Any fighter that you hated but then became a huge fan of?

[Nightmare Roy]

Eubank snr,thought he was a complete knob but then came to realise he really could fight.

The Thompson fight made me reasses him after I’d gone off him/after he’d outstayed his welcome a bit, frankly.

Same here,showed a lot of heart there.

He openly acknowledges that he got more fans and respect once he'd lost a few hard fights.

[TheGman]

Lennox Lewis till mcCall got him then i became a fan,naz,i didnt appreciate him till he walked away from boxing. Eubank snr till the Thomson fights and most recently quigg,iv never really liked him,always like frampton but when he fought valdez i realised how tough and determined he is

[Loftgroov]

Nigel Benn.

I wouldn't say I "hated" him, but I was a big Eubank fan and rooted for him in both of their fights. Gradually began to warm to Benn more and more over time.

[PredatorHayds]

Four Kings is the most fitting answer here.
Everyone had a favourite. Most disliked the others due to a loss/hostility against chosen fighter.

Then once favouritism subsides, realises they are all some of the best fighters we will ever see.

For me I loved Hearns. I disliked SRL (thought he was spoilt), Thougt Hagler was overrated (If Hearns didn’t break his hand) and thought Duran was unprofessional (hadn’t seen much of his Lightweight era).

Now I probably rate my beloved Hearns 4/4.

SRL- Best Boxing skillset of all-time. Read his honest book and really appreciated the man.

Hagler- Second best middle IMO behind Monzon. Did it the hard way. Appreciate his stubbornness in 80’s boxing politics and loyalty.

Duran- Invented the word Macho. Best Lightweight ever. The one fighter we probably all want to be for 24 hours.

Salute and appreciate them all (add Benitez. Should be five kings really)

[dubliner]

Carl froch

[bigjack]

Four Kings is the most fitting answer here.
Everyone had a favourite. Most disliked the others due to a loss/hostility against chosen fighter.

Then once favouritism subsides, realises they are all some of the best fighters we will ever see.

For me I loved Hearns. I disliked SRL (thought he was spoilt), Thougt Hagler was overrated (If Hearns didn’t break his hand) and thought Duran was unprofessional (hadn’t seen much of his Lightweight era).

Now I probably rate my beloved Hearns 4/4.

SRL- Best Boxing skillset of all-time. Read his honest book and really appreciated the man.

Hagler- Second best middle IMO behind Monzon. Did it the hard way. Appreciate his stubbornness in 80’s boxing politics and loyalty.

Duran- Invented the word Macho. Best Lightweight ever. The one fighter we probably all want to be for 24 hours.

Salute and appreciate them all (add Benitez. Should be five kings really)

He did get things his own way a lot of the time,ring size,gloves etc but when the chips were down he could back it up with skill,heart,chin basically the whole package,top top fighter.

[forcefraser]

Ricardo Mayorga.

Used to think he was a pwoppa Swiss banker in the early days.

He mellowed with age

[SenorPipino]

Danny Lopez.

Felt he was a skinny, modestly talented fighter who was overhyped because he could punch a bit and his brother was Indian Red Lopez.

When he was thoroughly outclassed by Chacon in a big time L.A. showdown, and then was beaten up by journeymen Fukuyama and Gomez, I felt vindicated about his questionable talents.

But the way he bounced back from those defeats and starting beating contenders like Hafey, Olivares, O'Grady and conqueror Gomez, began to win me over.

Then he traveled to Ghana and against all odds battered and decisioned favored champion Kotey.

Little Red had finally proven his talents to me.

And his exciting 3 1/2 year championship reign was a hell of a lot of fun.

Too bad Howie Steindler didn't live to see his fighter become a featherweight legend.

[brilo33]

joe calzaghe

[Counter-puncher]

Danny Lopez.

Felt he was a skinny, modestly talented fighter who was overhyped because he could punch a bit and his brother was Indian Red Lopez.

When he was thoroughly outclassed by Chacon in a big time L.A. showdown, and then was beaten up by journeymen Fukuyama and Gomez, I felt vindicated about his questionable talents.

But the way he bounced back from those defeats and starting beating contenders like Hafey, Olivares, O'Grady and conqueror Gomez, began to win me over.

Then he traveled to Ghana and against all odds battered and decisioned favored champion Kotey.

Little Red had finally proven his talents to me.

And his exciting 3 1/2 year championship reign was a hell of a lot of fun.

Too bad Howie Steindler didn't live to see his fighter become a featherweight legend.

As the tv guy said during the Chacon fight, 'Danny Lopez weighed in at 123lbs tonight and the rumour has it 122 of that was heart'

[SenorPipino]

Danny Lopez.

Felt he was a skinny, modestly talented fighter who was overhyped because he could punch a bit and his brother was Indian Red Lopez.

When he was thoroughly outclassed by Chacon in a big time L.A. showdown, and then was beaten up by journeymen Fukuyama and Gomez, I felt vindicated about his questionable talents.

But the way he bounced back from those defeats and starting beating contenders like Hafey, Olivares, O'Grady and conqueror Gomez, began to win me over.

Then he traveled to Ghana and against all odds battered and decisioned favored champion Kotey.

Little Red had finally proven his talents to me.

And his exciting 3 1/2 year championship reign was a hell of a lot of fun.

Too bad Howie Steindler didn't live to see his fighter become a featherweight legend.

As the tv guy said during the Chacon fight, 'Danny Lopez weighed in at 123lbs tonight and the rumour has it 122 of that was heart'

Heart wasn't enough for him to overcome the immensely talented Chacon that night, but Lopez gave a he'll of an effort.

I think the tv guy was the inimitable voice of Olympic Auditorium boxing, Jim Healy.

Chacon-Lopez was held at the bigger L.A. Sports Arena, but promoted by the Olympic's Aileen Eaton.

[lillywhite14]

Audley was one that i grew to like as his career came to a close,faced a few good opponents,Wilder,Price,Haye,Williams and Sprott,showed plenty of bottle even getting in with some of those.

Takes extra bottle when you consider he was clearly scared of his own shadow when in the ring at times.

[bigjack]

Audley was one that i grew to like as his career came to a close,faced a few good opponents,Wilder,Price,Haye,Williams and Sprott,showed plenty of bottle even getting in with some of those.

Takes extra bottle when you consider he was clearly scared of his own shadow when in the ring at times.

Exactly

[Wa1nuts]

I had a strong disliking for fury back in the day quote like him know as he winds everybody in so easily

[paddy chavez]

Carl froch

Same as I thought he was a dick head

[JC]

Vitali. I was a massive Lewis fan boy growing up and as a result always rooted against Vitali because of all his fans saying he should have got the win vs. Lewis. I also dismissed Vitali's ability because of how awkward and herky jerky he looked. Now I realise what a great fighter he was.

[dubliner]

Carl froch

Same as I thought he was a dick head

Yep, he certainly backed up all that hit air he was blowing early on.

[Stuarty]

Paul Smith. I hated him when he boxed but now that he's retired I'm a massive fan

[oogiebe]

Carl froch

Totally!! I learned more to appreciate him. Not quote a big fan though.

[mickey1975]

Paul Smith. I hated him when he boxed but now that he's retired I'm a massive fan

Mods, I've had enough of this lack of respect.

[Stuarty]

Paul Smith. I hated him when he boxed but now that he's retired I'm a massive fan

Mods, I've had enough of this lack of respect.

[Spiker]

Hated Hamed lied him for a bit then hated him again when his idiotic brothers got involved and acted like dicks. Wasn’t keen on Froch thought with his style he was an accident waiting to happen obviously grew on me the more successful he was. Not s fan of AJ atm perhaps he will grow on me, something about him and his image pisses me right off. Thought chisora was a knob and still do! Dillian Whyte liked him still do but think his dreams come crashing down in July as does chisora come to that ..... what was the question again

[Gnome]

Carl froch

Same as I thought he was a dick head

Occam's Razor. He is a dickhead.

[ldlamb]

I’m a nostalgia guy.

So, my life is full of guys I don’t like when they were 25, that I cheered for heavily when they were 35.

Unfortunately for me, they usually were much better at 25.

[bigjack]

DeGale,was especially obnoxious in the Groves build up,but in the last few years has won me over showing plenty of heart and guts in recent scraps.