Isn’t it always fun when somebody tells you that you just aren’t good enough for something, but you prove them wrong time and time again? Sure, you might not have the skill level or talent to properly complete the task at hand, but things just seem to fall in your lap despite your deficiencies. Overachievers are everywhere! As a matter of fact, next weekend, Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz will face off in what many are seeing as two fighters who have already accomplished more than they should have. With that being said, let’s take a quick look at some other fighters who have done more with much, much less.
KELLY PAVLIK
The Youngstown, Ohio native sure does catch a lot of heat in boxing circles for his losses to Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Martinez. George Peterson, the trainer of Paul Williams, likened Pavlik to a robot, noting that he throws the same straight punches, stands straight up, and comes right at you; an extremely one-dimensional fighter at face value. Of course, what he doesn’t tell you is that Pavlik’s punching power and robotic style defeated the likes of hard-hitting Edison Miranda and former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, not once, but twice.
Pavlik held the Middleweight title for three years and was the man to beat at 160. Although Hopkins and Martinez dressed him down in their victories over him, it doesn’t erase the fact that Pavlik had an aura of invincibility around him for a small period of time. Let’s hope that his comeback this May brings more facets to his game so he can show his doubters that he isn’t just a flash in the pan.
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
When you have a guy with no punching power, a hard to pronounce last name, and almost no exposure to begin with, you’d think I’d be kidding if I said that he’d be a world champion. Well, add in some super-quick speed and excellent boxing talent and you get the career of Paulie Malignaggi, who came to the spotlight after absorbing a hellacious beating from Miguel Cotto only to stay in the fight as he continued to try and win. After the Cotto fight, Malignaggi was guided to a title with expert precision by Lou DiBella and the help of multiple network dates to go along the way.
Although he picked up two losses along the way, one to Ricky Hatton and another to Amir Khan (no, I’m not including the robbery loss to Juan DIaz), he has achieved a large fan base and success I’m sure he couldn’t have imagined. The always charismatic Malignaggi is now campaigning at Welterweight in hopes of securing a second belt, and with his skill and speed, he might have a shot. Malignaggi defied the odds pretty effectively so far. I’m interested to see how far he can take it.
RICARDO MAYORGA
No doubt about it, Ricardo Mayorga is the KING of overachievers. Here we have a guy who smokes, drinks, doesn’t train properly for most of his fights, has been called amateurish in regards to his fighting style, and yet has won titles in two weight classes. The tough and burly Mayorga busted on the scene when he KO’d Vernon Forrest in just three rounds for the undisputed Welterweight title. He defeated Forrest in a rematch as well before losing the title in a controversial decision to Cory Spinks. Mayorga would later claim a vacant belt at Junior Middleweight to add to his list of achievements.
Mayorga’s trash talking and rough style has translated to fights with Felix Trinidad, Fernando Vargas, Shane Mosley, Oscar De la Hoya and Miguel Cotto over the years. Even at 38 years of age, Mayorga may see another big opportunity yet as he is in the mix to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this Fall should Chavez win a Middleweight belt. As crude and unpolished of a fighter Mayorga is, his staying power, despite his deficiencies, makes him an overachiever that may have one more shocking effort left in him. That alone makes him boxing’s biggest and best overachiever.
