Who would you consider the biggest underachieving heavyweight of the 1980's? Page? Dokes? Witherspoon?
I'd probably go with Tyrell Biggs. He won the World Amateur Championships in 1982 - beating Damiani (who had upset Stevenson). He won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1984 - beating Damiani again. His pro debut in 1984 was showcased in prime time on ABC as the main event on a night when nearly the whole '84 U.S. team turned pro. And by 1987, after only 15 pro fights, he was basically considered finished. He barely survived David Bey. Tyson toyed with him before knocking him out in '87. Damiani knocked him out in 1988 (in his only fight that year). Mason knocked him out in 1989 (his third straight KO loss). Considering that in 1983 (after the World Championships and before the Olympics), when Larry Holmes was training for a defense against Lucien Rodriquez, Biggs and a bunch of boxers who later made the 84 Olympic boxing team came in to the gym were Holmes was working out and Biggs was sort of smack talking Holmes, like he was the heir apparent to Holmes, and the older Holmes just took it, it was jarring how quickly Biggs just flamed out. Substance abuse had a lot to do with it, we were told. None of the other guys mentioned in the first post - like Page, Dokes or Witherspoon - were as highly regarded as Biggs was when he turned pro and none of them were showcased from their pro debuts on like Biggs was. And all of them, despite their faults, are viewed more highly than Biggs is today. He never really won anything as a pro. Not even regional belts or those one-night, winner-take-all contests. Even Audley Harrison won British titles and those one-night tourneys. Biggs CRASHED.
Tubbs . Very fast and skillfull one of the quickest HW s ever.Drugs and a lack of dedication ruined his career.His fight with Bowe when he was past it showed what he could of accomplished .A terrible waste of talent and a real what if situation for the HW division who knows what a in shape motivated well managed Tubbs could of done?.
Tim Witherspoon - as it was he turned out the best of the lost generation and that was despite not always being in shape and being in a war with boxing’s most powerful promoter.. If the last two factors were rectified in his favor he might have emerged as a great fighter.
What’s often forgotten is that on the way to winning gold in LA, Biggs in the quarter finals beat the Canadian representative... a guy called Lennox Lewis and one of the consequences of that was it forced Lewis to decide to remain a amateur for another 4 years and try again for gold in 1988. When Lewis did eventually pro in 89, he was almost 25 but who knows what kind of different career he might have had, had Biggs not defeated him in 84 and stopped him from turning pro in 1985, the same year as a certain Mike Tyson?
Dokes, he was like a HW Meldrick Taylor. Didnt have the heart Taylor did though, but the hand speed and combination punching were absolutely incredible
Might go with Bruno. But like the others mentioned, he still has flaws and warts that he won't shake.
So much good talent then... I would pick Thomas and/or Tubbs. Thomas' jab was ATG, good legs, and underrated fighting heart. Tubbs was tall, slick and f a s t. He wasn't afraid to go on the offensive... But for powder drugs and powdered donuts....
I think Pinklon Thomas was a great OVER ACHIEVER. Pinklon Thomas was a heroin addict when he was a teenager. He went from junkie with zero prospects, to cleaning up, taking up boxing and becoming a heavyweight champion. And I believe Horace Notice suffered a detached retina and had to retire. I don't think suffering a career-ending injury is underachieving. When he was fighting, he was very good.
For me, Witherspoon, but I respect this post, as most guys don't realize how good Tubbs was with that rapier jab. If I remember correctly some people thought that Terrible Tim was lucky to get the nod in their fight. I think Tubbs, Tucker, 'Spoon, Page, or Thomas are all good answers. Maybe even Tate. I don't think Dokes had much but the fast hands, and Weaver, Bonecrusher and Berbick, Cooetzee, while useful, can probably be eliminated. I would take Cooney over a couple of these guys, who is himself is at least worth mentioning.
Witherspoon didn't reallly underachieve until he went off the boil after the Bruno KO and geting blown out by Bonecrusher and blackballed by King. He had a good run. Page and Tubbs both were grossly overweight when Tim beat them and had the ability to move and box for the duration but t were too out of shape to do so Tim did what he had to do with what was in front of him. I think Thomas was at his peak and outfought him. Tucker ran into a prime Tyson and performed well. To me Tubbs and Page were clearly the biggest wastes of talent of that generation.
