Most overrated boxer in history?

[K-DOGG]

Thee most overrated of all time as said before by me and others is no other then Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson was a giant for his times at 6'0. He fought bums, he fought in a much much weaker time then Marciano so don't go there. He used very very light gloves and still didn't do the damage of fighters that came after him.

Johnson fought many light heavyweights, and middleweights. Many of his fights even right up until he won the heavyweight title only had a couple fights. Some of his fights were against guys who only fought him and then retired. His biggest fight was against an obviously past his prime James J. Jefferies.

you think i'm lying about who he fought just look at his record for yourself
http://boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=1187

I'm very confident that if Jack Johnson was white nobody would of heard his name. Not a top10 fighter.

Granted he was a good historical figure, he went where no man had gone before (black man) and he broke the color barrier. Could historical figure, very overrated fighter.

Good post with good points. Could be...I'll admit it. Props.

Course, I'm still goin with Foreman.

[Verstyle]

would u guys shut the **** up about rocky being overrated or not overrated already

[Brassangel]

To sum up my earlier posts, I'll go with Foreman and Johnson.

Liston, like Foreman and Tyson, was one of those potentially greatest fighters who just didn't have the heart to continue when he finally ran into competition. Even so, Foreman, Liston, Tyson, and Johnson are all in my top ten...I guess potential counts for something.

Furthermore, every fighter's career can look bleak when you really break it down. I basically do it this way:

1-2. Muhammad Ali
1-2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. Rocky Marciano
5. Sonny Liston
6. Jack Dempsey
7. George Foreman
8. Joe Frazier
9. Mike Tyson
10. Jack Johnson

This changes for me on a daily basis, apart from the first four. Several of these fighters are overrated, and there are probably some on here that are underrated. Unless we took a world-wide vote of some kind, however, "over" and "under" are subject to speculation.

[hellfire508]

Yep. Alot of arguments is that the computer was inaccurate but there is also much talk about when Marciano became mad at Ali during the filming. Marciano knocked him down and counted out with a very hard shot to the body.

Wow, this story continues to grow over time. The story is that Ali was knocked DOWN, not out - whilst out of shape and joking around - after a shot to the body from Marciano who suddenly turned serious. Knocked out? Where do you pull your **** from? Besides, the story is unproven - however I dont say its true or false, but still unproven. (Not that I care if it is true).

Ali UD Marciano

[hellfire508]

Most Overrated?

No hate here; but what about Harry Greb? I'll admit I rank him very highly on both my middleweight and p4p lists; but like everybody else, I'm going on others opionions and writings of the time. No one living, to my knowledge, has ever seen Greb fight....yet he's ranked so highly on rep alone. Just a thought.

Another potentially overrated fighter is Salvador Sanchez...cause he died at 23, so he is remembered on potential because we'll never know how his career would have panned out, for better or worse.

Fighters I've seen who I BELIEVE are overrated:

David Reid, William Joppy, Zab Judah, Sharmba Mitchell, Joe Mesi, Shannon Briggs, Naseem Hamed, Hector Camacho (had potential; but after Rosario...well, ya know), Evander Holyfield....(great fighter; but overrated by manyt at heavyweight when you really look at his W-L record in big matches),Hasim Rahman (people finally caught up to me on this one), James Toney (at heavyweight....last fight proved it), Sonny Liston...(he is great; but many place him too high, IMO)...same with Jersey Joe Walcott.

Honestly, it's easier for me to pick the most underated; but that's not the thread. Sooo.....

Most Overrated Contender or Champion in History? Well, I'm thinking it would have to be a more modern champion, given all the alphabelts and the opportunity to avoid the best. Also, it would have to be a fighter who most people feel is nearly legend status and who's legacy was not tainted or exposed because he never gave anyone the chance....or he did and it was and people still ignore their eyes.

For me, that would make the winner.....George Foreman.

Don't get me wrong, I love George and he is an all time great; but for people to place him in the top 5 heavies of all time is rediculous.

He retired at 28 after being outboxed by Jimmy Young, a figher he should have defeated. So, we never saw his career play out. As of 1977, Foreman had beaten Joe Frazier....whose style was hand made for him, Ken Norton....who showed later on that he always froze like a deer in headlights when facing a man with power; his style was more or less aggressive, so he couldn't handle a bigger badder man, & Ron Lyle. Who else of significance? No one.

Then, he comes back at 38, gets laughed at and eventually builds support by knocking off a bunch of never-weres. People love a good story; but who did George beat in his second career?

Gerry Cooney...hadn't fought since Michael Spinks stopped him in 5 two years before; and was inactive before that.

Alex Stewart....who nearly beat him; and did beat him to a pulp. Who hasn't stopped Alex Steaward besides George?

Micael Moorer....ahh, here's the deciding vote: a blown up Cruiserweight with a light-heavyweight chin.


Don't get me wrong. I love big George; but when someone rates him at #5 or above on their all-time great heavyweight list, it's more to do with loving a good story and loving seeing a fairy-tale come true, than actual in-ring accomplishments, IMO.

George fought in the late 80's and early to mid 90's. The decade of Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe, Tyson, Mercer, Morrison, Ruddock, and so many others. He fought Holyfield and Morrison; and lost to both. Moorer was a good heavyweight and got a close decision over Holyfield; but one win's not enough....and Shultz, Savarese, and Briggs (that was a win) don't quite measure up to the afore-metioned 7.

That's my take.

Greb is rated based on his accomplishments, and opposition. He is ranked accordingly IMO. But everyone is entitled to an opinion, especially on someone we havent seen fight.

Salvador Sanchez in no way shape or form is overrated in my eyes. He was a brilliant fighter WHEN HE FOUGHT, not for what he COULD have been. He was amazing, and definately a top 25 P4P of all time. I personally have him 19th, and 4th at featherweight - behind Armstrong, Pep and Saddler!

I also disagree with Foreman, and Liston, but alot of the other guys you said I agree with.

[Frazier's 15th round]

Marciano KO1 Ali. That scamboogah Ali, or Clay, or whatever he wants to call himself, really lost about 15 fights in his career, but was given the win via gifts or controversies, or even fixed fights. 46-15 is the record of a journeymen.

[Heckler]

Thee most overrated of all time as said before by me and others is no other then Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson was a giant for his times at 6'0. He fought bums, he fought in a much much weaker time then Marciano so don't go there. He used very very light gloves and still didn't do the damage of fighters that came after him.

Johnson fought many light heavyweights, and middleweights. Many of his fights even right up until he won the heavyweight title only had a couple fights. Some of his fights were against guys who only fought him and then retired. His biggest fight was against an obviously past his prime James J. Jefferies.

you think i'm lying about who he fought just look at his record for yourself
http://boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=1187

I'm very confident that if Jack Johnson was white nobody would of heard his name. Not a top10 fighter.

Granted he was a good historical figure, he went where no man had gone before (black man) and he broke the color barrier. Could historical figure, very overrated fighter.

Disagree with most of what you are saying. Discrediting Jack Johnson because he is big is like discrediting Marciano for having tremendous power. Both natural gifts. He didn't do alot of damage, part of that was possibly preference... he raised his hand at the end of his matches and thats what matters. He was a man of tremendous skill and this cannot be denied.

[Brockton Lip]

Wow, this story continues to grow over time. The story is that Ali was knocked DOWN, not out - whilst out of shape and joking around - after a shot to the body from Marciano who suddenly turned serious. Knocked out? Where do you pull your **** from? Besides, the story is unproven - however I dont say its true or false, but still unproven. (Not that I care if it is true).

Ali UD Marciano

It is unproven, I am only going by what I have been told and read. I read that Ali was knocked down and unable to get up. I believe he would be knocked down and its possible he couldn't get up immediately. I heard he got up after about 5 minutes. I doubt it was that long, maybe 10 seconds.

[805ODLH]

Most overrated boxer is sorry ass Roy Jones

[bigsmoothh]

im goin with lennox lewis
then ali
then roy jones
then oscar de la *****