Fighter who was the biggest bust you've seen?

Audley Harrison. Olympic champion who looked the part. No heart though

 

Jeff Lacey or Alex Ramos, in terms of hype behind them.

 

In Britain, in recent years:

- Frankie Gavin (total failure)
- Amir Khan (to an extent, I do hesitate calling world champions busts but the last three years of his career have been a shambles)
- David Price (just lmfao at this big stiff plumber)

 

Michael Grant stands out for reasons already mentioned.

 

It sure wasn't in the ring that Ike failed to live up to expectations. His whole career was destroyed when he called that lying hooker in Vegas.
When Lennox retired Ike would have been the man to carry the torch

 

David Reid had his eye problems and ran into Tito Trinidad WAY too early IMO

Dominick Quinn, I really expected so much more from him. I remember Emmanuel Steward saying he could take over as the next best heavyweight side from the K bros

Duncan Dokiwari. He was fast, heavy headed, and looked to have a great chin. He stated he used to beat Ibeabuchi in sparring and beat him in other local boxing matches.

 

Ricardo Williams. Heavily hyped as a guy who could be the next big star coming out of the 2000 Olympics, and just never delivered.

And Panchito Bojado has already been mentioned. He was hyped as the person who would succeed Oscar De La Hoya at one point.

So staying away from names who have already been mentioned, my other notables would include:

Salvador Sanchez (Coming off a TKO win over Azumah Nelson, he was tragically killed in a car accident aged just 23.

Tony Ayala

Frankie Gomez

Odlanier Solis

Kirkland Laing (A deeply inconsistent and frustratingly undisciplined British fighter, who reached a high point of beating Roberto Duran, then promptly dropped off the radar for an entire year of partying, never to recapture that form again).

N.B: Salvador Sanchez is the case of a man who tragically couldn't fulfil his potential because of his untimely death. The other four I mention above are cases are cases of people who refused (and in Frankie Gomez's case, still refuse) to at least try and fulfil their potential.

 

This
Bojado started around the same time and same weight as Cotto. Generally touted at the time as the more talented of the two and eye ball test actually confirmed that.
Cotto went on to become a future HOF winning titles in 4 weight classes and one of the most celebrated fighter out of Puerto Rico. Bojado on the other hand retired after 20 fights, a few losses and failed to win any title. Oh well...

 

I knew Ike from the day he arrived In Curtis Cokes Home of Champions gym in Dallas Texas. I never saw him spar Dokiwari
Don't remember Dokiwari there at all to be honest.

 

In terms of disappointing fighters, I feel like two incredibly common stories are:

1. Cuban fighters who look very, very good, maybe get some good/great wins, but mostly squander their years being inactive, fighting poor opposition, or just not fighting the important guys in their divisions
2. Olympic medalists who just can't manage in the pros

Are there any other common stories?

 

Christina Hendricks.

 

That's my initial thought when I read bust lol

 

Judah, he had more hype than Mayweather at one time before he lost to Tszyu.

 

His Chin was his biggest problem.

 

Regarding Amir Khan, I would say the last 5 years have been wasted and badly managed. His only good performances in that time have been Collazo and Alexander.