Most "promising" fighter who never really blossomed?

[CutMeMick]

Carlos "Bollilo" Gonzalez.

I met Carlos about 3 years ago really nice man had an opp. to talk with him.
Also tied to Carlos we can add the guy who would dethron him Zack Padilla.
Who's career was cut short due to an injury he got while sparring with SSM.


For my likings I've often said that "Maestrito" Lopez would have fucken ruled the WW division. True to his nickname he was a master at boxing. We saw signs of greatness but never reached the heights he was destined for.

Others that come to mind for one reason or another;
"Chava" Sanchez (RIP)
Paul Gonzalez
Johnny Bumphus
"El Torito" Ayala
Masao Ohba (RIP)
Tony Tucker
Davey Moore (RIP) (LMW)

[greynotsoold]

Hey.. you're an LA guy. What's going on with Genaro Hernandez? I hear he has cancer...saw it here, actually. What a shame...nicest guy in the world.

[No Contest]

Hey.. you're an LA guy. What's going on with Genaro Hernandez? I hear he has cancer...saw it here, actually. What a shame...nicest guy in the world.

He is announcing fights for Top Rank, he just did the fights at the Maywood Center here in LA county. So I think he is in remission. His voice sounded fine. Lots of people thing Bob Arum is a bad guy, but he hooked up Hernandez and gave him a job. There was also a benefit to help him pay for the treatments.

[Manju]

For me its Michael Nunn, though perhaps "never blossomed" is not the right phrase. He blossomed then suddenly disappeared, it seems.

But for a very brief shining moment he appeared to have arrived. It was around 1988 and I recall the NYTimes Magazine doing a piece on him entitled "The fighter the great ones don't want to fight"...in reference to SRL, Hearns, Duran, and Hagler.

I don't think its an exaggeration to say he occupied a space similar to RJJ: a big, fast, unorthodox, hard-to-hit and hard-hitting MW with 1-punch KO power. Would've loved to havr seen him develop and fight those greats and RJJ too. But I guess J.Toney should get his due here. Nunn was really something to behold.

[greynotsoold]

Bob arum took care of richie Sandoval too...
Used to be a big michael nunn fan. Whatever happened to Gabe Ruelas?

[No Contest]

For me its Michael Nunn, though perhaps "never blossomed" is not the right phrase. He blossomed then suddenly disappeared, it seems.

But for a very brief shining moment he appeared to have arrived. It was around 1988 and I recall the NYTimes Magazine doing a piece on him entitled "The fighter the great ones don't want to fight"...in reference to SRL, Hearns, Duran, and Hagler.

I don't think its an exaggeration to say he occupied a space similar to RJJ: a big, fast, unorthodox, hard-to-hit and hard-hitting MW with 1-punch KO power. Would've loved to havr seen him develop and fight those greats and RJJ too. But I guess J.Toney should get his due here. Nunn was really something to behold.

I put Nunn in the same category as Mark Breland, great, awesome amateurs who didnt have the best punch resistance that you need in the pro's. Superb boxers that couldnt take the best shots.

[Master]

For me its Michael Nunn, though perhaps "never blossomed" is not the right phrase. He blossomed then suddenly disappeared, it seems.

But for a very brief shining moment he appeared to have arrived. It was around 1988 and I recall the NYTimes Magazine doing a piece on him entitled "The fighter the great ones don't want to fight"...in reference to SRL, Hearns, Duran, and Hagler.

I don't think its an exaggeration to say he occupied a space similar to RJJ: a big, fast, unorthodox, hard-to-hit and hard-hitting MW with 1-punch KO power. Would've loved to havr seen him develop and fight those greats and RJJ too. But I guess J.Toney should get his due here. Nunn was really something to behold.

I put Nunn in the same category as Mark Breland, great, awesome amateurs who didnt have the best punch resistance that you need in the pro's. Superb boxers that couldnt take the best shots.

Nunn was a quality fighter, could have been a great, which is where he should have headed. Drug addiction held him back as well as James Toney.

[brocktonblockbust]

DAVID THE AMERICAN DREAM REID, DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING.
MARK BRELAND
CHRIS ARREOLA
how about Larry Donald? He was supposed tyo be the cheese, havent heard or seen much of him at all.
Can we count Michael Spinks? Even Leon Spinks was a disappointment after losing to ali. He just kept getting ktfo....

[BIG H]

I haven't read the thread, so he has probably already been mentioned....

Kirkland Laing

[Violent Demise]

DAVID THE AMERICAN DREAM REID, DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING.
MARK BRELAND
CHRIS ARREOLA
how about Larry Donald? He was supposed tyo be the cheese, havent heard or seen much of him at all.
Can we count Michael Spinks? Even Leon Spinks was a disappointment after losing to ali. He just kept getting ktfo....

It's common for him to be called a disappointment or under-achiever. But those that possess true knowledge of the sport know those are inaccurate labels. In reality Reid was an over-achiever. How far is a one-eye fighter suppose to go? He won a title and made a couple of millions. Good enough for me

[MDiscontent]

For me its Michael Nunn, though perhaps "never blossomed" is not the right phrase. He blossomed then suddenly disappeared, it seems.

But for a very brief shining moment he appeared to have arrived. It was around 1988 and I recall the NYTimes Magazine doing a piece on him entitled "The fighter the great ones don't want to fight"...in reference to SRL, Hearns, Duran, and Hagler.

I don't think its an exaggeration to say he occupied a space similar to RJJ: a big, fast, unorthodox, hard-to-hit and hard-hitting MW with 1-punch KO power. Would've loved to havr seen him develop and fight those greats and RJJ too. But I guess J.Toney should get his due here. Nunn was really something to behold.

Right on with Nunn
I remember being a kid and hearing about him being the next big thing

[Gocougars3]

I met Leon Cat Taylor last month, a lot of people that know boxing think he may be the guy.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/mma/boxing/09/20/leon.taylor/index.html

[El Kabong]

Abdullaev beat Cotto in the amateurs and medaled ahead of him in the Olympics. Like many fighters he just couldn't get used to the pro style. Cotto gave Abdullaev a boxing lesson, one of the best Miguel has ever put on. I remember many were very worried about that fight for Cotto, but he was never in danger.

Joe Mesi never got a chance at the big time due to health issues. He may not have done much more if given a chance, but he was an exciting heavyweight.

Domonick Guinn, supposed to be the next Holyfield, decent power, solid chin, but just wouldn't let his hands go. I knew when it took him so long to KO Michael Grant that he wouldn't make it.