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I think it's hard to say that any great fighter is overrated. It's a better argument to say that a particular aspect of his game was overrated. For example; if you way Ali, Marciano, Dempsey, Louis, etc. were overrated - some people will laugh you right out of the room. Those are the nice ones.
Of course, in most places today, no one knows who Marciano, Dempsey and Louis were. If you said they were boot manufacturers for the US military from the 1920's to today, they'd probably believe you.
Back to what I was saying.
Take Ali, for example. The man accomplished so much, to call him overrated doesn't make much sense unless you're talking about the fact that many people look at him as unbeatable by just about anyone with the exception of Joe Louis.
Ali lost to and had life and death struggles against Joe Frazier, a small (barely 200 lb.) Heavyweight who most people don't rate in the top 10 off all time. He won a gift decision when he was still young and the fastest ever against a blown up Light Heavyweight named Doug Jones.
At his best, Ali was great. But he didn't fight at his best every time which made him just like the rest. Good at times instead of great... and beatable.
Rocky Marciano was the only Heavyweight in history to retire as the undefeated champion at 49-0. To call him overrated is as ridiculous as calling Ali overrated. In gut check situations, he came roaring back to defeat his opponent - not most of the time, but every time.
But Marciano fought at a time when the division wasn't at it's strongest. Place Joe Frazier in Rocky's era against the same opponents and he may have retired 49-0. Place Rocky in Joe's era and we would have seen the Rock hitting the floor against Foreman.
You can create the same scenario with just about every champion.
The only fighter I ever saw on film who looked the closest to being unbeatable at his best was Mike. Like Ali, he recovered from being hurt (or even knocked down) extraordinarily fast. He had Liston-like power in both hands and the handspeed and accuracy of an Ali.
just a few thoughts to throw out there
Of course, in most places today, no one knows who Marciano, Dempsey and Louis were. If you said they were boot manufacturers for the US military from the 1920's to today, they'd probably believe you.
Back to what I was saying.
Take Ali, for example. The man accomplished so much, to call him overrated doesn't make much sense unless you're talking about the fact that many people look at him as unbeatable by just about anyone with the exception of Joe Louis.
Ali lost to and had life and death struggles against Joe Frazier, a small (barely 200 lb.) Heavyweight who most people don't rate in the top 10 off all time. He won a gift decision when he was still young and the fastest ever against a blown up Light Heavyweight named Doug Jones.
At his best, Ali was great. But he didn't fight at his best every time which made him just like the rest. Good at times instead of great... and beatable.
Rocky Marciano was the only Heavyweight in history to retire as the undefeated champion at 49-0. To call him overrated is as ridiculous as calling Ali overrated. In gut check situations, he came roaring back to defeat his opponent - not most of the time, but every time.
But Marciano fought at a time when the division wasn't at it's strongest. Place Joe Frazier in Rocky's era against the same opponents and he may have retired 49-0. Place Rocky in Joe's era and we would have seen the Rock hitting the floor against Foreman.
You can create the same scenario with just about every champion.
The only fighter I ever saw on film who looked the closest to being unbeatable at his best was Mike. Like Ali, he recovered from being hurt (or even knocked down) extraordinarily fast. He had Liston-like power in both hands and the handspeed and accuracy of an Ali.
just a few thoughts to throw out there
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