Heavyweight Prospects 'Spring 1970'

[yancey]

Duce, do you recall a heavyweight from that era named Forrest Ward?

Gil Clancy had him and he was considered a real hot prospect, but he sure fell off the radar screen.

[Nile4000]

Surprised Norton was considered to be a better prospect than Foreman at the time.

[Rover]

Duce, do you recall a heavyweight from that era named Forrest Ward?

Gil Clancy had him and he was considered a real hot prospect, but he sure fell off the radar screen.

Yep,

A Brooklyn Boy, and only Age 18 - when he won 1967 New York Golden Gloves {March 1967},
the Gold Medal at the 1967 Pan Am Games {July 1967} and then the 1967 National AAU
Heavyweight Championships.

Angelo Dundee 'foolishly' told him to turn Pro in late-1967 and to forget about wating
{12 Months} for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

At 6' 3" and about 195 lbs. They over-matched him before he developed.

Sometimes, Angelo Dundee was 'over-rated' in his judgement.

Angelo Dundee quote {from October 1967}
"Forest Ward is the greatest prospect that I have ever seen. He's like the next Joe Louis, a true
boxer-puncher. He's better than any young fighter out there. I told him he would be wasting his
time {12 Months} if he waited for the 1968 Olympics."

Wow, I bet Dundee regretted that quote.

[Rover]

Surprised Norton was considered to be a better prospect than Foreman at the time.

Just goes to show how wrong those rankings of prospects (and not just in boxing) can be.

[Nile4000]

Surprised Norton was considered to be a better prospect than Foreman at the time.

Just goes to show how wrong those rankings of prospects (and not just in boxing) can be.

Indeed, they were definitely off.

[Nile4000]

Surprised Norton was considered to be a better prospect than Foreman at the time.

Why,

George Foreman was a 'raw and one-dimensional' bomber at the time. Powerful, but limited.

Ken Norton was regarded as a more complete boxer, with better overall skills.

So if those two had fought at that time in 1970, who would you have picked?

[HomicideHenry]

List Compiled by Boxing Illustrated

The Top Heavyweight Prospects {Spring 1970}

#1...... Mac Foster - 24-0-0 {24 KO's}
#2...... Ken Norton - 14-0-0 {13 KO's}
#3...... George Foreman - 19-0-0 {17 KO's}
#4...... Ted Gullick - 11-0-0 {10 KO's}
#5...... Jeff Merritt - 13-1-0 {9 KO's}
#6...... Boone Kirkman - 21-1-0 {17 KO's}
#7...... Joe Bugner - 26-2-0 {18 KO's}
#8...... Earnie Shavers - 12-1-0 {12 KO's}
#9...... Roy Williams - 10-2-0 {7 KO's}
#10.... Willie Burton - 14-1-0 {2 KO's}

Others To Watch

*....... Larry Middleton - 11-1-1 {6 KO's}
*....... Rufus Brasell - 18-2-0 {10 KO's}
*....... Randy Neumann - 10-0-0 {3 KO's}
*....... Dave Matthews - 9-0-0 {7 KO's}
*....... Jim Lee Elder - 10-0-0 {10 KO's}
*....... Eddie Brooks - 14-3-0 {5 KO's}
*....... Charles Singleton 10-2-1 {6 KO's}
*....... Ron Stander - 9-0-0 {7 KO's}

Rufus Brassell, knew of him, came from Dayton, Ohio which is 40 miles south of me. Ended up being a sparring partner for guys like George Foreman.

[scallum]

Mr. Rover,

Forest Ward {Brooklyn, New York} was the 'Real Deal' as an Amatuer in 1967 and was
a highly sought after Heavyweight Talent.

Only Age 18, he

{March 1967} won the New York Golden Gloves 'Open' Title

{April 1967} won the National AAU Championship in San Diego, California - defeating 23 year-old
Ken Norton in the Finals.

{July/August 1967} won the Pan Am Games {Gold Medal}

On August 23, 1967 and in New York, Forest lost a disputed 3-Round Decision to West German - Dieter Renz
in a USA vs. West Germany meet.

Following that loss, Gil Clancy told Forest to stop wasting his time in the Amateurs, and suggested that
he turn Professional and not to wait for the 1968 Olympics {October 1968} in Mexico City.

Mr. Clancy convinced an 18 1/2 year-old kid, that he would learn more as Professional in 15-Months than
he would as a 'no-money' Amateur with a bunch of Trophies and Medals.

Oh Gil !!! ............

Soon thereafter - Gil Clancy signed Forest Ward up with Teddy Brenner of Madison Square Garden....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... qufRZUw8aw

Wth! Can't believe one would advise a kid not to go for Olympics with basically only one year to wait. It had to be for a big signing bonus?

[WelshDevil]

Fascinating topic. It's great when you read a topic and actually learn new things.