Ike Ibeabuchi Edwin Valero Andrew Golotta Lacy (more exposed than disappointing in the end, but still) Prince Naseem Meldrick Taylor Chad Dawson (still a good career, looked like it was going to be great) Dmitry Pirog (not really his fault) Zab Judah (Same as Chad) Fernando Vargas (Not sure if he ever really had the goods at the elite level but he looked like he did against Trinidad) Audley Harrison Odlanier Solis (disappoints every time he steps in the ring) David Price
Harrison would have to be at the top of my list. Naseem sprang to mind immediately though. Had he not lost focus he'd have been around for years to come. Jeff Lacy? No. He was hyped up prior to his demolition at the hands of Calzaghe. He was never even fit to get in the ring with Joe and it was always going to end very badly. Judah? I don't think so. Price? I don't think he ever had a great deal to look forward to if the truth be told. I don't like saying that, but nothing about his career has 'disappointed' me. I think it was just waiting to happen. I'll put a name forward: Amir Khan. He should have dominated. He has everything - except the ability to stick to the gameplan.
Don Curry. He had an excellent career and was pound for pound the best fighter in the world. It's just that his career promised so much that ultimately fell painfully short.
Lacy - that's why I was leaning towards exposed. Once you saw his fight with Joe it was obvious there were so many levels between the two that he wasn't destined for greatness. But it's easy to forget just how hyped he was coming in. Price - I was never particularly high on the guy but I certainly didn't expect his career to be his pathetic. Judah - I only say him because he just had such otherworldly potential. He was still the last WW to unify the division though so it's not like he didn't accomplish anything and he may not belong on this list. Khan - Still a lot left to see from him, I think it's too early to make a call. Lennox had some bad losses too and history remembers him fondly.
I wouldn't really blame Lacy for the hype he was getting. He had a solid promotional team going for him and they were doing their jobs to the fullest. However, logic should always prevail despite the hype and Lacy was going in with 21 fights against someone with 40 fights. It was embarrassing enough that this was Calzaghe's career defining moment.
I don't feel like I'm blaming him for it. It's just amazing how quickly he went from the next big thing to an afterthought. I'm a big fan of Joe so I won't touch on the rest.
Hamed comes to mind. He could've been so much more if only the Barrera fight didn't take away all his confidence.
Not true, he had serious problems with his hands, even leading up to the Barrera fight. His career was looking to end, regardless of the Barrera schooling.