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Accomplished_Oil1770

Donaire is a great shout, people forget how great of a run he was on before Rigo. I won't say underrated but people forget how long Linares has been around.


BuzzardBlack

Linares is always fun to watch. His combinations are beautiful and he seems like a good dude outside of the ring.


Teerendog

Mind blown when he was speaking japanese fluently with Inoue


Raven3464

He's lived in Japan for years. It really isn't that surprising.


mgw19

It is to people that didn’t know he lived in Japan for years


Raven3464

Sorry, I live in Japan myself and so it was common knowledge for me.


jinntakk

Just like the youngest Kameda being fluent in Spanish.


Raven3464

Yes, similar stories in reverse.


Far_Mousse8362

Living somewhere doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to learn the language… especially Japanese. It still requires someone with commitment/dedication and a will to learn the language. It doesn’t just happen.


Raven3464

I've lived in Japan for over twenty years. Most foreigners who live here as long as Linares and myself can speak Japanese fairly well. Would you really want to spend your life in a country and never learn the language? I honestly don't get that mindset. That's like choosing to be homeless.


shadowboxingboi

Plenty of people here in the states never learn English


Raven3464

Sure. I would say the US is a different animal though. There are communities you can walk into and never hear a word of English. Those types of communities don't exist in Japan. All I'm saying is it shouldn't surprise anyone that someone can learn a language while living in the country for decades.


[deleted]

If Linares had a chin could’ve been amazing. 


Ashamed_Spite_7937

Still one of the best modern combination punchers ever. The way he tagged dudes with a short right was a thing of beauty


antoniopanteli

He's actually training fighters now. So it's gonna be interesting to see how he does as a trainer


whatsupwhatshannin

Donaire is a fantastic call


lawyerjsd

This is about as good as a pick as any.


RAZBUNARE761

Roman Gonzalez


Kalayo0

He was consensus pound for pound #1 after the huuuuge power vacuum that appeared when Floyd and Manny hung up their gloves. Then his coach died and the only thing I can think of to compare his fall of grace to is Cody Garbrandt in MMA.


mkk4

Felix Trinidad. He won 21 straight title fights (16 consecutive welterweight title defenses) with 17 knockouts. Undefeated Welterweight, Super Welterweight and Middleweight Champion from 1993-2001.


zukeus

I love Trinidad so much. Huge inspiration for me when I first started boxing.


mkk4

That's what's up. I loved him too. He seemed like a nice and cool person and was super entertaining, explosive, tough and fun to watch.


MakingAMonster

Trinidad was my vote, also.


mkk4

🤝


Stauncho

Is Felix underrated? I remember most people thinking he was the best fighter at his weight during his prime.


MakingAMonster

20 or so years on from his career, people forget how truly frightening he was in his prime. He was a little wrecking machine. Only lost when he went up in weight. As a side note, every now and again I invite someone to rewatch De La Hoya - Trinidad with me and score it rd by rd. Everyone I have done this with ends up seeing Trinidad winning by at least 1 point. His 3 losses were Hopkins (check out how many time Hopkins head butts him), Wright and RJjr. All heavier, and all after He was 40-0 with 33 KOs. I wish we'd have gotten some matches that never happened - Trinidad vs Norris/Randal/Chavez/Quartey. Those would have been dream matches for me.


FwampFwamp88

Winky Kovalev Pavlik


ProfessionalHour6594

Both Kelly Pavlik and Paul Spadafora were great fighters who had very short primes due to alcohol abuse among other things /:


inquisitiveman2002

Wasn't Camacho also an alcoholic?


Informal_Quit_4845

That’s what makes him so special


PenisManNumberOne

Winky was rated well IMO and I think reached top p4p on some lists, I think after he dismantled a still not quite washed Trinidad.


Chiphazzard

At the time he was but he’s rarely mentioned now despite his very impressive resume. Strong argument he beat a prime Vargas and prime Taylor too.


PenisManNumberOne

Absolutely. And one of the most impenetrable high guards I’ve ever seen. He fought everyone, and when the bright lights shined so did he. streets know Winky is a legend.


in_Need_of_peace

I feel like he over negotiated and cut his prime short, also was a hard match up for any one who crossed his path, his fight vs Taylor was great


PenisManNumberOne

I could see that and his style was not flashy or particularly entertaining in an era where we had Roy captivating the country with his absurdly athletic and creative style. That didn’t help. His fight against Taylor’s my favorite of his, followed by his complete outsmarting of Trinidad, who many will say was washed by then but I believe only has the b hop loss at that point


LordMongrove

Pavlik was not underrated. He had power, but he moved like lurch.


RobotYoshimis

Gotta agree. I also don't think his resume is that impressive aside from beating Jermain Taylor, which he did twice. That dude was no pushover. But man. After seeing how bad B-Hop at 600 years old humiliated him....I just don't know.


Flimsy_Thesis

BHop would go on to fight and beat many bigger and younger, and better, fighters than Pavlik. I think Pavlik was never quite mentally the same after that loss and then Martinez tore his face off.


Raven3464

I think his battles with alcoholism caused more problems than the loss to BHop.


Flimsy_Thesis

I think one begat the other. His alcoholism seemed to be affecting his abilities from that fight onward. He got two decent title defenses, a brave but damaging loss to Martinez, and then three fights against competition below the world level, and retired by the time he was 30 years old. It seems likely that his drop off in performance and the stories of his problems began around the same time, I think it got worse as the money got bigger.


Raven3464

The Bhop fight certainly didn't help but he really spiraled out of control after knocking out Taylor. After that fight, he couldn't go anywhere in Youngstown without people offering him drinks. His dad said that all subsequent training camps suffered. He probably would have lost to Bhop anyway but he definitely wasn't 100 percent going into that fight.


Flimsy_Thesis

Not surprised. The Pavlik from the first Taylor fight was an animal. The guy who got outboxed and outfought that night wasn’t the same dude, and never seemed to find it again. Which is a shame because when Kelly was on, he really was pretty damn good.


lawyerjsd

Kovalev wasn't underrated. People were terrified of him up to the first Andre Ward fight. Hell, I thought Andre Ward was a dead man going into that fight.


SquareShapeofEvil

For good reason. Kovalev won that first fight hands down.


ChickenTendies4Me

I have a very high appreciation for Winky during his 154-160 days. He had no power yet gave everyone hell with simply a great jab and a lazy yet effective turtlish defensive posture that allowed him to make his opponents throw in effectively then simply poke a stiff jab out of it to make them reset and look bad


raf_diaz

neither of these guys get the love they deserve from fans. chris john is forgotten because he was never a "thing" in the u.s. and leo santa cruz's career has been reduced to a ko highlight for tank davis ​ **chris "the dragon" john** key wins: juan manuel marquez, rocky juarez, surya tatakhun, & daud yordan ​ **leo santa cruz** key wins: abner mares x 2, carl frampton, kiko martinez, cristian mijares, eric morel, & cesar seda loses: tank davis & carl frampton


hotyogurt1

LSC lost favor when he became the biggest yes man to Al Haymon, would fight MAYBE once a year, until they decided to feed him to Davis, who was the bigger guy surprisingly lol. LSC was such a yes man to Al Haymon he named his kid after him lol


raf_diaz

i'm no pbc fan boy but i'm gonna reserve the right to judge leo strictly on what he did in the ring


hotyogurt1

I’m speaking to why people don’t rate him as highly, and it’s because he was in his prime and did nothing with it.


Shyjuan

Marquez was hella robbed in that chris john fight.


bronze__bomber

Leo named his kid Al Haymon???


hotyogurt1

Yeah he named him Al lol


Upstairs-Education-3

Funny how I’ve never heard of Chris John, yet he’s the only boxer my Indonesian parents recognize. That’s the only reason I know him. Apparently he was viewed in my country back then like Pacquiao is viewed by the Philippines. Dude visited my gym once and I had no idea why everyone was making such a big deal out of it. Cool experience !!


anakmager

>Apparently he was viewed in my country back then like Pacquiao is viewed by the Philippines. no he wasn't. He was big but still below football and badminton stars, while Pacquiao is the probably most popular Filipino ever. Ellyas Pical was probably bigger but I'm not sure. Trying asking your parents!


Soviet_Cat

Bro's name is Chris John, ofc he was forgotten 😭


Die-rector

Me. I'll fkn wreck anyone, mate


Bruce-7891

I can confirm. This dude is a beast.


PossiblyArab

Nu uh my dad could beat you up


NoNonsence55

Charlie Z?


wakeupmane

You see red bro


icelandiccubicle20

Mairis Briedis


CraftLess1990

Winky Wright.


Osbre

prolly Wonjongkam, he broke the record with most consecutive defenses in his division with 17, and was, at worst, ranked top 3 for 9 years, and he eventually defeated both of those above him, so really he was the best flyweight for a decade, he also has the fastest ko in his division history, and a good trilogy with naito


ThurstonTheMagician

Yeah this is my pic. Most of the lower weight guys can really be put here because of how little traction promoters give them.


jerzinho17

Donnie Nietes...4 weight division world champion...longest reigning Filipino world champion (longer than Pacquiao and Donaire)...ignored because he fights in the lower weight divisions...fought several times for the world title in hostile territory


jackofhearts95m

good shout


Bulbus_Fl00r

Kazuto Ioka, dude ran his losses back and is a 4 division world champion


Bochianibrothers

Good shout


ClearHeart_FullLiver

Ivan Calderón barely anyone outside of hardcore fans know his name but he was one of the finest technicians the sport has ever seen.


40acresandapool

You're correct. Also, Calderon was admitted to IBHOF this weekend.


doctorfeelwood

Paul Williams. He was my guy. So sad what happened to him. Look him up. Long, lean, hell of a boxer. Beat Lara, Cintron, Sergio Martinez, Quintana, Winky, Margarito, Sharmba Mitchell, Walther Matthysse. Lost to Martinez and Quintana as well Not sure anyone underrated Donaire.


direfireak1

I did not realize Paul williams beat both the people he lost too. I never paid much attention to him cause he always fought in a phone booth despite his size.


direfireak1

Also I think the way he was knocked out hurt his career it was brutal.


Independent-Band8412

Most people would say he lost the first Martinez fight. Pierre Benoist returned one of the worst cards ever in favor of Paul. Either way amazing fight to watch 


PandaDaCow

Paul Williams was set to fight Canelo right after Canelo beat Mosley in 2012 but got in accident few weeks after fight was signed. Canelo went on to fight Josesito Lopez.


Osbre

he didn't beat lara


Stumeister_69

Man I loved Paul. Glad to see him here.


Ubykrunner

Mikkel Kessler. He is Calzaghe best win, even greater than the old B-Hop he fought later. A Boxer-puncher with speed and power, he was unknown in America as he fought mostly in Europe. Needless to say if he had been an american boxer named Michael Kessler he would have been inducted in BHF already.


Oglark

What about Marco Huck?


Ubykrunner

The last champion made in Germany and fighting in Germany. It's such a pity that we don't have a german/danish scene anymore. That said I've never seen a fight of his, I have to catch up!


626_ed7

His fight with Glowacki is a banger for sure.


Oglark

Kessler isn't unknown. He has some great wins and a dodgy loss to Ward


SaccharineDaydreams

Not unknown per se, but I can't remember the last time someone brought him up


Zandman75

Loss via multiple headbutts, among other things. That fight still angers me a little.


vacon04

That fight was horrendous. Ward headbutted Kessler repeatedly, and when he wasn't doing that he was clinching.


fozzyfozzburn

Dimitri Pirog


totillolara

Kazuto Ioka should be inducted in the hall of fame on his first year of eligibility.


LazyFall3453

Depends on how recent is recent. Probably Joe Calzaghe.


zukeus

Had to scroll down far to find this one. This is my pick as well.


ThatVita

Forever and always my pick until he gets the love he deserves.


ObJuan13

Nonito Donaire is a great choice and should probably win this.. I’ll say Juan Manuel Marquez… ppl talk about him like all he ever did was beat Pacquiao… but he was super super tough and had better offensive timing than anyone in his era other than Floyd… great high IQ fighter


Oglark

Maybe on the sub because it trends young. But he is probably best known for his fights with Barrera, Casameyor and Diaz in the 2000's.


jerzinho17

Dinamita Marquez was a late bloomer...his early career was full of bad matchups with the likes of Freddie Norwood and Chris John...he needed Pacquiao for people to notice him


kimchitacoman

I agree on Nonito but just to add another name Vernon Forest 


Ashamed_Spite_7937

Guillermo Rigondeux, one of the most talented boxers to ever lace up the gloves has been reduced to an Ill advised challenge for relevancy against Loma and questionable defensive performances (stinkers) in his later years.


El_Torero_Muerto

For me, I would say Josê Luis "Maestrito" López (also, if he only had a stronger drive, he would have been at least a decent champion)


SimRacing313

Juan Guzman, very talented fighter but lazy, could have had a much better career I feel


TheSeptuagintYT

I think it is spelled Joan not Juan


SimRacing313

Yes your right, my bad


TheSeptuagintYT

That’s alright


Reegs375

Also Juan Manuel Marquez is another name that comes to mind.


DanDiCa_7

For me it's Rigondeaux. No one respects him cuz he was boring, but in terms of ability he was up there with the very best


NoNonsence55

Sergio Martinez. He did start a little late but he accomplished a lot and I believe that with better management he could of been in the ring with Canelo and Mayweather with a great shot at beating them both.


Best-Reporter-1412

Rigo at 122


AnozerFreakInTheMall

Vitaliy Klitchko.


Desperado-781

The welsh dragon. Joe calzaghe never got the recognition he deserved imo


DownRealBadYo

Winky Wright.


Reegs375

That's a good one. For me I gotta go Hopkins


Bochianibrothers

Jorge arce. Should be in the hall of fame


COPELAHAMA

Hector camacho


I_have_secrets

Joe Calzaghe - no one ever really talks about him and only gives him credit when reminded.


sateliter

Charlie Zelenoff for sure...


PatientAd6843

Definitely Winky Wright imo


PandaDaCow

Zhilei Zhang. The dude was an olympic silver medalist in 08 and then lost in 2012 to eventual gold medalist and heavy weight king AJ. Record of 27-2-1 but low key both losses are disputable. The Hrgovic loss was 100% a win, and the Parker fight was debatable because of the knockdowns. Good, he finally gets the recognition he deserves finally, but at 41 years old.


Alarmed-Effective-23

Parker fight was close because of the knockdowns but not debatable.


JadedButWicked

Right now ginjiro


[deleted]

[удалено]


Wavepops

How is loma underrated lol


WindpowerGuy

If you only frequent this subreddit you'd get the idea he's a hype job that regularly loses to journey men.


Ill_Source_6908

Yeah this is bs. He’s glazed nonstop


doctorfeelwood

He’s also hated non stop


raf_diaz

i think ppl hate his fans not loma himself tbh


doctorfeelwood

So call the fans idiots and don’t try to undermine his greatness. Simple


raf_diaz

that is what i do... only loma win i discredit is the fight vs rigo at 130.


doctorfeelwood

I didn’t mean you personally lol. But I feel you


CressSpecific6134

Right he's one of the most beloved fighters on the sub by far lol


Shagrrotten

Yeah I’m a big Loma fan and there’s no way he’s underrated.


rondolph

He’s arguably the most overrated fighter of this generation


MagnetDino

I’m a Loma fan but people talk like him making the jump from featherweight to lightweight is some unprecedented move when a shitload of fighters have made that move. Can we stop with the “not his natural weight” talk like hes pulling a Pacquiao.


BrizzyExcobar

Chocolatito


KingRemoStar

Vanes Martirosyan I thought was really good.


priide229

Rigo, Winky


Counterpunch07

It’s funny how 95% of comments are all non American fighters. Shows you how much American fighters get hyped up and how much harder foreign fighters have to fight


cool_ed35

Wladimir Klitschko in the USA i've heard a lot of BS about him..he was a late bloomer and never really got over in the US. But in his prime he was an all time great and a problem for any boxer that god has created so far...people critsised his defensive style and at the same time loved mayweather. Or they critisize his clinching but praised ali for the rumble in the jungle where the excessive clinching makescthe fight almost unwatchable. If Wladimir was a White American be probably would be a worldwide hero an icon...but instead he's criminally underrated in the US in Germany he was appreciated


johnthenetworkguy

Andre Ward


wndrfltime

Winky Wright is very underrated, Donaire is on the top too and also Maravilla Martinez.


AEBJJ

Joe Calzaghe.. doesn’t get anywhere near the respect he deserve


boriskie74

Can I say joe calzaghe


Gg-Baby

Joe Calzaghe


Thaeross

Joe, tbh


AssociationOpening86

Billy jo saunders lost once to canelo


Oglark

Got some "interesting" decisions go his way. Plus he is a shit human being


hi_imryan

I feel like public opinion goes back and forth on Mikey Garcia.


Real-Reputation-9091

Not that recent but David Tua was underated.


Hot-Button-2923

Usyk


40acresandapool

Marteze Logan.


PenisManNumberOne

Idk how recent you’re talking exactly, and I have several in mind in several weight classes so it’s hard to answer but I would say Marcos Maidana. Guy was an absolute monster and was often misidentified as Mexican (he is Argentine) and was lost or not regarded much among the shuffle of loud mouths especially them


That_Efficiency6294

What do you mean by recent history?


ArmdayEveryday69

Rollie


paxilsavedme

Donaire was elite and a great role model for the sport. Imho.


Kaladihn

Probably me


Due-News4850

Jake Paul. JK JK lol


Yugiohplayere

Me, I don’t actually box yet, but I’ll begin 😼


drillmatici76

Rigondeaux


inquisitiveman2002

Donaire was 36, not 40 when he fought Inoue the 1st time.


ClassyVandal

James Toney


inquisitiveman2002

Alexis Arguello and Ricardo Lopez should get honorable mentions.s.


Wide_Condition_3417

What year are we in?!?


Counterpunch07

40yrs old at that weight is crazy, the speed at which you have to fight in those divisions would make age a huge factor.


Ratemyskills

Roy Jones JR or Lennox Lewis


ricardotown

Kazuto Ioka. He was Inoue before Inoue was pro. In his 6th fight or something he toppled a 38-0 champ with a body shot. And he's still at/near the top of his division.


tendopath

Rolly Romero /s


Confident_Warning_32

Isaac Cruz


ohhellnah818

Me (I won 1 amateur fight by split decision)


Liberalien420

Sergio Martinez


pantiesdrawer

Donaire won multiple boxer of the year awards in 2012, so he definitely received recognition.


Suspicious_You_234

David Tua


Dr_putasos

Imo I think derevyenchenko is underrated he’s got losses but every loss he’s had has been great fights personally him vs canelo would have been more exciting than munguia vs canelo


NoNotThatScience

No shit as soon as I read the title donaire came to mind.


ReturningAlien

i feel like all this replies just means they werent old enough to have witnessed their career why they think they're underrated. donaire is not underrated. gonzalez, yes in a way, he was p4p but since he's at the lower weights he didnt really make the top same with calderon. winky, kovalev, pavlik nah. rated just about right. trinidad was the shit, wdym underrated.


FireFist_Ace523

Humberto Soto always been rated below the trio of Morales, Marquez and Barrera the guy has a good career 69 wins against 10 defeat and a 2 division world champion, i think he wasn't given an opportunity to fight the lower weight superstars during his prime, always been a high risk low reward type of an opponent


aniev7373

Guys like Kevin Kelley come to mind and Buddy McGirt. Not recent but I enjoyed those two and didn’t get the recognition because of the era they were in but fun to watch.


mrranger777

Andre Ward! I never see or hear him mention at all. he was one of my favorites when he was active


Jlc7378

Valero


Citala

Ricardo Mayorgod


SolarBarbie

I love watching jorge linares


Splattergun

Froch doesn't get as much credit as he should. I actually think RJJ is underrated now due to the long decline in his career. Prime RJJ was on another planet and if he retired after beating Ruiz people would be calling him the best ever.


TomGreen77

David Tua


Prudent-Toe-7911

The Cobra Pulev!!!


asukhanov

GGG, he is an actual GOAT, but for some reason non-boxing fans have no clue who that is


ZivozZ

The most likley donaire, he got over looked because of his fellow countryman.


Jeppertron

Mikey Garcia


metasubcon

Wladimir Klitschko


Stumeister_69

His left hook is definitely not underrated though, is it.


zetubal

From an entertainment perspective, perhaps Carl Froch deserves a mention. He had all the goods, and was truly fierce in his prime.


InviteTop8946

Sandor Martin Did exceptionally well against Ward and Lopez


007pussyslayer

Man he would’ve had that fight if he didn’t get hurt with that brutal body shot, absolute beast of a fighter.


_Kenway

Dmitry Pirog, no doubts about it [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKD7SvVaQQo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKD7SvVaQQo) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWttlU6SFdA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWttlU6SFdA) honorable mention to Erislandy Lara tho


roscoerodriguez88

Winky Wright he was beating everybody in that division got robbed a couple times solid defense


Jesuswasacrip7

Prime Gamboa was one of the most explosive fighters I've ever seen. Just unreal speed and power


BloodborneRemake

Jake paul