Who are the 'George Bests' of boxing?

[stujones]

There was that George Smith also.

[Coco]

There was that George Smith also.

Georgie Smith from Basildon yeah?

Also Lou Gent loved a pint

[stujones]

I'm sure his name was George Smith - used to wear the george's cross on his shorts. Bit of a coke head if memory serves me - has been in and out of jail for various offences.

[Rocky Balboa]

james toney ate his way out of an amazing career.

tarver could have done more if it wasnt for the crack.

Considering Tarver was addicted to crack, he has done extremely well for himself & I for one salute him on turning his life completely around!

[Coco]

I'm sure his name was George Smith - used to wear the george's cross on his shorts. Bit of a coke head if memory serves me - has been in and out of jail for various offences.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

http://archive.gazette-news.co.uk/2001/ ... 68826.html

[alectrifyingalex]

oliver mccall

[jamesmcdonnell]

Kirk would still train!!, but smoke on way home, him and winston wray!!, god they were fun times.......

Is this during the Lawess days? Heard some funny stories about Kirkland from Charlie Magri.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Definately Tyson, 22 with the world at his feet, pissed it away with drugs/women/massive spending and no training and still became a 2 time champ. Actually sounds like Maradonna too

[n1ebf]

Prince Naseem? A career cut short, due to obsessive eating....

You could also argue that mike tyson could have been even better, if he had more focus and discipline...

i think at his zenith, Tyson could not have been "better". He certainly could have prolonged his reign, but that isn't the same thing.

as regards Naz...obsessive eating?? Are you sure?

[TerribleTerry]

Prince Naseem? A career cut short, due to obsessive eating....

You could also argue that mike tyson could have been even better, if he had more focus and discipline...

he had hand trouble

Oh, he had hand trouble alright - he couldnt keep it out of the cookie jar...

[stujones]

Naz would talk about his unorthodox training regime long before he won the world title. In one of the Naz videos (just thinking back, when video Magazines of boxers would be the best sellers) of his early career Naz talked about sometimes putting in the hours at 2 am after partying and Brendan defending it, "aslong as he does his training when he does it is fine"

I aint sure about their lifestyle, but 2 heavyweight who definately could have done more and seemed to waste their talent was Kirk Johnson and Shannon Briggs. David Tua also.

Tim Witherspoon had the talent I think to be considered among the finest heavyweights, but blew it. Witherspoon, without the drugs and the pies, vs Tyson would have been a classic.

[TerribleTerry]

A few less well known examples: Danny Costello. He was a standout amateur - a 'cant miss' future star. He was ravaged by heroin and lost his comeback fight after a period out of pro boxing. 'Blue Boy' Patrick Gallagher was another one who was lost to heroin. Does anyone remember Manchester's Mario Culpepper? I never saw him box - think he only had 4 or 5 pro fights in the early 90s - but I heard he was mustard. I heard rumours he turned to drugs?.. Perhaps the most talented of the lot - Craig Dermody. There was nothing he couldnt do in terms of skills.

[Coco]

Apparently Danny Costello too, he was supposed to have won the ABA while half on the streets and bang on the brown

Blue boy ended up inside for robbing and beating loads of different pensioners in their homes, I thik he was a crack head

[TerribleTerry]

Tony Ayala Jnr. As a teenager he was main lining heroin whilst beating up reigning world champs in sparring.

[hurlock]

john mugabi

tony two ton gallon.

alot of fighters exagerate to add too reason for there short cummings i feel

[jamesmcdonnell]

Roberto Duran, blew up to over 200 lb between the first and second fights with leonard, which is why he was shitting his pants between rounds in the 2nd fight, for a guy who took this piss with his body, it's remarkable he had the career he did.

[ebeneezer]

Either Lynch or Jack Doyle. Both decided to have the piss instead of use their wasted talent. PLus Doyle put his willy in most of Hollywood.

You could put Tommy Morrison in that category as well

[Syntax Error]

There was that George Smith also.

Good call.

I used to be a big fan of his.

He was blessed with phenomenal power.

[Deserter]

Oliver McCall - can't help but wonder what the Atomic Bull could have achieved given that phenomenal chin and decent power.

[Counter-puncher]

Tim Witherspoon had the talent I think to be considered among the finest heavyweights, but blew it. Witherspoon, without the drugs and the pies, vs Tyson would have been a classic.

indeed, Terry

[Des1]

Yes Georgie Smith and Richard Evatt, both Matchroom fighters who trained at Matchroom's gym in Romford. Evatt was a very hard puncher which made some over look his actual boxing skills. They both loved the night life and a booze a bit to much and Evatt seemed to enjoy knocking out doormen as much as boxers and the bigger they was the better.
If Evatt was more dedicated Im sure he would have gone a long way, his ill discipline started when his licence was put on hold for about a year because of a query on his brain scan.

[KW1]

Kevin Sheeran was a top prospect in the 80's was with warren, but apparently the pub brawls and coke got in the way, hes now serving a stretch 4 dealing

[TerribleTerry]

Yes Georgie Smith and Richard Evatt, both Matchroom fighters who trained at Matchroom's gym in Romford. Evatt was a very hard puncher which made some over look his actual boxing skills. They both loved the night life and a booze a bit to much and Evatt seemed to enjoy knocking out doormen as much as boxers and the bigger they was the better.
If Evatt was more dedicated Im sure he would have gone a long way, his ill discipline started when his licence was put on hold for about a year because of a query on his brain scan.

Dean Pithie is another Cov fighter who allegedly loved the booze and coke a bit too much. Good fighter though.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Craig Dermondy - North Manchesters finest! Brian Hughes said Dermondy was the most talented fighter he ever trained. His fight
with Salford scrapper Russ Davidson is on youtube somewhere - check it out! :geek2:

[DIRT SUGAR]

Remember chatting with old PA boxing writer Bill Martin about 10 years ago and in the 60s he struck up a friendly relationship with Angelo Dundee who came over here with lightheavyweight champ Willie Pastrano. Bill said Pastrano was an extremely charming and handsome man with an unquenchable thirst for the ladies, who would be him like flies around the proverbial.

Dundee told him he would be rooming with Pastrano during their entire stay because he couldn't leave him alone for a minute and said you wouldn't put it past him to see a pretty chambermaid come into the room having never met Pastrano but you could almost guarantee she'd take that little bit longer to get his room cleaned... if you catch my drift:-)