Very difficult to say, because the biggest waste of talent will almost by definition be someone you've never heard of. (If you've heard of him, it's likely because he achieved enough that his talent didn't go entirely to waste, and if you haven't heard of him what solid evidence of his talent can there really be?) Among heavyweights, Bowe, Tyson, and Dempsey (post title) seem like decent candidates. Bert Cooper, Ray Mercer and Tommy Morrison were inconsistent enough with high enough highs to make me think there might have been wasted potential there. Damn near the whole eighties crop is in the running. With prospects like Luther McCarty or Ed Sanders, who died very early in their careers, it's impossible to say.
In recent years, Gary Russell and Keith Thurman. They fight once a year. A total waste of their prime-money making years.
Mark Breland....Howard Davis. Great amateurs, but didn't seem to have pro viciousness to be totally dominant.
This answer only makes sense at a superficial glance. Riddick Bowe was the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World; how many guys can say that? He outfought and outtoughed a prime Evander Holyfield...twice! And the second fight interruption probably played a part in Riddick’s losing the second fight. It’s about universally acknowledged that on his best night Bowe would be capable of beating any other fighter in history. Yes, Bowe had his lack of discipline eating issues and the belt dumping debacle, but those Holyfield fights took something out of Riddick. Bowe’s unexpected fall from grace and lack of longevity should not be lazily labeled as a waste of talent.
why Hector Camacho? How many titles was he expected to win? He beat at least 8 fighters who held titles Nunn just got beat in a tough fight but his reign was shorter than I expected