Overrated in what way ? he took on dangerous opposition like Doug DeWitt, Iran Barkley, Michael Watson, Robbie Simms, Gerald McClellan, Henry Wharton ETC. His early struggles and losses were because he was too wild. Once he improved his boxing skills he become a much better fighter.
Agreed that when he was with Jimmy Tibbs and developed a more ronded style he improved. And don't get me wrong, he was a fantastic fighter, but I don't think he was a s good as Nunn, Toney McCallum or Jones. His losses against Eubank and Watson were bad losses, he was awful aganst Malinga, should've got sparked by Logan.
Maybe one of you oldies can help me out here, but i heard a fight between Michael Nunn vs Nigel Benn was supposed to happen in 1989 ? just before Nigel Benn fought Michael Watson ? what a fight that would of been Michael Nunn never quite achieved what he should have either IMO, and i think at his best he would of gave RJJ one of his toughest fights.
As for your other comment BIG H i agree he wasn't as good as those fighters above. And at times Nigel Benn struggled against lesser opposition when he should of mullered em, i still think he lost twice to Thulani Malinga.
But for what he was i think he done extremely well, and he never ducked anyone and took on all comers. And considering he only had like 20+ Amateur fights in the army or something didn't he ?
I love Eubank and think he wouldve worn Jones down, Chris didnt like workers but he could work and take the biggest of punches, Roy would have found Chris's styl difficult to counter and Chris had awsome head movement, Chris would have found a way to win had they fought early in Chris's career.
Chris was worn out by the time he fought Collins, take a look at his career leading up to the Collins fight, traveling the world fighting opponents in their back yard and mostly went the distance because of the Watson fight Chris Eubank.
Eubank was something else, its a shame that Watson injury happened because it stole from him the killer instinct, he stood off from Collins in the rematch after putting him nigh on through the ropes in the tenth, Collins was sagged with his ass just hovering over the canvas, holding on to the ropes, I dont think they called it a knockdown but it should have, Collins was gone and only the ropes kept him up, then Chris stands off him and the round ends.
Also in the first Thompson fight, Chris was all opver him dropped him a few times, stood off and eventually Thompsons strtength gets him back in to the fight and somehow loses a decision, he gets stopped for a swollen eye in the rematch in the tenth while ahead on points, the swelling being scar tissue from the first only a few months before hand, he should have taken 6 months off.
Benn proved against McClellan that he is a danger at any point against anyone and to right him off is daft, you couldnt tell me that with Benns power and doggedness that a hard right hook wouldnt get through at some point, even if it were while Jones was opening up and show boating while the ref is waiting to step in and stop Benn
jones is over rated, he fought better comp late and payed for it, Calzaghe fought better comp late and proved everyone wrong![]()
James Toney was more eluvise then Eubanks and harder to hit, yet Jones' speed and lateral movement while coming in just made all that upper body movement a detriment for James Toney as it would be for Eubanks. Eubanks would be one of the easier guys for Jones to beat, but eubanks like Calzaghe, like Nigel Benn wouldn't come over to face Jones because they were afraid, and so they demanded a bullshit amount of the purse which they knew Jones would never take.
The only reason Benn beat McClellan because he was there to be hit, people forget how hard it is to hit Roy JOnes Jr on the ropes and especially in the middle of the ring. Nigel Benn had really good power, but especially his movement would have hindered him. Roy was way too fast, way too good at adapting, and way too good at countering.
I think the one detriment against Roy as he went to LHW is that they couldn't handle his handspeed at all so he got lazy, and found it too easy to hit guys, that when he fought better athletes like Antonio Tarver along with the weight drain he just founded harder to land.
Roy is head over shoulders the best fighter of the 90's and early 2000's. Nobody in that period would have been able to touch him, except maybe Nunn like I mentioned. Even then Roy was a little faster, and had a lot more power.
Best fighter of the Nineties?
Grow up!!
You have Ricardo Lopez, Pernell Whitaker and Azuma Nelson, who I can think of that were at least on the same level.
I cant vouch much further than that as I only really got in to boxing around the mid Nineties.
Also, Joe would have given each of these fighters a tough fight, if they were the same size.
Maybe I'm off my med'sbut I would have given Benn an even power shot if that ever came off.I can envision a much more sound Jones feigning and timing Benn to a tee...one of those lightning rights dropping Benn But equally I can see Benn mucking up and making it rough on Jones early and should he have found the sweet spot,Jones would have been hurt bad.Jones timed pressure guys great but Brannon,Sosa,Thorton,Paz type pressure was minor league compared to a proven head caver like Benn.I don't think he wanted any part of Benn after the McClellan tragedy,even with all of Benn's lapses.
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