Who are some of boxing's best 'nearly men'?

I think he was good enough to do more. His addiction issues didn't help.

 

Maybe Kell brook I know he was world champ and beat porter but his 3 title defences were absolutely dire and then made the stupid decision to fight ggg which ruined his whole career feel like could of done so much more

 

Michael Brodie - Should have gotten the decision over Jorrin to become world champion, again maybe could have gotten the nod over Chi in the first fight to be champion, given it was so competitive and he was fighting in his home town. But the wars caught up with him and he wasn't the same after the first Chi fight.

 

I think you could put Bruno in this category.

Yes, he did beat McCall hook or by crook to actually win a title belt. But he had his nearly moment in the first Tyson bout but couldn't capitalise. And also looked pretty damn good against Lewis up until the 7th.

 

Gary Mason and maybe Horace Notice

 

Kevin Mitchell almost made it, but Linares ripped that glory from him in the second half of their thriller of a fight.
Mitchell had a good start to his career, but suffered bad setbacks against Katsidis and Burns, the latter being a title shot. But he rebuilt well and this lead to his second title shot, this time against Linares.

 

I don't think any version of Tim would beat Charlo. He is an exciting fighter to watch, but his ring IQ —especially his defense —is extremely poor at that elite level. Fundora and Bakhram hit him at will, and Charlo, in the early 2020s, was better than both. I think Charlo would've outboxed him over 12 quite comfortably, maybe even stopped him late. It might've been closer if they'd gotten him over to Australia, but I don't think Tim has shown anything to suggest he could compete against the elite at 154.