When leading up to fights and promoting the fight, who were some of the most blatantly disrespectful boxers you ever saw? Someone who had just absolutely zero respect for the opponent and said/did some things that shocked a lot of people. Someone who did something that made you go "Holy ****, he can't get away with that". Which ones really stand out in your memory. Also who did you want to see get knocked out the most after showing this disrespect toward the opponent?
IMO, one should never confuse 'disrespect' with confidence. "It's not bragging if you can back it up." "I'm not the greatest, I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round." "I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own." "Champions aren't made in gyms, champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill." "I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me—black, confident, coc key; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me." - Muhammad Ali If you have no confidence in self you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence you have won even before you have started.
Probably for me the worst I can remember was DeGale in the build up to the fight with Groves. I'm sure smack talk has been far worse elsewhere, but there was something pretty raw and nasty about DeGale that made that build-up stand out for me. I've warmed to DeGale since that fight as it goes... but like most people I was seriously rooting for Groves on fight night.
Broner is disrespectful? I dont see it that way. He's just unrefined and a bit dumb but not really disrespectful. At least, his attempts are not felt. And to say Broner took that to a level higher than Ali is just plain juvenile. Ali is the King of disrespect. The current King is Tyson Fury, but I dont like his style. Ali's style was loveable.
Doesnt count if you say that someone is never going to beat you, and then you get soundly beaten by said person a few weeks later. That's just failed disrespect.