Hyped boxers who fell short of expectations

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Big Ukrainian, Jan 15, 2018.


  1. Big Ukrainian

    Big Ukrainian Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    David Price comes to mind.

    Panchito Bojado (anoyne remembers him?) considered to be a future great.

    Gerry Cooney (ranked as high as top-10 p4p after beating shot versions of Norton and Lyle). Still achieved more than Price or Bojado, but never reached the top. Was schooled by Holmes, then destroyed by Spinks and Foreman.

    Who else can you name? Maybe fighters that nobody knows about them now but they were hyped 30-40 years ago as the future boxing stars?
     
  2. surfinghb

    surfinghb Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Mark Breland .. Was so hyped up and he was everything .. 5 golden gloves, Olympic gold and said to be the best of the team ... In his first real test, gets bombed out by Marlon Starling .. Up on all the cards then gasses late and gets KO'd ..Tyson went to his locker room and shed a tear for his friend. And Breland couldn't redeem himself in the rematch with a draw .. After that , Mark Breland basically is done. Holds the title again but against way lesser comp..
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2018
  3. LD Boxer-Puncher

    LD Boxer-Puncher Well-Known Member Full Member

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  4. J Jones

    J Jones Well-Known Member Full Member

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  5. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Howard Davis Jnr
     
  6. Big Ukrainian

    Big Ukrainian Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's a good list and I remember many of these fighters. Grant was 'the next great HW' but was destroyed by Lennox, McCline and even Dominick Guinn
     
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  7. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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  8. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bernard Mays
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    James Broad
    Tony Ayala jr.
    Davey Moore
    Greg Page
    Tony Tucker
    Michael Dokes.
     
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  9. Jake Speed

    Jake Speed New Member Full Member

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    Michael Olajide. He was touted as the next superstar of the middleweight division and got a lot of coverage in 80s boxing magazines. He was beaten soundly by Frank Tate when he fought for the vacant IBF title and then got stopped by Iran Barkley a few fights later. Olajide was pretty much finished after that and never became a champion.

    Another one is Courage Tshabalala. I have an old Boxing Monthly back issue where he's profiled as the next great heavyweight and a fearsome knockout puncher. He had Lou Duva in his corner (if memory serves) and people like Larry Merchant were predicting he'd be world champion. His bubble was burst when he was stopped by a journeyman named Brian Scott. Two fights later he lost to Darroll Wilson.
     
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  10. pistal47

    pistal47 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Curtis Stevens was a murderer in the AM's, one of the most storied prospects from NYC in decades. Faceplant.
     
  11. Smokin Bert

    Smokin Bert Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Great call on Tshabalala. I watched a few of his fights and he was DESTROYING people. Supposedly won all his amateur fights by KO, as well. Then, he just got KO'd by a bum, and never really recovered. Boxing is a tough business if you don't have the right mentality. Apparently, despite his name, Courage was not the type of fighter to overcome adversity.
     
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  12. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Errol Christie
     
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  13. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah he was meant to be highly touted from the Kronk gym. I read in Tommy Hearns biography that he and the rest of the Kronk hated sparring Breland as he was a devastating fighter.

    Maybe the gym fights caught up on him or he just got caught out... Marlon Starling was meant to be a top fighter as well.
     
  14. williams7383

    williams7383 TKO 6 Klit Lickers Full Member

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  15. williams7383

    williams7383 TKO 6 Klit Lickers Full Member

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