Steve Farhood goes over the top six prospects in August 1993's World Boxing... Jorge Luis Gonzales: 14-0 (13) No matter how wonderful we are told he is, he looks so average. The good news is he is huge and as an amateur defeated Bowe, Lewis Biggs, and Teofilo Stevenson. He has also met reasonable opposition. But sadly he under uses his jab and lacks proper leverage in his punching. Jeremy Williams: 8-0 (6) A heavyweight who lost in the Olympic box-offs, is trained by Kevin Rooney and managed by Bill Clayton, who is fighting often and overwhelming humble opposition... He seems to lack size and the defensive skills of a certain Mike Tyson, although at 20, he could get bigger. His hero is... you guessed it, Evander Holyfield! Shannon Briggs: 11-0 (10) "I'm a walking personality" Briggs says and at 6' 4" and 210lbs with orange dreadlocks, he does attract your attention. He has a hammer of a jab and a solid hook to go with above average mobility. Trainer Teddy Atlas though has been very selective about the opposition thus far... Larry Donald: 4-0 (3) His idol is Ali, so he recites bad poetry and bops around the ring whilst tossing out a world class jab. It will take a lot more than that, to build an Aliesque reputation. But at 6' 3" and 230lbs, the 25 year old has the build... David Tua: 5-0 (5) Perhaps the sleeper of the class of 1992. Duva signed him up and he is sparring with Holyfield. Turned pro at 204lbs, but is need of some weight training and nutritional advice as he is a self confessed junk food addict. He has an excellent left hook and claims a solid chin. Clearly he is limited, but remember many a Heavyweight has become a top ten fighter with nothing more than a big punch and a solid chin... Herbie Hide: 22-0 (22) Twenty two KO's in twenty two fights. Wow! This guy must be a real banger... The most advanced of our prospects, Riddick Bowe (Heavyweight World Champ) came to watch him fight for the British title, to access his worthiness as a potential challenger, Riddick's wife (Judy) fell asleep watching him!!! At 6' 2" 205lbs maybe he is just too small...
I think that Briggs is the star of them six, he is going to be huge. Gonzales is too old. Williams is fun but too small. Donald just looks boring. Tua looks a novice, who will lose his 0 the first time he meets a half decent boxer. Hide could be a contender at Cruiserweight for years and years and years if they ever decided to move the weight limit up to 200lbs...
In the mid 80s, at the Cuban Championships, I believe. But Teo was way past his sell by date, and I think some forget, Gonzales was an excellent amateur...
A fair breakdown. Of course none of them went onto become the next great heavyweight. Gonzalez was about the laziest fighter I saw.
