Recently I watched the jr. middleweight title fight between Julio Cesar Vasquez and Winky Wright and, although I saw some of the Wright moves in him, his record didn't indicate he was even in the same Solar System as Vasquez at the time. Indeed, Winky had only been 8 rounds twice in his career without having fought anybody. I was thinking, how was he fighting for the title? I was reminded of a quote years ago from a fight manager who was actually looking out for his charge when asked why he turned down a shot at the crown and he said, "The plan is not to just fight for the title but to win the title." Anyways I was just trying to come up with a few - besides Winky - that looked like there was talent there but were no where near a viable shot at the title. Hideyaki Kamishiro - I saw his fight with Sot Chitalada for the flyweight crown and was impressed with him in the first 2 rounds. but then slowly the wheels came off the chasis and he was stopped in about 7 rounds. But I was shocked when I looked him up to see what he had done to get the title opportunity and the answer is, very little. He had only had 7 fights to get this chance and promptly retired afterwards. IMO, a good prospect ruined. Rod Douglas - an amateur star who had only fought 13 clubfighters as a pro when signed to fight for the British title. Boxing News even raved about this opportunity and was quoting Mickey Duff who they said had this acute sense of when a fighter was ready to be taken. The problem with this theory was that it was Herol Graham in the other corner who was just coming off a split decision loss to Mike McCallum for the middleweight title. How was this man ready to be taken? Graham took him apart slowly and Douglas had to retire due to near life-threatening injuries sustained in the fight. How many do you have? Remember, bright prospects rushed. Even if they later won the title.
Apparently, Oleg Maskaev, he beat a Russian Bronze medalist Mischenko I think the guy's name was in his pro debut, And I think with only about 10 fights was thrown in with former WBC champ Oliver McCall who knocked Oleg out in the first round. Dwight Qawi was another but being rushed along didn't hurt him, started 1-1-1 then went on a tear, beating Mike Rossman and James Scott and was 15-1-1 I believe when he beat Saad Muhammad for the WBC title.
a lot of people said Woodcock was rushed into World Heavyweight Title hopes, but outside of Mills, Britain had no top tier Heavyweights he could have fought... he should have beat Mauriello really, but perhaps the best strategy would have been to fight a couple/three other U.S Heavies first. He never would have beat Louis or Charles. Oddly though, I think he would have given Marciano a good dance after a few more U.S trials. but yes, they, the English Boxing Fraternity could have got a bit more out of him.
Liam Wilson in 2021 around July fought someone in about his 7th pro fight or so and got bashed. 4 knock downs or something.
There were a few that got zapped on network TV in the 80's. I remember they pushed Guy Villegas in with Boza Edwards and that didn't go well. Obviously, Jose "The Threat" Baret getting sent to his demise against Marlon Starling was the same result.
