Overrated events in Boxing History.

I started to name this, the most important fights I’ve ever seen. However, I’ll start out with the negative and entitle it, “The most overrated fights I’ve seen in terms of importance. It’s not my intention to take away from the glamour of these fights. The point is, I think they were exaggerated in terms of their potential effect on the history of the sport. (Note: This is thread is limited to fights I actually witnessed.)

1. Hagler vs. Leonard. Both of these HOF fighters had already completed their masterpieces and had their best days behind them. Hagler cleaned out the Middleweight Division before he became champion (look up results against Willie “The ‘Worm” Monroe, Sugar Ray Seales, Eugene Watts, Bennie Briscoe and Cyclone Hart.) and then cleaned it out again as champion. This is the reason his toughest challenges came from lighter weight divisions. Sugar Ray Leonard had a quality over quantity career unlike any other. When you defeat, Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, and get filthy rich doing it, there’s really no reason to fight 10 times a year unless you’re bored. By the time they met (Hagler and Leonard) both were past their primes. Leonard’s challenge was considered borderline insane. Ray was knocked down in his last outing by the little known, Kevin Howard. Hagler, on the other hand, was coming off of a spectacular knockout against, Tommy Hearns and a spirited slug fist against the feared KO artist, John “The Beast” Mugabi. Coming in as a 4 -1 underdog, it is my opinion that Leonard fought a brilliant fight, outboxed Hagler with blinding combinations and deserved the decision he was given. Will Leonard be known as a greater MW than Hagler as a result of the decision? That’s madness and Ray would even be embarrassed by such a suggestion. Did it prove Hagler wasn’t one of the top 3 MW,s in history. Of course not. He was never staggered and lost a relatively close fight. Some would argue that Hagler never broke Monzon’s record. Well, I heard a lot of Monzon vs. Hagler arguments and never once did anyone bring up Monzon’s 12 title defenses. Boxing fans don’t go to almanacs to pick their favorite fighters. Also, without a trilogy or even a rematch, did it prove Leonard was a better fighter than Hagler? No. The fight was very valuable to Leonard’s career. It proved he was a miracle athlete who could do things nobody expected. That’s about it in terms of the historical importance here. My opinion.

2. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad. Did this prove who the best WW of the 90’s was? No. Did it prove who was the best fighter between these two combatants? No. It had the potential to prove both, however when Oscar puts on a boxing clinic for the first 8 rounds, then decides to give the last 4 to Trinidad, the conclusion turned out to be uneventful. If ever a fight called for a rematch, it was this one. For the record, I scored it a draw. I had Oscar ahead by four points going into the 9th round then had him losing the final 4 rounds. Not based on what Felix did, but what Oscar failed to do, fight. It was Roy Jones who said, “With the kind of lead Oscar had, you don’t stop fighting. You just win “every other round.” Brilliant statement. I know Oscar wishes he had done that. However, it was disappointing that a fight of this magnitude might as well not have ever taken place. (See, “Leonard vs. Hearns” for an epic battle with a solid conclusion. Yes, Leonard proved he was the best WW in the world after this fight.)

Other fights and insights welcome.

ODH vs Tito. What a disappointing fight. The thing I don't get about Oscar's performance is Tito wasn't beginning to put on any real pressure. It isn't as if Tito was getting to him. He could outbox Tito for 50 rounds if he had that idea in his head. But somewhere in the back of his mind he was scared of Tito's power. I don't think at that point of his career, Oscar understood how good his chin was (which he proved as the career limped on).

captainanddew wrote:

ODH vs Tito. What a disappointing fight. The thing I don't get about Oscar's performance is Tito wasn't beginning to put on any real pressure. It isn't as if Tito was getting to him. He could outbox Tito for 50 rounds if he had that idea in his head. But somewhere in the back of his mind he was scared of Tito's power. I don't think at that point of his career, Oscar understood how good his chin was (which he proved as the career limped on).

In other words, they were weary of each other. I agree. Man, was I disappointed after that one. I expected so much better from both guys. One thing I didn't understand. Tito jumping and down after getting the decision. I would think he'd be embarrassed by his performance.

One that comes off as soon as I hear the question is the Mike Tyson vs Lennox Lewis fight. It was built up to be huge and ended up being a 1 sided exhibition with Lennox destroying Iron Mike with ease.

Sorry i just realized I didnt understand the question right LOL. An overrated event in boxing history to me maybe the Gatti-Ward trilogy. Before u guys actually all kill me for it hear me out. It is bad boxing with 2 fighters slugging it out with barely a lick of skill and although they were very enjoyable at the time to watch I hear people mention them with the best trilogies ever and thats not even close in my opion.

I understand your point. Gatti and Ward weren't elite fighters. But they were good fighters and Gatti had underrated boxing ability.

Captain I agree Gatti's boxing was underrated but I think it was that way because in alot of cases he refused to use it. He liked the slugfest fights and thats way he was truely a fan favorite.

I definitely agree the Gatti Ward trilogy gets way too much press. I remember watching the first fight and saying that Gatti is a complete "could've been". Ward was a glorified club fighter. I can't believe they're making a movie about that guy.

well when your managed by your crack addict mother and brother and are in as many wars as Ward was its not hard to imagine a movie

Birdofthad wrote:

well when your managed by your crack addict mother and brother and are in as many wars as Ward was its not hard to imagine a movie

A movie probably wont be that bad.

I thought Hagler-Leonard showed who the better fighter was.

kbyte wrote:

I thought Hagler-Leonard showed who the better fighter was.

And who was that? (smile)

hardcoreBEE24 wrote:

I definitely agree the Gatti Ward trilogy gets way too much press. I remember watching the first fight and saying that Gatti is a complete "could've been". Ward was a glorified club fighter. I can't believe they're making a movie about that guy.

...theres no question i feel that this triology does not belong with any great ones ..i agree also on the assesment of these to fighters in hardcores post..2 glorified club fighters and boxing has many triologies or more like 4 fights between unknowns that gave fans the same thrill with there action..were the fights crowd pleasers..yes indeed.enjoyable to watch.yep[ but it belongs not with zale-graziano ali-frazier hollifield-bowe etc etc..
we all have seen excellent trilogies but between 2 skilled fighters of a elite status or quality status..one excellent trilogy that comes to mind is willie pastrano vs wayne thornton..great fights high skill level threwout..

timthebim wrote:

Sorry i just realized I didnt understand the question right LOL. An overrated event in boxing history to me maybe the Gatti-Ward trilogy. Before u guys actually all kill me for it hear me out. It is bad boxing with 2 fighters slugging it out with barely a lick of skill and although they were very enjoyable at the time to watch I hear people mention them with the best trilogies ever and thats not even close in my opion.

Agree. By that time those were two evenly matched journeymen. Champion's hearts though.

kbyte wrote:

I thought Hagler-Leonard showed who the better fighter was.

I'm a Hagler man and I agree with this. Leave the scorecards aside for a second. While it is true Hagler is really on his downside, Leonard had fought once in five years basically. A shocking, amazing and fantabulous performance.

Hagler-Leonard was a very overrated fight.The whole thing seemed choreographed to me.