Quote Originally Posted by holmcall View Post
Joe Mesi?
Could be at least two causes here.

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.