Has There Been Pessimistic Champion?

It comes with the game in boxing where each fighter has an ego. You watch any video nowadays and every boxer is over confident about their ability to win or knock out their opponent. Kell Brook is about GGG and so is Eubank jr, the public may not be as optimistic as the fighters themselves but as a fighter psyching yourself up involves having the belief and confidence to back up you claims and predictions in the ring. We all know that

but

I was just wondering if there has ever been a title holder out there that ever doubted himself against his opponents or over estimated them and come across as the humble "Ive got no chance but i will do my best when we get in the ring" type? And then blow the opponents away. Even if it was a double bluff or anything like that?

I personally cant think of any. Pac springs to mind. I'm sure he was confident but just never crap talked opponents.

Pac believes god wants him to win, I'd hardly include him. Must be lots of solid journeyman with the attitude you describe, maybe some upsets have come from that along with other guys being over sold. To be a champion for any length of time I'd guess you have to take yourself more seriously, though.

I remember Glen Johnson after he beat Roy Jones saying "I'm not the best fighter in the world, I just want to fight the best", then he went on to beat Tarver as well.

Gerrie Coetzee used to say " I don't know how I won. He hurt me a few times and I don't really know if I hurt him. I don't know why the judges gave it to me" and shit like that. He once knocked out Spinks and he told Larry Merchant : " I'm not sure I deserved to win. Yes I knocked him out but I don't know how".

I don't think he doubted himself but Ricky Burns, when he first won the title, was more of the attitude of he couldn't believe he'd won

Simon Brown beating Terry Norris was a surprise and in a way a good new story for boxing.

Michael Moorer was about as unmotivated a championship contender as I could remember during his decision over Holyfield.

If you can make a case for a trainer having to rev up his opponent it was Teddy Atlas' nonstop bawling in between rounds.

Bob Olin.

I don't think he doubted himself but Genaro Hernandez was one of the most humble and gracious champs I remember. He takes flack for the Oscar fight but before that he ko'd Perez with a perfect body shot with little celebration. Actually strapped the belt around Perez and said he deserved to exit a champion. Also in the Nelson fight when told he would be awarded the win via DQ after being punched in the throat he refused and continued on to "beat a legend".

Joe Louis used to often say he "just got lucky" and was very complimentary of his opponents.

I don't know how many i would call pessimistic vs humble. Even tyson said after beating holmes "When he was at his best, I couldn't stand a chance". It's always nice to throw an opponent a bone after mopping the floor with them. I just think times have changed a lot because noone wants sportsmanship, they want emphatic & confident. "Id like to thank god for this victory... blah blah blah he was a tough guy... who do i want next.. i'll have to discuss it with my promoter and my team... thank you al haymon... etc."

Perhaps its a sign of the times or maybe life/upbringing of the fighter. It always kind of impresses me when someone like golovkin or kovalev say something to the effect of "that's part of boxing.." like they did their best and they're satisfied with that. As if a loss happens, it was meant to happen to them and oh well..." Kostya Tszyu was like that too... Im not sure if its a faith thing, or a cultural thing or whatever...

I mean it could be an act.. boxing has seen it before.. I remember De la hoya bellowing f bombs after the Trinidad fight while pacing before he came to the mic and said with a Disney kind of dead pan.. "i thought i was giving him a boxing lesson, i guess the judges just didn't see it that way..:-\"

On the flipside of that it seems like being a smug bullsh*ttin d0uche is fashionable. Like Thurmans and Wilders.. "I meant to do that, i knew that would happen" PFI's..

Oliver McCall coming in crying against Lennox Lewis the first time.