Who are the most underrated fighters of the past 30 years (or so)?

Emmanuel Augustus.

 

When I read the title of the thread, Winky and Juan LaPorte came to mind immediately. However I believe someone already mentioned them.

 

Marlon Starling excellent fighter.Sumbu Kalambay forgotten master.

 

Do you believe they are two of the most underated fighters of the last 30 years?

 

Simon Brown rarely gets the credit he deserves. He had a good run as welterweight champ including unifying against Blocker, and when well past his prime he was still formidable enough to burst the Terry Norris bubble when some were talking about him in terms of P4P best.

Buddy McGirt, one of the guys who beat Brown, seems to be overlooked these days. Partly due to his later success as a trainer, but also because he fell short against his two best opponents. He was a quality operator though, and could have built a big legacy at 140 if he hadn't run into a stylistic nightmare like Taylor.

Yuri Arbachakov was one of the first Eastern bloc fighters to make a big impression in the pro ranks, but got little recognition in the western world.

I'd completely forgotten that Stevie Johnston even existed until I did a little bit of digging, but he was one of the best pure boxers I've seen - a 5'4'' lightweight who was regularly able to outbox much taller fighters from range. His two fights with Castillo were very close and controversial, and if he had come out on top his career may have looked a lot better in retrospect (assuming Castillo still went on to achieve what he did)

 

McGirt comes to mind
Pac - The loss to Floyd has dropped his ranking more than it should've
Jones Jr. - His later career seems to have hurt him more than it should've
Morales/Barrera

 

I've always thought Luisito Espinosa was criminally underrated, though I don't many agree with me. Talk about an absolutely killer, stacked resume (With early KO wins over several very good name opponents) He might not have had the highest knockout percentage in boxing but he was an absolutely lethal puncher. Very dangerous counter puncher.

 

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Cant believe I forgot about Buddy. Great choice, Momus!!!

 

Yong Kyun Park

 

Wlad Klitschko, considering that posters on here (other than the ******ed twosome) think he’d lose to Tony Tubbs.

I’ll also say Oba Carr is not underrated. He’s the stock answer for this kind of thread but I’m not sure if he even beat a top ten contender. Guys like Aaron Davis are much more forgotten and equal or better.

 

Ricardo Lopez

 

Donald Curry
Marlon Starling
Sot Chitalada
Myung Woo Yuh

 

Deontay Wilder.

Can't think of anyone more underrated than him. He came up the hard way. Didn't start with any kind of TV deal. Had to fight in small towns and small halls. He's literally destroyed everyone he's faced. He's won with broken hands and torn biceps (and a broken hand and torn bicep in the same fight). He puts on the most exciting fights of any heavyweight. He's never been in a boring fight. He's about to go 40-0 as a heavyweight champ which happens about as often as Britain gets a new King or Queen.

Yet people do nothing but badmouth him.

Heavyweight champs are often ridiculed during their day and praised later after they retire. But people have gone to extremes with this guy. Considering all the truly awful champs and title fights the heavyweight division has offered over the years, you'd think a guy who put on performances like Wilder would be a breath of fresh air.

Totally underrated.

 

I listed Carr as under rated. If he didn' beat a single top 10 fighter but got 3 title shots from 3 different organizations that would be very odd even for boxing. I'm fairly certain he did beat some top contenders. I believe he beat Yori Boy Campos. Not saying Carr had the best resume but I remember that he fought his heart out against Quartey, DelaHoya and Trinidad all in their prime. Timing is everything Aaron Davis did win a belt against a softer touch but I doubt he would do as well as Carr did in those fights. Davis was solid though.