Overachievers in boxing

[TitoFan]

What about a Iran Barkley?

He's a good example too. Also, I think John John Molina was an overachiever. He gave De La Hoya a good fight despite not being anywhere near him in talent.

[Spicoli]

What about a Iran Barkley?

He's a good example too. Also, I think John John Molina was an overachiever. He gave De La Hoya a good fight despite not being anywhere near him in talent.

Molina was a capable boxer, tight little counter puncher prior. Was off long run...and coming up.

Sticking with homeland I'd put Jake 'The snake' Rodriquez on list. Couldn't break eggs but hustled way to title and good story.

[Fenster]

Some weird picks in this thread. Olympic gold medal winners that went on to be world champion? Undisputed champs? All-time greats?

This small crop of fighters that reach the pinnacle can seriously be classed as overachievers? Isn't just that they were brilliant fighters?

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Also have to add Evander Holyfield from 96-98 when everyone thought he was done after gassing out in the late rounds and being stopped by Bowe in their last fight. Went on to beat Tyson twice, beat moorer, etc.

I absolutely agree with this.

I also think Muhammad Ali was one of the biggest overachievers in sports history. Now that's not a criticism at all but more of an indication of his ability to rise up to the occasion when he supposedly had no chance.

Oh and Rocky Balboa.

[paips4]

Back a few yrs 70s early 80s , South African heavy Kallie Knoetze, limited skill but tremendous power in right hand used to turn fights around with one shot.

[0james0]

I used to think (many still do) that Carl Froch had overachieved, getting by on will power alone.

However after actuallly boxing in his last fight, I've believed he actually does have skills

[generalbulldog]

Also have to add Evander Holyfield from 96-98 when everyone thought he was done after gassing out in the late rounds and being stopped by Bowe in their last fight. Went on to beat Tyson twice, beat moorer, etc.

I absolutely agree with this.

I also think Muhammad Ali was one of the biggest overachievers in sports history. Now that's not a criticism at all but more of an indication of his ability to rise up to the occasion when he supposedly had no chance.

Oh and Rocky Balboa.

Exactly. Holyfield while was skilled was considered to be a shot fighter after the 3rd Bowe fight. I'll call bullshit on anyone that believed Holyfield would beat Tyson and go on to have a few more good years when almost everyone said he was a washed up fighter at the end of 1995. If that isn't overachieving at that particular point of his career than what is?

Now Muhammad ALi is another great definition of overachiever. He was considered to be past his prime when about to fight Foreman, considered to be wash up after losing to Norton the 1st time, but he went and achieved alot, regaining the HW title the 2nd and 3rd time along with many famous wins.

A lot of people in this thread seems to think that overachiever only means someone like Gatti or Baldomir that isn't highly skilled but went on to achieve things in the sport. No, overachieving means accomplishing goals when no one thought it was possible anymore. Holyfield and Ali while highly skilled at their peak wasn't expected to achieved what they did later in their careers because they were considered washed up. Now that is overachieving.

[Rantcatrat]

Having Wlad, Rocky Marciano, and Ricky Hatton on the thread doesn't make sense to me or maybe I don't really understand the thread.

[Fenster]

I'm a bit confused by this thread too.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

If a brilliant fighter pulls off an upset it is surely because of their already established brilliance, they haven't overachieved because they've already achieved enough to make them great?

[generalbulldog]

I'm a bit confused by this thread too.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

If a brilliant fighter pulls off an upset it is surely because of their already established brilliance, they haven't overachieved because they've already achieved enough to make them great?

I guess we just have different definitions on the word "overachiever." Just like we both disagree on the word "elite" or "coward."

[Fenster]

I'm a bit confused by this thread too.

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

If a brilliant fighter pulls off an upset it is surely because of their already established brilliance, they haven't overachieved because they've already achieved enough to make them great?

I guess we just have different definitions on the word "overachiever." Just like we both disagree on the word "elite" or "coward."

I'm 100% certain that i've never used the word "coward" in more than 11,000 posts, unless merely repeating like now.

If, like me, you believe this word has no place in boxing then YES we fully agree, I don't actually know your definition or how it relates to fighters

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

I wouldn't like to say that 'this is what it means to over achieve' because you can apply a different logic in a number of ways to come to a conclusion (obviously).
Another way of thinking is using Jermaine Taylor as an example of someone who reached for the stars, twice beating Bernard Hopkins to became undisputed world champion to then crash and fall at an alarming rate. By that logic you could possibly state Mike Tyson as a massive overachiever... Because lets face it, no one with that ridiculous side to side movement should be expected to accomplish anything in boxing right?

[Master]

Vaughn Bean - who is he and how did he get a shot at Holyfield?

[Dark Lord Al]

Steve Robinson , a club fighter who won the warren boxing title , earned good money from being a hard working fighter , so far from world class its scary.

[Julius Rain]

(time to stir the pot)

Floyd is an overachiever - if he had fought casa, koysta, hatton @140, margarito, cotto, williams, pacquiao a few years back those fights would take a lot of him and one would whooped on him by now, and none would be talking about him now