Biggest waste of talent

Luther McCarty is an interesting one. Not sure waste of talent is quite right since it was him dying young, but I think he had the potential to be a good champion.

 

Tony Ayala Jr
Zab Judah
Dmitry Pirog
Yuriorkis Gamboa
Guillermo Rigondeaux

 

Bernard 'Superbad' Mays and Jeff Stoudemire

 

Tony Tucker after losing on points to Mike Tyson,looked like he could become the best of the rest but for one reason or another, that display against Tyson was about as good as it got for him for the rest of his career.

 

I agree on 3 of the 5.

Pirog left the sport due to back issues. Could’ve happened to anyone. As a matter of fact, Shawn Estrada, former US Olympian and 154 pound can’t miss prospect quit fighting for the same reason.

Rigo is a victim of all that’s wrong with modern day boxing. Santa Cruz and Mares gave him the boogeyman treatment. Props to Abner for admitting that he wanted nothing to do with Rigo. Santa Cruz still comes up short in the honor department for his failure to grant the rubber match to Frampton in the UK and his seeming inability to answer Gary Russell Jr.’s challenge for a unification bout.

 

Winning medals while fighting for three rounds is a lot differrent fighting a pro who can adjust after three rounds.

 

Holy made a lot of mistakes when losing to Bowe, Riddick needed to beat Lewis to have a complete career but he would lost because of his lack of defensive skills anyway.

 

After having spent the weekend reacquainting myself with the videos of Riddick Bowe's fights, I have both a greater admiration for his ability and a disconcerted view of what happened historically. I'm not sure either Tyson or Lewis would have beaten him from when he first beat Holy to the third fight Kayo of same. From all appearances he would have knocked out both (imo the latter would have done better, however sooner or later Bowe would have landed that right and as much as I admire LL it would have been bye-bye imo).

The fact that those two fights didn't happen seems to be all about Bowe...and that's sad.

I think he would have ruled the heavyweights in the 90s (my bet is he would have kayoed Moorer and outpointed Foreman had they stepped up).

As it is, only Holy and Lewis ended up in many top 10 ATG lists...and Bowe went on to...uh, compete in the martial arts and wresting (!) worlds.

He seemed to have years left in his prime when he stepped out. A great loss imo.

 

To be fair Charkey Ramons career was ended by a bad shoulder injury sustained in a workplace accident from memory. Not really his fault his career ended early.

Panchito Bojado is a great call.

 

Definitely Bowe, and I hate to name the guy since he just passed, but Bert Cooper. When you have a legend like Joe Frazier that believes in your talent, and it's wasted on drugs, it's a shame.

 

Les Darcy

Stanley Ketchel

Chan Hee Park. Never took care of himself. Beat the great Canto. Could've done more, even with his limited durability.

 

Hard lovin woman and a soft hearted man (scuse me folks got nothing to do with the topic at hand).

 

Vargas.

 

Ike Ibeabuchi did not waste his talent. He was poised to take over the mantle from Lewis. His Big mistake was calling that lying hooker in Vegas. " I only came to dance for him " ROFLMAO

 

If Newman had manned up & let Bowe fight Lewis, when he'd signed a contract to to just that. Bowe had a chance of beating Lennox. Bowe was in great shape beating Evander. But Lennox demolition of Razor Ruddock scared the bejabbers out of Newman & Bowe so they renaged on the deal. Bowe was Never in that shape again in his career he literally ATE himself out of the sport