Most underrated fighters ever, who do u think ?

[j]

i agree with many of the names mentioned, except toney. he gets at least his fair dues.

klitschko brothers come to my mind when i think of extremely underrated fighters of the last 5 or 10 years. wlad was not underrated before the sanders fight, but after he was and still is. vitali was always underrated until after he fought ll.

a lot of what juyjuy mentioned i'd agree with in one or another way, with the exception of holyfield. remember lennox lewis was underrated earlier in his career. but if we wan't to go back in history, well then that's a completely different story.

[butterfly1964]

5. sam langford
4. sonny liston
3. floyd patterson
2. larry holmes
1. joe frazier

[Verstyle]

I think James Toney is under rated look at his age he is in good shape and still wins over younger fighters with good records

good shape?????????? i hope u mean mentally.ahahaha

[+= El Jefe=+]

I think James Toney is under rated look at his age he is in good shape and still wins over younger fighters with good records

he can sure box, but good shape, come on
he used to be in tremendous shape now he is just...
how could i descrive it


















It's tittie TIME

[Tha Greatest]

Azumah Nelson

Mike McCallum

(underrated or overlooked) Evander Holyfield


Think about this:

Azumah Nelson was very green and was not well known outside of Africa by the time he stepped up to face Sal Sanchez. Sanchez was one of the best little guys ever and Nelson fought the tough little ****er in his what...13th or 14th fight? NElson took Sanchez to the brink with his sheer physicality and freakish strength. The thing that won me over with Zoom was when Sal KD'ed him in the 15th round and Zoom popped right back up like "come on lets fight mother****er!!" After that he only went on to become a 3 time world champ, challenged for the distinction of being one of the top 3-4 fighters at 130 ever, and proved a big point by dissecting a monster in Jeff Fenech in their rematch bout. He always looked for the toughest fights (Gomez, Whitaker, Fenech, Sanchez) and always fought hard all the way until the end. Nelson is one of the best boxer-punchers that the lightweight division will ever see.

Mike McCallum beat a laundry list of very good opponents (Kalambay, Watson, Collins, Graham, Curry, McCrory, Jackson) and was one of the greatest 154 pounders ever. He was the best body-puncher the middleweight division has seen for my money and you will never see a more intelligent fighter in the ring. He was a technician in every sense of the word and was competitive well past his best years with elite opponents like James Toney. McCallum had an impressive unbeaten streak going until he was jobbed by Kalambay (okay so I threw that out there I've never seen the fight, but I've heard that he got a ****ty decision in Italy or wherever the fight took place). McCallum also compiled a sweet amatuer career (like 200+ wins).

Holyfields earlier accomplishments usually are slighted when he is discussed among the all-time great fighters. From my perspective it seems like people only want to remember the heavyweight career and later downfalls that this guy has had. He was an unbeaten light-heavyweight, he was probably the best cruiserweight ever in that divisions young life, and he was a 3 time world heavyweight champion. He has one of the best resumes of the last 30 years, beating Qawi, Dokes, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Moorer, Mercer, Tyson, De Leon, etc. His intangibles go without mentioning. He was a fairly small heavyweight with one of the biggest hearts and wills the sport has ever seen. He was a throwback to Frazier and Marciano. I don't think there's ever been a tougher bastard in the sport.

I only seen one McCallum fight so far...

When he was WAY past his prime and still gave RJJ HELL!

[kerrminator]

Reading some of the posts on these forums, I'd say Morales is being vastly under-rated, huge mistake

[Tha Greatest]

Billy Conn...

[THE REAL NINJA]

a lot of them but the one that always comes to mind is Buster Douglas 1st of all he is not the worst heavyweight champion ever he was big fast had an ok chin and good skill he just never stayed in shape i think he would do well with a Ken Norton Patterson and meny others

[The Wire]

Frank Bruno

[DaveT]

Mike Watson, outboxed both Benn and Eubank but didnt get near the same press.

Sambu Kalambay, beat Graham and Mc Callum in their primes. Simply amazing.

Pinklon Thomas, an elite fighter on his day w/ out drugs problems.

Azumah Nelson.

Eusebio Pedroza, far past his best when Mc Guigan caught him.

Dave Mc Auley, the true best irish fighter even though Mc Guigan was darling of the press.

Gary Mason, wipes the floor with Bugner, Bruno, Hide, Williams and Harrison. I still rate as Lennox Lewis's best win.

Ezzard Charles.

Charley Burley.