Fighters/Champions that could have been great!

Have you ever wondered what happened to some of the former past-champions or fighters? Guys who had it all in them but just never could have pulled it out?

Here are a few guys I felt that could have been more than what they were and what their legacy ended up to be:

1. Mark Breland. If there was anyone in that 1980's pack that could have separated himself in the Welterweight division it was Breland. He could have OWNED the mid-80's and could have been respectable if not owned the later part of the 1980's and possibly could have done well in the early 90's, at least 90 to 92. He just could not separate himself and win out at any time of his career against good guys!

We will always put that 1980's welterweight division as a division deep with talent, with the likes of Donald Curry, Aaron Davis, Marlon Starling, Milton McCrory and Lloyd Honeyghan, he could have beaten them all if he had the spirit inside to get up and fight hard for 3 minutes of every round.

2. Victor Ortiz. Now, I know you are probably gonna laugh your ass off at me. But, the Ortiz that beat Berto, that was beating Maidana before he gave up (and probably is part of the reason why he underwhelmed) and was giving a great fight to Mayweather Jr., had all of the tools to be better than what he was/is. He had it. He just could not get his mind right and remember that fighting is more than just quick hands and a good punch. It's also more than just athleticism... you have to have heart and fight through the pain, and in some instances and in particular with the Mayweather incident, fight through the shame of being clocked and put on the floor on the biggest stage possible.

3. David Tua. The Tua-man could have been a LEGEND. If only he had more than a left hook, and only if he had used more than a left hook against Lewis, we would be having different conversations on the greatness that could have been David Tua. He had it. He just failed to rise.

Anyone on your list that could have been better than what they were?

Ortiz? GTFOH

I thought the thread was about fighters that were exceptional but not called greats like McCallum, Benitez, Martinez or Vargas.

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Originally Posted by Master

Ortiz? GTFOH

I thought the thread was about fighters that were exceptional but not called greats like McCallum, Benitez, Martinez or Vargas.

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lololol....

Mark Breland

Trained as hard as anyone. He just didn't have the strength to deal with some guys.

He had both Heart and Spirit, but the chin was always suspect.
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David Tua

Tremendous puncher with untold power. But, his opponents had to be 'selected', as he
worked from both a Height and Reach disadvantage.

If all of his bouts were held in a Telephone Booth, he goes undefeated in his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz4KWIP3mrQ
Gerald McClellan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCe6dPQlG0U
Salvador Sanchez. He was great, but imagine how great he could have been...died at 23.
Harry Simon...maybe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWhXcveJzbw
Edwin Valero...yeah I know I'm on a tragic role...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc9i1dzJTUI
The President...
Naseem Hamed...

Yes Ike had a strong chin , speed , work rate , power , I would have loved him to have a shot at the title.
But he was also a basket case.

Lenny "Mean Machine" McLean could have been the heavyweight champion of the world, but he was too far into crime.

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Originally Posted by Master

Ortiz? GTFOH

I thought the thread was about fighters that were exceptional but not called greats like McCallum, Benitez, Martinez or Vargas.

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Benitez WAS great and thus does not belong on this thread.

Tony Ayala jar could have been a great fighter, I think Johnny Tapia could have been greater and so could Mike Tyson!

Great call on Breland, and I think you can add Howard Davis for many of the same reasons. Tua is that guy who either looks like a monster vs a chin you guy with no defense, or a passive guy who is afraid to let his hands go vs slick guys or tall boxers. The exception was Tuas war with Ibeabuchi. I would've loved to have seen Ike vs Lennox but part of me feels that Lennox would unnerve Ike like he did other guys who were unstable (Golota, Tyson and Oliver McCall in the rematch).

The one guy I was POSITIVE would be great was Gabe Ruelas. Killing Garcia in the ring ruined him mentally and he could never recover. I felt he had all the tools to win when he was in his prime. Always thought Oscar and Kostya would have ended their careers a little higher/better than they did.

Oba Carr, Angel Manfredy, Ed Hopson and Gerald McLellan were all guys who I thought would do great things. GMan was on his way before the injury, but the others just never really fulfilled the potential I saw in them.

Ricardo Williams, Francisco Bojado, Broner and Ortiz were all fighters that I never understood the hype for. Each fizzled out as I expected, pretty much right on schedule that I expected them to.

Cintron had the physical tools. Unfortunately the mental part wasn't there consistently.
We did see flashes of brilliance like when he brutally KTFO'ed Walter Matthysse.
He had power, athleticism... but lacked the mental fortitude to put it all together.

I say this all the time when threads come up about who never fulfilled their potential but Joan Guzman is the ultimate choice in the modern era. He could have been a 4 or 5 weight world champion if he'd dedicated himself to actually making weight for a fight. Having a promoter with better connections would have helped his cause too.

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

I say this all the time when threads come up about who never fulfilled their potential but Joan Guzman is the ultimate choice in the modern era. He could have been a 4 or 5 weight world champion if he'd dedicated himself to actually making weight for a fight. Having a promoter with better connections would have helped his cause too.

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Is Guzman still fighting?

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Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

Yes Ike had a strong chin , speed , work rate , power , I would have loved him to have a shot at the title.
But he was also a basket case.

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Ike Ibeabuchi would have been the natural successor to Lennox Lewis. The Klitschko's would be forgotten by now. You say Ike was "a basket case" but just put yourself in his place. His biggest mistake was ever calling that hooker in Vegas. He claimed he never touched her. She wasn't harmed not a mark on her. The police claimed they had to use pepper spray to restrain Ike. Neither of them were touched either. He claimed his innocence for 14 months while they badgered him to take a plea. He was kept under heavy sedation because they were "scared of what he might do" I know 14 months of being heavily sedated would affect my mentality yours too probably. Most of Ike's mental problems were caused during his time under that sedation in my estimation
He finally pleaded no contest as they promised him he'd be back boxing in 6 months but instead the woman judge threw the book at him gave him the maximum sentence 5-30 years. I knew Ike from the day he walked into Curtis Cokes Home of Champions gym in Dallas Tx & proclaimed he was going to be World Champ & no one could beat him. He was no angel admittedly but neither was he the monster some claimed him to be.
He was right about one thing No one did beat him in the ring it took a Vegas hooker to derail his career

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

I say this all the time when threads come up about who never fulfilled their potential but Joan Guzman is the ultimate choice in the modern era. He could have been a 4 or 5 weight world champion if he'd dedicated himself to actually making weight for a fight. Having a promoter with better connections would have helped his cause too.

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Is Guzman still fighting?

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@Master, yes he technically is, but his last fight was October last year.

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

I say this all the time when threads come up about who never fulfilled their potential but Joan Guzman is the ultimate choice in the modern era. He could have been a 4 or 5 weight world champion if he'd dedicated himself to actually making weight for a fight. Having a promoter with better connections would have helped his cause too.

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Is Guzman still fighting?

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@Master, yes he technically is, but his last fight was October last year.

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He is talented but wasted his best years

Eh you know i think Micheal Moore could of been more then he was he was a great fighter but kinda got disheartened by the Foreman ko i think. The man had ko power and the speed to back it up was a southpaw and could of done a lot of great things but kinda just went off.

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Eh you know i think Micheal Moore could of been more then he was he was a great fighter but kinda got disheartened by the Foreman ko i think. The man had ko power and the speed to back it up was a southpaw and could of done a lot of great things but kinda just went off.

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Moorer was chinny and a fit Holyfield would have finished him in the first fight. Michael never fought a top 10 fighter to earn his shot. He was maneuvered to the title and George knocking him out was just embarrassing.

I like Merciless Ray Mercer for mention here.

Think moorer if he stayed at 175 longer could oh been better and that goerge fight he really throw that fucking fight just could not back off. I think he is a pretty good heavyweight though i think if he took some more time at 175 and cw he could of been better overall he was not a big heavyweight.

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Think moorer if he stayed at 175 longer could oh been better and that goerge fight he really throw that fucking fight just could not back off. I think he is a pretty good heavyweight though i think if he took some more time at 175 and cw he could of been better overall he was not a big heavyweight.

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I think the light heavyweight was too small for him and he was struggling to make weight hence why he sparked out everyone quickly. Someone more durable at the weight would have beaten him. Cruiserweight would have been a better weight for a longer career.