Robin Reid - most underrated boxer ever?

[Woldemar]

Why do you think ?

[polecateddy]

I don't think anybody is saying Reid wasn't good.
He was nothing special either though.

Depends how you define special I suppose. From memory wasn't he a world medalist in the amateurs, and held a pro world title. Not quite a household name in the UK, but certainly famous regionally, i.e. in Manchester. He's never going to be hall of fame material, but he is a success story and special in the sense of being a highly successful professional fighter. Could you be? I'm sure I couldn't!

[palooka]

Reid won a bronze at the 1992 Olympics, he was very powerful. He could have done more but his career seemed stop/start. His stoppage losses late on he didn't seem all that bothered. He always looked the part though, very muscled.

[polecateddy]

Reid won a bronze at the 1992 Olympics, he was very powerful. He could have done more but his career seemed stop/start. His stoppage losses late on he didn't seem all that bothered. He always looked the part though, very muscled.

A bit like Bruno in that he was heavy-handed but not really a devastating puncher. He seemed to go a bit one-paced as champion, and lacked the dynamic touch of say Calzaghe or Froch. He should have been steered away from Malinga really. Not sure if that was a mandatory fight or not?! And great chin through his peak. I'd class him as past his best against Ottke, and basically semi-retired when he fell apart against Jeff Lacy.

[Sklar]

A bit like Bruno in that he was heavy-handed but not really a devastating puncher.

Bruno was an absolutely huge puncher. There haven't been many fighters in history who punched harder than Frank.

[polecateddy]

A bit like Bruno in that he was heavy-handed but not really a devastating puncher.

Bruno was an absolutely huge puncher. There haven't been many fighters in history who punched harder than Frank.

It's a little bit of a myth in fact. He had 5 world title fights in all and didn't score a single knock-down. Hardly a stat of one of the hardest punchers of all-time. He did make Oliver McCall's knees dip in that second round, so big kudos for that. Certainly once Big Frank bulked up to 17 stone plus, although he looked like a rock-hard bodybuilder, he became a little clumsy in his movements and the hand-speed dropped off.

[Sklar]

A bit like Bruno in that he was heavy-handed but not really a devastating puncher.

Bruno was an absolutely huge puncher. There haven't been many fighters in history who punched harder than Frank.

It's a little bit of a myth in fact. He had 5 world title fights in all and didn't score a single knock-down. Hardly a stat of one of the hardest punchers of all-time. He did make Oliver McCall's knees dip in that second round, so big kudos for that. Certainly once Big Frank bulked up to 17 stone plus, although he looked like a rock-hard bodybuilder, he became a little clumsy in his movements and the hand-speed dropped off.

It's not a myth when you've been punched by him. D

[A serious man]

didn't Tyson say the hardest he was hit was by frank or have I made that up?

[polecateddy]

I'm not saying he wasn't a decent puncher. He could knock people down. Didn't he deck Terry Dunstan in sparring getting ready for McCall? I just don't think in the rarified air of best heavyweight punchers of all-time the stats really back Frank up against his better opposition ...which in Bruno's case was his world title fights. Generally he got a free ride on his massive UK popularity between title fights and was fed exclusively journeymen.

[polecateddy]

didn't Tyson say the hardest he was hit was by frank or have I made that up?

You made that one up! Lol Although Frank got some licks on target in that 1st round of their 1st fight. Bowe did say Herbie Hide hit him the hardest though, just as a random thought.

[Sklar]

I'm going to have to disagree with you, polecaddy. Bruno was nuclear.

[palooka]

Bruno was a terrific hitter against journeymen and up to European level boxers. The higher level men had the smarts not to get tagged flush and the punch resistance to recover quickly. He still hit awfully hard - similar to Gary Mason I think. If Bruno wasn't afraid of an opponent then he'd power straight through them. His body was over muscled for a long time though and it didn't improve his boxing or his stamina.

[polecateddy]

I'm going to have to disagree with you, polecaddy. Bruno was nuclear.

Ok then, who did he nuke again?

[Kaaspeer]

No more talk about Frank Bruno now, make a seperate thread for that.

I don't see anyone making any good arguments against the skills of Reid, it all seems like pure hatered...

[polecateddy]

Bruno was a terrific hitter against journeymen and up to European level boxers. The higher level men had the smarts not to get tagged flush and the punch resistance to recover quickly. He still hit awfully hard - similar to Gary Mason I think. If Bruno wasn't afraid of an opponent then he'd power straight through them. His body was over muscled for a long time though and it didn't improve his boxing or his stamina.

I'd agree, similar power to Gary Mason. Heavy-handed, sure. Mason is of course less fashionable, had similar ability to Frank, but nobody here is heralding him as one of the great heavyweight punchers.

[polecateddy]

No more talk about Frank Bruno now, make a seperate thread for that.

I don't see anyone making any good arguments against the skills of Reid, it all seems like pure hatered...

Reid had some solid skills. Similar to mid-period Eubank really in that both managed to do a similar job in out boxing Henry Warton.

[palooka]

No more talk about Frank Bruno now, make a seperate thread for that.

I don't see anyone making any good arguments against the skills of Reid, it all seems like pure hatered...

Robin turned pro with good wishes of the British public, he'd done well in the Olympics and was a good looking fellow with a fierce style. He was a really good fighter and there were a few really good boxers the same weight in Britain at the time. He's not hated by any boxing fans I know, Calzaghe was head and shoulders over all super middles in Britain but he knew it and it rubbed some up wrong.

[Counter-puncher]

No more talk about Frank Bruno now, make a seperate thread for that.

I don't see anyone making any good arguments against the skills of Reid, it all seems like pure hatered...

Reid had some solid skills. Similar to mid-period Eubank really in that both managed to do a similar job in out boxing Henry Warton.

and in that neither of them had the highest numbers for punch output.....

[Sklar]

I'm going to have to disagree with you, polecaddy. Bruno was nuclear.

Ok then, who did he nuke again?

Plenty of folk. Speak to the guys who crossed eras who fought or sparred him, they'll tell you all you need to know.

[uptconnect]

The guy who taught us all that the best fighters ever are all massively overrated is now schooling us on how Robin Reid is possibly the most underrated of all time. The lesson is here for us all, should we choose to open our minds.


Jokes aside, Robin Reid gets the amount of boxing credit that he's earned.

[Perseus]

I don't think anybody is saying Reid wasn't good.
He was nothing special either though.

Depends how you define special I suppose. From memory wasn't he a world medalist in the amateurs, and held a pro world title. Not quite a household name in the UK, but certainly famous regionally, i.e. in Manchester. He's never going to be hall of fame material, but he is a success story and special in the sense of being a highly successful professional fighter. Could you be? I'm sure I couldn't!

Special is a hall of famer or at least someone most of us would like to see in the HOF but they haven't been voted in yet...........Hamed comes to mind.

Haven't seen a post even hinting that Robin should be in the HOF.
Still haven't seen one that said he wasn't good either.

[polecateddy]

It doesn't take a genius to look at Robin's record and see a capable pro, who through good matchmaking by his promotor was able to win a world title. Frankly even on Italian soil getting flakey Vincenzo Nardiello for a vacant WBC title was a gift. As regards his reign he only looked half-decent out boxing Henry Warton. He then split-decisioned Hacine Cherifi, who should have been a good stoppage win. He appeared to have cardio issues and then next fight he lost to Malinga. For my money you have 3 UK titlists around the same period, none of which lasted long, but all with similar ability - Glen Catley, Richie Woodhall and Robin Reid. All struggled to maintain a high level of performance, and of those 3 probably on balance Reid was the worst.