What fighters can you think of that seemed to have all the attributes needed to succeed at a certain level but just fell short, just couldn't string it together. And why do you think that was? Jorge Linares was one fighter I think was immensely talented but didn't rise to the level he could've been capable of performing at. Kuniaki Shibata is another amazing fighter I would nominate, too.
Tyrell Biggs. Had the reach, size, and ability to do pull it off. He let things such as the crowds boo's get to his head. I believe with the right mindset (and no cocaine) he could've been a way bigger force then he was in the 80s and 90s.
Agree re Douglas. The size, skills and power were always there and for one night he also took in with him the appropriate conditioning, focus and unwavering desire to win. In Tokyo he simply achieved whereas for the greater part of his career otherwise he underachieved. Joe Bugner could be another. He had the physical tools, chin and skills to do better. I don’t think his heart was perfectly into the game. Not to be confused with a lack of courage, no, Joe definitely had that. Perhaps a good description might be that he seemed a bit too pacifistic for boxing. I understand his true passion prior to boxing was weight lifting/body building and perhaps his heavier than average build inhibited his punch output. It was frustrating to see Bugner at times simply not punching when he should’ve been letting his hands go. Still, he did pretty well for himself over the course of his career.
James Tillis was a huge disappointment as was Gerrie Cooney neither really seemed to be able to get their act together.
Good mention. At one point some thought he was the next ATG. Didn't help that he wasted years waiting on 50 cent to promote him either.
Buster with his dad's mentality would've been freakish. It's a shame there's no filmed footage of him.
Watched him half an hour ago. Couple of huge roundhouse rights ended proceedings in the proverbial blink of an eye. He looked decent in what little there was of him tho his opponent was an "opponent" type. Victory bewgie and celebration among the best I've ever seen.
So true about Linares. He is always amongst the top guys and will have amazing rounds vs top fighters but can’t put together 3-4 of these rounds in a row. He has also been stopped 5 times. So close yet ultimately so far.
The only footage of Billy Dynamite Douglas I've seen was just brief flashes of his fight with Billy Lloyd in the ESPN 42-to-1 doc, but he was described as a killer with the same mentality as Prime Tyson. As for a fighter I'll go with Tommy Morrison, he started out with promise but was never the same after the Mercer loss aside from defeating Old Foreman and a washed up Ruddock. He just took himself apart physically and mentally and could have really been one of the 90s greats.
When Hagler was top of the pile, there were plenty of decent MW around that could’ve been World Champions in another era. Mugabe, Roldon, Sibson, Hamsho, spring to mind.
