80's heavyweight fringe title holders, at their best who had the most potential?

For a big guy Tubbs couldn't punch for much. But he was soooo slick, his showing against Bowe at his age was awesome.

 

Tubbs was a hell of a good technician. I would have loved to see what he might have been had he gotten himself into better shape.

 

Tubbs pissed me off when he flopped against Tyson in Japan in '88.... I expected Tubbs to hang around and box Tyson real good.... Christ, Tubbs and company talked a lot of smack going in against Tyson.... Come the second round, Tyson tags Tubbs with a good left hook, and Tubbs goes down and packs it in..... That sucked....:?

MR.BILL

EXTRA:

Earlier in 1986, Tubbs was a slobbish 244 against a heavier than normal 227 pound Witherspoon on HBO..... Tubbs was too tubby.....:fire

 

I agree with the Tubbs pick, with Witherspoon a close second; I feel that a peak Tubbs would decision a peak Witherspoon. Tubbs could have been the dominant heavyweight of the 1980s (or at the very least gone 1-2-0 with Tyson) if he'd been willing to capitalise on his potential and live the clean life.

Looking back at the those boxers, however, my biggest admiration is reserved for those of them who relied on dedication rather than potential: Berbick, Coetzee and Smith were all deficient in various talents, but had a run by being well conditioned and making most of the strengths they had. The perfect 1980s heavyweight title-claimant would have the skill of Tubbs, the relentlessness of Berbick, the power of Coetzee, the handspeed of Dokes, the chin and size of Tucker, the jab of Thomas, the strength of Bonecrusher, the awkwardness of Michael Spinks, and the movement of Holmes (the latter of which were of course was really a champion rather than a title-claimant). In short, he would be Super Greg Page.

 

Please post some links to fights on youtube,giving a showcase of their skills. :bbb

 

Tubbs had great hand speed, though I think Dokes has him by a bit.

 

I vote for John Tate. The problem was he was a 70's fighter & not an 80's guy. He was ruined by Weaver in March of 1980 and the ballgame was over for the guy. Heavyweights just don't bounce back from the brutal knockouts.

The rest of those guys were guilty of bringing in their B game in big fights. They'd look good in a big fight or 2 with their A game but could never string together a consecutive winning streak, via impressive fashion, against top 10 opposition. More like look good/look mediocre/look good/look bad.

 

Lennox Lewis did ...

I like Witherspoon above the rest ... great chin, great power, cagey defense, good speed, good jab .. just a child mentally and a blamer .. waste of talent ..

Page was simply never as good as touted ..

Tubbs lacked the chin and the power ..

Thomas was one handed and one dimensional

Tate lacked the chin ..

Dokes may be second but threw it away ...

Tucker was a bit slow and mechanical ...

 

Witherspoon was really the most well balanced 80's heavyweight. He didn't excel in any more category, but just a very well rounded fighter.