretty much everyone knows Lausse was a tremendous puncher.

 

Agreed, but no one ever talks about him. Just trying to give the guy a plug really.

 

Miss anybody?

 

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad -

In his championship days he was regularly rated above Saad Muhammad and an emerging Michael Spinks (two very big punchers) as the biggest banger at 175.

In his early days he was considered a murderous puncher, especially with the right hand. As a matter of fact he was spoken about as the biggest right hand banger in boxing at times and there were some big right hand bangers about.

The camouflage is twofold. Firstly he could be extremely laid back and lazy. If the opponent didn't press then Eddie wouldn't press. Secondly we don't have a lot of his stoppages on film. He was a heckuva puncher. He looked awesome against Mwale and Hart among others.

 

Another vote for Lausse. Tremendous puncher (and fighter!)

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Canelo doesn't have the skill level of the fighters you mentioned. And I never read anywhere were someone felt those fighters would just "wade in" and throw bombs. But they would have the skills and experience to get to Mayweather Jr unlike the overrated Canelo.

 

In the case of Hagler, he had every facet to the game. I do think he was a murderous puncher but he kept it in check until he needed it or saw that glaring opening. We recently had a thread going on here called 'Fighters who fell in love with their power' or something like that. Basically it was fighters that had the ability to box and wear down an opponent, but chose to get involved once they saw they had some pop. Hagler did take out fighters early, but again it presented itself. The only time I saw him drop the skills and go wading into the trenches was the Hearns fight because he was forced to. Hearns had such a height and reach on him and getting cut just forced him to engage. Other than that he kept his composure which made him a complete fighter.

As for Frazier, he was a machine. A wrecking machine. I like McVey's adage about Frazier's ability to fire and reload almost instantaneously. That was very apt.

If there was one fighter I would say that is underrated today and rarely mentioned by anyone other than me when I've brought it up, is Carlos Hernandez, the Venezuelan lightweight who became jr. welterweight champion. That dude's power was just chilling. And I would say he is underrated today because people just don't remember him rather than they're ignoring him.

 

Exhibit A

 

I didn't know this ,must do some research on him!

 

One of those guys who name was brought up a lot back in my day by those who sparred or fought him... Lionel Butler.

 

Post-Bowe bulked up Holyfield.
His power was consistently underrated.
He wasn't a "puncher" but at Heavyweight that doesn't matter because anyone with atleast average power can stop almost anyone in the right circumstances

The 202lb Holyfield who had just moved up and was bouncing and moving might have not had a "heavyweight punch"

But the bulked up mid 90s version that had Bowe down and damn near out with a single left hook, dropped mercer, bounced moorer around like a rubber ball
Hit plenty hard because he sat down on his shots and wasn't bouncing around anymore

 

Huge right hand power and his left was no slouch in the power department.

Looking at a mag from fall 81 now under Strengths -

"Perhaps the hardest right hand puncher in boxing - regardless of weight - Eddie's also a marvelously gifted boxer who slips punches, takes a good whack"................"But it's his awesome right hand chop - to head - or body that made Gregory a champion."

Weaknesses spoke of not putting punches together and preferring to pot shot. They also speak about his passiveness and lack of fire at times. Such a waste.

 

Ezzard Charles had some pop especially at light heavy.