Most improved boxer you've ever seen?

[gilgamesh]

I'm sure there are better examples, but one guy that always comes to mind for me is Daniel Ponce De Leon. For a long time he was a crude guy who had a helluva straight left, and that was it, but after a while he became a solid boxer with respectable skills. He was always slow, but he developed his technical skills a lot during his career, and became a much tougher out for guys.

[stevedoc]

Najib daho went from an area level fighter to top 10 in the world

[manno]

Najib daho went from an area level fighter to top 10 in the world

great shout...my personal favourite probably cos hes a pal is clinton woods. He went unbeaten in about 17 or so vs the usual suspects and then got a shot at vacant commonwealth at short notice vs mark baker. He beat mark in a close one by the old half point I think. Lost it to dave starie in his 1st defence and looked like he found his level. Won an eliminater vs smalllwood then took ashleys best and stoppefd him and so began the second part of his career as a world class lt heavyweight.

[Monte Fisto]

I love the answer of Steve Robinson, dare Manny Pacquiao get a mention here? His early fights did not forecast the career that panned out before our eyes.

[reggaereggae]

If we're talking improvement in a wider sphere, Anyhony Joshua has shown amazing improvement - going from a drug dealing, aggressive, street bully from the mean streets of Watford to the most humble man ever to not even recognise or visit his own child....

Amazing turnaround - one minute a bad man, the next, boxing's version of Mother Theresa with muscles....(except instead of taking in and looking after abandoned kids Joshua abandons his own kid, though amazingly remains humble....)

But if we're talking boxing, Steve Robinson as mentioned is a fabulous call. I can still remember where I was and what TV I was watching it on when he beat John Davison. I have to admit I was backing Davison, who was in exciting fights, but Steve did amazingly. I also remember exactly where I was when Hamed beat Robinson. Good memories.... I miss those youthful days!

[Grilling Machine]

clinton woods.

I'm not sure if Glen Johnson improved or just had a good run of form, but he came to mind. Woods did really well to come back after Jones.

[Deserter]

Najib daho went from an area level fighter to top 10 in the world

great shout...my personal favourite probably cos hes a pal is clinton woods. He went unbeaten in about 17 or so vs the usual suspects and then got a shot at vacant commonwealth at short notice vs mark baker. He beat mark in a close one by the old half point I think. Lost it to dave starie in his 1st defence and looked like he found his level. Won an eliminater vs smalllwood then took ashleys best and stoppefd him and so began the second part of his career as a world class lt heavyweight.

Great call.

[Deserter]

If we're talking improvement in a wider sphere, Anyhony Joshua has shown amazing improvement - going from a drug dealing, aggressive, street bully from the mean streets of Watford to the most humble man ever to not even recognise or visit his own child....

Brutal, but very, very funny

[keithmoonhangover]

Freddie Pendleton, Lionel Butler, Steve Robinson,

[stujones]

clinton woods.

I'm not sure if Glen Johnson improved or just had a good run of form, but he came to mind. Woods did really well to come back after Jones.

Well I think Woods always seemed to be a decent fighter after the Klemesten win. I think he was grossly underated by the American public (he was the catalyst of the "roycott") and he always looked worthy of a top ten place after Klemesten.

However, I would have never thought the guy who got pretty much outclassed by David Starie would beat Klemesten.

[Boxerbeetle]

Rogelio Medina has exponentially improved his fitness and stamina over the last few years, it's incredible, I just don't know how he's done it.

[samwbr]

David Haye really left the Carl Thompson defeat behind.

shouldn't have been in with Carl at that stage of his career IMO.

[Rexob]

David Haye really left the Carl Thompson defeat behind.

shouldn't have been in with Carl at that stage of his career IMO.

You don't say.

[reggaereggae]

David Haye really left the Carl Thompson defeat behind.

shouldn't have been in with Carl at that stage of his career IMO.

Funnily enough, I actually think this fight turned Haye's career around. Before he'd basically just been blowing people out and had become a but lackadaisical and cocky. After this fight he realised he had to knuckle down and train hard, every day. I believe it transformed him.

[Mimmy]

In my era I have to say Steve Robinson. lost 9 of his first 22 fights. Gets a shot at the WBO featherweight title (for what it was worth) against John Davison and wins a decision over him. Robinson came off a loss in his last fight so getting a crack at a world title of any sort was a gift from the gods. Steve, you could say was a journeyman who must have been in the right place at the right time. Im not sure who Davison was suposed to be fighting for the title but Robinson came in at short notice.

Davison was nothing special, only had about 15 fights but was a tough little featherwieght. So it went to show that a title fight against these 2 was something not too special.

The fact that Robinson won was not a big deal I dont think, he wasnt exactly fighting the best featherwight in the world at that time, but its what happened after that fight that counts. He defended it 7 times and the opponents he beat were no push overs.

Sean Murphy, Colin McMillan and Paul Hodkinson should all have beaten Robinson they were far superior in the featherweight division to Robinson, Murphy was the next big thing until McMillan came along so beating those 2 guys was a shock in itself. Hoko was coming in after a loss to the WBC champion who later lost a points fight to Mayweather Jr, but who had put some decent wins together himself. All those 3 would have been favourate to beat Robinson. Robinson knocked out Murphy, which was a brilliant achievement considering Murphy was touted as the next British big featherweight, he was surprisingly beaten by Gary DeRoux but McMillan came along and beat him too.

A decent points win over McMillan then a stoppage over Hoko followed. Freddy Cruz followed and he put in some good wins but after meeting Robinson he lost over 20 fights. I dont think it was a big shock for Robinson to beat Duke McKenzie, I didnt really rate him but give him his due. For me McKenzie didnt have any power were as Robinson was build for power, their physiques were very different.

After another 2 wins a new era of Britsh featherweights had arrived to dominate the division, Naseem Hamed didnt have much issue with Robinson and dispatched him in 8 rounds.

After that fight I think Robinson went back into the journeyman role. Maybe his spirit had gone, getting beat by another not so powerful Billy Hardy but then putting a string of wins together against mediocre opposition before getting beat his final 6 fights in European or British level.

Robinson should never have been a world champion, but took his chance and saw off some decent challenges. It was a fairy story that only happens to very few people.

Yup, for me Steve Robinson

[Boxerbeetle]

Good to see the respect Steve is getting on this thread, definitely deserved. He recently released a short promo for his gym in Cardiff, as you can see he's in fantastic shape and would undoubtedly smash Naz in a rematch!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UMu120Z9H8k

[stujones]

While I agree with what people are saying with Steve Robinson. I do maintain, had Robinson gone stateside and had some real financial backing.... he could have been really up there among britains finest..... okay, would not have beaten Hamed - but could have probably beaten Hamed's opponents.

Robinson's handspeed was very underated. I think just needed someone like Freddie Roach to work on the power.

[stujones]

Chris Edwards might be up there in more recent times.

[reggaereggae]

While I agree with what people are saying with Steve Robinson. I do maintain, had Robinson gone stateside and had some real financial backing.... he could have been really up there among britains finest..... okay, would not have beaten Hamed - but could have probably beaten Hamed's opponents.

Robinson's handspeed was very underated. I think just needed someone like Freddie Roach to work on the power.

Come on, let's not go over the top! Robinson did fantastically well, especially considering his former journeyman status... But let's not exaggerate. He basically beat a bunch of over the hill or not that good British fighters.... Anyone half decent he lost to. Great fairytale champion but not really a word class fighter

[Mimmy]

While I agree with what people are saying with Steve Robinson. I do maintain, had Robinson gone stateside and had some real financial backing.... he could have been really up there among britains finest..... okay, would not have beaten Hamed - but could have probably beaten Hamed's opponents.

Robinson's handspeed was very underated. I think just needed someone like Freddie Roach to work on the power.

Come on, let's not go over the top! Robinson did fantastically well, especially considering his former journeyman status... But let's not exaggerate. He basically beat a bunch of over the hill or not that good British fighters.... Anyone half decent he lost to. Great fairytale champion but not really a word class fighter

I agree with your comment, 3 replies came on this thread as I was writing mine so may go unnoticed. But Hoko, McMillan and Murphy werent over the hill boxers.

[stujones]

While I agree with what people are saying with Steve Robinson. I do maintain, had Robinson gone stateside and had some real financial backing.... he could have been really up there among britains finest..... okay, would not have beaten Hamed - but could have probably beaten Hamed's opponents.

Robinson's handspeed was very underated. I think just needed someone like Freddie Roach to work on the power.

Come on, let's not go over the top! Robinson did fantastically well, especially considering his former journeyman status... But let's not exaggerate. He basically beat a bunch of over the hill or not that good British fighters.... Anyone half decent he lost to. Great fairytale champion but not really a word class fighter

I didn't say he'd beat Hamed..... but I think with the right backing, coaching etc, then genetically he'd have given the likes of Manuel Medina, Tom Johnson etc.

The guy had a tremendous engine, was massive for the weight, quick hands etc. If he had a bit more pop in his punches, then I think he could have been a handful for most except the very very best (e.g. Hamed and the Mexican superbantams).

In many ways, he was similar in style and talent as Rendall Munroe, but I think personally that little bit better naturally.... Rendall I feel could have been a world champion (an alphabet champion) had he had the opportunity to be a full time professional and guided as a "superstar" from the off.... Robinson, I feel could have been a unified champion..... possibly not all four belts, but could have been a respected "global" champion and not just a champion who beat Britains best of a generation, but not else more.

Paul Ingle beat Medina, I don't think it is beyond the realms of impossibility to suggest a fighter with Robinson's natural gifts, being guided as a "superstar" with top trainers couldn't beat either Ingle or Medina.

[reggaereggae]

While I agree with what people are saying with Steve Robinson. I do maintain, had Robinson gone stateside and had some real financial backing.... he could have been really up there among britains finest..... okay, would not have beaten Hamed - but could have probably beaten Hamed's opponents.

Robinson's handspeed was very underated. I think just needed someone like Freddie Roach to work on the power.

Come on, let's not go over the top! Robinson did fantastically well, especially considering his former journeyman status... But let's not exaggerate. He basically beat a bunch of over the hill or not that good British fighters.... Anyone half decent he lost to. Great fairytale champion but not really a word class fighter

I agree with your comment, 3 replies came on this thread as I was writing mine so may go unnoticed. But Hoko, McMillan and Murphy werent over the hill boxers.

Murphy was a good BRITISH level fighter, Hoko was one of my favourite fighters, but had lost his determination.... I remember as he walked in the ring, he looked unconvincing. McMillan was both overrated and never recovered from his arm injury. All good fighters but either not good enough or past it. Imagine what Barrera for example would have done to Murphy. It would've been brutal and short....

[stujones]

Yes, Reggae..... I didn't meant - Robinson could beat Morales, Marquez or Barrera.....(lets not forget, Naz didn't beat any either)..... but I am saying Medina, Johnson, Vasquez (particularly from Mid nineties), Gainer etc.

Naz, Barrera, Morales, Marquez etc - no, no matter how many good breaks he had.

[manno]

john davison was a great story in itself came to boxing v late and in fact on his way to the aba final in 1985 (?) He knocked out the red hot favourite paul Hoko' in a round ..boxed for england won the british and boxed for the world. Great career

[asdfjkl]

Fury is a good recent example. From getting a gift decision for the English title to soundly outpointing the undisputed world champion is quite something.

Exactly, he came up in my mind as well, he won many of his fights while not looking dominating. Several times I expected him to lose, or was a sceptic about him winning. Somehow he proved me wrong and won against Klitschko.