Butterbean – who has recently hinted a return to the ring – has been named one of the most overrated boxers ever along with a former heavyweight world champion
Former boxing world champions Deontay Wilder and Ricky Hatton have been named in the top 10 most overrated boxers of all time, according to AI.
Over the years, fans have witnessed several world class stars take to the ring and prove why they’re one of the best to ever do it. Even to this day, there is no clear No.1 as to who the greatest of all time is. The likes of Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson and Canelo Alvarez come to many people’s minds.
While the topic of the ‘GOAT’s’ are always popular with the boxing faithful, rarely do we hear about who the most overrated fighters are. In boxing, there are a few reasons to determine who’s the most overrated. Whether it’s fighters failing to live up to the hype or fan-favourite boxers who struggle on the big stage, boxing is an unforgiving sport, and it’s hard to impress everyone. Now, AI have chimed in and determined 10 of the most overrated athletes in the history of the sport.
Butterbean – real name Eric Esch – sits in at No. 10. While the former heavyweight star had a pretty respectable record of 77-10-4, it’s fair to say that the American didn’t compete at the highest level throughout his career and very frequently fought low-level competition.
Esch is a former super heavyweight champion, but AI considers the accomplishment as ‘minor.’ While AI recognises the American as an entertaining fighter, his ‘lack of stamina and competitive bouts against stiffer opposition’ are the main reasons why he features on the list.
Zab Judah, Andrew Golota, Gerry Cooney and Victor Ortiz complete the first five. The final few names may shock a few boxing fans. Former heavyweight world champion Tommy Morrison is in at five. According to AI, his career ‘lacked consistency’ – referencing his loss to Ray Mercer as his most notable fight. As well as that his ‘lack of defence and questionable chin’ made him an overrated fighter.
In at four, Ricky Hatton will go down as one of the best British boxers of all time, but his ‘his ability to generate massive crowds every time he fought, overshadowed his record’s lack of depth against elite competition.’ During his boxing career he held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division, and one at welterweight before retiring in 2012.
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Naseem Hamed in at three may be the most controversial on the list. He held multiple world titles at featherweight for many years and was one of the brightest talents in the 1990s. However, according to AI, he’s overrated as he ‘failed to bounce back from adversity after losing to Marco Antonio Barrera’ as well as retiring at the age of 28 – which ‘showed a lack of ambition.’
Tyson Fury’s former opponent, Wilder takes the number two spot. Despite being regarded as one of the hardest hitting punchers in the history of boxing, the American’s ‘hype was generated by dramatic knockouts but his struggles in technical boxing match-ups leave his legacy in question,’ according to AI. Adrien Broner has been named the most overrated boxer of all time. With a professional record of 35-5-1-1, and titles across multiple divisions, AI blamed his ‘lifestyle distractions and legal issues as the main causes.’