Biggest Boxing Bust of all time

[SimonH]

how can one of the finest lightweights ever be a bust? had he stayed there mosley would have been talked about as an all time great. however he took the risk by moving up in weight to fight the big money fighters (oh and he won a few too)

After the first de la Hoya fight, Mosley was poised to take the mantle that likes of Robinson, Ali, Leonard, Tyson, Chavez and Jones had held, that of, without doubt the icon's of their era. But he failed, much like Tyson, he was amazing to a point, but both lost to fighters they were meant to be beat and neither could ever regain the mantle they held, whilst they had their '0's'. Both went bust, on their perceived destiny.

Shane is a hall of famer!!!Out of his last 9 fights only 1 was a street sweeper everyone else has been top flight competition..The fact is Shane fights the best period..Thats why he is great

I think you are missing the point. I am not for one second suggesting Mosley is anything other than a superb fighter.

In the context of the thread, I am suggesting he is a bust, because even more was expected of him, post de la HoyaI, than he has delivered.

[cockey cockney]

Mike Tyson

[Hulk]

Mike Tyson

To a degree that is true. But he is also the youngest HW Champ of all time and a lock in the HOF despite his disgraceful antics at times.

[ono]

I know it's a bit early to pass judgement...

Samuel "the Nigerian Nightmare" Peter.

He just seems content with beating on bums now. What the fwock?!?!?

I agree i don't think he has much skill to be honest. Before the klitschko fight he was meant to be the saviour of the division and even tho he put him down 3 times (only once legit IMO) he stil didnt show anything that justified his hype

[drgoodlooking]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

[BrooklyniteQueen]

Man that's harsh and I can't make sense of a couple of them.

First off, Pinklon Thomas? How? Were there any expectations for Thomas? I mean he had only a handful of amatuer fights, rattled off a series wins at the beginning of his career and then KO'd Tillis then I think he went on to beat Witherspoon. Impressive yes, but Tillis wasn't up to the same par as the guys Thomas faced later on in Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe. I just didn't think anyone had such great expectations for Tillis. He was clearly a cut below those three.

Gerry Cooney just had a tough draw with Holmes. He was a straight ahead power puncher/brawler in a division where a pure boxer who mastered at keeping fighters like him at bay. Still, he lined up Lyle, Norton and Young and KO'd them all in sucession. I don't consider him a bust but I know I'm in the minority. I just don't think you can use losing to a great champion like Holmes as a way to put down the guy's entire career.

Camacho never won the mega fight that meant a lot but no way do I think he was a bust.

Mosley...I just can't figure that one out.

Thomas was meant to end the Holmes strangle hold on the divsion, after the impressive victory over Whitherspoon. Remember, his jab was considered Listonesque by some; sure that statement looks silly now, but at the time many thought Thomas was the next big thing. Then came the drugs...

Cooney was the proverbial white hope, excellent punch, he was meant to take out Holmes, but mentally he lacked the tools, and never got over the Holmes fight.

Camacho was meant to take over from Leonard, he had the whole of the boxing world at his feet, then he crossed paths with Edwin Rosario's right hand...

Mosley was meant to be the heir apparent to RJJ. A flashy stylish fighter, with decent power, and the balls to fight and beat everyone that mattered. But Forrest destroyed that dream, and no matter what Mosley does from here, he will never quite live up to that initial hype.

Sure this all sounds very harsh, but this boxing, sometimes you need to be brutal. All the fighters listed were excellent, it was just they were meant to be future greats, in some people eyes. Maybe some went on to have very stellar careers, but none ever quite lived up to the hype thrust upon them at one stage in their careers, they bust, but, it was a mighty fine journey with some of them, before that happened.

I like Shane. Didn't he fight Vargas weighing 149? And Vargas was closer to 168 on fight night? Thats truly pound for pound.

In my opinion I would have to say Laila Ali. She was supposed to be the savior of women's boxing to put it back on the map but being the daughter of Muhammad Ali the expectations are very high.

Zab Judah was a bust because he was expected to do what he does now about 4 years ago.

Hector Camacho Jr is a bigger bust then his father! Just a quitter against Leija and then gets dominated bu Omar Weis, who the other bust Judah actually beat, but was then beaten by Baldomir who was trained by the guy who trained Weis so it all came full circle for "super"

There's bust in the boxing industry for unknown greatness... there's a female Boxer named Ann Wolfe who holds World titles in 4 different weight classes at the same time, a feat not accomplished since Henry Armstrong.

And Antonio Tarver is a bust because he was supposed to take over the light heavyweight division after beating Roy, hasn't happened yet.

Buddy McGirt is a bust as is Meldrick Taylor.

And Bojado was supposed to be champ by now but he was lazy and again like Camacho Jr was exposed by Leija. Which is sad because if he'd beaten Leija he would have beaten Gatti and fought Mayweather instead.

Big bust would have to be James Toney's Heavyweight career. He was supposed to dominate the division with his skill, but his lack of dedication and love os Krispy Kreme's cost him.

[CountryBoy]

Tommy Morrison, Lack of training and focus, drinking and HIV. But still my fav.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Violent Demise]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

That's cuz Whitaker been retired for a couple of years. Even then it's only a one or two point win for Judah

[drgoodlooking]

Tommy Morrison, Lack of training and focus, drinking and HIV. But still my fav.

Look at George Foreman in that picture, doesn't he look like Jabba "the Hut?"

[LBSCFC]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

That's cuz Whitaker been retired for a couple of years. Even then it's only a one or two point win for Judah

whitaker v judah at his peak would have seen pernell embarass zab. whitaker beat better fighters than judah a lot of the times without losing a round

[drgoodlooking]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

That's cuz Whitaker been retired for a couple of years. Even then it's only a one or two point win for Judah

whitaker v judah at his peak would have seen pernell embarass zab. whitaker beat better fighters than judah a lot of the times without losing a round

Judah KO's people. Pernell doesn't (not many).

[LBSCFC]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

That's cuz Whitaker been retired for a couple of years. Even then it's only a one or two point win for Judah

whitaker v judah at his peak would have seen pernell embarass zab. whitaker beat better fighters than judah a lot of the times without losing a round

Judah KO's people. Pernell doesn't (not many).

and judah gets KOd too

[drgoodlooking]

Zab Judah easily. The one they use to call Pernell Whitaker with power. He was so hyped it was unbelievable. His first title was given to him on a silver platter after they stoled it from Terronn Millett. He made no note worthy defenses of it. He got creamed in the unification fight against Tszyu. He beat Spinks in the rematch, but he should of never lost to him in the first place. Than comes the Baldomir lost. Judah has never done anything to justify his hype.

spot on

to even compare judah with whitaker is an insult

Judah could probably beat Whitaker.

That's cuz Whitaker been retired for a couple of years. Even then it's only a one or two point win for Judah

whitaker v judah at his peak would have seen pernell embarass zab. whitaker beat better fighters than judah a lot of the times without losing a round

Judah KO's people. Pernell doesn't (not many).

and judah gets KOd too

LOL

[shooter]

look at Whitacker's record, what he did to Chavez etc then look at zabs. Look at how long Whitacker was close to unhittable/anbeatable through several strong weight divisions. Then have a look at Zab's history. He isn't in the race. Check out his knockout percentage as well, it's not as high as you think and Spinks is the only time he has K0'd a well regarded fighter in a big match. Anyone who puts him up with Pernell watches more hip-hop videos than boxing.

Audley is the biggest bust in recent memory for me

[Unknowndonor]

I'm suprised noone has said Vargas. He was a young champ that pulled out a win vs winky, and was supposed to beat everyone. Could never again beat the elite. And his win vs winky is very questionable. If he pulls out a win in the Mosely rematch, good for him, but he won't get that much credit considering Mosely has lost 4 out of his last 6 or 7.

Also, I'd have to say Vassily Jirov. Was gonna beat Roy, and Toney, and noone could take his ruthless body assault. Well, he put up a good fight against Toney, but lost. Put up a good fight against Moorer, but lost. I saw him fight a journeyman and had a draw, and the guy sucked. He has never been the same since the Toney fight.

This is recent times. Max Baer comes to mind for old school. Killing guys in the ring. Has the title for less than a year, and gets beat by the Cinderella man. Never did anything after that.