Which fighters did you hate but now respect

Wilder didn't hate him but didn't respect him as much in getting his ass handed to him and even though on Bambi leg's he still wanted to fight

 

I dont really think I hate fighters anymore. I think I more so get annoyed by fans

When I was younger in my pre-forum and early forum days I did hate some boxers

Jermaine Taylor for beating Hopkins and the close nature of the fights
Lamon Brewster and Corrie Sanders for beating Wlad
James Toney for being an annoying **** talker
David Haye
Shannon Briggs
Andre Ward

Taylor I grew to respect given how he bounced back in the Pavlik rematch and moved up to 168 and challenged himself

Brewster was the kind of fighter I tend to really like and have really grown to like and have liked any commentary he has put forward in interviews

James Toney I began to watch more of and read Dark Trade that featured him and changed my views

David Haye, nah but I'll give him more of a due for his Chisora win aging well and while Ruiz was old no one really beat him that easily since Tua or Jones and though it was really boring and he talked a ton of **** he beat Valuev

Briggs I kind of just feel bad for him now cant tell if he is brain damaged, delusional or its just an act to go viral and make some money. Though he came across as likable on Rogan's podcast

Andre Ward was another one but thats only really because I really liked Kessler and Froch and thought he ducked Bute after the Super 6 but he won me over when he moved up and stopped Kovalev who I really liked and picked to win the first fight which I thought he did. I know you could mention low blows but he rocked Kovalev badly with a right hand prior and even if the ref gave Kovalev 5 minutes he was done the fight was over he was out of gas and Ward was coming on

I was pretty upset when Fury beat Wlad but I was more mad at Wlad for turning in such a horrible performance. I figure as a Wlad fan it was better to see him get out pointed in a dull fight than get laid out cold since most old champs die hard. Fury impressed me massively vs Wilder especially since I picked Wilder twice

These days my all time faves and child hood heroes who got me into boxing are all retired pretty much so I really am not a big fan boy of anyone anymore so I dont take too much to heart with any fighters. If I had a favorite fighter anymore or favorite fighters I'd probably have by weight:

Wilder and Ruiz though Ruiz is on thin ice
Wlodarcyzk and Makabu
Beterbiev
Canelo, Plant, Benevidez
Golovkin though its waned from the high point of fandom in 2015-2016
Hurd
Porter Garcia
Davis though he is pissing me off and Stevenson
Inonue
Rigo
Navarette
Oubali not a huge fan
Ancajas, Estrada, Chocalatito lets see the ****ing rematch

 

I used to love watching “pretty boy” Floyd fight then hated him as “money may”.
But still respect the lifetime career & business prowess.

Used to hate Fury that fought Wlad, now he is my favorite Heavy.

I used to hate Lennox Lewis & wlad but I respect both of them ... Prolly cause I’m not 6’10!

 

Ive never hated any boxer BUT Today I have absolutely NO respect for Mayweather, Canelo or Ward. I despise cheaters & that is what all 3 of the are or wereBoth May & Ginger should have at least 4 losses apiece & no way did Ward ever LEGITIMATELY beat Kovalev.
Before you start the usual Margarito/loaded gloves BS I challenge you to show us one person one State Commission even that has actually come out & said publically that Antonio Margarito loaded or even TRIED to load his gloves. They cannot Tony was banned for 2 years had his career & good name tarnished by a blatant lie from a worthless POS & the CSAC banned him because they "SUSPECTED" he may have used loaded gloves. Go on I challenge you prove me wrong

 

Bellew- his Mukakbu and Masternak wins were undderrated. I didnt give him a chance against Haye but he proved me wrong. I Couldnt stand him at first but he grew on me and became mych more likeable at the end of his career.

Groves - I thought he was mouthy, was lucky to win against Degale ( I like the commentator and Frank Warren had Degale winning by 2). Groves continued to be mouthy and come across dislikable in both Froch fight build ups. However Groves impressed me with his performances against Chudinov, Murray and Eubank (I won some money off my boss who was adamant Eubank would win). Also as pundit Groves is much better than most at analysising a fight and doesnt follow a promotions agenda.

 

I've gone full circle on Dillian Whyte.

When he first turned up on the scene I couldn't stand him.... but he went into the AJ fight carrying an injury (which he brought from training prior to the Minto fight shortly before) along with the fact that his training preparation wasn't correct.

He took the L that night but since then has really knuckled down, got a good team around him, strung some good wins together and most importantly will fight absolutely anyone. He's been royally ****ed over by the WBC and should have had his shot a long time ago...… most fighters in the same position would take easy fights but he's still putting himself in the firing line against opponents who bring danger.

Also a very funny bloke.

 

Mayweather Jr. - I never like him before but I grew respecting him as a boxer and I highly admire his skill inside the ring. Maybe I'm not really fond of arrogant personality, but gotta say that he is arrogant because he is that good. And he is a very smart guy.

Andre Ward - Not really a fan of him and don't really like how he boxed. But he is an outstanding boxing analyst and a very intelligent one. Really like his assessment of the game.

 

...They literally found plaster of paris in his gloves

 

Used to hate Fury but he has grown on me slightly

In other news, Wilder is still a twat

 

Yup he was a legend, and classic example of someone you miss when you realise what it is like without him

Boxing needs people like Prince Naseem

 

Bellew - Still not a massive fan of the man but respect to him as a fighter.

If Dillian can beat any live fighter without the help of Matchroom he might begrudgingly gain my respect eventually.

 

Add to that 'Dre ran squealing to the hills in utter terror and Retired rather than face the Chechen wrecking ball

 

It's kinda the opposite for me, as a young kid, Leonard was probably my fav american boxer, super talented, very smart and articulate, great comeback v Hagler. However now, although I still respect who he was as a fighter, I absolutely cannot stand listening to the man, he's just a walking cliche, always sits on the fence and seems totally ignorant of boxing today and current fighters. Probably why DAZN and Fox ****ed him off so quick as an analyst.

 

Not sure I have ever directly hated a fighter, but some boxers I have learned to dislike indirectly due to the fanboyism of some people on here, perspectives of mine which were proved justified once these boxers started to slide, or lost..... and 'manlove' posters moved onto the next big thing.

An example of this: When I joined here in 2015, the complete nonsense talked about GGG (he could beat and KO heavyweights, for example) made me want to see him take an 'L', and yet as his powers faded and the idiots jumped ship (tip my hat here to those who have remained loyal despite the decline), I find myself willing him to win.

I don't like AJ for similar reasons, and yet by the time he's taken two or three losses (which he inevitably will) I might flip reverse about him too, as the kindergarten fans move on to someone else, probably Dubois.

 

It looks like Fox or is it PBC? fired Mancini which I'm not happy about. Cant Stand Lewis as a commentator