Anyone think of a reason why this guy wasn't a massive star?

Came around at the wrong time unfortunately. If he had been around a few years earlier, you can guarantee he would have been much bigger with exposure on ITV/BBC.
However, his prime years were in the era when Sky Sports was less accessable than it is now, and a lot of boxers in the late 90's were tucked away on unknown Sports Network shows nobody cared a toss about except the boxing fans themselves.
The only ones who were watching were the ones who would have been watching anyway, nobody new. Benn, Eubank, Naz, etc attracted huge followings because they had the benefit of prime time terrestrial exposure that would allow them to crossover to the mainstream audience.

I know Ricky Hatton transcended this, but that has much to do with his own local fanbase that grew phenomenally large. If fighters like Wayne, Thaxton, etc gained prime time terrestrial exposure they would have been far bigger household names rather than just names who are known and respected by the boxing community. I'm not saying they would have been any more or any less successful boxing wise, but they would have been far bigger names at least domestically.

 

Alexander and Samuels. What a fight. Amazingly I think that just me and Steve Lillis covered it for the national press!
I look slim in my beige suit at ringside.
Anthony Farnell is talking to his dad. I'd love to know what they are talking about.
No Frank Warren.
Dean Powell is there in his Run DMC green tracksuit!
This fight belongs with some of the great, great British title fights.
Lovely memories.
Adios.

 

I can't see vids in work, but it's Chesney Hawkes, right?

 

Cause, in world terms, he was a bit ****?

 

bad management

 

Great post!!

What a fight. Alexander v Samuels. What. A. Fight.

 

He was highly injury prone that never helped him. Poorly managed is another one. I think yes he took the Simon fight at short notice and gave it a good go but looking back he may of been better sitting back and building to a world title fight and having full preparation. I think he could of built to it but he stepped in which i say play to lad for and he done well but in hindsight it may of been better sitting back and waiting....but suppose he thought he may never get chance again.

 

Because he ran into Harry Simon.

 

:rofl I couldn't stop laughing at the end because of that