Who are the 'George Bests' of boxing?

[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.

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

Yes, remember when a fight between the two was trying to be made but never came off, would have been a good fight. Think they boxed in the am's with Evatt winning by stoppage, not sure though just what I've heard. Wonder what they are up to now? Also not sure if Georgie Smith is still inside?

[hurlock]

this thread could run till the cows come home :!:


paul hodkinson was dedicated, but turnt into a scag head.i remember the dedicated fighter.

[Deserter]

paul hodkinson was dedicated, but turnt into a scag head.

I didn't know that. Gutting to hear. Loved Hoko's style and really thought he'd have a more successful career than he actually did - Vargas really derailed him badly.

[Bomber 1]

Riddick Bowe
Fernando Vargas
Zab Judah
Johnny Tapia

These guys could have been special ones but just couldn't handle the lifestyle for one reason or another.. :(

This guy is a hell of a fighter too..Emmanuel Augustus, Had all the skills and ability but I hear he just loved the drink too much :(

[WildWaylon]

Loads of names spring to mind, what about the Booth brothers? So many sportsmen spoil their careers through lack of dedication. They have bags of talent but cant resist lifes temptations.

[EddieShredder]

This guy is a hell of a fighter too..Emmanuel Augustus, Had all the skills and ability but I hear he just loved the drink too much :(

Augustus is a legend... still one of my favorite, and the coolest fighters ever D

[stevieb_8006]

Loads of names spring to mind, what about the Booth brothers? So many sportsmen spoil their careers through lack of dedication. They have bags of talent but cant resist lifes temptations.

already mentioned them!

[princess]

Dean Francis

[Deserter]

Dean Francis

Interesting call Jane - do you think that's down to his lifestyle though, or just down to bad luck on the injury front? I know he had that takeaway incident in Basingstoke that led to him doing a bit of time, but while I agree Francis could and should have gone further I'd put it down mostly to his shoulder injury.

[NazNaci1]

There was that George Smith also.

Good call.

I used to be a big fan of his.

He was blessed with phenomenal power.

Which he used to pummel a 72 yr old, old man sufferring from Alzheimer's, then began celebrating like he had won a World Title. The old man consequently died some 9 months later.

He can go fvck himself, tbh and rot.

Tony Collins was a good young fighter, will plenty of bottle and skill. Shame he was a bit rowdy.

[ApolloCreed]

Some of the top HWs of the 80s could fall into this category; namely Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas & Tony Tucker.

I love the quotes from Pinklon Thomas at the press conference before the Tyson fight.

PT (to Mike Tyson): I'm goin' use my jab to snatch that gold right out yo mouth.
Tyson (back to Thomas): Suck my d_ick, Pink.

Meanwhile:

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

Literally?

[Coco]

Some of the top HWs of the 80s could fall into this category; namely Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas & Tony Tucker.

I love the quotes from Pinklon Thomas at the press conference before the Tyson fight.

PT (to Mike Tyson): I'm goin' use my jab to snatch that gold right out yo mouth.
Tyson (back to Thomas): Suck my d_ick, Pink.

Meanwhile:

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

Literally?

I've heard talk before that the reason he quit was because he needed the toilet!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Some of the top HWs of the 80s could fall into this category; namely Tim Witherspoon, Pinklon Thomas & Tony Tucker.

I love the quotes from Pinklon Thomas at the press conference before the Tyson fight.

PT (to Mike Tyson): I'm goin' use my jab to snatch that gold right out yo mouth.
Tyson (back to Thomas): Suck my d_ick, Pink.

Meanwhile:

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

Literally?

I've heard talk before that the reason he quit was because he needed the toilet!

One version of events is that he was absolutely full of diuretics and he had chronic shits before the fight in a desperate attempt to shed weight.

Legend is that Leonard heart stories of the panamanian's prodigious appetite for booze, food and women, all of which he feasted on merrily following his first win over Leonard. He then offered Duran good terms for a rematch, but demanded that it be set within short order, knowing that Duran would be murdering himself to make weight.

[stujones]

I would like to think that Leonard just fought the wrong fight in the first meeting, and Duran was always slower as a Welter (and above) compared to his Lightweight peak.

[mickey1975]

This is a good thread - and there are plenty of candidates.

One thing to remember with the analogy - yes, Best pissed his potential up the wall but still achieved a lot, if he was a 'normal' player. nBest was a player that was linked in talent to Pele, Maradona.

So the thread title would imply that the boxer should have achieved a lot, but not nearly as much as he could've.

So I thought of Tony Ayala and Danny Costello, but neither actually achieved much in pro boxing (although Ayala was I think number 1 contender.)

I would suggest Tyson as the best example. At one time it was like he could never be beaten.

Tommy Morrison would be a good choice, but never had the equivalent 'world's greatest' talent that Best had. But he had talent to make serious money.....

Exactly.Best went down as one of the all time greats DESPITE his problems.Some of the names on here have been suggested simply because they had a problem.To be compared to George,they must still have achieved an awful lot,p4p no1,all time great?Only Tyson springs to mind.Acheived everything,but could have done so much more

[TerribleTerry]

This is a good thread - and there are plenty of candidates.

One thing to remember with the analogy - yes, Best pissed his potential up the wall but still achieved a lot, if he was a 'normal' player. nBest was a player that was linked in talent to Pele, Maradona.

So the thread title would imply that the boxer should have achieved a lot, but not nearly as much as he could've.

So I thought of Tony Ayala and Danny Costello, but neither actually achieved much in pro boxing (although Ayala was I think number 1 contender.)

I would suggest Tyson as the best example. At one time it was like he could never be beaten.

Tommy Morrison would be a good choice, but never had the equivalent 'world's greatest' talent that Best had. But he had talent to make serious money.....

OK - James Toney is that sort of character then. Multi weight world champ who ate his way out of his best years.

Tyson could be seen a fighter who was always destined for a short, explosive prime. For 4 years or so between 85 and 89 he was just unstoppable

[Arbachakov]

This is a good thread - and there are plenty of candidates.

One thing to remember with the analogy - yes, Best pissed his potential up the wall but still achieved a lot, if he was a 'normal' player. nBest was a player that was linked in talent to Pele, Maradona.

So the thread title would imply that the boxer should have achieved a lot, but not nearly as much as he could've.

So I thought of Tony Ayala and Danny Costello, but neither actually achieved much in pro boxing (although Ayala was I think number 1 contender.)

I would suggest Tyson as the best example. At one time it was like he could never be beaten.

Tommy Morrison would be a good choice, but never had the equivalent 'world's greatest' talent that Best had. But he had talent to make serious money.....

Exactly.Best went down as one of the all time greats DESPITE his problems.Some of the names on here have been suggested simply because they had a problem.To be compared to George,they must still have achieved an awful lot,p4p no1,all time great?Only Tyson springs to mind.Acheived everything,but could have done so much more

True to an extent, you definitely need to have a good world class career at least, but Best's all time greatness is usually overestimated by the Brits and irish a bit imo.Top ten/20 all-time etc. A lot of countries have had super-talented underachievers that still had good tournaments etc.. at one point or another.

[mickey1975]

Best never got the chance to play in a World Cup,but was a European Cup winner and even Pele said he was the best player in the world.The general opinion,is that he would be in most peoples all time greats top 10

[ridgeback71]

Id say tyson underachived cuz of lack of discipline.

[JCB123]

This guy is a hell of a fighter too..Emmanuel Augustus, Had all the skills and ability but I hear he just loved the drink too much

I was in Vegas with Emmanuel Augustus last year, he's defo not on the booze now cos i was buyin him Sprite at the bar!!!!

I just thought he was punch drunk, but i'd agree he didn't seem altogether there.

hurlock wrote:
paul hodkinson was dedicated, but turnt into a scag head.

Did't know Hocko was a bag head??? Is this true?? I don't think so??

[banjo]

Last I heard Hoko was a taxi driver and I've heard that from a few people as well.

[JCB123]

he is on the taxis, just find it hard him bein a smack head??

[Scrap]

Ive had a few and often wonder why they do these crazy things. Is it for an excuse to themselves if they get beat. Its a thing Ive never asked, but often wondered.

[stujones]

I think with the revision of what constitutes "George Best" in mind... I go with these lot.

1) Mike Tyson..... very similar story - taken in by an older person, in Tyson's case Cus who trained him, in George's case an old landlady who treated him like a son. WAS very very disciplined for a few years - George didn't like the part lifestyle in his early career. THen too much, too young and went off the rails.

Others who reached the top, but could have had longer careers at the top if it wasn't for their life style.

Toney, Witherspoon and Tapia.