Underrated fighters

Which fighters do you think get the least amount of respect compared to their skills and resume?

Usyk: The discussion has been had before here. I know that everyone thinks that he is good, but I basically think he is a cruiserweight Loma. He is so technically sound and is easily a top tier fighter now. Honestly, he is a dark horse #1 p4p guy to me (I remember I said the same thing about Crawford years back before he was that highly respected).

Berchelt: I feel as if Davis is always the main guy people talk about at that weight. Berchelt has beaten solid competition and has looked very impressive. He has even called out multiple fighters to no avail. I feel like he is just completely avoided. No one around that weight ever even mentions his name. I feel like fans or the media don’t talk about him much at all.

Juan Francisco Estrada: He is the best at his weight and his resume speaks for itself. He has fought tough competition throughout his career. I think it’s rare for someone at such a light weight to have such tough competition. He is a proven p4p fighter that doesn’t usually get that kind of respect.

Leo Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz has fought good competition and has beaten everyone he has fought. I understand that he isn’t the best fighter in the world, but IMO he is very overlooked by the general boxing media and fans. He has called out big names fighters and many won’t fight him.

Berchelt is very good and I am sure if he was given the opportunity he could beat Davis and dominate his weight division.

Josh Taylor is a brilliant boxer and hopefully will show it in his next big fight.

Saw Carlos Canizales at light flyweight dismantle and slowly beat Lu Bin (who was unbelievably only having his 2nd fight) and he was technically brilliant. Canizales just did not tire and kept on going at the same frantic pace.

I’m not sure how good Berchelt is but I am sure he is underrated because he is simply ignored. Loma shouldn’t have been given a pass for not fighting him and Davis shouldn’t be given a pass now if he doesn’t fight him. He definitely belongs on this list.

I say Ortiz, for some reason UK fans always talk about how old he is rather than how good he is.

Julian Williams, the way he dispatched Hurd was damn impressive

Thinking about this I quickly realize I don’t pay as close attention to all things boxing as I used to. I would have had a 20 person list in 2 minutes 8/9 years ago or farther back. I think the propaganda has burned me out. Should stop talking about the sport so much and just watch it.

Wilder.
What a shame we have a knockout artist that is dogged for not being something other than that. How many KO fighters actually had a sweet science style? Not Shavers, not Tua. Not Foreman, not Julian Jackson as we remembered had to have a few come from behind kos as with Graham.


All these supposed great heavies he is so-called ducking couldn't get the belt? Or any belt?

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Originally Posted by SlimTrae

Wilder.
What a shame we have a knockout artist that is dogged for not being something other than that. How many KO fighters actually had a sweet science style? Not Shavers, not Tua. Not Foreman, not Julian Jackson as we remembered had to have a few come from behind kos as with Graham.


All these supposed great heavies he is so-called ducking couldn't get the belt? Or any belt?

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Wilder brought that all on himself by fighting bums for so long. Yes he won all the fights, but lord have mercy he fought some absolute shocking bouts. Now he CAN fix it by only fighting the best from now on.



Most underrated at present is Bud Crawford, he's always going to be underrated until he's given a big time fight vs a Pacquiao or Mayweather. All he does is win.

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

I say Ortiz, for some reason UK fans always talk about how old he is rather than how good he is.

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(hand up) Ooooh!! Me! Me!
'Cause he hasn't fought AJ or Fury yet.

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

Julian Williams, the way he dispatched Hurd was damn impressive

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Agree. I can see why though. He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before he up and got flattened by Charlo. Since then however, he's been most impressive.... and continues to fly under the radar.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

I say Ortiz, for some reason UK fans always talk about how old he is rather than how good he is.

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(hand up) Ooooh!! Me! Me!
'Cause he hasn't fought AJ or Fury yet.

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

Julian Williams, the way he dispatched Hurd was damn impressive

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Agree. I can see why though. He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire before he up and got flattened by Charlo. Since then however, he's been most impressive.... and continues to fly under the radar.

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Yes, even in that loss he did well. Glad he won the title and hope he can be the top guy in the division.

Callum Smith all he does is WIN

Anyone trying top post over the last few hours ;D . And Aaron Davis. Orlando Canizales on any long p4p list. The right hand of Junior Jones. Bert Cooper on a good day.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Anyone trying top post over the last few hours ;D . And Aaron Davis. Orlando Canizales on any long p4p list. The right hand of Junior Jones. Bert Cooper on a good day.

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'Superman' Davis good call!

panya pradabsri, moruti mthalane, giemel magramo, jose zepada

I really underrated Beterbievs boxing game. Defense of Regis Prograis. The jab of old Alex Stewart.

i will add arsen goulamirian

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Originally Posted by Ron Swanson

I’m not sure how good Berchelt is but I am sure he is underrated because he is simply ignored. Loma shouldn’t have been given a pass for not fighting him and Davis shouldn’t be given a pass now if he doesn’t fight him. He definitely belongs on this list.

I say Ortiz, for some reason UK fans always talk about how old he is rather than how good he is.

Julian Williams, the way he dispatched Hurd was damn impressive

Thinking about this I quickly realize I don’t pay as close attention to all things boxing as I used to. I would have had a 20 person list in 2 minutes 8/9 years ago or farther back. I think the propaganda has burned me out. Should stop talking about the sport so much and just watch it.

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Julian Williams and King Kong Ortiz are both great calls. Williams was impressive in beating Hurd- the knockout loss will be difficult for him to shake in today’s day and age. Both of those guys are very skilled fighters, in my opinion. I would have said Porter but think people realized how good he is after the Spence fight.

If we are talking fighters from any era, the following come to mind for me:
1. Ezzard Charles: Think fans of later years tend to underrate him because they think solo about his time at heavyweight, and don’t realize that was towards the ends his career and not his best weight. If you look at his time at 175, he is in the discussion for greatest light heavy ever- knocked out a prime Archie Moore! People forget that he was never the same after killing a man in the ring, and that prior to that he was a dominant/ferocious fighter.
2. Fernando Vargas: People focus on the losses, especially to Tito and Oscar. Look at Fernando’s wins prior to Tito: Yori Boy Campas was a decent win, but his win vs a prime Winky Wright and dominance over Ike Quartey were very impressive. He was too brave for his own good vs Tito, and that may have ruined him.
3. Reggie Johnson: Very skilled southpaw who lost a disputed decision to a prime James Toney ( after knocking him down). Most remember him as a light heavy and losing to Roy (Roy has a ridiculous one-two that knocks Reggie down in that fight), but that wasn’t his ideal weight and the guy was VERY good at 160.

Did you know that Archie Moore was not allowed to fight for the world title until he was 36 and when he did beat Joey Maxim (who had just beaten Sugar Ray Robinson) held the light heavyweight title for a record 10 years! Just imagine how great he would have been considered if he had the opportunity years earlier at the peak of his powers!

Can Xu reminds of Calzaghe a bit, especially when throwing combinations while moving backwards

Felix Valera.

Extremely good chin and an entertainer. Sadly he doesn’t what seems to be proper coaching that could help him be more technical, so he’ll end up being a wasted talent.

James Buddy McGirt was a wonderful fighter.

moruti mthalane. he took out tete and casimero, back to back years ago

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Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

James Buddy McGirt was a wonderful fighter.

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One super fight that got away...McGirt v Chavez. Buddy turned in a masterpiece with Simon Brown. Very low key matter of fact fighter and a top notch boxer puncher.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

James Buddy McGirt was a wonderful fighter.

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One super fight that got away...McGirt v Chavez. Buddy turned in a masterpiece with Simon Brown. Very low key matter of fact fighter and a top notch boxer puncher.

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That was an excellent fight and he put Simon Brown down is that masterclass of a performance. That guy was really “old school” boxer.

I have 3 hour VHS tape dedicated to McGirt’s bouts his and there is no other fighter I have done that for.

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

James Buddy McGirt was a wonderful fighter.

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One super fight that got away...McGirt v Chavez. Buddy turned in a masterpiece with Simon Brown. Very low key matter of fact fighter and a top notch boxer puncher.

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That was an excellent fight and he put Simon Brown down is that masterclass of a performance. That guy was really “old school” boxer.

I have 3 hour VHS tape dedicated to McGirt’s bouts his and there is no other fighter I have done that for.

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That's pretty cool. I used to do compilations of individual fighters but found I was breaking up to many 'complete cards' I recorded. Over editing and I love having complete cards with pre interviews and bios done in lead up. And let's be honest we old geezers know VHS tapes can quickly overtake complete rooms in the home ;D.

I saw McGirt refer to Vincent Releford as the biggest puncher he's ever faced???. Do you have that one by chance? He said when Baltazar dropped him he didn't remember a thing afterwards and fought on instinct over the next 7 rounds. The Brown fight was special. McGirt had the ultimate best and worst in two classics, can't forget a young buzzsaw Meldrick Taylor literally making McGirt look two steps behind the longer the fight went. That was one of his roughest nights no doubt.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

James Buddy McGirt was a wonderful fighter.

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One super fight that got away...McGirt v Chavez. Buddy turned in a masterpiece with Simon Brown. Very low key matter of fact fighter and a top notch boxer puncher.

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That was an excellent fight and he put Simon Brown down is that masterclass of a performance. That guy was really “old school” boxer.

I have 3 hour VHS tape dedicated to McGirt’s bouts his and there is no other fighter I have done that for.

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That's pretty cool. I used to do compilations of individual fighters but found I was breaking up to many 'complete cards' I recorded. Over editing and I love having complete cards with pre interviews and bios done in lead up. And let's be honest we old geezers know VHS tapes can quickly overtake complete rooms in the home ;D.

I saw McGirt refer to Vincent Releford as the biggest puncher he's ever faced???. Do you have that one by chance? He said when Baltazar dropped him he didn't remember a thing afterwards and fought on instinct over the next 7 rounds. The Brown fight was special. McGirt had the ultimate best and worst in two classics, can't forget a young buzzsaw Meldrick Taylor literally making McGirt look two steps behind the longer the fight went. That was one of his roughest nights no doubt.

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This is where you guys from the US are lucky. I do not have McGirt’s early career and his loss to Meldrick Taylor or the knock down he suffered. We only get to know the top US fighters once they were established champions. He lost to the HOF, elite Olympic, and best fighters of the time (although he lost to an unbeaten Frankie Warren which he later avenged and drew his pro debut) it was a joy to watch Buddy box.

Ezzard Charles.

Started out as a FEATHERWEIGHT. Racked up a 42-0 amateur record, which included several top titles such as the Golden Gloves.

Went pro as a middleweight, where he marched up the ranks, twice soundly defeating the much avoided and legendary Charley Burley. Establishing himself as a top contender, he was drafted and lost two years of his prime to WW2 (nobody much mentions that)

Came back as a light heavy, where he beat every top contender, and where he OWNED the great Archie Moore, defeating him three times. He was frozen out of a title shot as nobody wanted any part of him, so he went to heavyweight, despite always remaking a natural light heavyweight.

Soon found himself debating the top guys there, including Jimmy Bivems and future King Jersey Joe Walcott. He widely out pointed the great Joe Louis (and at that point, you had to win wide over Louis to get a decision). Made several successful defences before being beaten by Jersey Joe (who did a Marciano on him)

Later on, he gave prime Marciano two life and death bouts, both the toughest fights that Rocky ever had.

A multitalented guy, he was also an accomplished bassoon player and played with many of the jazz greats of his era.


Why this guy isn't regularly mentioned among the elites of heavyweight history, and the all time great P4P fighters is beyond me. Maybe people don't really know their boxing history.

As a heavyweight - a true great who would have held the title for a long time at any time before his own. He was insanely competitive with Marciano and Walcott. He would have easily defeated the guys that came afterwards, like Patterson and Johanssen. Would have possibly outboxed Liston, Frazier and yes, even Iron Mike. Would have given Holyfield absolute hell.

As a light heavyweight - quite simply the best Light-heavyweight who ever stepped into a boxing ring, at any time, against anyone. Ever. Period.