Hero To Zero - Who Had The Fastest Fall From Grace?

[keithmoonhangover]

I can't think of anyone who's fall was as fast as Frank Bruno. He fulfils a life long dream by winning a world title and retires after getting thumped in his next fight.

I've gotta give Terry Marsh a mention also. World Champion one minute, retired the next. Epilepsy isn't messin' with anyone.

[n1ebf]

McCall had a single defence, a UD against Larry Holmes in America, and lost it almost a year to the date he won it.
Domestically, Gary Woolcombe (Champ) ran into Ryan Rhodes (challenger), who it turned out was a very long way from being on the deline. I think Gary might have boxed once after that, then I never heard about him again, he was still only in his early/ mid 20s I think.

[thepocketrocket]

Andrew Six Heads Lewis

[JimJim2009]

Well he never quite got to the top, but Ike Ibeabuchi had a shocking fall from grace, he was primed for a world title fight and may well have become a very good world heavyweight champ. Threw it all away, ruining his own life and a few others too.

[keithmoonhangover]

Well he never quite got to the top, but Ike Ibeabuchi had a shocking fall from grace, he was primed for a world title fight and may well have become a very good world heavyweight champ. Threw it all away, ruining his own life and a few others too.

I think Manny Stewart trained Lewis would have eaten him alive.

[stujones]

Not necessarily a fall from Grace, but James Hare went from one or two fights from a world title to... well poor almost overnight.

[stevieb_8006]

roy jones. top of the world after ruiz, and then it all went horribly wrong.

actually, jeff lacy!!!!

[n1ebf]

Not necessarily a fall from Grace, but James Hare went from one or two fights from a world title to... well poor almost overnight.

that covers a multitude that does. Hare was an establised Brit Champ for a good while, I'd say he had a very solid career. Yes he looked nothing like his former self at the end.

[littlepug]

scot Harrison- from world champ to overseas jailbird in one fell swoop

[IRLangmaid25]

roy jones. top of the world after ruiz, and then it all went horribly wrong.

actually, jeff lacy!!!!

I agree with you on Jeff Lacy. Dan Birmingham et al were billing Lacy as a 12 stone Mike Tyson with the way he was running over everyone prior to go and since he got the IBF belt and his camp thought he would do the same to Joe Calzaghe. Who they thought at 33 years old and having had 18 world title fights was someone on the slide. And we all know the rest...

[iamasadlittleboy]

Edwin Valero. I don't think an explanation is needed here.

[johnnygreaves]

McCall had a single defence, a UD against Larry Holmes in America, and lost it almost a year to the date he won it.
Domestically, Gary Woolcombe (Champ) ran into Ryan Rhodes (challenger), who it turned out was a very long way from being on the deline. I think Gary might have boxed once after that, then I never heard about him again, he was still only in his early/ mid 20s I think.

Gary failed a brain scan if I remember

[Parson Cross]

Not accurate.
Gary had three fights after Rhodes and won them all.
He was 27 when he finished.
I don't think its fair to say Gary had a fast fall from grace - just found his level and there's nothing wrong with that.

[stevedoc]

for me the two that stand out are buster douglas ,he did the seemingly impossible and beat the monster that was tyson only to than lose it without much fight to holyfield and then retire and gain 100 pounds .

kirkland laing he beats the great Duran only to then vanish for a year stoned and he never made the most of that win and now of course he's living rough i think .

[lillywhite14]

Buster won the lottery when he beat Tyson. A sometimes lazy and underprepared heavyweight who loves the grub was only ever going to go me way once he picked up $24m against Holy!

That fee tells you all why its the richest prize in sport and it still is in the right hands.

[mickey1975]

I wouldn't class Douglas as a zero. He gained his place in history that night and became a wealthy man.

[Emmseegee]

Not quite as high on the scale as some of those above but David Price was an almighty fall from grace on the UK scene. Lots of people on here who follow boxing knew this was possible but others were starting to believe he was the next best thing. Working on sky at Klitschko events saying he was taking in the atmosphere etc as it would benefit him when his day came etc.

I like big Price right enough so hopefully he creeps his way back up and makes a good career out of it.

[stevedoc]

I wouldn't class Douglas as a zero. He gained his place in history that night and became a wealthy man.

it was the after stuff of him putting on so much weight and becoming a recluse after he lost to holy ,maybe not zero but quite a fall in a short time . i respect douglas for what he did against tyson it was one of the best heavy weight performances i have seen .

[orbtastic]

Doesn't get more graceful than sitting in a jacuzzi ordering room service pizza?

[danconnollyeire]

Well he never quite got to the top, but Ike Ibeabuchi had a shocking fall from grace, he was primed for a world title fight and may well have become a very good world heavyweight champ. Threw it all away, ruining his own life and a few others too.

I think Manny Stewart trained Lewis would have eaten him alive.

Would've been a great fight. Ike didn't have the best skill but beat unbeaten Tua and Byrd, which are great wins for anybody. Lewis would've stopped him late IMO and dominated

[bripez]

I might be wrong but I don't remember Mike Tyson making any "I will bum you and make you my bitch" type threats to Ike !

[n1ebf]

McCall had a single defence, a UD against Larry Holmes in America, and lost it almost a year to the date he won it.
Domestically, Gary Woolcombe (Champ) ran into Ryan Rhodes (challenger), who it turned out was a very long way from being on the deline. I think Gary might have boxed once after that, then I never heard about him again, he was still only in his early/ mid 20s I think.

Gary failed a brain scan if I remember

ah cheers Johnny, I didn't know this. Yes you are correct Parsons, 3 wins after that, I looked it up. I felt a bit sorry for Woolcombe that night, I think not many people outside Sheffield thought Ryan Rhodes might do that to the champion. It was a ghastly knock out.

[n1ebf]

I wouldn't class Douglas as a zero. He gained his place in history that night and became a wealthy man.

it was the after stuff of him putting on so much weight and becoming a recluse after he lost to holy ,maybe not zero but quite a fall in a short time . i respect douglas for what he did against tyson it was one of the best heavy weight performances i have seen .

I was too young but the way people carry on, you'd think Douglas had just won a "tough-guy" competition or something. You'd think he was sh*t.
I found this fight on VHS in an Oxfam shop a few years ago and watched it. Douglas was a tall, strong, determined, athletic son of a bitch who never tooked a backward step and boxed his ears off. I don't know what Mike's situation was pre-fight, but that performance had every bit to do with how good Buster was, as it did Mike, I think.

[Parson Cross]

We were very confident going in n1.
Poor old mini Frank kept doing his money in with opponents for Ryan.

[SamWise72]

I wouldn't class Douglas as a zero. He gained his place in history that night and became a wealthy man.

it was the after stuff of him putting on so much weight and becoming a recluse after he lost to holy ,maybe not zero but quite a fall in a short time . i respect douglas for what he did against tyson it was one of the best heavy weight performances i have seen .

I was too young but the way people carry on, you'd think Douglas had just won a "tough-guy" competition or something. You'd think he was sh*t.
I found this fight on VHS in an Oxfam shop a few years ago and watched it. Douglas was a tall, strong, determined, athletic son of a bitch who never tooked a backward step and boxed his ears off. I don't know what Mike's situation was pre-fight, but that performance had every bit to do with how good Buster was, as it did Mike, I think.

That's the point; he was magnificent that night, but it was the only time in his career he lived up to billing. Watch him throw away his lead against Tony Tucker, for instance. Lost to the (underrated) Jesse Ferguson, got stopped late by Mike White while leading. This is not a guy who you think is going to extend a Tyson who was seen as invincible, who had walked through people with much better resumes. Everyone knew Buster had a lot of skills, but his best wins were Greg Page and a 10 round decision over Berbick (remember what Tyson did to him?). With hindsight, McCall is a great win too, but at that point it was meaningless. Most people didn't see a chink in Tyson's armour at all at that point, and Douglas looked two levels below him.