Hyped boxers who fell short of expectations

Well, he had one of the best amateur careers/records of all time. Wins over Bowe, Lennox Lewis, and some of the Cuban legends as well.

 

His fight with Darroll Wilson was AWESOME

 

Darnell Wilson was a natural southpaw who fought orthodox I believe, which may help explain his nuclear left hand and the way he separated Shannon Briggs from his senses in a way even great fighters failed to do over Briggs very long career.

He was certainly a "glass cannon" sort of fighter. Giving it a whole lot better than he was able to take it, basically.

 

They matched him way too carefully on the way up. Maybe they knew something.

He jumped up too far in one fight.

Starling was way too seasoned for him.

Harold Volbrecht was a joke of an opponent for him to win the WBA title. Volbrecht was way past it and never too good to begin with.

 

Anyone remember David Reid ?

Olympic gold medalist, good skills, power and lightning fast hands, turned pro and won a world title in his 12th fight, beat good fighters in Boudouani and Keith Mullings but then defended against Felix Trinidad, went into the fight with his left eye already closed but still schooled Trinidad for the first six rounds before having his retina detached, getting knocked down four times and losing a decision.
Never recovered from that, retired at age 28.

 

I have a few, #1 Is Donald Curry, a few articles were comparing him to Leonard and Robinson after the destruction of M.Mccory, Than came L.Honeyhan. J.Mugabi, after the "Hard Rock" Green fight and Hagler, I thought he had the heart too go to a long successful career. But Hagler ruined him. R.Bowe, I didn't see any one beating him after the 1st Holyfield fight. But after that fight he seemed to come in heavier and heavier, no discipline, No drive to be TBE. A.Pryor, at the pinnacle of his career, ends up ruining himself in Liberty City in Dade co high on crack cocaine.

 

Forrest Ward was a hot prospect as an amateur heavyweight after winning the Pan Am Games heavyweight championship. He was being touted as a possible medalist for the 1968 Olympics but he chose to turn pro instead. He was derailed early on by Chuck Wepner and never really heard of since.

Boone Kirkman was well on the way to becoming a contender in the late '60s, reversing a TKO loss to veteran Doug Jones and continuing his winning ways. A Ring Magazine article carried the headline: "Boone Kirkman - A Cross Between Billy Conn and Max Schmeling?" Then George Foreman took him out in 2 rounds in 1970. He fought on, even taking part in Foreman's 5-man exhibition in Montreal in 1975 and surviving the 3 rounds. He never again attained contender status, though.

Dave "The Animal" Zigliewicz for a time was a hot prospect. Boxing magazines featured articles on Ziggy as he made progress. I remember thinking that he was being rushed too fast upon hearing that he had been matched with Joe Frazier in early 1969. That proved to be the case as Joe blasted out Ziggy in the first round. Ziggy never rebounded from that devastating loss.

Johnny Persol was earning recognition as a heavyweight contender in 1966-67 and was being mentioned as a possible opponent for Ali in 1967. Ali said "Let's see how he does against (Jimmy) Ellis then we'll talk." Ellis at that time was known best as Ali's main sparring partner. Persol and Ellis were on the undercard of Ali-Folley and Ellis took him out in the first. That ended Persol's title aspirations.

Although he achieved contender status and was favored by some to win the WBA Heavyweight tournament in 1967, Thad Spencer started out in winning fashion, decisioning Ernie Terrell and dropping Big Ernie in the process. Jerry Quarry stopped him in the 12th and final round of the semi-final with just seconds remaining in the fight. His career fell apart from then on.

A big man with a big punch, Mac Foster had put together an undefeated string of knockouts which included a number of prominent, though jaded, heavyweight names. He was being talked about as an opponent for Joe Frazier's title. In a bout that was expected to propel him into the elite circle of contenders, Jerry Quarry stopped him in 6 and he never regained his earlier form.

 

Cooney
Morrison (though he was great he was shot in the most important fight in his career against lennox)
Golotta (big time)