Underrated peaks

We all know the usual suspects who have legendary peaks that are always talked about: 40s Robinson, 70s Duran, 87-88 Tyson, 64-67 Ali, 90s Jones, these peaks go without saying.

Which greats had peaks that aren't given enough credit?

 

The first two that come to mind:

Carlos Ortiz's 60-64 peak.
Vincente Saldivar's 64-67 peak.

These are two incredibly dominant peaks, with domination over superb opposition.

Pretty sure that over Ortiz's four year peak, Jofre was considered the sport's P4P #1, but objectively, Carlos was beating better opposition. Though to be fair, Jofre was obliterating guys while Ortiz was methodical, so I can understand why Jofre was more highly rated.

 

Another one I'd say:

Cervantes' mid 70s peak is underrated. Kid Pambele arguably had the most dominant peak of any junior welter champion.

 

Toney 1991-94 was pretty impressive. In 1991 alone he fought Sosa, Nunn, Reggie Johnson and Mike McCallum. Some supposedly world class fighters don't fight that many top opponents in a career, never mind a single year.

Hard to say when exactly his peak was, but I'd have to mention Tommy Ryan as well. Incredibly consistent right across his career but his achievements never seem to get a mention, despite him being (in my opinion) a genuine all-time pound for pound great.

 

I think it should be said that both Saldivar and Ortiz both had far higher levels of opposition than Jofre. It's not by a small amount, it's a massive gap IMO. Medel isn't as good as Laguna, who fought both.

I know he's up there with those guys, but people very rarely mention Ezzard Charles' peak. Almost all of his greatest achievements can be found in the space between coming out of the army in 1946 and losing the title in 1951. Sure, there's great wins outside of that bracket - like Burley, specifically - but that period is insane. Easily the greatest five year period in the sport IMO. THREE wins over Archie Moore, four over Jimmy Bivins, two over Lloyd Marshall, two over Jersey Joe Walcott, an old Joe Louis and a bunch over Joey Maxim. Plus all the other non great contenders he was facing.

I think Lionel Rose's title run gets underrated. Very underrated. Even if his peak lasted about 25 rounds, his run before Olivares was immense.

 

Chang's peak, which was probably like 83-86, is very underrated. Probably because people rarely discuss the very lower divisions unless its Ricardo Lopez.

 

Miguel Lora's peak is underrated. The guy thrashed Zaragoza, twice schooled Davila, and out-brawled Vasquez and Avelar. Thats fucking impressive stuff.

 

I was thinking of mentioning Lora alongside Rose. Lots of similarities between those two, but Rose was better both in general and this aspect.

 

Pikes Peak, very underrated peak, try climbing it, Typist, you will get your calves roasted, I can assure you, Gladys.

 

Couple of ones you won't like/know:-

David Reid, 1997 to the moment he drops Trinidad.

Guy wins an Olympic Gold with a come from behind KO in 1996, wins a World Title in under 2 years and in only his 12th fight.

Now, bear in mind the guy basically had 1 functioning eye.

Look at his record, he's fighting guys who are :

19-0
47-7
29-5
38-2-1

It;s ironic- he was fast-tracked because his eye wouldn't hold up.

Nobody bar Lomachenko is coming out of the Olympics and fighting guys as experienced as James Coker, Simon Brown, Nick Rupa and Boudouani .

Boudouani went 1-0-1 with Guillermo Jones who YEARS later moved up to Cruiser and beat up Lebedev.

Reeds comp before the Tito fight was 339-51-5

If you take out the Jorge Vaca fight, his comp is 283-32-4 after Reids first 11 fights.

Zab Judah, same time period more or less, first 11 fights:-

55-54-8.

Reid had a short brutal prime and it peaked the moment he dropped Tito Trinidad.

He faced 4 either current or fomer World Champs in his first , what, 15 fights?


Hamed is another one..........1995-2000 Hamed turned in a lot of very very good performances against a lot of very decent fighters.

McCullough, Wilf Vazquez, Tom Johnson, Steve Robinson, Kevin Kelly, Bungo, Ingle, Cesar Soto .....pretty good going.

Like Reid, Hameds peak is underrated as he went to shit, suddenly, following a subtly noticeable decline.

 

1. David Reid never had a peak. He one good performance, against Boudouani, as you mentioned. To be fair, I would pick that David Reid over Jermell Charlo's garbage ass.

2. Yeah, Hamed's peak can be considered underrated.

 

Azumah Nelson's peak in the mid-to-late 80s is underrated. McGuigan was scared to death of Nelson.

Actually, Barry has admitted in recent years that Nelson would have been too much for him.

 

Anybody who has Tito Trinidad reaching into his "I'll hit him in the balls" drawer has a peak.

It;s called "Peak making Tito freak the fuck out".

 

Gomez's peak is underrated because its not pitted up there with the truly elite peaks enough.

From 77-80, Wilfredo Gomez was truthfully one of the best fighters who ever lived.

 

Barry was a very limited fighter whose reputation and legend are out of all proportion to his actual ability.

If anyone describes your "One good fight, not a peak" theory, it's that fool

 

good one. definitely underrated (see previous post).

 

gomez is considered an atg by anyone who follows the sport. you've been on this gomez crusade a while now....but not sure who you're targeting with it.

 

Ortiz and Saldivar are also ATGs, and I listed them as having underrated peaks.

 

All fighters, no matter how bad, have a peak.

For the first 6 rounds of the Trinidad fight, David Reid was on a rare, underrated peak.

 

Yeah, i dont see how gomez has an underrated peak. He's consistently rated very high

 

Fine. Yall win. I suppose Gomez's peak is rated correctly.

Ok, I have another 70s guy... Rodrigo Valdes. Awesome in his peak, but overshadowed by Monzon. Why he's not in the Hall, I have no goddamn clue.

 

saldivar and ortiz i'll give you. gomez is maybe underappreciated (i'll admit) but i don't think too many underrate him.

 

X this is a great thread. Cheers and thanks. Lads all great contributions here. Well done to all of you

 

I hear YOU had a very OVERRATED peak.

 

Gil Turner and Del Flannegan. Both were undefeated for ages back before it was cool, and the pair fought tooth and nail with some of the baddest men in the 50s, amassing insane résumés.

 

You lads watch too much boxing.

 

Not sure of a specific time stretch, but for a while Eduardo Lausse was on fire, ripping through some top fighters and impressing top boxing guys in sparring. He had Fulmer on absolute shit street in their fight. Unfortunately, repeated long trips back to his homeland seemed to sap his energy and he never got as good as I think he could've been.

 

I don't think Gomez is rated high enough on the whole, as most people don't acknowledge how good he was, but the ones who do, rate him right IMO.

 

He's underrated even among his people, at least the younger ones.

I know a lot of Ricans, around my age at least, and they've been raised to accept Trinidad as the Puerto Rican GOAT.

 

Shitting hell, the number of younger Puerto Ricans who I've seen online over the years rate fecking Cotto nevermind Trinidad above Gomez and Ortiz is mind boggling. Gomez is very well rated by serious fans of the lower weights and older writers/pundits but underrated by casuals and younger fans and sections of the media.