If you look back in 2011-2012, Tyson Fury and David Price were both considered top prospects and lot of people actually thought Price was going to achieve more in his career. Since those times David Price was knocked out or stopped 7 (seven!!!) times and never even came close to reaching a contender status, while Tyson Fury has ended 10-years reign of Wladimir Klitschko and 5-years WBC reign of Deontay Wilder. He beat two of the hardest-hitting heavyweights of all time, winning WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring and Lineal heavyweight titles in the process. At the beginning of 1999 Michael Grant was considered the next big thing in boxing, they called him "The Heir Apparent". He was expected to be the man that will dethrone Lennox Lewis. Wladimir Klitschko, at the same time, was considered as a talented fighter, but nobody though he would become a dominant champion after his loss to Ross Puritty. But things turned out in such way that Grant was exposed as a hypejob getting destroyed by Lennox Lewis and Jameel McCline, while Wladimir Klistchko had become one of the most dominant heavyweights of all time - his reign lasted for 9 years and 7 months, it was the second longest title reign after Joe Louis' one. Can you give me other examples of two fighters that were in the same weight class and one was considered to be a superior or equal prospect to another one, but eventually achieved far less comparing to him?
Good, original topic. Ward and Andre Dirrell at SMW: Both highly touted, both physical specimens. Both medalists. I personally thought Dirrell to be more physically gifted than Ward (I think a lot did as well). The Super Six saw a gigantic fork in the road for both. Ward went on to win, become a two division champion and is now in conversations about being the top SMW ever. Dirrell slowly circled the drain and fell into oblivion, he fell to such a level that he has accomplished less than his less talented (but physically tougher and more determined) brother.
How about Solis and Povetkin? At amateur level Odlainer Solis won gold at HW whilst Povetkin won at SHW, but they both entered the heavyweight ranks and I'd say there was a lot more hype surrounding Solis than Povetkin?
Another example: Francico 'Pacnhito' Bojado and Miguel Cotto. At the end of 2001 Cotto (6-0, 4 KOs) was considered a very good prospect, but Bojado (9-0, 9 KOs) was touted as the best prospect in the world P4P. In his very next fight Panchito lost to the average Juan Carlos Rubio and never came close to even challenging the world title. He retired with 18-3 (12 KOs) record while Cotto won world titles in four weight divisions.
Panchito took a career nose dive. I remember this well. He also loss to an old Jessie James on HBO. I believe that was the beginning of the end.
Was Chavez Jr really that hyped? I remember most expecting he wouldn't even win a belt, and only being touted because of his name. While Canelo was a much better prospect.
yes, for being Julio Cesar Chavez jr. Conor Benn's first fight was televised. Freddy Flintoff's first/last fight was a televised main event even. It's because of their names, not because they were expected to be the next big thing.
Terence Crawford and Adrien Broner both had their debut in 2008. Not that crawford wasnt always highly regarded, but AB held the spotlight and was marketed as the heir apparent to Floyd's throne. We all know how this one unfolded.
