Interesting article from Sports Illustrated about prospects in the heavyweight division. They called it on their number 1 prospect, but while the others got some tv exposure and made the top-10, they didn't pan out in a big way. The article is also interesting in showing how George Foreman was viewed at that time. SI prospects, May 1976: 1. Larry Holmes, 2. Dino Dennis, 3. Johnny Boudreaux, 4. Duane Bobick, 5. Stan Ward.
Well they got Holmes right. Dino Dennis had good record but wasn’t world level. Bobick has talent but froze after Norton
They were pretty harsh on Bobick in the article. Probably rightly so when judging his natural talent. Duane probably got out at the right time, knowing that he couldn't hang with upper-echelon guys like Norton and Tate and was beginning to lose to the likes of Knoetze and Chaplin. He made a good go of it, though. Boudreaux was another guy who probably got out at the right time, before becoming an opponent. Ward was sure thrown to the lions early on, which led to him being a gatekeeper.
SI had really good boxing writers back in the day. Oh, To Be Young and 200 Pounds - Heavyweight Prospects May 1976 [url]https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/oh-to-be-young-and-200-pounds-heavyweight-prospects-may-1976.648413/[/url]
Ali-Bobick was very much on the table for 1977, but Norton-Bobick happened instead. Bobick had strung a few wins together post-Knoetze and could've been Holmes' first defense, instead of Evangelista, in November 1978. It would likely have been sweet revenge for Larry.
They didn't because he got his A&& handed to him in brutal fashion by Norton and Knoetzee. If he'd won either one of those fights he almost certainlwould have gotten a shot. Then he got dusted by Tate and it was all over. He had to at least beat one top 10 to get a shot. He should have tried some weaker contenders but they built up his record and then threw him in with Norton who I could still fight. I guess Cooneys managers were more shrewd
