Is Iran Barkley overrated?

[Londonerzz]

I have neva seen this guy fight...but heard bout wat a great warrior and fighter he was and how he is one of the best fighters on nigel benn's resume.

But i looked at his record....and it really isnt that impressive. Other than a pair of win against thomas hearns barkley seemingly has lost every other big fight he ever had.

So wats the deal with him? How come he is so respected and rated? I must be missing sumting when only looking at his record - was his fighting style exciting or sumting? great amateur?

[JUYJUY]

I think the Olijade fight, Hearns first fight and Duran fight took a lot out of Barkley, he was at his best around 85-86 when he KO'd Scypion (that only Hagler had managed previously) and beat a lot of very good fighters like Tinley and Kinchen who were on the brink of world title shots. Olajide was his best win because Olajide was such a great prospect, he took a beating from Hearns so that can't really rank as his best win.

[AintGottaClue]

not to mention je lost only a SD to duran, that late KD duran got might have won him that fight, he is a ok fighter, had the upset of the year when he KO heanrs, then ebat him again, overrated? how like no one talks about him,

[Londonerzz]

not to mention je lost only a SD to duran, that late KD duran got might have won him that fight, he is a ok fighter, had the upset of the year when he KO heanrs, then ebat him again, overrated? how like no one talks about him,

actually a lot of people talk bout him as a legend...hence i wanted to know why.

[AintGottaClue]

actually a lot of people talk bout him as a legend...hence i wanted to know why.

a legend? i havent seen anyone ever say that before

[masterdirector]

Barkley wasn't all that great. I think of him completely as the 1980s Mayorga. Zero skill with two big wins against a tall lanky good fighter that launched him to fame.

And people have compared Forrest to Hearns. Hell, the way Forrest was getting knocked around in the 2nd fight, he looked a lot like how Hearns was reacting in most Hearns' fights where Hearns got hit.

[dino]

barkley was a dissent fighter...hes like bernard hopkins..his most notable wins came over blown up fighters (duran hearns)...james toney treated barkley like a heavy bag in their fight

[THE REAL NINJA]

i never thought he was all that highly rated in the first place LOL good fighter but not the same as duran hearns toney rj and the rest of them ...he just had hearns number

[Dude]

he just had hearns number

...which alone is quite an achievement.

Barkley was a great fighter whose fighting style wore him out. He is no legend but certainly worth to be remembered.

[THE REAL NINJA]

...which alone is quite an achievement.

Barkley was a great fighter whose fighting style wore him out. He is no legend but certainly worth to be remembered.

agree 100 % i always been a fan but i do not see him as a all time great just a damn good fighter