Boxers who reached their full potential?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by bcr, May 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM.


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  1. bcr

    bcr Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Which boxers ended up exceeding the expectations originally set for them?, specially the ones who achieved financial or sporting success disproportionate to their talent or "skill".

    Ricky Burns: Three division world champion. I was never impressed by Burns but he shows why living in a country with developed boxing programs can be more important than talent.

    Scott Quigg and Anthony Crolla: Same case as Burns.

    Daniel Zaragoza: Two division world champion. Despite not being the most flashy or athletic boxer, Zaragoza became the first champion of Nacho Beristain, he beat some excellent boxers and also attended the 1980 Olympics.

    Orlando Salido: Two time featherweight champion. Despite turning pro at 14 with no amateur career, Salido earned good money, became a champion and was able to upset 4 privileged Olympians.

    Leo Santa Cruz: Four division world champion. While Leo was a beast at the lower weights, Al Haymon was able to set him up for huge paydays and WBA vacant belts that cemented Santa Cruz in history, all without having to face Rigondeaux. Leo named his son Al.

    Andre Berto: Two time welterweight champion. Although he lost at the Olympic trials, Berto was able to attend the games representing Haiti. He was one of Al Haymon’s favorites, earning multiple million dollar paydays and despite losing twice in eliminators for the Floyd Mayweather lottery ticket, Berto got to face Money the night he retired.

    Josesito Lopez: Got a lot of good paydays thanks to Al Haymon.

    Luis Alberto Lopez: Featherweight champion. Started boxing at 22 and turned pro after 12 amateur fights. To become a champion after starting at 22 and in a lower weight class is incredible, he beat boxers who started as kids.

    George Kambosos: Unified lightweight champion. Nobody believed in Kambosos but he fought like a lion against Teofimo. Unfortunately, he’s been riding on that win for a bit too long.

    Jake Paul: No explanation needed.

    THE ELITE Boxers with high expectations can also surprise.

    Nonito Donaire: Four division world champion. Many people don’t know this but Nonito would knock out the best historical flyweights and bantamweights. He surprised father time after dropping back to bantamweight and scoring brutal knockouts, despite losses against beasts like Rigo, Inoue and Walters, you couldn’t have asked more from the sixth boxer to win world titles on three separate decades.

    Oleksandr Usyk: Undisputed cruiser weight and heavyweight champion. European Champion, World Amateur Champion, Olympic Champion, x2 undisputed, WBSS winner. Just a perfect career, any of his accolades would be the pride of any gym.

    Lauren Price: Unified welterweight champion. Captain of the U-19 Wales football team, Wales football player of the year, 4 time kickboxing world champion, world amateur champion and olympic champion. Adding three world titles would have been too much for many but not for Price.
     
    bcr, May 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
    bcr, May 28, 2025 at 9:42 AM
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  2. highly focused

    highly focused "You can stop it Frank, you can stop it any time" Full Member

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    Timothy Bradley
    Jermell Charlo
    Devon Alexander

    Charlo was unified champ and Bradley is a two weight world champ and hall of famer, Alexander a 2 weight world champ. All were pretty mediocre/average especially Alexander. I was never impressed with any of of them. But they benefitted from being american and in weak weight classes at the time.
     
    highly focused, May 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
    highly focused, May 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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  3. kdyehs

    kdyehs Member Full Member

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    Seriously, Manny Pacquiao.

    Earlier, as a champion, he was very one-dimensional. He greatly perfected his style. People tend to forget that.
     
    kdyehs, May 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
    kdyehs, May 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
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  4. Pugguy

    Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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    Conceptually, so called over achievers hit the mark and then some - I think Marciano would be among the poster boys for same.

    I guess Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a fair candidate though I feel he could’ve challenged himself more.
     
    Pugguy, May 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
    Pugguy, May 28, 2025 at 3:43 PM
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  5. Salty Dog

    Salty Dog submit to Buc-ee's Full Member

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    So if you push the limits of that potential and then take an "L" (even a robbery) or maybe not exceed expectations like you've been doing every fight, does that count? Maybe Inoue. It appears as if he's nearing his physical limits. Dude's a midget. He's like Lomachenko. In order to find a serious risk he has to fight bigger guys with impressive pedigrees and records in there own right.
     
    Salty Dog, May 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
    Salty Dog, May 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
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  6. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Johnny Nelson lost his first 3 pro fights and for years looked like he would never get anywhere. Let alone win and defend at world level.
     
    like a boss, May 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
    like a boss, May 29, 2025 at 2:22 AM
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  7. Dangerwood84

    Dangerwood84 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Bradley and Charlo for sure. Alexander seriously overrated.
     
    Dangerwood84, May 29, 2025 at 2:41 AM
    Dangerwood84, May 29, 2025 at 2:41 AM
    #7
  8. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield
     
    Bronze Tiger, May 29, 2025 at 4:03 AM
    Bronze Tiger, May 29, 2025 at 4:03 AM
    #8
  9. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Bernard Hopkins …I remember when Bernard Hopkins lost the first fight against Roy Jones …if you had told me that he was going to go on and become an all time great …I would’ve laughed
     
    Bronze Tiger, May 29, 2025 at 4:07 AM
    Bronze Tiger, May 29, 2025 at 4:07 AM
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  10. MagnificentMatt

    MagnificentMatt Beterbiev literally kills Plant and McCumby 2v1 Full Member

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    Tevin Farmer. Went from a journeyman with a 60ish% W/L ratio to a world champion.

    This just doesn’t happen that often in the modern boxing scene where Olympic stars or guys with huge amateur pedigrees are built and developed to 20-0 records before fighting world class opp.
     
    MagnificentMatt, May 29, 2025 at 4:55 AM
    MagnificentMatt, May 29, 2025 at 4:55 AM
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  11. HolDat

    HolDat Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I’ll add Shawn Porter to the list.
     
    HolDat, May 29, 2025 at 10:26 AM
    HolDat, May 29, 2025 at 10:26 AM
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  12. Arch Stanton

    Arch Stanton When you have to shoot, shoot!, don't talk...... Full Member

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    I'm gonna give a shout out for our Frank Bruno.

    It really looked liked he was never gonna be quite good enough to win a world title strap.


    He got there in the end, hook or by crook.

    And also a shout out for Chisora, in that he's managed to significantly financially over-earn and still continues to do so. No mean feat considering he really should have retired years ago....
     
    Arch Stanton, May 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
    Arch Stanton, May 29, 2025 at 11:32 AM
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  13. Slyk

    Slyk Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua almost fought for the undisputed HW crown...looking back now those are two careers that DEFINITELY reached their full potential. Both have had remarkable results in the sport given their abilities and skill sets.
     
    Slyk, May 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
    Slyk, May 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
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  14. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

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    One of my favorite fighters Jose Luis Castillo. Close win over P4P’er Johnston, stopped Bazan, Corrales, beat Lozano and Casamayor and many thought he beat Mayweather. Solid LW career.
     
    turbotime, May 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
    turbotime, May 29, 2025 at 4:17 PM
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  15. bcr

    bcr Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He also had a negative record in the amateurs.
     
    bcr, May 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
    bcr, May 29, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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