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

[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
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

[El Kabong]

Kid Diamond

Whew boy...



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.

[Spicoli]

Kid Diamond

Whew boy...



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.

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 "" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs .

[El Kabong]

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 "" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs .

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.

[ykdadamaja]

Kid Diamond

Whew boy...



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.

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 "" Kellerman and ESPN were obsessed with creating a new "super heavy" division for the like of McCline and Mount Whitaker ffs .

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.

[ykdadamaja]

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
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

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.

[mikeeod]

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
Shawn O'Sullivan and or Willie De Wit
Eddie Hopson
Kid Diamond
That poor guy they let fight Patterson first time out.

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.