Which Heavyweight contender had champion level skills, but never the mindset?

You're talking about pretty much all the talented Heavyweights from the 1980s.

 

Buster Douglas - size at 6'4, fast hands, above average power, some of the best combination punching, a good uppercut. But he didn't love the sport. To me, Douglas was more naturally gifted than other 80's underachievers like Witherspoon and Thomas.

Joe Bugner had the talent to win the title at some point but never the mentality.

 

I misread the title. Douglas, Thomas, Witherspoon etc. all picked up a belt.

David Tua is a man who maybe didn't have superb skills but should have won the championship at some point.

 

I don't think they would have been champions, but they promised to be better than they were in terms of their skills.
Bogdan Dinu
Tor Hamer
izuagbe Ugonoh
David Price
Danny Williams

Bruce Seldon Had amazing skills, was fast, excelent jab but lacked heart

 

Just what I think too.

 

Mike "The Bounty" Hunter

 

This guy wasn't a mere contender, he actually won the belt twice, and he's my favorite champion ever so it's hard for me to say this, but Floyd Patterson.

Even when he VASTLY improved as a fighter as he got older ... he was a better fighter at the end of his career than in his championship years ... he never really had the killer, pour salt in a cut instinct that a great champion needs in a brutal sport.

The man got really, truly, honestly pissed off in one fight in his entire life, the rematch against Ingo. And he frickin' liked to have killed Ingo. But the second he saw Ingo on the mat unconscious and twitching after that monstrous left hook, it all went away and he was back to nice guy Floyd.

 

Audley Harrison...

 

Maurice "Mo Bettah" Harris

 

Joe Goddard