Biggest boxing BUSTS- Fighters that had hype but no fight!

Title says it all:

1. Jerson Ravelo- Had commercials and endorsements WAY before they were a thing in boxing. Turned out to be a bust when Allen "Sweetness" Green turned him out and Andre Ward brought out the hoe in him! I thought he had something, honestly. But he was just a dud!

2. Audley Harrison- JUST NEVER HAD IT. Another widely publicized entry into the pro-game, just never had it. Another multi-million dollar endorsement before even lacing up the gloves for a pro fight. Never lived up!

3. David Price- I swear, if he does not retire, he is going to get himself SERIOUSLY injured. The pro-game is not for Price, man. It's not for him. It's over. He is going to get himself hurt. He is done for.

4. Ricardo Williams- 2000 silver medalist at the Olympics. High prospect. Could fight. But could not stay focused enough to leave the streets and the street-life. Just a total waste. He is still young enough to make a comeback, but for all intents and purposes his fight career is over!

I know, I know...Some of you guys wanna say the Charlo's and a few others like Povetkin, etc, etc.... But the Charlo's actually WON something substantial and Povetkin, while he never won a title, he never got dusted by scrubs like these guys. These guys were finished before they even got started!

Anymore mentions?

Audley Harrison got a fat £1 million contract from BBC and wasted our licence fee.

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Originally Posted by Master

Audley Harrison got a fat £1 million contract from BBC and wasted our licence fee.

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I bet that was the last time THAT happened. lololol...

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

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Originally Posted by Master

Audley Harrison got a fat £1 million contract from BBC and wasted our licence fee.

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I bet that was the last time THAT happened. lololol...

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Unfortunately BBC never got involved in boxing again at any meaningful level.

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

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Originally Posted by Master

Audley Harrison got a fat £1 million contract from BBC and wasted our licence fee.

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I bet that was the last time THAT happened. lololol...

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Unfortunately BBC never got involved in boxing again at any meaningful level.

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lol....

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Originally Posted by Master

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

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Originally Posted by Master

Audley Harrison got a fat £1 million contract from BBC and wasted our licence fee.

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I bet that was the last time THAT happened. lololol...

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Unfortunately BBC never got involved in boxing again at any meaningful level.

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So you never wasted that license fee again?

A few more:
1. Francisco Bojado: Tons of hype around the same time Ricardo Williams was getting his push. Once he raised his level of opposition it all fell apart for him.
2. Mark Breland: Olympic gold medalist thought to be the greatest talent of the magnificent 84 team which included Evander, Whitaker, and Meldrick Taylor, to name a few. Won a couple of titles, but never came close to reaching the levels predicted/expected for him.
3. Howard Davis jr.: Gold medalist who was so dominant and good, people thought of Ray Leonard as a distant second. Never even won a world title as a pro.
4. Zab Judah: Massive hype surrounded this talented phenom. Kostya Tszyu’s right hand brought everything crashing down around him. Won some decent fights and titles, even limping in to the welterweight lineal championship, but never reached the level of hype he received.

Good call on Bojado! There was a time he was seen as on par OR BETTER than Hatton and Cotto!

Danny Romero should have been bigger.

Rock Allen, his not achieving his in ring potential wasn't his fault. He was in a bad car wreck apparently.

Kirk Johnson, he had talent he just didn't achieve what he should have. He should have beaten Ruiz into submission! He should have challenged Vitali a little!

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Originally Posted by mikeeod

A few more:
3. Howard Davis jr.: Gold medalist who was so dominant and good, people thought of Ray Leonard as a distant second. Never even won a world title as a pro.

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i liked howard davis a lot. he had a problem. he fought in his head. he thought about what he was doing. he didnt think about what the other guy was doing. so he looked great, maybe perfect, and then he got hit.

thats the problem so many guys have. they get stuck in their own heads. its always "i'm going to do this" and "i'm going to do that" like they are looking at themselves box.

Verdejo.
Seth Mitchell, although he never seemed that solid.
Lacy?
Frankie Gomez, more wasted talent.

Zab Judah should not be on the list.

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Originally Posted by Yuzo

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Originally Posted by mikeeod

A few more:
3. Howard Davis jr.: Gold medalist who was so dominant and good, people thought of Ray Leonard as a distant second. Never even won a world title as a pro.

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i liked howard davis a lot. he had a problem. he fought in his head. he thought about what he was doing. he didnt think about what the other guy was doing. so he looked great, maybe perfect, and then he got hit.

thats the problem so many guys have. they get stuck in their own heads. its always "i'm going to do this" and "i'm going to do that" like they are looking at themselves box.

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I knew Howard Davis jr lost to our Jim Watt but forgot he drew with Meldrick Taylor.

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Originally Posted by Alpha

Verdejo.
Seth Mitchell, although he never seemed that solid.
Lacy?
Frankie Gomez, more wasted talent.

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Those are also good calls. I was never much sold on Seth Mitchell, but he was a decent enough athlete to compete even though he got started late. Jeff Lacy was a good call too.


I think a big duo which fit this bill are Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Hector Camacho Jr. they certainly weren't helped by the celebrity of their fathers. Both were good solid boxers on their own, but the hype they got from their fathers was really big.



David Reid probably fits the bill here, but his repeated eye injuries did his career in. He was a good solid fighter.

Zab ain't no bust, man. He won titles and did what he was supposed to. lolol.... You make it seem as if beating Tzsyu, Mayweather and Cotto were easy things to do if he could have.

Franciso Bojado is a GOOD call. I didn't forget him, but just felt he was too obvious.

I think we are too hard on Jeff Lacy. Sure, he had a head of steam and lots of power- But, at that time and now with the benefit of hindsight, did we REALLY expect him to beat: Calzaghe, Roy Jones or Jermain Taylor? Even though a good shot to the chin could have upended Taylor? Did we REALLY expect him to compete against Kessler, Froch, Abraham OR Andre Ward? Shit, to me, Lacy and Allen "Sweetness" Green is a pick-um fight- and no disrespect to Green either, but I would take Green to win by KO!!!

Well, in some respect, Chavez Jr. was kinda/sort of a bust-- But to those that saw him anywhere CLOSE to being like his father. Which to me, I never bought into him. But I can give you guys that one....

Seth Mitchell- A never was. lololol....

Kirk Johnson- ANOTHER GOOD CALL. I could have SWORN Johnson could have won it all. At the time, he had me thinking he could.

See I think with Zab Judah his entire career is told in the Tszyu fight....he's athletic, talented, and completely unfocused when it gets to crunch time. I think a focused Zab Judah would have been a southpaw version of Floyd Mayweather Jr. he was that good at his best, probably more 1 punch power in that left hand too...but he was fucking worthless if he wasn't up for a fight.


I didn't expect JC Jr to be the equal to his father, but I also didn't expect for him to """draw""" with Carlos Molina, """beat""" Matt Vanda by a split decision, get popped for taking a diuretic in his fight vs Troy Rowland (whom he also """beat"""), Sebastian Zbik ALSO should have beaten JC Jr, Brian Vera should have beaten him, Fonfara schooled him and since then he's been a part timer.


Camacho Jr as well was going great guns until he ran into Omar Weiss who schooled him and Weiss was basically a Jr Welter while Camacho Jr was a full blown welterweight. After that it was all downhill, but he's got a fight scheduled for this January 26th.

Hype's almost a necessary evil in the sport and comes in a couple of forms. The straight out of the gate grooming of amateur accolades and promotional push or what can be best described as almost a flavour of the month by networks or various media as well as us fine folks on forums. It's ones interpretation really as many guys on a list have had solid wins, streaks or even these days multiple trinkets but still have that feel of never living up to potential. Hype can be the art of distraction as well as a basic investment. A bill of sales. Once you start hearing "the next (enter HOF'er here) thats when the red flags go up. Then again..maybe they really were never that great and got by on smoke and mirrors, gift of gab and decent enough skill. For me Broner would own that type of 'hype' t shirt. Maybe Ortiz and Berto early on who were steered into opportunities while continually showing flaws that you just had to know would catch up. Wilder may fit that bill but the juries out on if he can make solid improvements. Until Stiverne and Ortiz for sure.

Bojado always a good one for sure, HBO went all in hook line and sinker and he wasn't the first. Some others that just never panned out but did what they could. Just because a guy doesn't ascend to the pinnacle and become that house hold name doesn't mean they were complete flops, but still you were just left expecting so much more
Michael flipping Grant.
Andrew Maynard
Tyrell Biggs
Gamboa..another pushed beyond belief and steered
Michael Bennett..million dollar body .10 cent chin
Michael Olajide
Robert Wangila
Jorge Luis Gonzalez ;D
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Kid Diamond

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Whew boy...
https://media.giphy.com/media/aGeePr7nv6ra8/giphy.gif


His nickname should have been "Flavor of The Month"



Who was the Nigerian fighter Larry Merchant was so hot on? David Izon or Friday Ahunaya? Both of them were hyped up big time...because everyone was wishing Ibeabuchi was out of jail (though NOBODY wanted to be with the guy outside the ring because he was fucking nuts).



Ibeabuchi and Sam Peter also came up short in reaching their potentials.

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

See I think with Zab Judah his entire career is told in the Tszyu fight....he's athletic, talented, and completely unfocused when it gets to crunch time. I think a focused Zab Judah would have been a southpaw version of Floyd Mayweather Jr. he was that good at his best, probably more 1 punch power in that left hand too...but he was fucking worthless if he wasn't up for a fight.


I didn't expect JC Jr to be the equal to his father, but I also didn't expect for him to """draw""" with Carlos Molina, """beat""" Matt Vanda by a split decision, get popped for taking a diuretic in his fight vs Troy Rowland (whom he also """beat"""), Sebastian Zbik ALSO should have beaten JC Jr, Brian Vera should have beaten him, Fonfara schooled him and since then he's been a part timer.


Camacho Jr as well was going great guns until he ran into Omar Weiss who schooled him and Weiss was basically a Jr Welter while Camacho Jr was a full blown welterweight. After that it was all downhill, but he's got a fight scheduled for this January 26th.

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I hear ya. But I never believed in the hype others believed about Chavez Jr. But I understand....

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Hype's almost a necessary evil in the sport and comes in a couple of forms. The straight out of the gate grooming of amateur accolades and promotional push or what can be best described as almost a flavour of the month by networks or various media as well as us fine folks on forums. It's ones interpretation really as many guys on a list have had solid wins, streaks or even these days multiple trinkets but still have that feel of never living up to potential. Hype can be the art of distraction as well as a basic investment. A bill of sales. Once you start hearing "the next (enter HOF'er here) thats when the red flags go up. Then again..maybe they really were never that great and got by on smoke and mirrors, gift of gab and decent enough skill. For me Broner would own that type of 'hype' t shirt. Maybe Ortiz and Berto early on who were steered into opportunities while continually showing flaws that you just had to know would catch up. Wilder may fit that bill but the juries out on if he can make solid improvements. Until Stiverne and Ortiz for sure.

Bojado always a good one for sure, HBO went all in hook line and sinker and he wasn't the first. Some others that just never panned out but did what they could. Just because a guy doesn't ascend to the pinnacle and become that house hold name doesn't mean they were complete flops, but still you were just left expecting so much more
Michael flipping Grant.
Andrew Maynard
Tyrell Biggs
Gamboa..another pushed beyond belief and steered
Michael Bennett..million dollar body .10 cent chin
Michael Olajide
Robert Wangila
Jorge Luis Gonzalez ;D
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

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They had me on Jorge Gonzalez. But the beating he got from Riddick Bowe is the most SATISFYING beat downs I have ever seen and enjoyed in my life. The only other beat-down I enjoyed more was Mayweather vs. Gatti- Only because folks were being sooooooo deluded in thinking Gatti had a chance when it was clear he was in for a beating of a lifetime.

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Kid Diamond

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Whew boy...
https://media.giphy.com/media/aGeePr7nv6ra8/giphy.gif


His nickname should have been "Flavor of The Month"



Who was the Nigerian fighter Larry Merchant was so hot on? David Izon or Friday Ahunaya? Both of them were hyped up big time...because everyone was wishing Ibeabuchi was out of jail (though NOBODY wanted to be with the guy outside the ring because he was fucking nuts).



Ibeabuchi and Sam Peter also came up short in reaching their potentials.

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I've wondered if the worst thing that ever happened to Peter was crushing Jeremy Williams like he did. Everyone expected this indominable wrecking machine after that, but he could box a little. Unfortunately he could also eat. You've got me thinking maybe Courage Tshabalala when he lost on his first ppv? I remember Lampley and Merchant losing their kool aid over huge Derrick Jefferson when he got KO of the year on Harris. Crazy times then..there was a boat load of decent guys clamoring to be 'the next' and HBO had a bunch. Max ":o" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs ;D.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

I've wondered if the worst thing that ever happened to Peter was crushing Jeremy Williams like he did. Everyone expected this indominable wrecking machine after that, but he could box a little. Unfortunately he could also eat. You've got me thinking maybe Courage Tshabalala when he lost on his first ppv? I remember Lampley and Merchant losing their kool aid over huge Derrick Jefferson when he got KO of the year on Harris. Crazy times then..there was a boat load of decent guys clamoring to be 'the next' and HBO had a bunch. Max ":o" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs ;D.

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I hate to shit on Sam Peter. I think he was a good heavyweight, I think he could have gone on to be VERY GOOD if not for his weight issues and his falling in love with his power. He didn't' have the handspeed of Ibeabuchi and honestly I think Ibeabuchi's skill was fleeting. 110% of the Nigerian heavyweights I've seen look unbeatable early on, granite chins, anvil hands, just juggernauts! But then something happens and I don't know if it's accumulation of un-dodged shots to the dome or Nigerian cuisine or American cuisine or whatever the fuck, but something happens and things just slow down for them and then guys who are more stick and move hit and don't get hit boxers light them up.

Wladimir Klitschko was THE kryptonite for Superman Sam Peter...worst style match he could have sought out. I think had Sam Peter fought John Ruiz he would have broke him down, had he fought Corrie Sanders that would have been interesting, had he fought Chris Byrd he would have had his hands full but probably won, had he fought Lamon Brewster (ooooh what a WAR that could have been), I think he could have handled Golota or Liakhovich....but at the end of the day Sam Peter's management made the wrong call and Wlad's team made the right call and Peter's career suffered the consequences following that loss.

Jameel McCline could have been somebody, Mount Whittaker....he changed his name to Goofi and he ended up fighting like his nickname. Jameel got done in by Wlad and hard done by the judges vs Byrd. He was a good in shape heavyweight for a time, good big in shape heavyweight.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Hype's almost a necessary evil in the sport and comes in a couple of forms. The straight out of the gate grooming of amateur accolades and promotional push or what can be best described as almost a flavour of the month by networks or various media as well as us fine folks on forums. It's ones interpretation really as many guys on a list have had solid wins, streaks or even these days multiple trinkets but still have that feel of never living up to potential. Hype can be the art of distraction as well as a basic investment. A bill of sales. Once you start hearing "the next (enter HOF'er here) thats when the red flags go up. Then again..maybe they really were never that great and got by on smoke and mirrors, gift of gab and decent enough skill. For me Broner would own that type of 'hype' t shirt. Maybe Ortiz and Berto early on who were steered into opportunities while continually showing flaws that you just had to know would catch up. Wilder may fit that bill but the juries out on if he can make solid improvements. Until Stiverne and Ortiz for sure.

Bojado always a good one for sure, HBO went all in hook line and sinker and he wasn't the first. Some others that just never panned out but did what they could. Just because a guy doesn't ascend to the pinnacle and become that house hold name doesn't mean they were complete flops, but still you were just left expecting so much more
Michael flipping Grant.
Andrew Maynard
Tyrell Biggs
Gamboa..another pushed beyond belief and steered
Michael Bennett..million dollar body .10 cent chin
Michael Olajide
Robert Wangila
Jorge Luis Gonzalez ;D
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

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Fast Eddie Hopson, Kid Diamond, and Olajide are great picks. I had considered Hopson but hadn’t thought of the other two. I would add Joan Guzman as well. Always felt that he was PAC Man’s biggest threat outside of JMM and Floyd.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by El Kabong

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Kid Diamond

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Whew boy...
https://media.giphy.com/media/aGeePr7nv6ra8/giphy.gif


His nickname should have been "Flavor of The Month"



Who was the Nigerian fighter Larry Merchant was so hot on? David Izon or Friday Ahunaya? Both of them were hyped up big time...because everyone was wishing Ibeabuchi was out of jail (though NOBODY wanted to be with the guy outside the ring because he was fucking nuts).



Ibeabuchi and Sam Peter also came up short in reaching their potentials.

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I've wondered if the worst thing that ever happened to Peter was crushing Jeremy Williams like he did. Everyone expected this indominable wrecking machine after that, but he could box a little. Unfortunately he could also eat. You've got me thinking maybe Courage Tshabalala when he lost on his first ppv? I remember Lampley and Merchant losing their kool aid over huge Derrick Jefferson when he got KO of the year on Harris. Crazy times then..there was a boat load of decent guys clamoring to be 'the next' and HBO had a bunch. Max ":o" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs ;D.

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lololol..... and Lennox and then the Klitschko brothers snatched that all away from them.

HBO wanted to be matchmaker and promoter, but did not want to do the things Don King and Bob Arum did to be matchmaker and promoter.
:cool:

One for the domestic levels here but I take great pleasure in introducing Fun Time Frankie Gavin

Sky tried for years to tell us about his world class skills (they always blamed his lack of progress on his lack of power) and every time he fought we would hear about his amateur pedigree and his silky smooth boxing skills etc etc

Being a local lad I hear quite a few stories about old Fun Time Frankie, lets just say he is a bit of a cunt, an orrible cunt, and I can almost guarantee that it was a white Christmas for him anyway.

This is his fight from last month, did any of you even know this happened? no neither did I, anyway he came in 6lbs over the welterweight limit and got stopped with a bodyshot in the 4th round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ebEtFdQKWA

Fucking orrible blue nose cunt, hopefully this'll be the last time anyone has any need to post about him

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Originally Posted by Batman

One for the domestic levels here but I take great pleasure in introducing Fun Time Frankie Gavin

Sky tried for years to tell us about his world class skills (they always blamed his lack of progress on his lack of power) and every time he fought we would hear about his amateur pedigree and his silky smooth boxing skills etc etc

Being a local lad I hear quite a few stories about old Fun Time Frankie, lets just say he is a bit of a cunt, an orrible cunt, and I can almost guarantee that it was a white Christmas for him anyway.

This is his fight from last month, did any of you even know this happened? no neither did I, anyway he came in 6lbs over the welterweight limit and got stopped with a bodyshot in the 4th round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ebEtFdQKWA

Fucking orrible blue nose cunt, hopefully this'll be the last time anyone has any need to post about him

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lol

Thinking about this again and sure seems that we went through a wood chipper of American heavyweights trying to find 'the next' ;D. Remember Cliff Etienne? Recall him on HBO and Showtime being pushed hard beating Brewster and Clay Bey only to literally be bounced off the canvas 8 times by a young Oquendo. Managed a minor rebuild and was promptly laid flat and left looking at the lights by Tyson. Came from prison, found some fame and money but proved to have a chin made of egg shells, then did some crime and went back to prison for 100 plus years :-X.

What about a Shannon Briggs???. Now he gets the marks for top notch self promoter boarder line stalker with Wlad, but when he came up early he was pumped up major league coming out of New York with film and newspaper features done on him and ol Atlas thought he had himself another Mike. I know he "beat" very old Foreman but he really didn't..that was terrible.. other than that who'd he beat? He really did do great keeping himself in the conversation to the very end based largely on huge personality and self promotion over his last decade.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Thinking about this again and sure seems that we went through a wood chipper of American heavyweights trying to find 'the next' ;D. Remember Cliff Etienne? Recall him on HBO and Showtime being pushed hard beating Brewster and Clay Bey only to literally be bounced off the canvas 8 times by a young Oquendo. Managed a minor rebuild and was promptly laid flat and left looking at the lights by Tyson. Came from prison, found some fame and money but proved to have a chin made of egg shells, then did some crime and went back to prison for 100 plus years :-X.

What about a Shannon Briggs???. Now he gets the marks for top notch self promoter boarder line stalker with Wlad, but when he came up early he was pumped up major league coming out of New York with film and newspaper features done on him and ol Atlas thought he had himself another Mike. I know he "beat" very old Foreman but he really didn't..that was terrible.. other than that who'd he beat? He really did do great keeping himself in the conversation to the very end based largely on huge personality and self promotion over his last decade.

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lololol.... Briggs was who he was. He got two good chances, well three if we count Liakovich and that last round thriller to win the WBO title. But he was who he was- I don't think anyone back in the day booked him to beat Tyson, Lennox, or even Vitali or even Ray Mercer or Tommy Morrison in their primes.

JMO... He, like Peter, were just good guys who did what they could have considering who were the top dogs at the time.

I wanna change my response on then Jeff Lacy hype- Yea, looking back at it, they were laying it on REALLY thick for Lacy. He was a DESTROYER OF WORLDS!!

I remember now. ;D

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

I wanna change my response on then Jeff Lacy hype- Yea, looking back at it, they were laying it on REALLY thick for Lacy. He was a DESTROYER OF WORLDS!!

I remember now. ;D

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;D I forget the chuckleheads name on Showtime but around the Vanderpool fight they had him with 'the same tenacity and make up as young Holyfield' or some other huff and puff stuff.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

I wanna change my response on then Jeff Lacy hype- Yea, looking back at it, they were laying it on REALLY thick for Lacy. He was a DESTROYER OF WORLDS!!

I remember now. ;D

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;D I forget the chuckleheads name on Showtime but around the Vanderpool fight they had him with 'the same tenacity and make up as young Holyfield' or some other huff and puff stuff.

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lolol.... I can believe that. lololol....

PS: Rest in Peace Nick Charles.