who's the most overrated past fighter ever?

Rocky Marciano
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
Tony Zale
Donald Curry
Tony Ayala Jr.
Aaron Pryor
Salvador Sanchez
Bobby Chacon.

 

Film is like Boxrec- a useful tool, and a contributing factor , but not the end-all, be-all. The best looking fighters on film aren't always the one with the best careers or who are the toughest to beat.

If it were foolproof, there'd be way more people making a fortune betting on boxing today where there's ample film of pretty much every fighter one could want to wager on.

 

I have respect for Spinks. The way he went up to Heavyweight and beat Holmes was impressive. I don't think he is the most overrated past fighter. There are others.

I do think though that he is slightly overrated at 175.

His best pre championship victims, Marvin Johnson and Yaqui Lopez had already been stopped twice each by Saad Muhammad. Two of his title defense victims, Vonzel Johnson and Murray Sutherland had already been stopped by Saad Muhammad. Eddie Davis nearly beat him. He had trouble with Oscar Riverendia. Victims David Sears and Jim MacDonald were very mediocre. The decisions over Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Dwight Muhammad Qwai were fairly impressive though. It should be remembered though that Mustafa had to lose 25 lbs after fighting Renaldo Snipes a few months before the Spinks fight.

 

I don't think Whitaker is overrated. He was practically untouchable as a lightweight champion. Won titles at 140, 147 and 154 lbs. Outboxed Chavez, almost beat Prime Oscar De La Hoya. Gave prime Trinidad a good fight. He was great fighter.

 

Undserstood, but not Michael's fault that Eddie didn't handle his business right, though.

 

go watch his fight against Hagler

 

Cleveland Williams was one of the hardest punchers who ever lived. Williams knocked out over 50 men, he hit one opponent so hard he broke the guys back, and he had to go around on crutches for the rest of his life.

 

Lennox Lewis is the most overrated fighter ever in my opinion. Lewis ability is on par with Frank Bruno. Bruno even out-jabbed Lewis, as did Ray Mercer. Lewis footwork resembles that of a camel, his resume is against exposed fighters who was all on the downside of their career. Lewis never fought a top quality opponent who was "At the Top of his Game". Lewis refusal to fight Ruiz & Byrd says everything. Lewis clearly lost his second fight with old Holyfield 8-4rds

 

I agree with a lot of this. Bruno was actually ahead on the scorecards before his china chin let him down again. The one punch knockout losses to McCall and Rahman are hard to dismiss. Tyson was a fossil and Holyfield was past his prime.

I think he could have beaten Ruiz and Byrd though. I also think the Tua win was fairly impressive.

 

I think there is merit in this post. I always thought Gatti was overrated in terms of ability, once in a millennium fighter in terms of excitement but his skills weren't all they were made out to be. I remember when Ring magazine had him beating Tszyu in a fantasy matchup, that was 'so' laughable.

 

For me this is so wrong. Ability on a par with Frank ?Bruno. FFS! Lewis is overrated because he didn't fight Ruiz and Byrd? Ruiz was a bum and Byrd an 'awkward' heavyweight at best at the championship level.

 

Ricky Hatton was way overrated in my opinion, dined off on his victory over Tszyu. An ageing Tszyu who was obviously hijacked on the night.

 

I think Ricky Hatton is a great call.
Fought over the hill guys in his own back yard.
Woefully exposed when he travelled and took on top fighters in their prime.

 

Mayweather.