Hype jobs

I think Tyson was everything he was said to be (or almost) 86-88..which isn't a bad reccomendation.
The hype he CONTINUED to get , even deep into the 1990's , when it was clear he was past his best,was both annoying and ridiculous.
However fight fans (or enough of them)bought into the hype and it made money...and sadly that's what it's all about.
I think down the years many boxers ,particularly heavyweights get 'hyped' on potential, simply because in the early part of their careers when they are being built up,lots of stopages and knockouts make them look world beaters until they meet someone who doesn't fall.
You never know how good somebody is or isn't whilst they remain unbeaten.
When someone is constantly 'hyped' whilst equally constantly under achieving,then that is a different matter...and for that my vote would go to...Audley Harrison.

 

I was alive at this time so I can't be 100% sure on the buzz around this guy but apparently Boone Kirkman received a good amount of hype and turned out to be very ordinary.

 

I do not think Floyd Patterson is overrated.

 

Roland LaStarza! Compared to the others you mentioned?? When has anyone referred to him as a 'hype job'?
You're mentioning him with the others?
A cruiser in modern times but one slick dude!
Great record...and...the only fighter to 'beat' Marciano in his career on one judge's scorecard.
Please take this great pugilist off your list.

 

I don't think you understand the meaning of hype job.

The man destroyed all comers in his era, that's not a hype job. Hype jobs by definition should never be the unquestioned #1 at any point in time as Tyson was in the late '80s.

 

Charlie 'White Lightning' Brown, Jose 'The Threat' Baret and Mark Breland.

 

Bernard Mays and Mickey Goodwin.Johnny Bumphus and Chris McDonald.

 

Good call on Davey. Ill go to my grave believing all of his high profile fights were fixed. My sister can fight better than him.

Harry Kid Matthews? I dont know. Ive heard people say this about him but he was a pretty good fighter. The problem was that Jack Hurley went where the money was and put him in with Marciano which was a bridge too far. At MW and LHW Matthews was a good fighter. The guy had a win and a draw against Hostak who was faded but still had a little left in the tank as evidenced by his performances after the war. He looked very good against Bob Murphy who was pretty dangerous and highly touted. Matthews should have stayed at LHW and he probably would have had a better looking record.

 

I don't know, I think there is usually quite a bit more than a shred of talent to begin with before anyone invests in a hype job. Why would they put the money in?

My definition of a total hype job would be the type of clown from another sport or an actor who might sell tickets rather than real boxing prospects who got found out. I'm thinking Freddie Flintoff and that guy who married Stalones wife.

 

...

 

Anyone remember Michael Olajide?

If I remember right he was hyped up to become a big star. Didn't happen.

 

Great record ?

Do you want to look at who he missed out?

Valdes
Walls
Moore
Henry
Charles
Walcott
Louis
Baker
Harrison
Jackson
Bivins
Baksi
Dunlap
Thompson
Sys
Neuhaus
Holman
Slade
Williams
Satterfield
Valentino
Agramonte
That's 22 men that were rated when Lastarza was, yet he never met any of them?:huh

Bottom line Lastraza was a very astutely managed heavyweight, and by no stretch of the imagination was he a great fighter.

 

It was the jheri curl. They ate that **** up back then because it was such a Hearns thing to do.

 

Yeah, he never reached the heights.

Akeem Anifowoshe (sp?) was also hyped big for a while...then lost to Robert Quiroga in a bloody battle and had to retire.

But Mark Breland is the guy I always think of. Ridiculous amateur pedigree and
was tipped to win 5 world titles at different weights. He was good and a respectable world champ, but he never came close to reaching the crazy expectations...

 

Two that just came to mind who were both exposed by Calzaghe - Omar Shieka and Jeff Lacy.