Quality Fighters who lacked composure under fire

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by The Funny Man 7, Dec 26, 2013.


  1. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,869
    2,053
    Apr 1, 2005
    An ability to remain poised, disciplined, and committed to a gameplan even under adversity is certainly one of the most important traits in setting the elites apart from all the rest. Indeed, it may be THE most important trait.

    So who were some outstanding fighters who fell short of the elite class because they lost concentration mid-fight or came unraveled or lost composure under difficult circumstances.

    Before he was an elite trainer, Robert Garcia was a very, very good fighter, but his tendancy to get rattled by cuts and constant pressure cost him three defeats, all in fights he was winning hands down before getting stopped.

    Zab Judah springs to mind, as well as Julio Diaz, who was in a position to win his biggest fight against Jose Luis Castillo if he'd kept his cool after getting slice up.

    Jhonny Gonzalez could box like a Mexican reincarnation of Harold Johnson in the early rounds of a fight and then come unstuck without warning and walk into a fatal, fight changing punch. It happened against Nishioka, Penalosa, and Vasquez.

    Wladimir would have been the poster child in this category back when he was a post-Sanders basket case. But after being resurrected by Steward he improved considerably in this area.

    Any others?
     
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 26, 2013
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 26, 2013
    #1
  2. sugarkills

    sugarkills Active Member Full Member

    1,401
    16
    Sep 14, 2004
    What about Prince Hamed? Never recovered from that ONE loss.

    Andrew Golota springs to mind during his first fight with Riddick Bowe. He was boxing the **** outta him and coulda won, but all of a sudden he screws himself with the illegal blows.
     
    sugarkills, Dec 26, 2013
    sugarkills, Dec 26, 2013
    #2
  3. spinner

    spinner Active Member banned Full Member

    1,047
    172
    Jan 24, 2011
    Jerry Quarry was one who lacked confidence and got rattled readily. Once he got tagged, he dropped his game plan and would get beaten.
     
    spinner, Dec 26, 2013
    spinner, Dec 26, 2013
    #3
  4. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

    82,426
    1,469
    Sep 7, 2008
    The Korean fella who got stopped by Limon and Navarette was World class but folded under pressure.

    Alfonso Lopez cpukd unravel under pressure despite world class skilks and world class victories (Oguma for one)

    Pressure was the downfall for Cotto against Margarito and Pacquiao. Clotteys forward movement made Cotto ragged even though his punch output was poor.
     
    Flea Man, Dec 27, 2013
    Flea Man, Dec 27, 2013
    #4
  5. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,297
    7,048
    Oct 25, 2006
    Hi Flea. We have had some new guests since you've been gone. You'll like them.
     
    fists of fury, Dec 27, 2013
    fists of fury, Dec 27, 2013
    #5
  6. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

    82,426
    1,469
    Sep 7, 2008
    :lol: Can't wait to meet them.....I guess ;)
     
    Flea Man, Dec 27, 2013
    Flea Man, Dec 27, 2013
    #6
  7. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,869
    2,053
    Apr 1, 2005
    Golota might be king in this category.

    Quarry is a great answer too. He seemed to phase out mentally in the first Frazier fight around round three when its clear his blitz strategy wasn't working. If he'd kept a cool head and focused on tightening up his defense, locking Frazier up in clinches up close, and getting his shots going in two and three punch combinations at long range, he could have feasibly won.
     
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 27, 2013
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 27, 2013
    #7
  8. LobowolfXXX

    LobowolfXXX Member Full Member

    420
    1
    Nov 24, 2013
    You misspelled "plaster."
     
    LobowolfXXX, Dec 27, 2013
    LobowolfXXX, Dec 27, 2013
    #8
  9. willcross

    willcross Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,374
    674
    Jun 11, 2006
    I agree with Golota. I've heard that he was unbeatable in the gym and looked amazing. But when it actually mattered his nerves always got the better of him
     
    willcross, Dec 27, 2013
    willcross, Dec 27, 2013
    #9
  10. janwalshs

    janwalshs Active Member Full Member

    628
    217
    Feb 19, 2010
    Tommy Hearns. He was being tested by feather punching Harold Weston and was lucky Weston had to quit due to a damaged eye. He couldn't handle Leonard, Hagler or Barkley when he was hurt. With his height and reach advantage, if he had kept his head and boxed smarter, he may have been able to win all of those fights.
     
    janwalshs, Dec 27, 2013
    janwalshs, Dec 27, 2013
    #10
  11. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,618
    9,650
    Jul 15, 2008
    A perfect answer is Dempsey .. when ht he saw red and slugged away, a strategy that would have spelled murder against the best of the best, some of who he had skills to defeat if he was able to keep a calm head ..
     
    he grant, Dec 27, 2013
    he grant, Dec 27, 2013
    #11
  12. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,985
    131
    Apr 27, 2013
    Mickey "Brown Trousers" McGinty, 30's Featherweight is an obvious one.
    Also Jack Sharkey.
     
    ribtickler68, Dec 27, 2013
    ribtickler68, Dec 27, 2013
    #12
  13. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,802
    11,438
    Aug 22, 2004
    Tyrone Jackson, a junior-lightweight contender who simply froze on the big stage. He was stopped in six by some Korean guy whose name I forget, and then on national TV against Tony Lopez he just stood there for eight rounds while hardly throwing a punch. He was stopped in eight in a performance where you cringed in embarrassment for the guy. I've never seen a choke job quite like that.
     
    salsanchezfan, Dec 27, 2013
    salsanchezfan, Dec 27, 2013
    #13
  14. KidJackal

    KidJackal Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,898
    4
    May 15, 2012
    Silakh nowadays looks great until he gets clipped, then he seems to freeze.
     
    KidJackal, Dec 27, 2013
    KidJackal, Dec 27, 2013
    #14