Joe Mesi

Well he was 36 and 0 with 29 koes, had wins over DaVarryl Williamson, Monte Barrett and Jirov, his career was damaged by the Jirov fight which was in 2004, because he got brain damage from the fight and didn't fight for almost 2 years, Mesi returned in 2006 and fought until 2007.

The Jirov fight

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Maybe he could have won a world title from someone like Oleg Maskaev.

 

He was a stumpy, pudgy fighter who was surprisingly fast-handed and mobile. He also had surprising pop in his gloves, as evidenced by his kayos over Touch of Sleep Williamson, Robert Davis, Talmadge Griffis.

He had a lot of hype beginning around the time Lennox Lewis' reign was winding down. He had some push from HBO since he was fun to watch and marketable. Also, people forget, he beat Hasim Rahman in the amatuers.

If he'd ducked a little lower and never suffering that injury against Jirov its interesting to consider how his career would have panned out. I think Klitschko brothers, Corrie Sanders, Brewster, all would have been trouble for him. But Mesi would have had a good shot against the rest of the guys shuffling around the division at the time, i.e. Fres Oquendo, Byrd, Ruiz, etc.

 

Solid and probably underrated early 2000s HW contender. Like others have said, he would have a good chance against pretty much everyone in the division save Lewis and the Klitschkos.

 

Underrated?! He was hyped to the hilt! He was OK, but sadly the injury robbed of him of the big fight that almost certainly would have cost him his '0'.

 

I think he could really box quite well. Mesi was beginning to tick more and more boxes and appeared to be getting the right balance of progressive opposition.

In interviews Mesi appeared to have that delusional driven ambition about him that a lot of unbeaten fighters have. In tune with the times joes weight was beginning to increase with fights too. Then, there appeared the brain injury right after a tough fight with jirov. I don't think that fight did either man much good it was quite a war.

 

He was a huge draw in the Buffalo, New York area. He was considered the biggest franchise after the Bills and Sabres. Sadly, his career was cut short by suffering a brain bleed. He was inactive for a couple years then had a couple comeback fights, in states like West Virginia and Kentucky . Unfortunately any major states like New York, New Jersey, Nevada, etc would never license him due to him suffering the subdural hematoma.
He retired, and is doing well from what I understand. I believe he has a college degree and got into politics.

 

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Exactly. He was an over-hyped regional fighter who would have been exposed as such once he actually stepped up to face the top HWs in that time period.

 

Glad he "retired".....don't need anymore tragedies in the sport.

 

Apparently he sells medical devices now and never made it past the bottom floor as a politician.

 

I agree 100%.

 

Good to hear. Glad he got out with his cognitive abilities intact and is able to live a normal life.