Is it true that this guy beat Riddick Bowe and Mike Tyson as amateurs? Anyone know anything else about him?
Never was very impressed by him as a pro. Saw him fight a few times years ago. He looked like a better than average journeyman, but a journeyman nonetheless.
he was a non caring swarmer/slugger made boxers look bad becuase they didnt get the distance and made punchers worse becuase they couldnt set the feet. good amatuer but nothing that really made him a elite star in reality tho he was a clumsy left, right, left, right kinda guy. reminds me of tony oakey. did he fight stevenson
Payne's reputation was that of a guy who waited too long to turn pro and that had already acquired adult habits as well. I remember it being mentioned in an interview that Payne was a regular at the Vegas casinos and nightclubs and wasn't really motivated to do anything buty fight out of his natural talent. That being said, he was a decent fighter despite these issues and probably rates as a poor man's Tony Tubbs.
Don't know if I'd call him a swarmer/slugger. He could definitely box. Ever see him against a undefeated Samson Pou'ha?
He beat Tyrell Biggs in the Olympic Box-off, then barely lost to him in the return.He also beat Teofilio Stevenson.