Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
As boxing fans we look up to the great boxing experts (trainers, fighters, historians, ect) and take their word as gospel a lot of the times, but it seems they are wrong just as often as the next guy in terms of predictions.
I remember the late great Manny Stewart saying on a HBO broadcast that he felt Sharmba Mitchell would whip Floyd Mayweather.
What are some of the epic fail predictions from notable boxing experts that you remember from over the years? Putting aside what experts said about their own fighters, as a lot of times they just say stuff to hype their fighter or stir the pot.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
well Tyson Douglas comes to mind for one. Pretty much every upset in the sport of boxing is when the majority of experts get it wrong.
My own personal failure was Moerno Mares. I thought for sure I'd see a second coming of Whitaker alas...
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Teddy Atlas:
Thompson over Wladimir in the first fight
Austin over Wladimir
Ibragimov over Wladimir
Barrera over Pacquiao in their last fight
Peter over Vitali
Atlas does always correctly predict Mayweather to win his fights though. He just doesn't like the Klitschkos and Pacquiao.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Boxing News said Oscar would beat Pacquiao (Think it was Claude Abrams who preditced it).
Tris Dixon, also of Boxing News said Barrera would have too much for Khan.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Freedom
Teddy Atlas:
Thompson over Wladimir in the first fight
Austin over Wladimir
Ibragimov over Wladimir
Barrera over Pacquiao in their last fight
Peter over Vitali
Atlas does always correctly predict Mayweather to win his fights though. He just doesn't like the Klitschkos and Pacquiao.
If you have Fight night round or Champion and you pick either K brothers to play with there's one line where Joe says wow can you believe Wlad speaks six languages and has a PhD as well? Atlas says well I got a PhD too and blah blah.
I'm sitting there going..dude he's a boxer who in his spare time managed to get a god damn doctorate degree!
I love me Teddy but he has visceral disdain for the brothers.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Freedom
Teddy Atlas:
Thompson over Wladimir in the first fight
Austin over Wladimir
Ibragimov over Wladimir
Barrera over Pacquiao in their last fight
Peter over Vitali
Atlas does always correctly predict Mayweather to win his fights though. He just doesn't like the Klitschkos and Pacquiao.
Hahah, I never realized Teddy had such a hard-on for wanting to see the Klitschkos lose.
This is the kind of stuff I mean. Anyone can be wrong when it's a huge upset, but I'm interested in knowing when an expert very confidently picked something improbable or at least even in results and it didn't play out that way.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Pavlik vs Hopkins. Alot of experts thought The Ghost would break the old man; I for one would have put the house on Hopkins in that 1.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
The Ring staff: MikeTyson KO1 Evander Holyfield :-X
Not to mention the 40+ plus writers at ringside...all except one Wallace Matthews (?) I believe.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
I have only a single first hand account of a 'known' scribe, expert, writer etc. One Bert Sugar.
I had a short conversation with him on the phone prior to Holmes vs Mercer. I recall a phrase from him along the lines of "I don't know what hes' thinking...hes going to get murdered" ;D Guess the old fox fooled a few there.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bzkfn
Boxing News said Oscar would beat Pacquiao (Think it was Claude Abrams who preditced it).
Tris Dixon, also of Boxing News said Barrera would have too much for Khan.
That wasn't Barrera in the ring that night. ;)
If I could have seen any fighter smash Khan, Barrera would be a fine choice.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
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Originally Posted by
armyash
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bzkfn
Boxing News said Oscar would beat Pacquiao (Think it was Claude Abrams who preditced it).
Tris Dixon, also of Boxing News said Barrera would have too much for Khan.
That wasn't Barrera in the ring that night. ;)
If I could have seen any fighter smash Khan, Barrera would be a fine choice.
Yeah but surely you knew it wouldn't be? Barrera was never a lightweight.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bzkfn
Quote:
Originally Posted by
armyash
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bzkfn
Boxing News said Oscar would beat Pacquiao (Think it was Claude Abrams who preditced it).
Tris Dixon, also of Boxing News said Barrera would have too much for Khan.
That wasn't Barrera in the ring that night. ;)
If I could have seen any fighter smash Khan, Barrera would be a fine choice.
Yeah but surely you knew it wouldn't be? Barrera was never a lightweight.
Couldn't agree more.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Experts thought Liston would KO Ali early - With Liston bewildered Ali Wins easily
Experts genuinely feared for Ali's life before the fight with Foreman -Ali KO's big George
Experts thought Benvenuti would easily beat unknown Argentine Carlos Monzon - Escopeta manhandles Benvenuti
Experts thought Leon Spinks had no chance against Ali- A massive upset as Spinks wins
Experts gave Iran Barkley no hope against Thomas Hearns - Hearns was winning easily then Kapow! out in 3
Experts thought Buster Douglas was a showcase punching bag for Tyson in Japan- Tyson was beaten up and then Knocked out
Experts thought Lewis would destroy Rahman - The lumbering oaf was KO'd in round 5 not knowing what a right hand was?
Experts thought Judah was going to be too slick for Tszyu- The chicken dance topped the moonwalk in round 2
Experts thought Hamed would account for Barrera- The Prince turned back into a toad and was never in the fight, proving there was a big difference between first and second divisions.
Experts thought Oscar would flatten the Pacman- Who thought Oscar would be that stupid with his training, diet and dramatic weight loss.
Experts thought Bradley had no chance against Pacquiao - Pacman was finished after Marquez 3 and fought sluggishly and deserved to lose to Bradley and he did.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
IIRC, Tito was a 3-1 favorite over Bernard.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Are these horrible predictions or just horrible after the event?
I always knew Winky would be too big and strong for Shane.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Freedom
Teddy Atlas:
Thompson over Wladimir in the first fight
Austin over Wladimir
Ibragimov over Wladimir
Barrera over Pacquiao in their last fight
Peter over Vitali
Atlas does always correctly predict Mayweather to win his fights though. He just doesn't like the Klitschkos and Pacquiao.
lol, Teddy usually gets his predictions wrong these days.
Re: Horrible predictions by boxing experts?
Calzaghe v Lacy...
ROY JONES JR
Lacy wins, and I'll tell you why. One of the main factors that would lead to a Lacy win is Calzaghe's heart.
I'm not saying Calzaghe dosen't have heart, I'm saying he has too much!
When Lacy nails Calzaghe and hurts him then Joe will try to get payback, and then he will be open to really get hurt - which he will.
JAMES TONEY
Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy is a mismatch. Lacy is going to destroy that boy. He's too strong, he's a fighter - he's proved himself.
Calzaghe never did anything. He beat Chris Eubank nine years ago, but what has he done since then? He's a joke, that's why he keeps pulling out of fights.
I wouldn't be surprised if he pulled out of this one. Everybody in the UK is over-protected, but Lacy will be OK, because he's a fighter.
NIGEL BENN
I remember seeing Lacy a while back on Joe's undercard and I wasn't impressed, wasn't impressed. But he seems to of really knuckled down and improved since then.
I saw him fight Robin Reid and I was impressed, he looked good and he'll give Joe some stick. I reckon both guys will take abit of stick.
Lacy seems to like to maraud forward and Joe has always thrown a lot of leather. I reckon they'll both take some stick but you have to go with Joe, he has that killer instinct and fast punches to get the job done but he'll take some stick man, take some stick.
ROBIN REID
Make no mistake about it - three, five, eight or 10 years ago and Calzaghe would of overcome a Jeff Lacy. I really think Calzaghe of years gone by was too strong, too fast and too flashy for Jeff.
But I'm definately predicting a Lacy win now. Calzaghe's chin is not as strong as it once was due to wars against Eubank, Sheika, Brewer, Mitchell, Salem and so on.
Also, the main factor is that Joe's left hand is very prone to injury and he'll need to hit Jeff as hard as he can to keep him off him.
I think Calzaghe may injure his hand during the fight and get ruthlessly stopped in the mid-rounds by Jeff Lacy. Fight over.
MIKKEL KESSLER
I predict it will be an excellent match but if the fight goes past six rounds Joe Calzaghe will be victorious.
Whilst Lacy has obvious power I think Joe has too much experience and too much boxing ability for him.
If Calzaghe stays away from the obvious power of Lacy early on he will come out victorious.
RICHIE WOODHALL
My money's on Joe but I would have preferred this fight to have come five years sooner.
Joe's on home soil and, although it's great when the crowd's behind you, they can spur you on and force you into boxing the wrong style.
If he stands and fights with Lacy, Joe will come unstuck because Lacy's got a lot of power and is the best short-range fighter in the division.
But Joe will show intelligence and keep it mid-to-long range. I think he'll box cleverly on the back foot and win on points.
CARL FROCH
I think Calzaghe's left it a couple of years too late. Two years ago he would have beaten Lacy on points.
But he doesn't look as sharp and tough as he used to, and I think Lacy will get him out of there within the distance.
The last few fights Calzaghe's hit the deck a couple of times and that shows a bit of vulnerability.
I've got a feeling Calzaghe will make the mistake of being drawn into a fight, because he's a proud man. He'll come unstuck, because Lacy is a big puncher.
STEVE BUNCE
Calzaghe will win it. Lacy hasn't beaten anybody who's been anywhere near their best.
He's the American idol but he's really not that special. Hopefully Joe has enough left and has not left it too late for the big fight.
CLINTON WOODS
Calzaghe may have a few sticky moments early on if Lacy comes out banging but Joe is strong enough to deal with it.
I can then see him winning it late on and stopping Lacy, maybe in the eighth or ninth round.
I hope he does it, it's great for us British fighters to show the Amercians what we can do.
FRANK MALONEY
It will be a tough fight for Joe and I can see it being very close.
It could go to points but I think having that crowd behind him in Manchester will play a big factor and give him the edge.
FREDDIE ROACH
Lacy is too strong for Calzaghe. It will not go the distance.
I see Lacy ending it in the later rounds, possibly by the 10th.
JEFF FENECH
I don't see how Calzaghe can keep Lacy off of him.
I wouldn't be surprised by a knockout, but I think it will probably be by a dominant unanimous decision.
Glenn Catley, who Calzaghe beat in the 1992 ABA final, is going for a Lacy win.
Chris Sanigar, who's fighters Joe beat in successive ABA finals (Catley in 92 and Darren Dorrington in 1993), predicts that Calzaghe will win.
And OSCAR DE LA HOYA is apparently going with Calzaghe!
