Who was the best heavyweight prospect you can remember before Itauma?

well, I can't say if they were Prospects in the Next Best thing sense, but I do remember different HW's being thrown into the mix during the Ali, Frazier, Foreman era. Holmes becomes the name along side them, but fighters like Shavers, Lyle, Bugner, Stander, Wepner, Cobb, Scott all got some Hope Hype, deservingly too for some of them.

Next Big thing Hype that I remember for HW's 'might' have been Ken Norton and then sometime later Tommy Morrison. Some of the more informed poster might have a more accurate name say like Cooper, though I don't think he either was a Next Best thing hype, more along the hopes chance like the bunch I mentioned, but probably Norton.

 

Itauma could just prove to be a complete hype job.

 

David Price. Tall and had massive power. People really thought he was going places.

Audley Harrison before that.

 

In fairness, almost everyone could prove that. It's actually pretty easy.

 

At HW Hrgovic is the last fighter with a lot of hype I recall as a prospect, recent memory it’d be Francis lol - I was on the edge of my seat after Fury and the beginning of AJ “he can’t really be legit can he?” AJ: right hand “dang” I was excited about ol FN, Bakole, Hrgovic, Joyce, Kabayel and Zhang… look I’m easy to con, I’m a guy who wants to see the next greats we need less skeptics, let’s just buy in and have fun even if it’s a bust instead of acting like we knew better lol.

 

Ike

 

Hrgovic looked like a solid prospect, but his career was mismanaged. He has stamina issues and has not advanced. A new trainer and manager at this point may be too late but he has not lived up to his potential.

Jared Anderson looked good by the way he was KOing gate holders and fighters that were giving others trouble, but his outside troubles with the law revealed his character flaws and he may be finished as a contender.

Itauma looks good, fast hands and power. He had a good amateur career, and his future looks bright but so many different styles he needs to fight. I would not worry about him being the youngest to win the title but to fight for it when he is ready to hold on to it. There are many good teachers/fighters out there to fight now on the slide and experience is the best teacher, so I would not rush him into an Usyk. After his fight against Whyte some of the smaller faster, more skilled guys like Michael Hunter, Murat Gassiev, Andy Ruiz, may be building blocks to a title. Activity is key, especially with Heavyweights and at least 4-6 fights a year should be mandatory.

 

Hi thistle.
Agree with all your points and pics, if we went a little further back we would come up with the name Duane Bobick, was sold as a coming world champion, and his colour ( sorry to say ) didn't do him any harm, he went on a 30 plus winning streak, beating in the process some nice old names i think you will remember, Scott Ledoux, Randy Neumann, Larry Middleton, Ted Gullick, Lou Bailey, and the original and one and only " scrap iron " that being George Johnson, until he was exposed by none other than your man, Ken Norton, via brutal 1 round KO, hope the names took you down memory lane, in a kind and peaceful way.
stay safe buddy, always have time for your posts, you are up there.
Mike.

 

Joe Mesi was the first one that sprang to mind

 

Beat me to it!

 

Anderson had ridiculous hype.

 

Five years ago, after winning his first Olympic Gold, Jalolov looked like the best up-and-coming heavyweight.

But he's been poorly promoted and managed, he's age 31 now and has still not fought anybody of significance in the pros.

Anderson still might do okay, if he develops a good work ethic and some maturity.
Lots of fighters had early losses and went on to do well (examples: Joe Louis, Wladimir Klitschko).

Mesi had great potential, but his career was ruined by the head injury,

 

Is Anthony Joshua not the obvious answer? Olympic gold medalist, won his first 20 fights by knockout including the instant classic with Wlad (“Liftoff for AJ!”). Got super popular real fast and had the body of an Adonis/a bodybuilding bum. He had almost the perfect start to a career until Andy Ruiz knocked him off the rails, the only knock against him was he started boxing late in life.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...a-and-the-top-prospects-in-heavyweight-boxing

I also found this random bleacherreport list from 2014. Idk if this writer had an exceptional eye for heavyweight talent, or if the division was just so shallow back then that it was easy to pick the winners coming up.

 

Jared Anderson was my Roman Empire