Joe Mesi?
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Joe Mesi?
Charlie Burley, Sam Langford, and there was a story written about some guy who trained with Tyson and was amazing but drugs, crime, et cetera ruined him.
Also Ibeabuchi and Amir Mansour may have had the talent to do something but never accomplished anything. Ron Lyle only for the fact he started boxing too late.
Lamar Parks I think deserves a mention, had the potential to be real special IMO but then got HIV.
Kenny Gould was a Olympic bronze medalist and really spectacular to watch, tricky southpaw and fast as fuck, had a few setbacks as a pro and had to retire because of a bum shoulder. Should have accomplished a lot more IMO.
David Reid, Meldrick Taylor....well those may be harsh
Howard Davis Jr. and Mark Breland. Google both guys. Davis was supposed to be better than Ray Leonard (who also has an interesting story from that same olympics where his own teammates were making fun and saying Ray stood no chance in the finals) and was a complete flop as a pro. Never won a world championship and he was gold medalist in the 76 olympics. Breland was also a BEAST as an Olympic Gold medalist and predicted to be the cream of the crop from the 84 team of Evander, Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker. Breland was just too nice of a guy and he never lived up to his potential as a pro.
Ricardo Williams and Pachito Bojado were two other guys who were complete wash outs, as was Ray Mercer to a degree. Lonnie Bradley also, now that I think about it. He was being called the next Ray Robinson and the biggest threat to Roy Jones Jr. at one point.
Joan Guzman.
Nice, he's the exact guy I always think of for this. With a lot of the big flops, you hear about amateurs who were expected to do more as pros. It is often the case that they didn't have as effective a style, or weren't durable enough to have the same success there, rather than it being something the fighters did or didn't do outside of the ring. Guzman is different in that he is a PURE waste of pro talent. He had body control and reflexes on a MAyweather or Rigondeaux level for a good few years, and just never seemed to take his career seriously. He was never found out or exposed, he just didn't bother making weight or chasing the big fights, then got old. Now that is a waste. I would have picked Guzman over Pacquiao at 130 at one point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing
I agree with you on Guzman being a bad style match up for Manny. I was planning on betting big on that one when it looked like they were going to fight.Quote:
Originally Posted by p4pkingNice, he's the exact guy I always think of for this. With a lot of the big flops, you hear about amateurs who were expected to do more as pros. It is often the case that they didn't have as effective a style, or weren't durable enough to have the same success there, rather than it being something the fighters did or didn't do outside of the ring. Guzman is different in that he is a PURE waste of pro talent. He had body control and reflexes on a MAyweather or Rigondeaux level for a good few years, and just never seemed to take his career seriously. He was never found out or exposed, he just didn't bother making weight or chasing the big fights, then got old. Now that is a waste. I would have picked Guzman over Pacquiao at 130 at one point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing
Always think of careers clipped early with these, like a Jemal Hinton world ranked but literally just turned his back on Manny Steward and...poof ??? Never achieve is pretty deep as many grabbed trinkets or had shots they just fell short, or didn't develop enough-well.
Didn't he find God and just retired due to his religious beliefs?Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Job Biscuit (The power of one)!!!!
eh eh!!
Oba Carr was the most talented fighter I ever saw that did not become a world champion. His boxing skills were outstanding.
its a bit unfair to be talking about people like Meldrick Taylor and Mark Breland, these were Olympic gold medallists and world champions!
I think Kirkland Laing was incredibly gifted, but was not sufficiently driven
Anyone beating Duran and then not capitalising on that victory is a wasted talent.Quote:
Originally Posted by X
Real harsh on Breland. Breland ran into guys like Aaron Davis and Marlon Starling, plus had a chance to contend with Curry, Simon Brown, Honeyghan and a few other notables around that time at-both from light welter and jr.middle.Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeeod
Sure, he didn't get a chance to fight all of the top names. But, at that time, fighting in that catch-division, everyone else was training to fight everyone else. Which means everyone was in peak condition and looking to fight.
During the early to mid-80's was probably the best, most competitive times at jr. welter to jr. middle we will ever see in boxing.
If Breland moved down, he had to face Pryor, Arguello or Kameda. If he moved up, he would have had to run into McCllellan, Benn, Mugabi and Norris.
Reid had an excuse. He couldn't see. Word has it that his eye was in bad shape from his amateur days, sorta like Joe Frazier. But his extraordinary skills is what kept him winning fights. A shame he had to retire so young.Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Other guys that come to mind is David Tua. He could have done a little more to win a trinket title.
Another guy that comes to mind is Panchito Bojado. He had it.
Another guy that I really, really, REALLY wanna see back in the ring is Pierre Olivier Cote. I don't know what illness it is he has, but I hope he gets it corrected and comes back to the ring. Because, man, I saw star written all over him.
Apparently he is a trainer now and training still. But, he doesn't fight because, apparently, he follows a strict form of islam that doesn't condone harming someone else. Perhaps those guys in ISIS or Al-Queda should follow that brand of islam too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQWmryTniY
Se video: [video youtub.e;KVQWmryTniY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQWmryTniY[/video]
See his gym in Kansas City: http://ringsidefitnessclub.com/our-t...s/jmal-hinton/
Andre Ward
Harsh, but it's looking more and more like it's going to be accurate. The guy should have really already moved up and been right in the 175 mix imo, he is such a good fighter and is pissing it away.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark TKO
Yeah a lot of guys have been named who I wouldn't exactly say they never achieved anything.
Never achieve anything in Boxing, like a Championship
* Domingo Ayala
* Hector Carrasquilla
Could be at least two causes here.Quote:
Originally Posted by holmcall
Sam Langford. He achieved a lot for those times but was simply not allowed to challenge. Like a great artist, never really appreciated until after he was gone.
Charlie Burley. Ditto
His crew, the entire Murderers row. Ditto. It took his mate Archie Moore 160 fights to get a title shot.
With those guys, they were not in charge of there own destiny because of the colour barrier and even after it was relaxed they never got their just rewards.
Jimmy Young. Fought in the best hev era in hev boxing. Would over achieve in one fight and then underachieve in the next. I think he beat Ali and we all know what he did to Foreman.
Zab Judah
Juan Guzman
James Toney
Separate category for these 3. Self discipline was vacant. They prevented themselves. Nobody else.
I'm just now learning about Charlie Burley- only one piece of clip on him, but he seemed sound- SRR claimed he was too pretty to fight him? Wow.
Great call on who named Francesco Bojado. I can't figure out...what happened?
It seemed GBP gave him a solid fighter with limited punching power in Steve Forbes as a final shot- and Forbes I remember that fight...brought his azz to the table. Panchito didn't look bad at all in that fight, rather Forbes delivered a spectacular showing. Humble kid, sound skills; was the matchmaking to tough to early? I dunno, but I thought he was the real-deal.
Jorge Linares may not be an A rated fighter, but I feel on a grade level he is about a B+ or A-.
He was boxing Demarco sound, real clinic, then Demarco's corner does a Dundee ala Ray Leonard vs Hearns and told him- "this is where we separate the boys from the men...ya blowin' it kid"
Damn Demarco brought out a trunk of funk...Real desparate comeback and busted up Linares outta nowhere.
Carlos Quintana- Joel Julio should have never fought this unknown, and when he did, I remember the commentators stating they were fighting in 90 plus degree condition and Quintana's footwork was tremendous, his stamina; on full. Defense, solid. He moved, pivoted, shoulder roll, this guy was showing all the goods & respectable punching power started backing Julio up. I (KNEW) Quintana was gonna be a major force.
Then Cotto busted him up in four rounds::o Not so much that Quintana is chinny, but rather his skin isn't durable, he simply busts up easy.
He gave a great- performance against Paul in their first fight, but it was all downhill for Quintana after that.
There is a bad- I mean bad kid from Arizona. Mexican But I can't think of his name. Roach got him for a minute, then he hurt himself and he has been on the shelf. Tall, thin..he should have been a marquee name by now...I am kicking myself that I cant think of his name. He is still undefeated, but he is doing an Andre Ward: he is a ghost. He is likely to fade away if he doesnt do something real soon.
Can anyone help me on this one? Mexican. Fights out of Arizona, About a lightweight. Punching power in BOTH hands. But is on the shelf for the past two years.
Scratch the last one, there is hope for him. I called him a top prospect in 2012 and he only fought once in 2013. But per boxrec he has been active in 2014 Jose Benavidez.
4 years: only 21 fights welter being brought along too slow IMO- unless he is injruy prone-set to face Muarico Herrera.
José Benavidez. He has hand problems, just like Prince Naseem- the power he generates is just too great for his brittle hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlimTrae
UK wise I would suggest Errol Christie, showing my age a bit.
Good one, did he beat or fight Leonard? He certainly got compared to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by nuggetdotcom
Damn shame, but appreciate the update...:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by ykdadamajaJosé Benavidez. He has hand problems, just like Prince Naseem- the power he generates is just too great for his brittle hands.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlimTrae
Leon Taylor, THAT's who I was thinking of!!!
Jason Keidel: Brooklyn's Taylor may be greatest fighter never known - Boxing - SI.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AanghZIWz7Q
Apparently Taylor gave Michael Spinks absolute nightmares in sparring
Very stylish and impressive, lost to Mark Kaylor and Michael Watson (amongst others) he was a real up and coming prospect, and all of a sudden became easy to hit, just lost it, shame. Hope he's doing allright now.Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterGood one, did he beat or fight Leonard? He certainly got compared to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by nuggetdotcom
Tony Ayala
Ricardo Williams
Pele Reid.
If he'd turned up for training once in a while he could have been something special.Quote:
Originally Posted by X
In addition to the hand problems he also looks to have a glass jaw. He got caught by a non-puncher in one of his recent fights and was out on his feet. How he survived the round I don't know. He was still wobbled at the end of the fight. His jab is a thing of beauty though.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlimTrae
* Jose 'The Threat' Baret
* Gerry Cooney
* Jim 'King' Fletcher
A Latin Hearns? :-\Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirkland LaingIn addition to the hand problems he also looks to have a glass jaw. He got caught by a non-puncher in one of his recent fights and was out on his feet. How he survived the round I don't know. He was still wobbled at the end of the fight. His jab is a thing of beauty though.Quote:
Originally Posted by SlimTrae
I remember Gil Clancey commentating on Barkley-Hearns "The one thing about a Hearns fight, you know Somebody is gonna get knocked out."
Bobby Joe Young
I know this thread is about talent- but when I went to see Dirrell vs Abraham , on the undercard I saw the most devastating KO I could think of in person ..I knew no one would give this guy a shot.
Two weeks later I read Roach was going to train him and I thought this unkown named Lateef Kayode was going to be a monster.
Too strong to not be a force, but time has shown he is lacking something that will prevent him from making it to the top.
Is Roach the wrong trainer or is he just a plodder with power?
I can't think of anyone with that kind of power, that seems bound to fade into obscurity.
Who punches that hard...and still can't make a dent in the rankings?
Quote:
Originally Posted by El Kabong
Ike Ibeabuchi was headed for the title he'd eat the Klitschko's for lunch. His big mistake was calling that lying greedy hooker. That led to him being railroaded & jailed. He was kept 14 months heavily sedated because they were scared of what he MIGHT do.without being charged. No wonder he had mental problems
What about a Paul Gonzalez.