Talented Boxers who went the wrong way

^^^
Yeah what happened, he was out for a while wasn't he?

 

From the uk Laing without a doubt beat Duran had a world title oppt. lined up then went missing.

 

He probably thought Duran wanted a return.

 

Laing wasn't that good.

I think Floyd Mayweather falls into this category. The second half of his career has been especially underwhelming - not taking on the biggest challenges often enough (if at all).

 

Every now and then i go on a little Tony Ayala binge, watching his fights, reading articles and stories, he really is the greatest prospect to never make it. I've never seen a more poised or relaxed teenager in a professional boxing ring, even the 17yr old world champ Wilfred Benitez didn't look as comfortable in the heat of battle as Ayala did.

He just calmly went about his work breaking the opponent down, if he could finish you in one he would, if it was gonna take some time, no problem. He just oozed confidence in his ability to destroy anybody.

This is a perfect example of the calm composure I'm talking about, he was just 18 here facing his first bit of adversity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[yt]UdSnRZFMbY0[/yt]

Which Doc is this ? I don't think I've ever seen it.

 

Right if I'm getting slagged for mentioning Tyson throwing it all away then jeezy peeps........:smooch

 

Not as good as he could of been, becuase he went the wrong way.

He was considered a very talented amatuer, winning a bronze at the euro champs, and a few senior titles. but he couldnt stay off the weed and drink throughout his career.

I think he is a very good British example for this thread.

 

Too early to mention Frankie Gavin?

Kid has oodles of talent but lets be honest his pro career thus far has been disappointing.

 

What was the story with him not making weight at the Olympics ? I've heard he's a bit of a gluten hence why he moved up to welter did his eating habits also cause him to lost out at the Olympics ?

 

Yeah, he missed almost all of 2012 because of legal problems. I think the most serious incident was to do with drug possession, though he's had other minor issues too. Hopefully he stays in the gym and gets away from any bad influences in his life.

 

He had won world amateur gold and qualified for the Olympics at lightweight, which was 132lbs.

However, he'd been competing at light welter pretty much exclusively from then onwards, which was 139lbs.

But because Bradley Saunders had also qualified, they persuaded Gavin to try and make 132 so they'd have a full compliment of boxers at the games, as opposed to just ordering a box-off and letting the winner take the spot.

Of course 132lbs was a nightmare to try and make, considering he'd not done it for a year. If you can't do it in somewhere like Macau, you'll never do it.... he of course couldn't and was sent home.

It's not too different to Joe Calzaghe's battle with the ABA in 1992, when he said he couldn't make welterweight - whatever that was at the time in the ams.... and because Robin Reid had qualified they went with Reid instead, leaving JC out in the cold.

It's strange how a lot of our best pros from the ''last era'' never went to the games. Courtney Fry was preferred to David Haye - and never qualified, whilst Froch didn't make Sydney either.

Hatton was probably too young in 1996.

Back to Gavin, I don't think fighting at 147 is really a problem, so long as he's strong at the weight. I'm not convinced he is right now, or ever has been. Certainly Kerry Kayes could make him much stronger I feel. He's not actually all that short, around about 5'10'', he just fights short.

As for his diet, his liking for **** food and beer has been well documented before, but Hatton was the same and always managed to make weight.... Arnie Farnell told me that he didn't think Gavin looked well at 140 - he's only done it once in four years as a pro.

Hardly the sign of a lazy bum who just can't be arsed eating the right things.

 

Great documentary which features Darren Sutherland (rip) and a few other lads from the St Saviour club. Gives a great look into how lads work and prepare for the nationals

[yt]096IAmZq5og[/yt]

 

More or less fits with what Tom Chaney said a while back, he'll be at welter for the rest of his career, but he'll grow into the weight. Welborn, while limited, has fought above Middleweight and he handled him with ease, which is why I think he beats Vassell easily, because Vassell isn't as big as Welborn and he is a better boxer, but won't outbox Gavin or knock him out.

 

Khalid Shafiq-went to jail after being involved in a murder.

 

thanks.