The 2016 Underappreciated All-Stars: 8 Boxers Still Fighting for Respect
Becoming a world champion should immediately earn a boxer respect, right?
Sure, there are a slew of belts clogging up the many different divisions these days, but it's still a notable feat to rise all the way to the top.
The thing is, though, having hold of a sparkly belt still doesn't get some the attention they deserve.
Whether it's because of their style in the ring or their personality out of it, there are fighters who seem to be consistently overlooked—and underrated—by the boxing public.
Here at Bleacher Report, we felt it only right to highlight a select group who should be treasured, rather than treated like treasure (buried and forgotten about for years).
The only criteria for selection was boxers here needed to either be a world champion or have held a major belt at some stage during their career.
Also, only one name was chosen from each division for this first edition of the Underappreciated All-Stars.
Honourable Mentions
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Just like a group of heroes in a poorly scripted action movie, not everyone made it to the end.
There were a number of serious contenders who didn't quite make the final cut, including Erislandy Lara. The Cuban is the IBO and WBA super welterweight champion who only lost to Saul Alvarez on a split-decision verdict.
However, there was a stronger candidate in Lara's division (read on to find out who).
The same issue ruled out another Cuban, heavyweight Luis Ortiz, and Zolani Tete, a South African bantamweight who has found a new fanbase in Britain.
Welterweight Felix Diaz failed to fill the criteria for selection as he's yet to win a world title. The same problem also ruled out talented light heavyweight Artur Beterbiev.
Mexican Gilberto Ramirez does hold one of the major belts at super middleweight, yet at the age of 25 the reigning WBO champion still has time on his side to be fully appreciated.
Apologies to the following: Juan Francisco Estrada, Gary Russell Jr. and Orlando Salido.
As ever, these all-stars are just based on an opinion. Feel free to argue the case for one of the honourable mentions—or someone else entirely—via the comments section.
Let the debate begin.
Flyweight: Donnie Nietes
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Perhaps it's a case of size discrimination. Maybe it is due to campaigning so often in his native Philippines. Or it could just be down to a lack of serious competition at his weight.
Whatever the reason, two-weight world champion Donnie Nietes doesn't get the respect he deserves.
Take a look at the raw data: Nietes boasts an impressive 39-1-4 (22 KOs) record, hasn't lost for over a decade and is a two-weight world champion.
Since his solitary setback in 2004, he's gone on to win world titles at minimum (that's 105 pounds and under. Yes, 105 pounds or fewer.) and light flyweight.
Now up at flyweight, perhaps wanting a (slightly) bigger challenge, the 34-year-old marked his debut in the division with a shutout win over Edgar Sosa in Carson, California, in September.
Sadly, though, the major American television networks didn't take up the chance to show Nietes in action.
Jonathan Snowden wrote for FloBoxing.tv: "Here's a world-class fighter in the United States, and the sports networks still can't be bothered to find him a place on their programming schedule. It was left to beIN, Al Jazeera's sport station, to broadcast the fight. That's barely better than not broadcasting it at all."
Nietes hopefully has Roman Gonzalez, who was last seen at super flyweight, in his sights.
A battle between two little men with wonderful CVs should be on every boxing fan's Christmas list.
Bantamweight: Jamie McDonnell
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Jamie McDonnell is a world champion, yet he doesn't even like boxing.
The bantamweight told George Gigney of Boxing News: "I’m not a fan [of boxing], I still don’t even know all the weights. I know some of them up to welterweight, but I don’t know what order they go in. When I talk to the lads in the gym they laugh at me, but I’m just not that bothered about it."
For McDonnell, who is 5'10" tall but still somehow gets down to fight at 118 pounds, the sport is just a job.
Well, it's one of his jobs—he's also worked as a plasterer, but boxing tends to pay a little better when you hold a title.
The 30-year-old Englishman won just eight of his opening 11 pro fights, suggesting he might be more suited to his other trade.
However, since losing on points to Lee Haskins in an eight-rounder in 2008, McDonnell has gone on a 20-fight winning run. He had a brief stint as IBF champion (before having it taken away by boxing politics) but now holds the WBA title.
McDonnell—who recorded back-to-back victories over Tomoki Kameda in 2015—doesn't catch the eye because of the lack of spectacular finishes.
Instead, his modus operandi is to break down opponents with the kind of high-energy style that would make the Energiser Bunny feel tired.
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Super Bantamweight: Guillermo Rigondeaux
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How you perceive Guillermo Rigondeaux depends on what you like to see in a ring.
If you want toe-to-toe action as fighters trade away on each other, Rigondeaux is not really for you. In a world that seemingly wants cut-and-thrust action, the Cuban defector doesn't conform to those wishes.
However, if you view boxing as an art form, a constant challenge of hitting an opponent while not getting hit back, El Chacal is your perfect match.
Rigondeaux won two Olympic gold medals during a hugely successful amateur career. Using the same style in the pros, he's claimed the WBO and WBA titles at super bantamweight.
Yet his methods—the watertight defence, the smart counter-punching and the clever footwork to get out of tight situations—never won over the American audience.
The 36-year-old's last outing was in Cardiff, Wales, but even his British debut fell flat. Opponent James Dickens had to be pulled out after two rounds with a broken jaw.
Inactivity hasn't helped his cause, but is the Miami-based southpaw actually too good at his job?
Mark Butcher wrote for Boxing Monthly:"The two-time Olympic gold medallist from Cuba refuses to compromise his talents for the loud and maddening crowd. Rigondeaux personifies the true art of boxing and his irrepressible brilliance, so criminally undervalued stateside, should be celebrated now before it has departed."
Amen to that.
Lightweight: Terry Flanagan
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In case you didn't know, Terry Flanagan is the WBO champion at lightweight.
A southpaw who can fight at a distance or mix it up close, Turbo Terry is 31-0 (12 KOs) as a professional.
His status in an intriguing division should lead to unification fights, but instead he still feels like the best-kept secret in British boxing.
With fellow Manchester lightweight Anthony Crolla hogging the headlines over the past 18 months, Flanagan has been stuck in the shadows of his former school-mate, waiting for a chance to emerge.
The wait goes on. His last title defence was against Mzonke Fana, a 42-year-old South African who had fought the majority of his career at super featherweight.
Flanagan desperately wants to prove himself at the highest level. He understands the need to face a major name if he is to earn the respect his talent deserves.
"I’m an experienced fighter. At 27, I’m coming into my prime," he told BritishBoxers in a video interview. "I just want those big fights. Hopefully, either at the end of this year or early next year we can get these fights on before I grow out of the weight."
Despite starting out at super bantamweight, Flanagan has the frame to go up to light welter and beyond. Before then, however, he yearns for a crack at one of the leading lightweights.
Welterweight: Timothy Bradley Jr.
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Boxers are often remembered more for the fights they had than the titles they collected.
When it comes to Timothy Bradley Jr.'s legacy, many will think back to his 2012 triumph over Manny Pacquiao. The reason? Very few believe he actually won it.
The split-decision verdict was a shocker. BoxRec compiled a list of 125 unofficial scorecards from media members and boxing experts—only four of them had anything other than a Pacquiao victory.
Pac-Man has beaten Bradley Jr. twice since that contentious decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas four years ago. Thankfully, there were no issues with the scorecards after the second and third meetings.
However, that first result rather overshadows Desert Storm's achievements in battle.
As well as going 36 rounds with Pacquiao, he's a two-weight world champion who holds wins over the following: Devon Alexander, Joel Casamayor, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ruslan Provodnikov and Brandon Rios.
Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook summed up Bradley Jr. nicely: "Timothy Bradley isn't a superstar. He's never going to be that guy. But he's spent the last eight years as one of the very best in the world at 140 and 147 pounds, and there's a lot to be said for that—and it doesn't get said very often."
The American may not be a superstar, but he definitely qualifies as an underappreciated all-star.
Don't let the incompetence of judges Duane Ford and C.J. Ross overshadow what Bradley Jr. has achieved.
Super Welterweight: Demetrius Andrade
7 of 9Demetrius Andrade has been less active than a landlocked country's navy.
The super welterweight is 23-0 (16 KOs) and a former WBO champion. The southpaw has looked impressive when he's made it to the ring, but, a bit like Bigfoot, sightings have been rare.
Since defeating Brian Rose in the first defence of his old title in June 2014, Andrade has fought just twice.
His career was held up by promotional issues that led to lawsuits, leaving Boo-Boo focused on court battles rather than contests in the ring.
Inactivity cost him his world title too yet seemingly didn't diminish his skills. In June, the 28-year-old from Providence, Rhode Island, knocked down Willie Nelson four times in a stoppage win.
Andrade told Michael Woods of The Ring magazine prior to the fight: "I think I’m the best at 154. I want the top names. And I’m working to get in with those big guys."
First, though, he gets the chance to be a world champion again. The American, per BoxRec, is scheduled to take on WBA holder Jack Culcay in Germany on November 5.
Hopefully that bout can be the start of a busy run for a fighter who is simply too good to be stuck in the shade as the rest of the division make hay.
Super Middleweight: James DeGale
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Why doesn't James DeGale get the level of praise he deserves?
It cannot be due to a lack of talent—the super middleweight is a slick southpaw who, when necessary, is happy to stand and trade with opponents.
It cannot be for a lack of success either. In claiming the vacant IBF title in May 2015, Chunky became the first British fighter to win a gold medal as an amateur and then also a world title as a pro.
No, DeGale appears to be underappreciated because of his attitude. His brash, confident nature is sometimes misread as arrogance, something that doesn't go down too well with British boxing fans in particular.
He has also made no secret of his aim in the paid ranks—earn big, then get out. The Londoner revealed his three motives for fighting to Declan Taylor for MailOnline: "Money, money, money."
Wanting to cash in on his status, he joined Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions stable. His last three fights have all been in North America, meaning he has yet to defend his belt on home soil.
However, neither DeGale's character nor his career choices should overshadow his abilities. He's a history-maker who just needs a career-defining performance in the future.
Heavyweight: Tyson Fury
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Tyson Fury divides opinion.
Some love him for providing a breath of fresh air in a previously stagnant heavyweight division. Others have little time for him because of the hot air he's spouted in public.
However, whatever your personal views of Fury the man, don't disrespect Fury the fighter.
Obviously his size is a huge advantage. At 6'9" tall, he was big enough to even look down at Wladimir Klitschko ahead of their 2015 fight in Germany.
Yet Fury is about more than just physical strength and raw power.
His boxing skills are still underrated despite him bamboozling Klitschko—a fighter who had not been beaten in over a decade before their bout—with his use of the jab and clever head movement.
Since then, the media attention surrounding Fury has rather overshadowed what he achieved that famous November night in Dusseldorf.
Yet if you look past the words (and that's not always easy to do, considering he tends to put his foot in his mouth on a regular basis), you'll see an undefeated world champion who always worked out a way to win.
Fury's much-publicised problems have led to him taking a break from the sport that made him (in)famous. Hopefully we've not seen the last of the Englishman in a ring.
Right now, though, fighting should be the least of his concerns. Get well soon, Tyson.
Do you agree with the all-star lineup? As ever, Bleacher Report welcomes your feedback.
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