Jimmy Young?

[NYDominican]

Jimmy Young's professional boxing career comprised of Jimmy having wins over Ron Lyle (twice), George Foreman, John Gardner, Gordon Racette, Tommy Franco Thomas, and Tony Fulilangi.

Young's victories over Ron Lyle (twice) and George Foreman were very notable.

Jimmy had a draw against Earnie Shavers.


Young's April, 1976 fight against Muhammad Ali was close.


1. How do you think Jimmy should rank?


2. Do you think that Jimmy Young is underrated?



Please explain.

[Tony1244]

Jimmy was excellent from about 1975-77. He had a short groove. Some fighters were top for one fight like Buster Douglas. Others have a year or two like Jimmy Young.

I'm still recovering from Young-Foreman.

[DrDuke]

Young was excellent. He was arguably the best after the big 4 of Ali-Frazier-Foreman-Norton. Actually he won a one of them. And not only Ali fight was close, Norton bout was about the same close. Well, if to count Larry Holmes, Young is #6 of that era. Quarry was close, but Young's achievements looked more convincing.

[scorpio83]

I think Jimmy Young was underrated in my opinion and deserves more credit than every critic gave him back then. He was underrated because despite being a good boxer with nice jabs and quick footwork, while being slippery, he lacks power. For Young beating ex-champion George Foreman and Ron Lyle twice were the biggest highlights of his career and drew with Earnie Shavers in their rematch, while most fight fans who watched that fight felt Young deserved the decision. Jimmy Young was one of the great contenders in the Golden Age of the heavyweights.

[ron4972]

1. How do you think Jimmy should rank?


2. Do you think that Jimmy Young is underrated?



Please explain.

The answer to question #1 depends on what you mean. If you mean an ATG, then Young doesn't count. He didn't have the goods to be an ATG of any sort. If you mean how does Young rank within his era, then Young ranks very high. In my opinion, in the 1970s before Holmes get established, Young was the world's fifth best heavyweight. Only Ali, Foreman, Frazier, and Norton could definitely be rated higher than Young during that time.

As for question #2, yes, Young was quite underrated. Even today there's a tendency among boxing people to overlook Young abilities. During the 1970s, fans and experts generally underrate Young. That's because Young was not a puncher.

Outside of Ali, Young's defensive abilities were the best during the 1970s. It was impossible to hit Young with a solid punch.