Hyped regional fighters in the 80's and 90's who stepped up and got thrashed.

I used to love boxing in the afternoon-fight network era, when one of the networks would take a kid from Montana or somewhere, or even overseas, who had a glossy record and put him in with an established world champion.

More often the not the newcomer got rightly thrashed and was never heard from again.

Some examples;

Greg Coverson against Camacho
Jose Baret against Marlon Starling
Scott Clark against Pipino Cuevas
Vampire Johnson Mugabi

I think the worst I ever saw was Wilfredo Gomez defending his title against a guy named Eddie Nudukwu who was from Ghana. Every time Gomez hit him, he'd take like 6 steps backwards. It got so bad that Gomez hit him he flew almost all the way across the ring and Gomez had to run and catch him before he flew over the top rope! The he apologized for hitting him so hard.

Funny thing was, due to a technicality with making weight Nudukwu was guaranteed an immediate rematch, even though he was the challenger... luckily for boxing he declined.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Rk-yaPdT0w[/url]

HBO tried to go retro 10 years ago by matching Pete Frisina with Raul Marquez, and Hurcules Kuvelos vs Margarito.

Every now and then, a Greg Haugen or a Michael Olijide would come out of nowhere and justify the hype, but it was rare.

What were some of the other network mismatches from about '78 to 90?

 

tim littles from Flint Michigan was up for big things when he met toney

 

Fred Hutchings vs Tommy Hearns

I remember this one because they were the same height, but Fred's arms looked like they came off of a 9 year old. Incredibly short reach, he had gotten some hype in Ring magazine before that.

Tommy Ayers vs Marlon Starling

Roberto Elizondo vs Alexis Arguello

 

Louie Lomeli. Chicago prospect who fought for the lightweight title against Pernell Whitaker ... and didn't do too well.

 

Lomeli's good.

I remember Arturo Gatti's brother Joe getting obliterated in the first round by Terry Norris also.

 

Hate to say this, but John Verderosa against Cornelius Boza Edwards.

 

Ritchie Melito vs Bert Cooper.

 

Eddie Gregg against James Broad.

 

Delete. Didn't see "regional" part

 

That fight was hilarious. For all his bulky muscle and undefeated record, Melito didn't know what hit him.

Rarely a good idea to trade with a motivated Bert Cooper early.

 

In the 80's it seemed a lot of white fighters from the NY City area got hyped, then failed when stepping up.

John Verdersosa (who was actually better than regional, though) - thrashed by Cornelius Boza-Edwards

Gino Gelormino - stopped by clubfighter Sylvestor Kennon

Chris Ried - stopped by Fully Obel

I am sure I am leaving some out.

...Oh yeah, some unknown guy, Jack Callahan, got a shot at Matthew Hilton's IBF Junior Middleweight Title. Callahan probably wasn't top 500, let alone a top 10 contender.

 

Alex Garcia was getting quite a bit of hype until he got upended by unheralded Mike Dixon in 2 rounds. At the time, it was fairly shocking.

Same thing with Courage Tshbalala getting upset by Darroll Wilson. (Who also upset overhyped Shannon Briggs)

 

Golden Guy Villegas was another one who tried to step up against Boza Edwards, and got mashed.

Barry Jones coming from Ireland to fight Lockridge.

Too Sweet Hayes vs. Jimmy Paul.

 

John Collins vs Tony Sibson.

 

Jackie Beard against Jose Caba.
Derrick Holmes against Wilfredo Gomez
Johnny Carter against Jeff Chandler.