Who is the most Underrated Fighter of this era?

I wouldn't say "underrated", but more like this boxer is one of the most disrespected......and that's Terence Crawford.

Crawford came in the door scraping for fights. I believe he made like $5K for his first professional fight. He didn't have the Olympic red carpet of Shakur Stevenson. He didn't have the legendary backing/guidance like Tank Davis. He didn't have a promoter who went above and beyond to put his name out there like Ryan Garcia. Yet, he's become one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the sport.

He's also setting "trends" for the lack of a better description. Crawford became the first undisputed champion in a little over a decade. After his accomplishment, it became the goal for many of his peers. Even some claiming the title without actually obtaining it (Teofimo Lopez). After Josh Taylor, Canelo, Devin Haney, Usyk, Inuoe, & Charlo accomplishes it, Crawford goes ahead and becomes the first to do it in 2 weight classes (male).....shortly after, Inuoe and Usyk accomplishes the same feat.

I'm unsure of his plans exactly, but I've read somewhere, he was at least attempt to try and become undisputed at a 3rd division (154 lbs) if he isn't able to get the Canelo fight.

I say all that to say that Crawford is worth the respect of all his peers and boxing fans regardless of the era who follow most, yet there's always the dirt thrown at his resume simply because he didn't fight "highly publicized" names in the sport. Crawford has fought 12 world champions. 5 of them were undefeated going into the fight vs Crawford. 2 of them world ranked in the top 5 p4p by The Ring Magazine at the time of the fight (Spence & Gamboa). One thing that has yet to be pointed out is that Crawford hasn't had a single opponent that hasn't been stopped and/or received an 8 count for a knockdown. Currently he's on a 11 fight KO streak yet isn't considered a dangerous puncher like some of his peers like Errol Spence Jr., Danny Garcia, or Canelo Alvarez..... He has taken some devastating punches on the chin and stepped back in the fire to finish off opponents, but in step of labeling him a "dawg" in the ring like Shawn Porter, or Isaac Cruz, people claim his chin is questionable.

It's hard for me to say he's underrated, when he is the ONLY active fighter to get his fist engraved at the Hall of Fame ceremony, which is the ultimate respect for a fighter.....but he definitely is one of the most disrespected given all he's accomplished in the sport.

 

I have.

 

Because he is actually mediocre/average. He's lucky he was in a really weak division and was privileged.

 

Charlo? I actually did not see that one but I haven't heard anyone say Derev won.

 

On this board? Joshua until Usyk beat him. Now he's seen in a better light to prop Usyk up.

 

I had him Derveyanchenko 1 point up. Very close fight.

 

Janibek doesn't have any particularly noteworthy achievements. And he's not "insanely skilled" at all.

 

Being a unified champion is a good achievement and I don't know who you're watching if you don't think Janibek isn't incredibly skilled, because that must not be Janibek. His punch selection, his jab, his feint game, his footwork, his counter punching, and his pressure fighting are all done to a very high level. Janibek is by far one of the most skilled and versatile fighters in the game today imo.

 

Exhibit A

Think about Bernard, Jermain, Crawford, Usyk, Josh, Canelo, Inoue and Devin................then look up at the above comment, who of these men have been underrated as harshly as Little Twin?

Closest you could say is Jermain and quite frankly it wasn't close, Jermain was well liked on a personal level (at least until his CTE kicked in) and he stayed relevant with even his bad performances being rationalized. Even Haney isn't as underrated. Even little Twins good performances are brushed off. People have an innate hate of both Charlos and let that cloud their minds regarding accomplishments when the truth is as far as physical abilities and athletic prowess, both are absolute specimens. Chin, power, speed, stamina..................they tick all of those boxes.

 

He won with a split decision against an unknown guy a few years ago.

 

I wonder if, when it comes to a discussion like this, the fighter's out-of-the ring backing plays a role. The Charlos were huge coming out of Houston, led by the father, and trained by Shields since they were teenagers. They got fast-tracked onto Showtime and were well managed into the elite ranks.

Given all that, their careers have not lived up to that kind of promotion relative to the path other boxers have to take.

 

Now that I can say I agree with, they both had a pretty decent machine/push behind them initially. I also believe much of them being underrated is largely the outside the ring antics (which I readily admit are troubling). And I will also say both have underachieved especially Big Twin. They've shown glimpses but it never quite.................got there.

 

You clearly have not watched that fight. It was not close at all, Janibek won a shut-out on my card. I think you would struggle to find 2 rounds to give to Vaughn Alexander, let alone 5. Alexander isn’t a nobody either, he was a decorated amateur and at one point a very hot prospect before his prison sentence. Janibek was a 3-0 prospect and they decided to put him in with an experienced guy and he beat him decisively. That was 6 years ago and Janibek has improved by leaps and bounds since. But sure, just use the first negative thing you see on a boxrec page on a fight he clearly won from over a half decade ago to diminish a guy you obviously do not watch.

 

he's very good and has done everything right so far.

It's just his division is so weak, and he's not beaten anybody because of how weak it is