Overachievers in boxing

[Hulk]

Alfonso Gomez comes to mind. He beat Gatti, got a fight with Cotto, made some good paydays.

Certainly George Foreman in his comeback was quite an overachiever, winning the Heavyweight Title at age 45.

Roberto Duran achieved a tremendous amount late into his career.

Glen Johnson must be added to the list with 12 losses and he's 42 years old and the dark horse in the Super Middle tournament.

To me, "overachiever" is a guy who goes far in his career despite having limited talents. IMO, Duran does NOT even come close to fitting that category. Glen Johnson, however, is the poster boy of overachievers.

I meant Duran late in his career, when he was in his 40's and still beat Castro, Paz and got robbed etc.

[THE THIRD MAN]

1) It has to be Leon Spinks, all time greatest overachiever, he wins a SD against an old and tired Ali in his 8th fight, promptly loses the rematch and then is blasted out in 1 round by Gerrie Coetzee and 3 rounds by Larry Holmes. Career effictively over by age 28! Leon Spinks can lay claim to being undisputed World Heavyweight Champion...if ever there was an over achievement then this was it!

2) Billy Backus beats Welter king Jose Napoles on cuts and becomes undisputed World Welterweight Champion until the re match where he is KO'd in 8 by Napoles. Blink and you would have missed his career altogether. Considering Napoles standing in any top 10 all time Welterweight listings this was one helluva over achievement.

3) Buster Douglas, he survives the long count against Tyson and then pulls off the upset of the century only to be out in 3 rounds against Holyfield 6 months later. Buster Douglas will always be remembered as the man who beat the invincible Mike Tyson, can't take that away from him. Amazing over achievement.

[TitoFan]

1) It has to be Leon Spinks, all time greatest overachiever, he wins a SD against an old and tired Ali in his 8th fight, promptly loses the rematch and then is blasted out in 1 round by Gerrie Coetzee and 3 rounds by Larry Holmes. Career effictively over by age 28! Leon Spinks can lay claim to being undisputed World Heavyweight Champion...if ever there was an over achievement then this was it!

2) Billy Backus beats Welter king Jose Napoles on cuts and becomes undisputed World Welterweight Champion until the re match where he is KO'd in 8 by Napoles. Blink and you would have missed his career altogether. Considering Napoles standing in any top 10 all time Welterweight listings this was one helluva over achievement.

3) Buster Douglas, he survives the long count against Tyson and then pulls off the upset of the century only to be out in 3 rounds against Holyfield 6 months later. Buster Douglas will always be remembered as the man who beat the invincible Mike Tyson, can't take that away from him. Amazing over achievement.

I think we have the same concept of what an "overachiever" is..... someone who reaches further than he should have, given his set of skills. Leon and Buster both are DEFINITELY in that category. Not too familiar with Backus, though.

[CutMeMick]

IMO the biggest overachiver has to be Leo Gamez he is in the company of Roberto Duran.
Being the only 2 Latino boxers to capture 4 titles in 4 weight classes.
He has accomplished something that Arguello, JMM, Chavez, Napoles, MAB, Trinidad and many other Latino boxers have not been able to do.

Others that spring to mind;

Zivic
Randy Turpin
Schmeling
Ingemar

1) It has to be Leon Spinks, all time greatest overachiever, he wins a SD against an old and tired Ali in his 8th fight, promptly loses the rematch and then is blasted out in 1 round by Gerrie Coetzee and 3 rounds by Larry Holmes. Career effictively over by age 28! Leon Spinks can lay claim to being undisputed World Heavyweight Champion...if ever there was an over achievement then this was it!

2) Billy Backus beats Welter king Jose Napoles on cuts and becomes undisputed World Welterweight Champion until the re match where he is KO'd in 8 by Napoles. Blink and you would have missed his career altogether. Considering Napoles standing in any top 10 all time Welterweight listings this was one helluva over achievement.

3) Buster Douglas, he survives the long count against Tyson and then pulls off the upset of the century only to be out in 3 rounds against Holyfield 6 months later. Buster Douglas will always be remembered as the man who beat the invincible Mike Tyson, can't take that away from him. Amazing over achievement.

Agree 100% with this...

[No Contest]

Jersey Joe Walcott, Hasim Rahman, Corrie Sanders, Max Schmeling, Sam Langford(5'6" fought all kinds of weight classes)Johnny Nelson, Jake LaMotta.

[brocktonblockbust]

"Son, forget about boxing, youre not cut out for it. You have 2 left feet, youre slow as molasses, youre awkward and uncoordinated, and you have no jab and no technique. Plus youre bald."

---a boxing trainer and expert after seeing Rocky Marciano in a gym try-out.