Underrated Title Reigns?

[Great John L]

I would consider him to be the genuine champion from 1978 onwards. Even if many people still ahd Ali in mind as the true king not Larry, Larry still ahd the belt and was fighting and Ali was not. But universal ecognition as the Champion of the world was clinched when Larry beat Ali. So from a technical standpoint, Larry was champ from 1978-1985, but he was viewed as a TRUE champ by the public from 1980-1985, after he had finally put Ali out of competition with him as champ. Many refused to believe Larry was champ because they felt Ali could have beaten him. Larry beating Ali, even if he was a shell of his former self, at least ended doubts as to who was the msot capable champion at the present time, though the Ali legcay continually came abck to haunt Holmes, as it would have done to anyone starting the reign just after Ali's had ended.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Obviously, Dempsey had far fewer title defenses, though the relative few were, for the most part, far more formidable than any of Holmes' challengers. Of course, at the same time, you cannot ignore how many more defenses Holmes made than Dempsey.

[Great John L]

I'm not really ignoring Holmes's defenses, but I just rate them as lesser spectacles than the mega fights Dempsey participated in, which drew record crowds and gates. But Holmes deserves credit either way. His reign and title defenses are second only to Joe Louis.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

I'm not really ignoring Holmes's defenses, but I just rate them as lesser spectacles than the mega fights Dempsey participated in, which drew record crowds and gates. But Holmes deserves credit either way. His reign and title defenses are second only to Joe Louis.

Right. By, "you" I meant in the context of everyone. Speaking just in generalities.

[MARKBNLV]

Larry Holmes he held the title between 78-75 i believe and was a masterful fighter in his prime sad he was sandwhiched between ali and tyson.

[RagingTheBull]

Nino Benvenuti's reign 1968-1968 1968-1970 is massivly underrated. He is surely in top 10 MW of all times.

[Great John L]

Jim Jeffries has a somewhat underrated reign. Of course he didn't fight top notch competition, but was so dominant that he cleared out the entire field of Heavweight challengers, and due to a lack of opponents, fought several of them in rematches and beat them a second time. He was like Joe Louis. Very dominant during his reign, even though it was comparatively short.

[Heavy Bag]

I don't really understand saying that the likes of Holmes's & Hopkins title reign's get underrated.

Both fighters get spoken about a ton, both for the most part always get there due & respect for there legnthy title reigns.

In this thread fighters like Chong-Pal Park, Myung-Woo Yuh, Koichi Wajima & Virgill Hill should be getting mentioned, not Bernard Hopkins & Larry Holmes.

[JAB5239]

Jim Jeffries has a somewhat underrated reign.

Lots of misinformation here my friend.

Of course he didn't fight top notch competition, but was so dominant that he cleared out the entire field of Heavweight challengers, and due to a lack of opponents, fought several of them in rematches and beat them a second time.

Besides Johnson, Jeffries fought an incredible array of top notch comp considering his very short career. 9 of his 23 fights were against hall of famers. No other fighters ratio comes even close to that.

He was like Joe Louis. Very dominant during his reign, even though it was comparatively short.

Louis reign lasted nearly 12 years with 25 defenses.

[Great John L]

I know Jeff fought very good competition, but I'm saying that he never fought a Frazier or a Foreman r a Liston. Lots of good fighters jsut not top 10. Of ocourse Lpouis didn't that much either. I wasn't saying Loui's reign was short btw. I meant that Jeff's was.