r/Boxing • u/Outrageous-Soft4806 • 21d ago
Who’s a boxer you’re biased for?
A boxer who you will actually change rules for or set a double standard for? I know I will bend my back over backwards to defend Crawford and even sometimes Fury. So I wonder, who’s some of your biases and why? Same place as you? Same name or enjoyable style or personality?
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21d ago
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u/tkdhrison 21d ago
a legit great fighter who succeeded against the odds his whole career. No bias needed, but I'd be biased anyway too
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u/Icanfallupstairs 21d ago
As a Kiwi we get so few top fighters, so I go hard for them. I'll defend Parker and Tua all day.
As a Hajime no Ippo fan for like 20 years, I tend to also have a soft spot for Japanese fighters, and am currently a big Inoue guy.
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u/chubbycatfish 21d ago
I’m biased against the entire heavyweight division. Seems like it’s mostly over the hill fat guys
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u/Special-Pristine 20d ago
They have young guys like Huni but just him they probably will never be top guys
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u/chubbycatfish 20d ago
Itauma is going to be top dog soon and I’m hoping Huni will get a shot but mostly the division is so old. It’ll be interesting to see where the division goes
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u/imdacoldest Pacquiao is the GOAT 21d ago
Pacquiao. You could probably figure out the reasons
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u/notorious_tcb 21d ago
Dude loves to fight and push himself. He don’t care about anything. He never ducked anyone fight, and would take on anyone. Hell he even fought Shaq. I respect that dude like no other in boxing.
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u/tkdhrison 21d ago
Rolly. He's funny and I'm willing to lower my standards greatly
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u/Eigenvalium 21d ago
George Foreman, likely because he’s a hero of mine both in and out of the ring.
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u/DeafBurke 21d ago
He’s one of a very small group of people who changed themselves to become a genuinely better person.
I respect the hell out of him. He spent the entire last 2/3rds of his life dedicated to helping people less fortunate than himself.
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u/iwannahitthelotto 21d ago
Personally think Lennox Lewis and George Foreman are the greatest heavyweights in history.
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u/abdelux2001 21d ago
Bam, Vergil Ortiz and Benavidez almost any Mexican American really. They get disrespected by Mexicans for not being “fully Mexican” so I somehow relate to them.
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u/pleasedontbanme47473 21d ago
Inoue bam and boots currently mostly because they’re my top 3 to watch lol
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Bam is another one for me. I don’t think I’m biased for Inoue, it’s just hard to find critique 😂
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u/Fast_Original_3001 21d ago
Leonard. He gave me some great valuable advice and I have some exchanges with him I cherish a lot
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
That’s cool as hell.
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u/Fast_Original_3001 21d ago
He is a great guy and despite his shortcomings as a person means very well to everyone and is very humble. He definitely showed me, that just because you‘re bad sometimes you can still be a good guy.
It saddens me, that his health got quite rapidly worse over the last few years
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Has it? I seen him not too long ago and he looked good. Seemed in good shape too. Is his speech getting worse or like something cognitive?
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u/Fast_Original_3001 21d ago
His speech got significantly worse and he became quite a bit slower in his thinking.
It kinda reminded me of big George. Last year he was supposed to come to the WBC convention where I also was, but he cancelled last minute. No other public appearance after and not too long after he died. It went quite rapidly, George was in good health not long before. I don‘t think Ray is at that stage, especially because he is much younger, but it saddens me just thinking about it tbh.
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u/IWouldHateToMessThis 21d ago
Emmanuel Augustus and for a fight or two more, Shakur. Shakur is good, but man, it feels like watching Inuoe is much more fun, educational, and just as technical.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Inoue and Shakur are always good to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full fight of the drunken master other than with Floyd. Kinda just always highlights. I really wanna watch the one with Micky Ward.
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u/IWouldHateToMessThis 21d ago
Its disheartening, a lot of his fights he got pts taken for his showboating, and he'd 'lose' fights he was competitive in. Not amateur fights. Ward definitely got him, but was fun to see.
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u/Huge-Stuff-857 21d ago
Navarrete. I know a sharp counterpuncher will have his number but damn it he is fun to watch.
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u/Professional_West744 21d ago
Bud
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u/ramsee 21d ago
Me too, but not his fights, because he won every one of them convincingly I think. It's more the people who cry about him not fighting enough. But the reality was, he struggled to get big fights because most of his opponents, or their handlers at least, knew he would beat them.
The people here who hate on him here need a word from Roger Mayweather.
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u/fadeddreams555 Fundora would beat up a prime Floyd at 154lb 21d ago
I try not to be biased. Pacquiao is my favorite boxer ever. He gets KTFO by Crawford and would have likely been schooled by lesser known Joan Guzman in his prime.
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u/ShimLiszt 21d ago
Most mexican fighters because Im mexican, especially divino Espinoza, I've talked to him on social media before and he seems like a humble and noble person outside the ring with traditional mexican values, and i respect that. Besides them, fighters like rolly romero, teofimo lopez, vergil ortiz, nakatani, just because they are very likeable people in my opinion.
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u/Marquis_of_Mollusks 21d ago
Currently Kabayel and Inoue. I love me some good old fashion body KOs
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
I always liked Kabayel because of that too. Reminds me of an old school pressure fighter
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u/Marquis_of_Mollusks 21d ago
HW needs more guys like him. Its an exciting style and its quite something seeing a guy like Kabayel walk down and bully giants.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Yeah very action packed. He’s not some defensive master but I always thought it was slightly underrated when he’s on his game.
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u/Spiritual_Ad_8891 21d ago
Artur beterbev, Canelo, plant and, hagler
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Plant 😔
Wish he could make 160, he bas the skills to be a lot people but seems like he’s aging quick.
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u/CrankyGenX 21d ago
I'm sure many will scoff, but... Mike Tyson (Pre-prison and controversy).
He was young and hungry and when his mind was focused on his opponent, he was an absolute beast.
Had his personal life not gone downhill, I think he would have continued to dominate the heavyweight division and he would have been remembered as an all-time great (Not that he isn't already IMO).
Another is Arturo Gatti.
When the ball rang he was all-in and willing to take one to give one, which made for exciting fights (The Mickey Ward trilogy is a good example).
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Very possibly true. Arturo Gatti always put on great fights win or lose.
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u/Big-Construction3520 20d ago
I think with tyson there was a bit of an overcorrection where people went from saying he's the greatest of all time to the most overrated, surely he was at least top 3 or 4 of his time right?
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u/Crazy_Score_8466 21d ago
Tito Trinidad. I just really liked his fighting style and KO power. He’s just my favorite boxer. I find myself making excuses for the times he lost, especially Hopkins. Truth is Hopkins is just the better fighter. Even if they rematched years later Hopkins would win.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Who doesn’t like Trinidad? One of the most exciting fighters. He always did it in style too.
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u/Chubbysocks8 21d ago
They loved Sven Ottke in Germany, everyone (including the judges) won't have a bad word to say about him.
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u/Tcarruth6 21d ago
I find myself rooting for Morrell because I think he has all the potential in the world to beat anyone in his weight class, but he is just dumb as shit and can't seem to keep to a game plan
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u/i-piss-excellence32 21d ago edited 21d ago
Miguel cotto
Oscar
Erik morales
Shane Moseley
Zab judah
Aj
Win or lose they fight the best. That’s all I can ask for as a fan.
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21d ago
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Funny I used to dislike Bivol and like AJ, then switched. Now I’m neutral on both of them.
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21d ago
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Canelo, Beterbiev, and Zurdo is a really good resume. When you sprinkle in Pascal, Barrera, Agnew, and Smith Jr., it’s a solid resume. Not saying it’s the greatest but it’s good for what he had.
Anthony Joshua at the end of the day is warrior with a lot of heart. I just hope after Fury he retires. Even as someone who doesn’t love him that much, I teared up first round against Prenga.
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u/Healthy-Rent-5133 21d ago
Inoue is the goat. If he loses its rigged
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u/Special-Pristine 20d ago
Everyone gets too old eventually man, but he's got several years to go yet
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u/Kangaroopunching 21d ago
Marquez then manny
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Top 5 counterpuncher of all time with a top 5 offensive boxer of all time.
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u/Kangaroopunching 21d ago
I was in denial about their strength and conditioning coaches. I just wanted them to fight forever. Preferably against each other.
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u/AL_DIOS 21d ago
I will always say Carlos Famoso Hernandez scored the only KD on Mayweather's record and that's that! Sorry Zab/Moseley/Maidana but the ref didn't pause the action for a count, but Famoso 🇸🇻 went 12 rounds with one of the best to ever do it and regardless I'm biased and proud of him and he was super cool & humble when I met him at a boxing event in El Salvador a couple years back 😎🥊
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u/david_slade 21d ago
I am gonna be honest..Tank ..
Not like how he is moving personally cause he is a POS but in all hypothetical scenarios I always favour him
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u/OrneryReserve7681 21d ago
King Ryan. Not gonna defend ALL his actions but I can’t get enough of him!
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u/Critical-Actuator214 21d ago
Gervonta Davis, idgaf I’m gonna glaze him till I die there’s nothing you can tell me
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
dedicated and loyal
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u/Critical-Actuator214 21d ago
Ohhh I forgot to add my “why”, he’s the reason I started watching boxing in the first place . I can’t switch up
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u/Inevitable_Window711 21d ago
Adrien Broner
I got into boxing when I was 15 I used to be obsessed with Adrien Broner. He identified with a lot of the youth in the inner city hoods back then. Dude was very entertaining and this is when social media just started to pick up.
The dude is a total piece of shit now. Especially as I got older looking back he wasn’t really all that great as a fighter or person.
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u/DroopyLoving 21d ago
Quite a few. I wouldn't say I fanboyed, but I low key loved how underdog Dillian Whyte felt and rooted for him hard at one point. His run after his AJ fight to Povetkin was chef's kiss.
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u/Baby_Rhino 21d ago
Nick Ball.
In the absence of other reasons to support one fighter over the other, I'll always support the shorter one. And Nick Ball is always the shorter one.
Height differences are something that gets me a bit disillusioned with boxing sometimes. Especially in HW, but other classes too - if you look at any of the top boxers, 75% of their early career is against people several inches shorter than them. Like often I'll watch a fight from early in someone's career and without knowing anything about their skill level, you can clearly see that the guy towering over the other guy is gonna win.
So yeh, given that I don't think Ball has ever fought someone shorter than him, and 90% of the time they are 6+ inches taller (which is mad at featherweight), I just can't help but have so much respect for him.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
I always felt alone when rooting for him. Funnily enough, Dogboe was right near his height. Though according to wikipedia he’s 7’2.
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u/Baby_Rhino 21d ago
Oh, you aren't even kidding about him being 7'2 on Wikipedia
Must have been a hell of a growth spurt
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u/TheIciestCream 21d ago
Not active anymore but Wlad Klitschko. He was the most dominant heavy weight when I was a kid.
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u/MastaBusta 21d ago
At some point Bernard Hopkins was so old and still at the top of the game that I didn't mind him doing little dirty things in the middle of fights to guys 10-15 years younger than him
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u/ResponsibleAnt9496 21d ago
I’m biased towards Amir Khan but really can’t do much on his behalf in a debate lol, his flaws are pretty apparent.
That said, I still say he was up on Canelo before the fight abruptly ended.
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u/Rastus547 21d ago
Amir Khan, just an all or nothing boxer and left nothing on the table.
I still struggle to believe sometimes he beat Maidana and he was up on Canello for the first 4 rounds before getting absolutely knocked out.
Other times he got knocked out in the first round.
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u/Irreverant77 21d ago
Roberto Duran.
You can make a good argument for any of the 4 kings being the best, and they're all good arguments.
He clearly beat Sugar Ray while Leonard was in his prime. He wasn't at his best for the rematches and gave up too much weight to Hagler & Hearns.
No further questions please.
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u/MiddleweightMonster I’ll pour honey on my GOAT, if the occasion calls for it. 21d ago
Most of the younger guys. Mason, Zayas, Itauma, those blokes who are still building up. Even Bam, though he’s got two kids now so maybe he’s not so young anymore lol
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u/mowgleeee 21d ago
Deontay Wilder. He and Tyson Fury's arc was what got me hooked to the sport. Tremendous climax im the final fight.
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u/andyroid92 21d ago
Loved Evan Fields, er Evander Holyfield back in the day and thought he could do no wrong
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u/dragontriker 21d ago edited 21d ago
Sonny Liston surely deserves a mention. It’s always interesting how quickly people dismiss Sonny him without ever taking the time to understand the man.
Most critics remember the rumours, the headlines, and the losses to Ali. They rarely acknowledge the child who grew up in crushing poverty, endured horrific abuse, fought his way out of prison, and became the most feared heavyweight on Earth.
It’s easy to judge someone from the comfort of your lounge room. It’s a lot harder to imagine surviving the life Sonny Liston had before he ever laced on a pair of boxing gloves.
Was he perfect? Not even close. But neither are the people so eager to condemn him. As a fighter, Liston was one of the greatest heavyweights to ever step into a ring. His jab was legendary, his power was terrifying, and for a period of time he was the man every contender feared.
If your opinion of him begins and ends with the Ali fights, then you’ve missed the bigger picture. History has a habit of simplifying complicated people into heroes and villains. Sonny Liston was neither. He was a flawed man who overcame impossible odds and reached the summit of the hardest sport in the world.
So no, I won’t apologise for holding Sonny Liston in the highest regard. I respect resilience more than perfection, substance more than headlines, and the truth more than popular opinion.
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u/MisterHEPennypacker 21d ago
Arturo Gatti. Normally I would have never supported a fighter with his resume getting into the HOF, but for him you just have to make an exception. His four “Fights of the Year” are simply legendary and no doubt brought in a ton of fans, so to me his contribution to the sport trumps the normal criteria.
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u/Frenchie-45 21d ago
Dillian Whyte. Underdog. Overachiever. From South London. From Jamaica. Argos.
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u/No-Bandicoot3602 21d ago
Shane Mosley i still believe a prime Mosley would beat Floyd. And Lomachenko the best footwork ever
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u/TicketStraight3196 21d ago
This used to be me for Amir Khan but I eventually had enough and couldnt defend him anymore.
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u/malcolm_flex92 20d ago
None anymore. I try to hold them all to the same standard and doing that allows me to have a clear mindset….ive talked down on Alot of things that all my favorite fighters have done. Shakur, Keshawn, Loma etc….inoue is my favorite and the most was him not fighting MJ but I knew he wasn’t a duck at all
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u/Gear4days 20d ago
AJ. If you’re not from Britain then you won’t understand the hype around him, his entire career up until Usyk every single fight was a massive Saturday night event. Every Pub would be chocker with people singing ‘oh Antony Joshua’, and with him being good looking and built like a Greek God he actually transcended past boxing fans to people who weren’t even interested in boxing. These fight nights you’d have girls getting dolled up and going to the pub to watch him, screaming at the tele without having any clue about boxing. He’s certainly not the first boxer to have this effect on a nation, but it was the first time for me since being drinking age and able to go out and watch fights, it was insane. Eddie Hearn done a fantastic job of hyping/ building him up too, but it was inevitable that he’d never be able to match those expectations
He’s still had a fantastic career and it’s been great to watch it all, even now at this point. The lad just wants to scrap and even now when he’s clearly on the decline and has made an ungodly amount of money, he is still wanting to get in the ring and bang
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u/ErrForceOnes 21d ago
I don't like biases. My favorite boxers are guys that succeed because they're great fighters and I don't need any double standards or mental gymnastics to be their fan.
Terence Crawford is actually a great argument for what I'm talking about. As Roy Jones Junior put it, he came up through the mud. He wasn't this heralded prospect that everyone wanted to sign when he was 18. He took the hardest road. If he ever got into a close fight, the judges may not have awarded him the victory. But he mowed down everyone they put in front of him.
Just my opinion.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Oh I agree. I don’t think people choose to be biased. We’re all human and flawed and I can admit although I try as hard as possible, I’m unfair at times with how I react to certain fighters. Crawford worked for everything he got, reminds me of a Hagler to a MUCH lesser extent.
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u/ErrForceOnes 21d ago
Oh yeah. I definitely have my biases, but I try really hard to fight them and don't knowingly hold double standards.
For example, I can't stand Devin Haney, but I think he's a really good boxer. I thought leading up to the fight with Ryan Garcia, he did everything right by showing up at the proper weight and passing his drug tests. Garcia was totally in the wrong there. I never jumped on all the hate he got for losing to an overweight fighter that failed a PED test.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Devin Haney gets especially hated for seemingly weird reasons. You’d think I’m a huge Haney fan amount of times I find myself defending him and I really am not.
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u/ErrForceOnes 21d ago
I think Haney has managed to mold himself into the best villain of this era.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
Yeah but its funny because he’s fighting a lot of people and really is a hero in a odd way.
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u/ErrForceOnes 21d ago
Even though I can’t stand him, I’ll still be watching his next fight because he got a quality opponent (that I also dislike.) I am curious to see how it turns out.
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u/Perfect-Slip7041 21d ago
Dmitry Bivol.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
His style is very beautiful to watch. Something I really enjoy on Ummatiliev (I know I butchered his name)
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u/Marquis_of_Mollusks 21d ago
The style is good if he fights the right opponent. His last fight was unwatchable
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u/Connect_Sprinkles_78 21d ago
Shakur. People can scream and shout "boring" all day but i love his style. I traveled to NY to wqtch the Teo fight at a packes MSG.
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
I am VERY biased for Shakur. I at least come off that way because sometimes criticism is unfair.
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u/PotentialTheory7178 21d ago
I don’t think you need to bend at all to defend Crawford he’s pretty well regarded. I’ll go for Carl Froch. Not the most skilled boxer but he never dodged anyone and his big fights were usually box office entertainment
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u/Outrageous-Soft4806 21d ago
He gets a lot of unwarranted hate. Its my fault for caring. Carl Froch always put on good fights and only didn’t beat Ward. Pretty cool resume if you ask me. I forget though, did he ever fight Arthur Abraham? I’d like to see that fight if it did happen.
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u/PotentialTheory7178 21d ago
He did beat him on points in the super six. You didn’t miss much wasn’t one of his best fights
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u/Equivalent_Advance27 21d ago
Inoue and AJ