Fighters who fooled the public

[Controversial]

I’m not sure whether Tyson comes into this as lots of people thought it was a fix or Tyson was past it but what other examples can you think of where a fighter has talked the talk but has clearly looked like a shot fighter after saying he was in the best shape of his life.

David Haye an obvious one for me, clearly riddled with injuries but fooled a lot of us into believing he was Hayemaker 3.0

What other fighters?

[Steveh583]

Audley. The master.

[forcefraser]

Ben Whittaker

[keithmoonhangover]

I don't know if I would call carrying injuries, fooling the public. Boxers get injured and the get miles on the clock, it's the nature of a brutal business. Haye might have been injured, but he was trying his best to win. Personally, I think accusing boxers of fooling the public is disrespectful.

[Controversial]

I don't know if I would call carrying injuries, fooling the public. Boxers get injured and the get miles on the clock, it's the nature of a brutal business. Haye might have been injured, but he was trying his best to win. Personally, I think accusing boxers of fooling the public is disrespectful.

There’s carrying injuries, which probably every fighter walks into the ring with, and being crocked to the point you need surgery and hide away in America on a boat so no one can see you train. Yes he tried to win but he wasn’t in the great shape he claimed to be.

[deadpan]

Ali on the thyroid pills v Holmes.

[skanksta]

Audley !
Guy should be a motivational speaker or top salemsan if he isnt' already. You listened to him and you believed him !
He was like Ka in The Jungle Book - could make you believe anything.

[Nightmare Roy]

Audley !
Guy should be a motivational speaker or top salemsan if he isnt' already. You listened to him and you believed him !
He was like Ka in The Jungle Book - could make you believe anything.

I never bought into the hype, he just didn't have the pro style where as when AJ turned over I knew he was going places.

[skanksta]

Ahem, "Yes We CAN..!"

[emallini]

Dave Allen

[margaret thatcher]

well dave allen didnt fool the public as a shot fighter like op asks , but he did fool the public into massively overrating him for a bit

he was getting into top 15 talk, people talking of world title shots, and even saying that allen-price shouldnt be allowed to happen for price's safety. we saw how that went.....

[margaret thatcher]

sergio martinez possible, legs absolutely gone by time of cotto fight. he had recurring knee issues and wore a brace but i dont think peeople realized the magnitude

[Kilburn]

You could argue that Bruno fooled a lot of people before the rematch with Tyson. He must have known deep down it was an impossible task for him.

Not that I ever held it against him. Frank got in there and did the best he could. Can’t ask for more than that.

[KiwiRider]

Wilder fooled a lot of people that he was the baddest man on the planet.
But it was more his team doing the careful matchmaking and avoidance of any real risk.
The way they kept him fighting second tier 'challengers' without actually fighting the #1 challenger.
In hindsight it was a brilliant run of holding a belt hostage and Wilder can't claim full credit, but he was an excellent showman and self promoter.

[margaret thatcher]

almost 50 fights and wilder has stiverne and brezeale among the top 3 guys he's beaten lol

[Boxerbeetle]

Dunno about 'fooling the public' specifically, but let's just say I would have been very upset to have paid out for tickets / travel / hotel to support Darren Barker or Nicky Cook in their final fights.

[Controversial]

I was more thinking of fighters clearly past their best but talking like they were still at the top of their game rather than fighters padding their records out with lower level opponents or just overhyped to start with. I guess Wilder in his last fight falls into that bracket, clearly shot and past it but talking like he was still the same fighter he used to be. I see he’s back on the whole “I’m back” routine peddling out excuses he was injured in his last two fights.

[chinarich]

David Haye has done it before and is looking to do it again. Saw an interview only a few days ago when he was talking about how his legs are going in the right direction and if that continues then he'll definitely come back.

Surely nobody is going to fall for it again...

[Specialized101]

Dunno about 'fooling the public' specifically, but let's just say I would have been very upset to have paid out for tickets / travel / hotel to support Darren Barker or Nicky Cook in their final fights.

These two examples immediately came to mind

[joshj909]

Anyone that thought Amir Khan wasn't going to get KO'd in embarrassing fashion against Brook should've felt embarrassed. They both fooled anyone who thought they weren't both past it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anyone that thought Amir Khan wasn't going to get KO'd in embarrassing fashion against Brook should've felt embarrassed. They both fooled anyone who thought they weren't both past it.

Who thought they were in their primes?

It was probably evenly matched based on where they both were in their careers tbh.

[joshj909]

Anyone that thought Amir Khan wasn't going to get KO'd in embarrassing fashion against Brook should've felt embarrassed. They both fooled anyone who thought they weren't both past it.

Who thought they were in their primes?

It was probably evenly matched based on where they both were in their careers tbh.

I suppose I worded it wrong. They both fooled anyone thinking they weren't absolutely past it to the point of embarrassment and they might see something looking like a high level fight. The fight was many many years past it's sell by date. Brook's skills were still there but he looked like an old man. Khan looked awful. It was competitive but it was two frail old men which is not a good sight in the lighter weight classes.

[rio]

Darren Barker. Came in to the Strum fight injured. Fought anyway for the payday and got annihilated. Never fought again.

[TheLeprechaun]

Audley fooled himself. Made money but was always delusional.

[Controversial]

David Haye has done it before and is looking to do it again. Saw an interview only a few days ago when he was talking about how his legs are going in the right direction and if that continues then he'll definitely come back.

Surely nobody is going to fall for it again...

Yeah he said this a few weeks ago in an interview, he’s 44 and hasn’t boxed for over 6 years but has the type of physique that can make people think he could roll back the years again. He will probably fight a few more De Mori types and then try and get some of the Saudi money saying he’s never been fitter and stronger and all his leg issues are fixed. Haymaker 4.0