most overrated fighters in history

[Dan...]

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.

Kessler is definately underrated but it is with good reason. Whilst he has been impressive in several of his victories to this point his resume is extremely weak. His best win is Anthony Mundine.

[Fox McCloud]

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.

This is a perfect post.

100% agreement from me.

Don't get too down on it though, Kessler could easily get Jermain Taylor to fight him at some point, and since Taylor is so overrated, a victory over him would make Kessler so much more marketable.

[Fox McCloud]

Kessler is definately underrated but it is with good reason. Whilst he has been impressive in several of his victories to this point his resume is extremely weak. His best win is Anthony Mundine.

Just like Hopkins's resume at 160 sucking, it wasn't a result of ducking or anything like that... it's just unfortunate that he (Kessler) is second best in a division with one of the two best fighters in boxing, himself, and a whole lot of lack of talent below him.

Librado Andrade is actually probably his best win. Markus Beyer isn't a terrible win either, and Mundine is probably up there too.

[Dan...]

Just like Hopkins's resume at 160 sucking, it wasn't a result of ducking or anything like that... it's just unfortunate that he (Kessler) is second best in a division with one of the two best fighters in boxing, himself, and a whole lot of lack of talent below him.

Librado Andrade is actually probably his best win. Markus Beyer isn't a terrible win either, and Mundine is probably up there too.

Whilst he looked really impressive against Andrade I don't class that as a great win as the opponent posed very little offsensive threat. Beyer is a bum who struggled past Danny Green. Mundine is easily his best win IMO. I say all this as a pretty big Kessler fan, I have been ever since he beat Mundine so convincingly out here. I just really want to see him step it up and stop beating these really average guys I have never heard of.

[abadger]

Kessler is definately underrated but it is with good reason. Whilst he has been impressive in several of his victories to this point his resume is extremely weak. His best win is Anthony Mundine.

Kessler's resume really isn't that bad. He stopped Siaca for the WBA title, defended against a much better Mundine than we see today, then the solid Eric Lucas, then hammered longtime WBC champ Beyer although Beyer was past it really. Next up was an extremely credible defence against Andrade and he then sought unification against Calzaghe.

All in all Kessler probably faced and beat the best fighters he possibly could have at the time, none of these fights were what I would call soft, especially considering his youth. Most of these fighters I would say were on Miranda's level and Mundine probably not a million miles from the Taylor that fought Pavlik.

Perhaps most importantly of all, until Calzaghe, he outclassed all of those guys pretty easily too.

[Porter's Dad]

So let me get this straight, Abadger.

Taylor and Pavlik are ****. Calzaghe is astonishing. And Kessler is brilliant.

Is it any wonder you irritate so many people when you are so ****ing unbelievably biased?

[Dan...]

Kessler's resume really isn't that bad. He stopped Siaca for the WBA title, defended against a much better Mundine than we see today, then the solid Eric Lucas, then hammered longtime WBC champ Beyer although Beyer was past it really. Next up was an extremely credible defence against Andrade and he then sought unification against Calzaghe.

All in all Kessler probably faced and beat the best fighters he possibly could have at the time, none of these fights were what I would call soft, especially considering his youth. Most of these fighters I would say were on Miranda's level and Mundine probably not a million miles from the Taylor that fought Pavlik.

Perhaps most importantly of all, until Calzaghe, he outclassed all of those guys pretty easily too.

I'm hearing all of this but the bottom line is his best win is over Anthony Mundine. Two wins over Taylor alone pretty much trumps that. Also we are talking resume here, the fact that he was galant in defeat against Joe does not come into the discussion. I agree that he is an extremely good fighter and that he would have a very good chance of beating Pavlik, but at the moment he does not have the resume to support being rated alongside him.

[abadger]

So let me get this straight, Abadger.

Taylor and Pavlik are ****. Calzaghe is astonishing. And Kessler is brilliant.

Is it any wonder you irritate so many people when you are so ****ing unbelievably biased?

But I believe a far greater number believe me to be pretty objective. Its not that much of a stretch to believe 1) that the P4P #2 is good, and 2) that Mikkel Kessler is better than Jermain Taylor or Pavlik is it?

[abadger]

I'm hearing all of this but the bottom line is his best win is over Anthony Mundine. Two wins over Taylor alone pretty much trumps that. Also we are talking resume here, the fact that he was galant in defeat against Joe does not come into the discussion. I agree that he is an extremely good fighter and that he would have a very good chance of beating Pavlik, but at the moment he does not have the resume to support being rated alongside him.

I am hearing you too, but I disagree. I don't see how a pair of victories over one opponent, who himself has some pretty big (and valid) question marks against him is enough to elevate one boxer that highly above another. It's just one guy. Throw in the fact that 1) Kessler actually does look a better boxer than Pavlik and 2) that disregarding the Calzaghe result man for man his resume is actually better than Pavliks (also Pavlik never faced anyone as good as Joe), I would rate Kessler very close to Pavlik. OK, in the results based P4P list you can't have him up there, but in terms of how good he actually is, of course you can. Agree to disagree I guess.

[Poet682006]

Liston is always on the ATG lists

that is overrated not underrated IMO

Liston is always on people's ATG list because he belongs there. He was more than just "that dude that lost to Clay": People have really forgotten how good Sonny was in his prime; back when he was smashing Cleveland Williams twice. You really need to watch more fights: Just because you haven't seen someone on HBO doesn't mean he wasn't any good.

Poet