Biggest Boxing Prospects - Busts

[la-califa]

Who were some of the biggest boxing up & comers, who didn't quite make it in the Pro's.

[salsanchezfan]

...........Raul Marquez stands out to me for some reason. I thought he looked awful as a pro, despite being an Olympian. Just an ugly-looking style as a professional.

Rudy Zavala, a burgeoning junior-featherweight, fell pretty hard after getting to the top ten. He was pushed pretty had by ESPN as the next big thing. Tragically, he was hit by a car and killed while still an active fighter.


Ed Hopson was about as brittle a fighter as I've ever seen. Speed like you rarely see more than a handful of times in your life, but if you looked at him sideways he fell down and stayed down.

[la-califa]

Mark Breland - He was one of the most accomplished ametuers in history. He was thought to be a dominant Welterweight Champion.

Alex Ramos- Alot of promise when he was coming up, Just didn't pan out.

Paul Gonzalez- Was thought to be a very good Flyweight out of the Olympics, But brittle hands stalled his Pro career.

[Calroid]

Henry Tillman

[unclepaulie]

Amir Khan I think should be mentioned, although he could possibly salvage his career, Ruiz-style.

[Russell]

Jorge Luis Gonzalez. The 90's Odlanier Solis. Multiple amateur wins over Bowe as well as one over Lennox Lewis.

Could of went so much farther then he did if he didn't let his weight and commitment go like so many Cuban defectors who turn to boxing.

[ishy]

Francisco Bojado deserves a mention here.

[GazOC]

Bobeck?

Skipper Kelp also had a pretty big build up. I've no idea why those two fighters popped into my head though!!!!

[red cobra]

Mark Breland. He was supposed to be the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson, only better. The only thing I can say about him is that he made me appreciate Marlon Starling.

[Bummy Davis]

shawn O sullivan and Willie Dewitt of Canada

[GazOC]

Mark Breland. He was supposed to be the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson, only better. The only thing I can say about him is that he made me appreciate Marlon Starling.

It say a lot of what was expected of Breland that he won world titles and was is still regarded as a failure. One preview of him coming out of the ams said he was Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns rolled into one!!

[JohnThomas1]

It say a lot of what was expected of Breland that he won world titles and was is still regarded as a failure. One preview of him coming out of the ams said he was Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns rolled into one!!

Many thought he would be the second coming of SRR.

[scartissue]

Tyrell Biggs
Jeff Stoudimire
Kelcie Banks
Vince Shomo

Scartissue

[GazOC]

Kelcie Banks!! Now theres a name I'd totally forgotten!!

[biglads]

George Collins

[GazOC]

George Collins

:good I saw most of his fights (and his brothers Tony), he retired at something like 23.

[mr. magoo]

Dwayne Bobick

Tyrell Biggs

Henry Tillman

Andrew Maynard

Anthony Hembrick

Tommy Morrison

Bruce Seldon

Pete Rademacher

Willie Dewitt

Robert Wangila (died in the ring)

[Chinxkid]

I remember the build-up Joe Frazier's kid Marvis got.

[la-califa]

Bobby Czyz got a pretty decent build up. Then in his first big test, he was completely shellshocked and pummled by Mustafa Hamsho.

[TBooze]

Kelcie Banks


LOL, he did not even make it unscathed though the Olympics, at least Breland won his gold medal!

Gato Gonzales (80s version)

Darrin Van Horn

Gerry Cooney (actually we could do spend all day listing Heavyweight busts)

And one for the Brits: Khalid Shafiq......

[SuzieQ49]

1980s heavyweight Chris Mcdonald

[tommy the hat]

Howard Davis was named most outstanding boxer for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, on a team that featured fellow gold medalists Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon and Michael Spinks, and Leo Randolph. Yet he was the only one who didn't win a world championship, which everyone expected him to not only do rather easily, but reign as a champ for a long time and have a hall of fame career.

[la-califa]

Howard Davis was named most outstanding boxer for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, on a team that featured fellow gold medalists Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon and Michael Spinks, and Leo Randolph. Yet he was the only one who didn't win a world championship, which everyone expected him to not only do rather easily, but reign as a champ for a long time and have a hall of fame career. Of the same team Leo Randolph didn't do much in the Pro's either.

[tommy the hat]

Of the same team Leo Randolph didn't do much in the Pro's either.
He still managed to win a world championship, granted he lost it in his first defense. Do agree that Davis was a bust or not?

[AREA 53]

I was goung to put Kelcie Banks ...but got beat to the punch


How About - Kenneth Gould

Forest Ward
Jose Luis Garcia
walter moore

Lottie Mwale

William Caveman Lee
Slammin Sammy Nesmith

Phil Matthews
Errol Christie

Steve Aczel

Lawrence Poncho Carter
Jerry Mack Truck Riddick

Irish John Collins

[AlFrancis]

Seems to be a lot of fighters on here that shouldn't be. Seems that anyone who didn't win a world title is a bust. Even winning a "world" title isn't good enough in some peoples eyes.

[la-califa]

I was goung to put Kelcie Banks ...but got beat to the punch


How About - Kenneth Gould

Forest Ward
Jose Luis Garcia
walter moore

Lottie Mwale

William Caveman Lee
Slammin Sammy Nesmith

Phil Matthews
Errol Christie

Steve Aczel

Lawrence Poncho Carter
Jerry Mack Truck Riddick

Irish John Collins Whatever happened to Irish John Collins? I remember he defeated fellow Chicago Unbeaten Lenny LaPaglia, Then I pretty much lost track of him.

[TBooze]

Seems to be a lot of fighters on here that shouldn't be. Seems that anyone who didn't win a world title is a bust. Even winning a "world" title isn't good enough in some peoples eyes.

Well anyone can literally claim a world title....

[la-califa]

He still managed to win a world championship, granted he lost it in his first defense. Do agree that Davis was a bust or not? Oh Yeah. Davis had so much Promise. Had the moves & speed, but not the power or killer instinct.

[AREA 53]

La-Califa _ Irish John Collins and his Camp made a Bad Miscalc, They took on Tony Sibson coming off his Hagler Defeat, confident that "Sibbo" was simply perhaps looking for another Payday before fading away, However "Sibbo" was frustrated at his performance against Hagler, Feeling like an unexploded Bomb, Well he was Fired up to show the American Viewers what he was capable of, and Collins soon realised this was no guy just going through the motions, but somebody looking for redemption, "Sibbo" blasted Collins out in the second Round, Thereafter it was Collins who promptly faded away.

[JohnThomas1]

Alex Ramos had me excited for a bit.

[Vantage_West]

Mark Breland. He was supposed to be the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson, only better. The only thing I can say about him is that he made me appreciate Marlon Starling.
he wasnt that bad. he did have a good run at welter . he was hardly busted...weak chin and over expected outcomes...if he started on different occasions he woudl of been a contender like anybody else.

found this which is scary...never seen it before
-uDcK_KtCpM

[AliFrazier71]

Well anyone can literally claim a world title....

Today yes, but not 30 years ago.

[TBooze]

Today yes, but not 30 years ago.

Breland was around 20 years ago and sorry but I would not be far of pick-em against (87 vintage) Harold Volbrecht (a bit tasteless that a black American was fighting a white South African then; at least Honeyghan told the WBA where to go) and Seung Soon Lee....;)

[kickbxn5]

Hector Camacho Jr

Fraudley...I mean Audley Harrison

[TheStranger]

Has Michael Grant been given a mention yet?

[Vantage_West]

chuck davey. got rumbled by kid gavilan. chuck had built a solid record and was known for his great southpaw style jab and flare. beating old champs to make himself look like the darling of the welterwieghts.

he fight gavilan and all who watched foudn out that davey was a mere mortal and looked a right plum getting dropped over so many times.

the first real televised proper "exposure" in boxing.


who was that guy on the fight night series?

there is unbeaten brit featherweight who is gonna get exposed soon.

miranda came and went.

what on earth is/has/had happend to alen green?

[Vantage_West]

Has Michael Grant been given a mention yet?surprisingly not no...good call.

[tommy the hat]

he wasnt that bad. he did have a good run at welter . he was hardly busted...weak chin and over expected outcomes...if he started on different occasions he woudl of been a contender like anybody else.

found this which is scary...never seen it before
-uDcK_KtCpM
Breland sure doesn't look like a bust here, does he?

[SteveO]

At the risk of blaspheming...David Tua.

[Russell]

At the risk of blaspheming...David Tua.

Always makes me think of commentators during his fights early in his career. He really was thought of as a potential second coming of Tyson.

[TBooze]

Always makes me think of commentators during his fights early in his career. He really was thought of as a potential second coming of Tyson.

No way, Tyson was a phenomenon from virtually day one. Tua was fun no doubt, but unlike Tyson, his limitation were shown up and picked up fairly early.

[young griffo]

David Reid got a world title but never really achieved the stardom expected of an Olympic gold medallist.

Whether a pre-existing eye injury or throwing him in against a beast like Trinidad so early into his career,prevented him from fulfilling the hype I'm not too sure.

His career was finished not long after Trinidad ruined him,struggling with and losing to journeymen afterwards.A sad finish really.

[TIGEREDGE]

what about david reid. 1996 gold winner

[fists of fury]

he wasnt that bad. he did have a good run at welter . he was hardly busted...weak chin and over expected outcomes...if he started on different occasions he woudl of been a contender like anybody else.

found this which is scary...never seen it before
-uDcK_KtCpM

Ja, I watched that one live. Honeyghan was really not the same fighter at that point though, and even Breland had been almost written off.
For years, the boxing public wondered who was the better of the two fighters...before they lost their way, of course.
It was supposed to be a mega fight when they eventually got it on. By the time they actually did, few actually cared anymore.
Despite what he did achieve, Breland was seen as a failure. He was tipped to win something like 5 world titles - before he had won even one!
I often think the burden of expectation simply weighed too heavily on his shoulders.


Magoo mentioned him already, but I'll chuck up Andrew Maynard again.
He was another fighter tipped to win multiple titles and the media hyped him up no end. For a while, he looked every bit as good as he was advertsied, and then he lost and sort of faded away.

[Vantage_West]

georgie smith. any brits remember him?
a decent amatuer who was known for his lef thook and right hand...had alot of skill as well...just too arrogant and confident in his own abilty's i believe he once slapped someone at ringside becuase they doubted his abilty's (never really understood that)

he once got knocked down pretty hard and came back and koed anthony campbell...he turns to the camera and screams "i'm the champion, i'm the champion" this was for the BBBofC Southern Area light welterweight title

also he was described as being a slight racist. used to come in with st george trunks on and a contingent of basildon social club boys (immensly right winged pubs)



peter richardson
he was a very very good technician and amatuer
100-10 around that area i think was his am rec

1989 ABA Featherweight champion

1991 ABA Light Welterweight championships, won three matches before losing by 1st round TKO to Adrian Stone.

1991 Competed at Light Welterweight in World Championships in Sydney, Australia.
Results were:
Defeated Sergio Rey (Spain) on points
Defeated Andreas Zülow (Germany) on points
Lost to Vernon Forrest (United States) on points


Qualified as a Light Welterewight at the Olympic Trials in San Pellegrino, Italy. Results were:
Defeated Jim Pender on points
Defeated Lubomir Dimitrov (Bulgaria) on points
Lost to Michele Piccirillo (Italy)

Represented Great Britain at Light Welterweight at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Results were:
Defeated Vernon Forrest (United States) 14-8
Defeated Nyamaa Altankhuyag (Mongolia) 21-4
Lost to Leonard Doroftei (Romania) points

1993 ABA Light Welterweight Champion

1993 World Championships in Bursa, lost in 2nd round at Light Welterweight to Nurhan Suleymanoglu of Turkey (points).

Gold Medalist at 1994 Commonwealth Games. Results were:
Defeated Jamie Pagendam (Canada) on points
Defeated Daniel Fulanse (Zambia) on points
Defeated Tijani Moro (Ghana) on points
Defeated Mark Winters (Ireland) on points

sadly enough he didnt adapt well to the pro game and just lost for no major reason. world class skills and a decent amount of talent...just couldnt win. nice left hook, great right hand and a jab that brok down doors.
it was prolly becuase he wasnt a fighter by nature i feel

[Only registered and activated users can see links]





michael brodie
"this kid is sensational"
amazing explosive fighter, lovely combos lovely dig in both hands but wasnt totally comitited to the sport.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]



look up adrian dodson he was a great ligh tmiddle lost to winky and said that he was wieght drained...whent up to 160 lost said he was drained went to 168 lost said he was drained.
ian darke said at this rate he will be a natural heavywieght.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[la-califa]

Breland was around 20 years ago and sorry but I would not be far of pick-em against (87 vintage) Harold Volbrecht (a bit tasteless that a black American was fighting a white South African then; at least Honeyghan told the WBA where to go) and Seung Soon Lee....;) Volbrecht?? Wasn't he the one who was destroyed by Cuevas in a bid for the WBA Welterweight Crown?

[TBooze]

Volbrecht?? Wasn't he the one who was destroyed by Cuevas in a bid for the WBA Welterweight Crown?

Yeah

[fists of fury]

Harold Volbrecht...a blast from the past. He lost to Breland in the 7th and to Cuevas in the 5th, although he was actually ahead on the scorecards before Cuevas flattened him with an unstoppable left hook.

Volbrecht was one of those fighters who was too good for local oppositon, but not good enough at world-class level. He made 19 successful defenses of his national welterweight crown, yet failed in two attempts at the world title.

[fists of fury]

Breland was around 20 years ago and sorry but I would not be far of pick-em against (87 vintage) Harold Volbrecht (a bit tasteless that a black American was fighting a white South African then;

Why? I believe sport and politics should never mix. While the ban on SA fighters was well-intentioned, it ironically hurt local black fighters as much as it did local white fighters.

[TBooze]

Why? I believe sport and politics should never mix. While the ban on SA fighters was well-intentioned, it ironically hurt local black fighters as much as it did local white fighters.

The South African sporting boycott worked big time (Rugby and Cricket in particular).

The WBA really let the side down IMO.

[Loewe]

Jürgen Brähmer was called a century talent over here and he certainly looked like one early on but then he went to prison and he was out he never was the same. Will fight for a strap of the lhw title in a few month.

[fists of fury]

The South African sporting boycott worked big time (Rugby and Cricket in particular).

The WBA really let the side down IMO.

I disagree, but this isn't the place for political debate.

[heehoo]

David Reid comes to mind.

[good right hand]

Skipper Kelp also had a pretty big build up.

hmm, im curious

how good was he?

[Bigcat]

Kelcie Banks!! Now theres a name I'd totally forgotten!!


I am a big friend of Kelcies.. He knows it too


every day of his waking life......... i feel so sorry for him..

[ThinBlack]

Bernard Mays and James Shuler.

[Senor Pepe']

Jose 'The Threat' Baret,,,

A New York based Welterweight,,,,,,,,,,with bombs in his fists...

Was highly promoted in New York,,,,,,and went 16-0-0 (15 KO's)
13 of his Knock-outs were within 2-rounds or less.

Then came Marlon Starling who destroyed him,,,,,,,Jose was never the same.

[zadfrak]

Jose 'The Threat' Baret,,,

A New York based Welterweight,,,,,,,,,,with bombs in his fists...

Was highly promoted in New York,,,,,,and went 16-0-0 (15 KO's)
13 of his Knock-outs were within 2-rounds or less.

Then came Marlon Starling who destroyed him,,,,,,,Jose was never the same.
There's a name you don't hear mentioned often. Him and another tough guy on those old ESPN fights from back then---Carlos the Force Tite. That Lalonde ko loss just ruined him.

Remember Bang Bang Bogner? A lot of folks liked him too and it was a shame they didn't put that Mancini fight together. But Bramble pretty much picked him apart in sections then went on to hammer Mancini as well.

[MMJoe]

Francisco Bojado deserves a mention here.

I saw the tread name and I clicked to put Bajado's name in. Looks like someone else is a genius besides me.

[MMJoe]

david reid