Most improved boxer you've ever seen?

[BitPlayer]

Anthony Joshua has gone from strength to strength despite his relatively late start in the game. Even more impressively, he has remained humble throughout.

A role model for all,young and old.

And he's humble

[s]and he knocked out George Groves at Wembley in front of 80,000 people[/s]

[Mimmy]

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....

Those 3 should have been able to beat a jouneyman in Steve Robinson they were better than him. Robinson found something special that night after he beat Davison.

[Stuarty]

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.

I remember he came up just short against Broner. He should've probably got the nod.

[Stuarty]

Ricky Burns. Gave Arthur a decent fight for the European then looked out of his depth against Johannsen. I was there when he beat Martinez. What a night and a performance not a lot of people thought he was capable of.

[Rexob]

Ricky Burns. Gave Arthur a decent fight for the European then looked out of his depth against Johannsen. I was there when he beat Martinez. What a night and a performance not a lot of people thought he was capable of.

Didn't Burns have a prolific amateur background? I thought he was supposed to be the next big thing before he came up against Arthur, that fight was just a bit early for Burns but Burns has always been capable.


Fury stepping up, each level he has fought at, is a great example of improvement with each fight, not many do what he has done and convincingly.

[stujones]

In world terms, I think Hopkins has to be a call..... even taking out the early career loss - you'd have never guessed he'd be among the finest fighters of all time in the early/mid 90's.

[Stuarty]

Ricky Burns. Gave Arthur a decent fight for the European then looked out of his depth against Johannsen. I was there when he beat Martinez. What a night and a performance not a lot of people thought he was capable of.

Didn't Burns have a prolific amateur background? I thought he was supposed to be the next big thing before he came up against Arthur, that fight was just a bit early for Burns but Burns has always been capable.


Fury stepping up, each level he has fought at, is a great example of improvement with each fight, not many do what he has done and convincingly.

Yeah he was a very good amatuer mate. Boxed out the Barn in Coatbridge. They had a lot of good fighters at that time. I fought in a couple shows that he was on. Western districts. He was fighting at a snidey wee sports centre in Linwood the night my mate made his pro debut. Amazing how far he came from then.

[stujones]

I think Burns is still a good call.... always looked a good solid British title level fighter.... but if you think about it - he got schooled to a guy who lost to a rather green Kevin Mitchell - and looked what happened between Burns and Mitchell.

Other ones I think of in this though is Steve Foster Snr - okay his world title tilt was never going to be successful, but I don't think anyone would have thought he'd beat Chris Pyatt.

Another is Glenn Catley - he showed he was geniunally world class with his performances against the likes of Woodhall, Lucas and Beyer... could we have ever seen that after he got KO'd by Galfi or even after he should have got DQ'd (IMO) vs Neville Brown.

Speaking of Neville Brown, what about Sam Soliman (who beat Brown).... who'd have thought it was Soliman and not Howard Eastman who can tell his children that he is a world champion after they fought.

[Rexob]

Ricky Burns. Gave Arthur a decent fight for the European then looked out of his depth against Johannsen. I was there when he beat Martinez. What a night and a performance not a lot of people thought he was capable of.

Didn't Burns have a prolific amateur background? I thought he was supposed to be the next big thing before he came up against Arthur, that fight was just a bit early for Burns but Burns has always been capable.


Fury stepping up, each level he has fought at, is a great example of improvement with each fight, not many do what he has done and convincingly.

Yeah he was a very good amatuer mate. Boxed out the Barn in Coatbridge. They had a lot of good fighters at that time. I fought in a couple shows that he was on. Western districts. He was fighting at a snidey wee sports centre in Linwood the night my mate made his pro debut. Amazing how far he came from then.

Didn't Burns have a daft amateur record like 100-1 or 100-3 can't remember now pretty impressive whatever it was.

[Stuarty]

Didn't Burns have a prolific amateur background? I thought he was supposed to be the next big thing before he came up against Arthur, that fight was just a bit early for Burns but Burns has always been capable.


Fury stepping up, each level he has fought at, is a great example of improvement with each fight, not many do what he has done and convincingly.

Yeah he was a very good amatuer mate. Boxed out the Barn in Coatbridge. They had a lot of good fighters at that time. I fought in a couple shows that he was on. Western districts. He was fighting at a snidey wee sports centre in Linwood the night my mate made his pro debut. Amazing how far he came from then.

Didn't Burns have a daft amateur record like 100-1 or 100-3 can't remember now pretty impressive whatever it was.

I'm not sure of the stats to be honest mate but it wouldn't surprise me. He used to turn up at shows with his gear even if he wasn't down to be fighting. Just incase there were any call offs etc... He would fight bigger, heavier guys as well if I remember correctly.

[littlepug]

Bruno, Benn and Tommy Morrison are boxers that showed great improvement after career ending defeats, their respective fights against Lewis, Wharton and foreman showed a side to their game I didn't think they had

[whiskey]

Burns is a good example.

I remember when he came in and boxed Graham Earl, he showed great ability.

Then about a year later Earl got a gift in my opinion of Yuri Romanov, whom later ended came back and thumped Jon Thaxton.

Speaking of Thaxton, he enjoyed a nice 135 run during what many would call the twilight of his career. A great guy too.

[eoghanmachin]

Tsiko Mulovhedzi - just look at the lad's record.

[Stuarty]

Burns is a good example.

I remember when he came in and boxed Graham Earl, he showed great ability.

Then about a year later Earl got a gift in my opinion of Yuri Romanov, whom later ended came back and thumped Jon Thaxton.

Speaking of Thaxton, he enjoyed a nice 135 run during what many would call the twilight of his career. A great guy too.

Good shout. Thaxton always comes across a proper gentleman. Speaks very well. Does he not do motivational and after dinner speaking nowadays?

[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.

I remember he came up just short against Broner. He should've probably got the nod.

Yes he should've

[TheWigwam]

Orlando Salido perhaps.

But for me it has to be Ant Crolla, first time I saw him he just walked forehead first into Derry Matthews' punches for 6 or so rounds, never thought he'd go very far. Now he's a smart and tidy boxer, who is around world level or thereabouts. Good on him

[reggaereggae]

Joe Bugner got knocked out in his first fight. Turned it around quite well.