most overrated fighters in history

[Fox McCloud]

Jermain Taylor.

They wanted him to be the new ODLH, and he looked great in his fights against people without homes, but...

When he really stepped up and fought good fighters (not undefeated scrubs like Edouard, or grandparents like Joppy), he looked terrible and got controversial decisions. I mean, honestly, the only decision in his title fights before the losses to Pavlik that wasn't contested by at least some was the Kassim Ouma fight.

A LOT of people thought Hopkins won the first fight.
Still quite a few people thoughts Hopkins won the second fight.
A LOT of people thought Wright won the fight.
Even some people thought Spinks won the fight.

A lot of near misses, and a lot of terrible performances, even against Ouma I've heard, where he was being backed up by a guy who can't really punch and was coming up from 154.

After that he got KO'd in a fight that it looked like he was pretty clearly losing, although he was up on all of the scorecards (sound familiar?).

But the good news for him is that he looked pretty decent against Pavlik in the rematch, but we will have to see how he does at 168 before we can say that he has turned it around. Because, still, he lost in the only title fight performance that he looked good in. If his best can't cut it, then that means he isn't as great as he was hyped up to be.

[Caxcan]

Marciano
Calzaghe
Tyson
Cotto

[abadger]

Jermain Taylor.

They wanted him to be the new ODLH, and he looked great in his fights against people without homes, but...

When he really stepped up and fought good fighters (not undefeated scrubs like Edouard, or grandparents like Joppy), he looked terrible and got controversial decisions. I mean, honestly, the only decision in his title fights before the losses to Pavlik that wasn't contested by at least some was the Kassim Ouma fight.

A LOT of people thought Hopkins won the first fight.
Still quite a few people thoughts Hopkins won the second fight.
A LOT of people thought Wright won the fight.
Even some people thought Spinks won the fight.

A lot of near misses, and a lot of terrible performances, even against Ouma I've heard, where he was being backed up by a guy who can't really punch and was coming up from 154.

After that he got KO'd in a fight that it looked like he was pretty clearly losing, although he was up on all of the scorecards (sound familiar?).

But the good news for him is that he looked pretty decent against Pavlik in the rematch, but we will have to see how he does at 168 before we can say that he has turned it around. Because, still, he lost in the only title fight performance that he looked good in. If his best can't cut it, then that means he isn't as great as he was hyped up to be.

Taylor is definitely one of the most overrated fighters around right now. I think he is rubbish. He is closely followed by my other all time favourite, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik.

[Caxcan]

this is not a knock on the fighters but:

Oscar De La Hoya
Mike Tyson
Joe Calzaghe
Juan Manuel Marquez
Floyd Mayweather Jr
Roy Jones Jr
Andrew Golota
Ricky Hatton
Evander hollyfield (maybe its all the fights at his grandpa age that are clouding my judgement not sure...)

JMM overrated? He was in the shadow of Morales and Barrera for most of his career (and still is to a certain extent). He fought two very close with the number one p4p fighter and he could have easily gotten the decision in the last one.

[Caxcan]

Wtf man? why... why?

[Fox McCloud]

Taylor is definitely one of the most overrated fighters around right now. I think he is rubbish. He is closely followed by my other all time favourite, Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik.

I think it is too early to say that Pavlik is overrated...

Even though he has not had the best opposition, since I think Taylor is wildly overrated, and Miranda clearly sucks (that cat is pretty obviously out of the bag at this point on that issue), he has passed all of his tests with flying colors. Only a few dispute that Pavlik won the rematch against Taylor, and he looked pretty good, even in his closest call in the rematch.

He is still very young, so he has plenty of time to improve the fighters on his resume, and we will really see what he is made of against Bernard Hopkins. Now, obviously no one looks good against B-Hop, but... if he wins against Hopkins, I do think that means that he really is the real deal.

I would like to see Pavlik fight Abraham, Sturm, Wright, Calzaghe and Kessler for sure before he retires (which is an extremely long way off). I would also like to see him fight Dawson and whoever else is at the top of LHW if he ever moves up there.

[abadger]

I think it is too early to say that Pavlik is overrated...

Even though he has not had the best opposition, since I think Taylor is wildly overrated, and Miranda clearly sucks (that cat is pretty obviously out of the bag at this point on that issue), he has passed all of his tests with flying colors. Only a few dispute that Pavlik won the rematch against Taylor, and he looked pretty good, even in his closest call in the rematch.

He is still very young, so he has plenty of time to improve the fighters on his resume, and we will really see what he is made of against Bernard Hopkins. Now, obviously no one looks good against B-Hop, but... if he wins against Hopkins, I do think that means that he really is the real deal.

I would like to see Pavlik fight Abraham, Sturm, Wright, Calzaghe and Kessler for sure before he retires (which is an extremely long way off). I would also like to see him fight Dawson and whoever else is at the top of LHW if he ever moves up there.

Basically I think Pavlik IS what he appears to be, which is a straightforward puncher with the pop to overwhelm a lot of opponents. Unless he improves dramatically (which he might, fighters do get better with time) I can't see him beating the better class of boxer out there, he is too predictable and too reliant on his power. I am too harsh on him though, it comes from being a Joe fan and all that that comes with on here.

[dfwtx]

calzaghe
haye
marciano

[Fox McCloud]

Basically I think Pavlik IS what he appears to be, which is a straightforward puncher with the pop to overwhelm a lot of opponents. Unless he improves dramatically (which he might, fighters do get better with time) I can't see him beating the better class of boxer out there, he is too predictable and too reliant on his power. I am too harsh on him though, it comes from being a Joe fan and all that that comes with on here.

I am like you in thinking that Mikkel Kessler is better than Kelly Pavlik, but I don't think it is by a lot.

I just get frustrated because Kessler is so wildly underrated by everyone and Pavlik is so wildly overrated by everyone (which I suppose is what you were saying in your original post)... I think their ratings should be a lot closer to one another. I do think Kessler would beat Pavlik if they ever fought they, and damn... I really wish they would. It would be a pretty badass fight.

[abadger]

I am like you in thinking that Mikkel Kessler is better than Kelly Pavlik, but I don't think it is by a lot.

I just get frustrated because Kessler is so wildly underrated by everyone and Pavlik is so wildly overrated by everyone (which I suppose is what you were saying in your original post)... I think their ratings should be a lot closer to one another. I do think Kessler would beat Pavlik if they ever fought they, and damn... I really wish they would. It would be a pretty badass fight.

This would be maybe my favourite makeable fight after Calzaghe/ Pavlik. You are perfectly right about Kessler, he's excellent and you only really have to watch him to see it. Sadly I have the genuine feeling that we'll never see Kessler in with a big US name like Pavlik, after all, why in God's name would they fight him? I think to get it he'll have to go the Calzaghe route and go through Bute and Froch then maybe he'll get a crack at Taylor or someone. The longer Calzaghe holds onto his Ring 168 belt the worse for Kessler, because that would help him no end.