Terrell and Berbick might fit this. Nowadays they are mostly remembered for one-sided defeats to Ali and Tyson respectively, but they had good runs up to those fights, beating several of the top contenders around. Charles probably doesn't get the respect he deserves as a HW. Beat a good number of contenders, beat and old but still dangerous Louis and gave Rocky two hard fights while past his own best.
They did not need to avoid them, because there were much more qualified challengers. Their resolve in the matter was never put to the test.
Deontay Wilder is probably the most underrated heavyweight in some time. 6'7" and 228 pounds. 38-0 with 37 KOs. Reigning WBC heavyweight champion. Five straight defenses by KO. Always in great shape. Has won two fights with a broken hand. Won one fight with a broken hand AND A torn bicep (and still scored a KO). Might have the best right hand in the entire sport. True one-punch KO artist. He's shown no dog in him at all. Beaten two titleholders and left one of them (Liakhovich) convulsing on the canvas. Another former champ felt he needed PEDs to compete against Wilder and got suspended for it. Another challenger left the ring on a stretcher a year ago and was sent by ambulance to the hospital and hasn't fought again. I doubt anyone would pick nominees named here like Floyd Patterson and Leon Spinks (both of whom I've always liked) or Tommy Burns over Wilder head-to-head, because they couldn't take his power. You can count on a couple fingers the current heavyweights anyone would bet their own money on to beat Wilder ... yet his skills, his chin and his name are ridiculed nearly every time he's brought up. Clearly nobody OVERRATES Wilder ... even though they'd pick him to beat just about everyone out there. Most can't wait for him to finally lose so they can say: "See, I told you he was terrible." But if he really was as bad as they paint him to be, he'd be 0-38, not the other way around. So Deontay Wilder would probably get my vote as the most underrated.
Bob Pastor defeated: -Jimmy Bivins -Lem Franklin -Turkey Thompson X2 -Gus Lesnevich -Al McCoy x 2 -Lee Ramage -Al Ettore He also had draws with: Lou Nova Maxie Rosenbloom Tami Mauriello And he took a prime Louis the distance in their first fight. Do we ever hear of him? Very rarely. And in truth most of us wouldn't even know he was had it not been for boxrec or youtube. Some of the other suggestions in this thread like Jimmy Young, Trevor Berbick, Ernie Terrell, John Tate, etc, etc, have all had entire threads devoted to them and have all been involved in head to head fantasy bouts. Pastor rarely gets mentioned and this is in the midst of a more serious and less casual boxing crowd.
I was ridiculed by one poster for giving him a cheeky inclusion at Number 10 in my ATG list in a recent thread. There aren't a massive number of heavies from any era you would put money on against him. You are totally correct in all you say. Im a huge fan of his and im pleased im not alone !
I was in a decent spot in the crowd when he beat Tyrell Biggs in Milan . Damiani won on a cut stopage but he looked a good fighter, a handful for anyone just about. He ticked most boxes . Looked sure to fight Tyson but it just never happened. When he finally hit the big time he was a little past his prime and he lost his unbeaten tag against Ray Mercer, he was decked with a broken nose when ahead on points. He lacked a little ambition to fight outside Italy and his manager was very cautious with him. Intelligent man who looked ahead to his life after boxing. He didnt blow the money he earned and In retirement he has been constantly involved with the Italian amateur /Olympic boxers. Last i heard he was doing ok. Basically he didnt have a defining fight when right at his prime. Had things been way different we couldve been talking about 'Tokyo Damiani' . He was lined up to fight Tyson a few times, it just never happened.
Lou nova. People forget how big his fight with Louis was. It was bigger than the conn fight because he had retired Max Baer. Ray Arcel said Nova would trouble any heavyweight in history.
He actually makes a lot of expert's top 10 heavyweight lists and numerous people's top 20. he's listed as one of the very best opponents both Marciano and Louis ever faced and not to mention a top 10 p4p in a lot of circles. Not sure I'd call that being underrated.
Many regard him as a great light heavy (one of the best) but I see almost no discussion of him as a top heavyweight and I suspect those lists are dated. I see much more discussion of Floyd Patterson as a top heavy than I do Ezz.
Chris Byrd. Brilliant defensive fighter, consistently caused fits for almost everyone who fought him despite being outsized for most of his career and having next to no punching power. Really underrated heart as well. His wins over Tua, Holyfield and Vitali tend to get overlooked or marginalised for no good reason that I can see.