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Who would agree that after all the hype, Olympic Silver Medallist Amir Khan is probably the biggest let down in British Boxing History?
I think he must be close!!!
Can anyone top what Khan has done to ruin his career and looking an arse in doing so to embarrass a truly great boxing nation?
There is a list a mile long....But just to keep in with your Olympic medal winners...Leon Spinks is #1 hands down.....Turns pro beats Ali then becomes the poster boy for on how to not live out your career
My mistake...Used Spinks but did not see "British" in title...
Audley was gold medalist.. so I don't think that is much of guide, certainly not these days, as daxx alluded too.
It was obvious early-doors Khan's punch resistance was seriously dodgy. His defence was shit. The chin didn't change and nor did the defence.
Game over.
I wouldn't say a let down but someone with Herol Graham's talent, i think it was very disappointing he never picked up a belt.
Errol Christy and Herol Graham spring to mind.
Audley....
Despite having a stellar early career would people say Naz career was a let down?
He did accomplish a good amount of things but be real, did he fufill all expectations?
Kirkland Laing is another one that comes to mind aswell, he totally outboxed the great Roberto Duran, how he didn't achieve more is beyond me. I think of the UK members mentioned before that he lives like a tramp now or something ? which is sad to hear.
From a successful career point of view Naz surely lived every fighters dream (undisputed champ, top rated P4P, and most importantly retired healthy with MILLIONS) .. from a fans perspective, the end was a let down. He funked off with his tail between his legs. The fights that could have been with Morales, Marquez, Pac.. shame.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutMeMick
Has Naz ever given a definitive answer to why he walked away?
I don't think he has but i think because he had such a big ego, he couldn't handle the fact in his own mind that he lost. And also in his last fight he looked like a shot fighter and the crowd were booing and were also walking out.Quote:
Originally Posted by CutMeMick
Which means he couldn't entertain anymore and that probably effected him mentally, along with the lose to Barerra all in row.
So if he did have any plans in his mind for a serious comeback, i think his last fight pretty much put an end to that.
He could never have walked into the ring shouting Allah! after 9/11 anyway lol, I just think the loss broke his confidence. It was a real whuppingQuote:
Originally Posted by CutMeMick
It's far too premature to say Amir's career is the biggest let down in British boxing history he's lost ONE fight and is only 21 years old :rolleyes: At least judge him at the end of his career before you label him the greatest underachiever of all time.
As for modern disappoitments both Harrisons spring most clearly to mind. Audley wasted his talent through a lack of commitment and not enough heart and Scott Harrison just pissed his career away in the gutter somewhere. He must go down as one of the biggest wasted talents.
A fighter like Khan who tries his hardest but comes up short can hardly be called a let down, I guarantee by the end of his career no matter what he has or has not achieved he will have tried his best, but to blow your career in exchange for booze, petty burgerly, assualt and DUI's is a far bigger let down than simply not being good enough to succeed at the highest level, although in the case of Khan, that level of finality has not been reached yet anyway.
I have to agree with Bilbo on this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bilbo
Khan is only 21 and has been over hyped to death and suffered a bad loss and has been rocked by Gomez and Limond, but he could still potentially be a great world champion.
If in 3 or 4 years Khan has done nothing then maybe, but its too early to tell still.
Audley has to be the biggest , i mean he was a GOLD winner , and looks like he is going to have to rob Lennox Lewis's house to get his hand on a World Belt.
Errol Christie was ment to be the british Ray Leonard , Khan was so wrapped in cotton wool he looked white , Kirkland Laing just didnt have the commitment to go with his talent.
Herol Graham would have easily won a World Belt , he just fought in better times , even tho i never liked him , he has fantastic reflexes.
Good ShoutQuote:
ICB
Re: Biggest Let Down In British Boxing History
Kirkland Laing is another one that comes to mind aswell, he totally outboxed the great Roberto Duran, how he didn't achieve more is beyond me. I think of the UK members mentioned before that he lives like a tramp now or something ? which is sad to hear.
Steve Bunce did an interview with Kirkland it is a shame to see what happened to such a talented fighter
Heres the video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39...and_pt1_vi.ram
Part 2
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39...and_pt2_vi.ram
Cheers for the link mate Kirkland Laing come to mind quickly for me, because i not long ago watch him give Roberto Duran a boxing lesson. Kirkland Laing could have been great he had all the tools IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonny78
Amir is bum, and not worth any of hype he got. I just never liked him.
I would, however, tend to agree with the Audley suggestion.
Truth be told, Hatton losing to Mayweather was my own personal "biggest British letdown".
Audley wasn't a let down as I never expected anything great from him.
Naz was a letdown as his career left us shortchanged I feel.
The biggest letdown for me was Frank Bruno in his second fight with Tyson.
I know Frank was shite but all the fear etc he said he wouldn't have just got the better of him and he folded like an origami busines during the credit crunch.
Had a bit of a party that night and we all had high hopes - what a let down :rolleyes::eek:
Quote:
Originally Posted by CutMeMick
He said at that point in his life he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Lackluster end to a very flamboyant career.
It is wrong to label Khan a let down just yet. Lets see if he learns from his mistakes and comes back.
Audley a definite let down.
Kirlkland Laing... Went missing for about 5 months or something after beating the legend that is Duran. Had more natural talent than almost any British fighter.
Bruno... lacked fighting instinct and to be honest got further thn I thoight he would.
Herol Graham - fantatsic reflexes and boxing brain. Should have beat an almost blinded Julian Jackson but lost his temper and went for the KO when Jackson dislodged a tooth bridge he had just paid for !!!
Naz - achieved a great deal and by most standards was immensley succesful but made bad decisions and lost the plot otherwise could have been up their with the best of them.
What about Colin McMillan... looked awesome and then the wheels came off.
That was down to the dislocated shoulder, he was never really the same after that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shamrock
If there's more to it than that - i'm sure Scrap will know the score ;)
Great little fighter CM,used to enjoy watching him with his 3 little dreads hanging down:cool:
Skilled fighter.
I gotta go with Khan purely because of the Hype.
No UK fighter has ever been put up so high by the press so soon in a career and without doing anything other than a dubious Commonwealth belt.
Didn't the "Commonwealth" end many years ago;D
Amazes me they still use the phrase in sporting terms:confused:
Quote:
Originally Posted by FensterThat was down to the dislocated shoulder, he was never really the same after that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shamrock
If there's more to it than that - i'm sure Scrap will know the score ;)
If I remember rightly Sweet C was getting hammered in the fight before his shoulder popped out....
Bruno getting knocked out against Bonecrusher on route to his title shot, that was a let down.
khan has all the time world to improve not let us down yetQuote:
Originally Posted by Otley