Guys I Wish Loved Glory More

[armyash]

With the life Tapia has had it is amazing he achieved what he did.

[marbleheadmaui]

With the life Tapia has had it is amazing he achieved what he did.

Yup. He may be the one guy I can think for whom satying in the ring long after his reflexes and skills have gone may be the safer course of action than retiring.

But man I was glad I got to see him as he happened. Just the most exhuberant guy in the ring I've ever seen.

[ryanman]

I almost could have but this in the thread about guys I wish I had seen more of but for me it would be Kirkland Laing.
So much talent, so many problems. What could he have done if he wanted the glory more than the drink? Unfortunately a really sad story has followed his retirement.

[captainanddew]

Nonito Donaire-The guy has stepped up HUGE each time he has had a big fight. But come on from 25-28 he fought Vic and Montiel and that's it? REALLY Now it's not too late for him but man has he wasted years. His next four fights oughtta be Agbeko, Moreno, Mares and Kameda in whatever order he wants. He's got a chance to build a really special resume. But he must stop wasting time.

Marble- Donaire had some injury issues. And Arum really didn't seem concerned with making him a star.

After the last win against Montiel, Donaire did something very dumb. He tried to break a contract. A contract is a contract is a contract. Arum was an attorney(like me). Top Rank also undoubtedly has good legal representation.

[marbleheadmaui]

Nonito Donaire-The guy has stepped up HUGE each time he has had a big fight. But come on from 25-28 he fought Vic and Montiel and that's it? REALLY Now it's not too late for him but man has he wasted years. His next four fights oughtta be Agbeko, Moreno, Mares and Kameda in whatever order he wants. He's got a chance to build a really special resume. But he must stop wasting time.

Marble- Donaire had some injury issues. And Arum really didn't seem concerned with making him a star.

After the last win against Montiel, Donaire did something very dumb. He tried to break a contract. A contract is a contract is a contract. Arum was an attorney(like me). Top Rank also undoubtedly has good legal representation.

I hear ya. But Nonito fought what? 6 times between Vic and Montiel and faced who exactly?

[captainanddew]

Nonito Donaire-The guy has stepped up HUGE each time he has had a big fight. But come on from 25-28 he fought Vic and Montiel and that's it? REALLY Now it's not too late for him but man has he wasted years. His next four fights oughtta be Agbeko, Moreno, Mares and Kameda in whatever order he wants. He's got a chance to build a really special resume. But he must stop wasting time.

Marble- Donaire had some injury issues. And Arum really didn't seem concerned with making him a star.

After the last win against Montiel, Donaire did something very dumb. He tried to break a contract. A contract is a contract is a contract. Arum was an attorney(like me). Top Rank also undoubtedly has good legal representation.

I hear ya. But Nonito fought what? 6 times between Vic and Montiel and faced who exactly?

I agree it was a total waste, but he was injured a bit. Then Arum was putting him on small ppvs. I blame his manager and promoter as much as him in this case. When Donaire left Arum, I said it was bullshit because there was a valid contract (me as a lawyer speaking). At the same time, I say fuck Arum, let Donaire free to make something of himself (the boxing fan in me speaking).

He is a fighter who has wasted part of his prime, but I don't believe he isn't one that doesn't want glory. he's just a guy in an unfortunate situation that should have blown up before it did this spring!!!

[marbleheadmaui]

Nonito Donaire-The guy has stepped up HUGE each time he has had a big fight. But come on from 25-28 he fought Vic and Montiel and that's it? REALLY Now it's not too late for him but man has he wasted years. His next four fights oughtta be Agbeko, Moreno, Mares and Kameda in whatever order he wants. He's got a chance to build a really special resume. But he must stop wasting time.

Marble- Donaire had some injury issues. And Arum really didn't seem concerned with making him a star.

After the last win against Montiel, Donaire did something very dumb. He tried to break a contract. A contract is a contract is a contract. Arum was an attorney(like me). Top Rank also undoubtedly has good legal representation.

I hear ya. But Nonito fought what? 6 times between Vic and Montiel and faced who exactly?

I agree it was a total waste, but he was injured a bit. Then Arum was putting him on small ppvs. I blame his manager and promoter as much as him in this case. When Donaire left Arum, I said it was bullshit because there was a valid contract (me as a lawyer speakin). At the same time, I say fuck Arum, let Donaire free to make something of himself (the boxing fan in me speaking).

He is a fighter who has wasted part of his prime, but I don't believe he isn't one that doesn't want glory. he's just a guy in an unfortunate situation that should have blown up before it did this spring!!!

OK based on your testimony I'll give Donaire a temporary Mulligan. Thanks.

[marbleheadmaui]

I almost could have but this in the thread about guys I wish I had seen more of but for me it would be Kirkland Laing.
So much talent, so many problems. What could he have done if he wanted the glory more than the drink? Unfortunately a really sad story has followed his retirement.

Care to fill that in a lttle? I don't know the story.

[ryanman]

I almost could have but this in the thread about guys I wish I had seen more of but for me it would be Kirkland Laing.
So much talent, so many problems. What could he have done if he wanted the glory more than the drink? Unfortunately a really sad story has followed his retirement.

Care to fill that in a lttle? I don't know the story.

Sure. You mean what has happened since his retirement? I presume you do.

Well, to go back a bit first, after beating Duran in 1982 he went missing and only reappeared after blowing all his money on drink, drugs and women. He fought on for several years finally retiring in 1994(?) at 40 following a knockout loss to Glenn Catley.
By all accounts he then became more and more alcohol dependent with spells of homelessness. Steve Bunce made a documentary about him about 7 years ago and he looked in a really bad way and was homeless. Shortly afterwards he suffered a fall from a balcony and several spells in rehab for his alcoholism followed. Last I heard was that he was alive but not well. I hope things have improved for him since.

He had so much talent but his demons robbed him of the career (or he robbed himself) that he could have had. He was before my time really but I have always been really interested in his story probably because my dad (who wasn't particularly passionate about boxing) seemed like a boxing fanatic when talking about Kirkland.

[marbleheadmaui]

I almost could have but this in the thread about guys I wish I had seen more of but for me it would be Kirkland Laing.
So much talent, so many problems. What could he have done if he wanted the glory more than the drink? Unfortunately a really sad story has followed his retirement.

Care to fill that in a lttle? I don't know the story.

Sure. You mean what has happened since his retirement? I presume you do.

Well, to go back a bit first, after beating Duran in 1982 he went missing and only reappeared after blowing all his money on drink, drugs and women. He fought on for several years finally retiring in 1994(?) at 40 following a knockout loss to Glenn Catley.
By all accounts he then became more and more alcohol dependent with spells of homelessness. Steve Bunce made a documentary about him about 7 years ago and he looked in a really bad way and was homeless. Shortly afterwards he suffered a fall from a balcony and several spells in rehab for his alcoholism followed. Last I heard was that he was alive but not well. I hope things have improved for him since.

He had so much talent but his demons robbed him of the career (or he robbed himself) that he could have had. He was before my time really but I have always been really interested in his story probably because my dad (who wasn't particularly passionate about boxing) seemed like a boxing fanatic when talking about Kirkland.

Thanks very much. Very, very sad. I didn't know about the drinking. I could never figure out how he could beat Duran and then fight very credibly against a pretty good Fred hutchings and then just sort of faded away. At least from here in the states. I watched that fight against Duran several times shortly after it happened and while Duran wasn't in great shape Laing handled him awfully well. I thought he won more clearly that then judges did. I would have thought he could have gotten at least one more big fight.

Thanks again.