Who are the most underrated fighters in the history of this sport past or present?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008.


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  1. NALLEGE

    NALLEGE Loyal Member banned

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    There have been many fighters(champions or not) who have not gotten the appreciation/respect due during their careers. They have big wins and bad losses. They've also done well. These fighters might have been overlooked, fallen under tha radar, or whatever the case may be. Many of these fighters are appreciated AFTER their careers are over. There are many fighters who fall under this topic. The one fighter that comes to mind for me is Mike McCallum. I wish he was in the mix fighting Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard. He could not get those fights. He later showed that he was/is a H.O.F fighter. Who are some of the fighters that come to mind IYO?
     
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    #1
  2. Uppercut83

    Uppercut83 The Quitschkos are bums Full Member

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    Nigel Benn
     
    Uppercut83, Oct 14, 2008
    Uppercut83, Oct 14, 2008
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  3. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Sumbu Kalambay, the guy who damn near shut out McCallum in a one-sided boxing exhibition in their first bout.
     
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
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  4. klion22

    klion22 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    My knowledge is limited in the history of the sport but i think Winky will get lost in the shuffle in this era. In his prime at 154, he just didn't get the opportunity against top level competition to enhance his legacy. Imagine if DLH would've been dumb enough to fight Winky about 2005. You know Winky would've put on a boxing lesson.
     
    klion22, Oct 14, 2008
    klion22, Oct 14, 2008
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  5. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Holmes often comes to mind.
     
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
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  6. NALLEGE

    NALLEGE Loyal Member banned

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    Yeah, that first fight Kalambay was a boxing lesson. Mike did win the rematch. The loss to Nunn was bad for Kalambay because it made people forget what he actually accomplished. If you look at his resume, Kalambay has fought some of the best in and around his division. Good call Sweet.:good
     
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
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  7. NALLEGE

    NALLEGE Loyal Member banned

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    To be honest, I saw you post in another thread, and your avy gave me the idea to create this thread;)
     
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
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  8. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Im in a bit of a phase of watching McCallum fight at the moment. Loved his work.

    Also there was a thread in Classic Forum listing the greatest African born fighters. One of the names mentioned was Ayub Kalele.

    He held a win over Kalumbay in a relatively advanced stage of his career and also it was only 18months before Kalumbay won his title.

    It was a SD but it was out of Italy where Kulumbay was basing himself at the time, and Kalele dropped him twice.

    Anyone know how this fight went down? I know its a bit off topic. But I thought that was an intruiging win.
     
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
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  9. elchivito

    elchivito master betty Full Member

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    alejandro "la cobrita" gonzales had a couple of wins over top quality opponents in their prime. he won and lost to luisito espinosa, beat a young steve forbes, cesar soto, and kevin kelley.
     
    elchivito, Oct 14, 2008
    elchivito, Oct 14, 2008
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  10. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Haven't seen it personally, but from what I've heard from multiple trusted sources, Kalambay was robbed.
     
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
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  11. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Curious in his own home town but it can happen.

    Kalule was fairly decent, great jab and physically pretty impressive. But from what Ive seen from him in against Leonard and some Japanese dude vs what Ive seen from Kalambay vs Graham, McCallum I & II and the multiple accounts from many of his other fights it seemed a bit a strange win at that stage of their relative careers.
     
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
    WhataRock, Oct 14, 2008
    #11
  12. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Kalule was a very good technician, a bit like a bigger southpaw Cervantes, but just below Kalambay in that regard I thought. I'd be very interested to see that fight.
     
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
    Sweet Pea, Oct 14, 2008
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  13. NALLEGE

    NALLEGE Loyal Member banned

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    The fight was not as close as the crds indicated imo. I saw footage of this fight years ago, and remember Kalule being more busier than Kalambay. He picked his shots, and Kalambay countering but was too defensive late in their fight. Kalambay made Kalule miss, but he also landed a lot of "punk punches" is what I call them. they boxed, and then bombed and then boxed. I remember this because they showed footage of the 154 lbs guys, and Kalule had an impressive record before Leonard fought him. McCallum was being ducked at this time too, and did not get a shot until like 1986 against Sean Mannion.
     
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
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  14. elgrancampeon

    elgrancampeon Well-Known Member Full Member

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    People like Iran Barkley and Jose Luis Ramirez who have their share of loses.
     
    elgrancampeon, Oct 14, 2008
    elgrancampeon, Oct 14, 2008
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  15. NALLEGE

    NALLEGE Loyal Member banned

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    Good memory:good
     
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
    NALLEGE, Oct 14, 2008
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