who showed promise in the amateurs..BUT

[Broomhall]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire,Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson, Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace, Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt, Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes and Andy Straughan would do ok.

[palooka]

Mark Tibbs

Good call,and Dean Hollington too

Didnt chris saunders chin em both?

He did, he was a good fighter Chris and didn't get scared of reputations.

[ERIC GUY]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire (COMMONEALTH CHAMP),Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson ( BRITISH CHAMP), Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace (COMMONWEALTH TITLE), Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt (IBO, WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE), Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes (COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) and Andy Straughan (BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) would do ok.

A few of the Boxers above did win pro titles, commonwealth mostly

[TerribleTerry]

Mark Tibbs

Good call,and Dean Hollington too

Didnt chris saunders chin em both?

Jono Thaxton burst Hollington's bubble didn't he?

Jono was an unknown pro novice at the time but as he de-robed in the ring to face Hollington he revealed the kickboxing title belts which bolstered his megre pro boxing ring experience.

I remember reading the BN report at the time and kept an eye out for Jono from that point forward...

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire (COMMONEALTH CHAMP),Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson ( BRITISH CHAMP), Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace (COMMONWEALTH TITLE), Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt (IBO, WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE), Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes (COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) and Andy Straughan (BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) would do ok.

A few of the Boxers above did win pro titles, commonwealth mostly

Andy Straughn a Commonwealth champion?

Nick Wilshire was also British if I remember rightly.

[Broomhall]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire (COMMONEALTH CHAMP),Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson ( BRITISH CHAMP), Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace (COMMONWEALTH TITLE), Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt (IBO, WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE), Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes (COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) and Andy Straughan (BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH CHAMP) would do ok.

A few of the Boxers above did win pro titles, commonwealth mostly

They did and many boxed for or won British titles, but given their amateur backgrounds, I expected more for most of them. I geuss it depends on what you define as fulfilling promise.

[bennie]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire,Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson, Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace, Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt, Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes and Andy Straughan would do ok.

I am old enough to have watched Lloyd Morgan box, and he is the best boxer nobody knows.

[palooka]

There were a lot of almost world class amateurs in Britain who didnt fire as pros-John Hyland, Bob Mckenley, Joey Frost, Peter English, Renard Ashton, Nick Wilshire,Earl Henderson, Colin Derrick, Lloyd Morgan, Peter Richardson, Mark Ramsay, Alan Hall, John Beckles, Tony Wilson, Brian Schumacher, Jimmy Price, Keith Wallace, Mo Haniff, Eamonn Mccauley, Danny Costello, Courtney Fry, Alan Vaughan, Kelly Oliver, Richard Evatt, Pat Gallagher you can go on and on really.

I thought Cliff Gilpin and Lloyd Hibbert would do better than they did. Also thought Mickey Hughes and Andy Straughan would do ok.

I am old enough to have watched Lloyd Morgan box, and he is the best boxer nobody knows.

I'm quite old and haven't heard of Lloyd Morgan - more info please?

[Broomhall]

Welterweight from Tottenham, really smooth boxer. lost to Eddie Byrne in the ABA finals 1978, Turned pro had a few fights and disapeared. I really thought he would translate to the pros. Those were the days when to win a London divs or ABA title at welter/middle- you had to be good.

[Coco]

Darren Dyer

[Broomhall]

Rudi Pika

I watched the ABA final live in which Pika lost to Frank Bruno, an I tell you what I would have given Pika that bout. He was pretty good, but sadly took his own life.

Darwin Brewster was another good welshman from that time, who got a shock early in his career with a meeting with John Mugabi. Odd match as both fledgling, undefeated at the time.

Talking of Lloyd Morgan, Winston May was another amateur I used to love watching, but just had no power at all. George Collins won loads of titles as a junior, but again I think turned pro too young.

[reggaereggae]

Rudi Pika

I watched the ABA final live in which Pika lost to Frank Bruno, an I tell you what I would have given Pika that bout. He was pretty good, but sadly took his own life.

Darwin Brewster was another good welshman from that time, who got a shock early in his career with a meeting with John Mugabi. Odd match as both fledgling, undefeated at the time.

Talking of Lloyd Morgan, Winston May was another amateur I used to love watching, but just had no power at all. George Collins won loads of titles as a junior, but again I think turned pro too young.

As to George Collins, he won a lot of titles at junior level as he was essentially a man against kids. He may have been several years older than he said.
He got Ko'd in one round by Gary Stretch in his only senior contest I believe

[bennie]

Welterweight from Tottenham, really smooth boxer. lost to Eddie Byrne in the ABA finals 1978, Turned pro had a few fights and disapeared. I really thought he would translate to the pros. Those were the days when to win a London divs or ABA title at welter/middle- you had to be good.

Lloyd really choked in that ABA final against southpaw Byrne, which was a shame.

[Stuarty]

Wasn't former Naz victim Daniel Alicea a former world amateur champ? Also Craig Mcewan from up here. My mate fought him in the amateurs and said he was on a different level. He was doing ok out in Hollywood but seems to never have reached his full potential.

[littlepug]

whats happened to double ABA champ and son of a legend craig lyons ?

[handsofstone]

Wasn't former Naz victim Daniel Alicea a former world amateur champ? Also Craig Mcewan from up here. My mate fought him in the amateurs and said he was on a different level. He was doing ok out in Hollywood but seems to never have reached his full potential.

Came back to Scotland but he has returned to the US for a final crack at it I believe

[Broomhall]

Remember FW signing a super feather from Pakistan who had won a few big amateur tournaments including gold in the 2002 Comonwealth games. Haider Ali. Big things forecast for him but bombed badly as a pro.

[Stuarty]

Wasn't former Naz victim Daniel Alicea a former world amateur champ? Also Craig Mcewan from up here. My mate fought him in the amateurs and said he was on a different level. He was doing ok out in Hollywood but seems to never have reached his full potential.

Came back to Scotland but he has returned to the US for a final crack at it I believe

He was always a bit of a hit n a miss as a pro. I remember watching him against Darnell Boone and he was fortunate. I thought he was beating Lee until the KDs. I also had a few quid on him in a prizefighter but he lost out.

[Broomhall]

Remember FW signing a super feather from Pakistan who had won a few big amateur tournaments including gold in the 2002 Comonwealth games. Haider Ali. Big things forecast for him but bombed badly as a pro.

This article emphasises the hopes and dreams

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... liver.html

[Roco]

Why did Andy McLean turn back amateur?

Don't think he ever went back to the Ams. Had to retire due to an eye injury. Pity could box and bang. Runs a PT company and promotes White collar.

Really? Could have sworn he won Aba's, turned pro having 3 or 4 and then going back amateur and entering aba's again.

[palooka]

I've left the best till last! My boxing hero, Shaun Gray - he was exceptional, there were some really good lightwelters around West Ham in the late 80's and early 90's (Jason Rowland, Dean Hollington, Mark Tibbs) and they became very good pro fighters, Shaun had a far better amateur pedigree than any of them and if he'd have carried on boxing he'd have been a very popular and successful champion.

[Bigdogsnose]

Why did Andy McLean turn back amateur?

Don't think he ever went back to the Ams. Had to retire due to an eye injury. Pity could box and bang. Runs a PT company and promotes White collar.

Really? Could have sworn he won Aba's, turned pro having 3 or 4 and then going back amateur and entering aba's again.

He might off to be fair then. Not sure if link below will work, but good interview in which he explains what happened to him and where he is now. He's from the same Village as me - bout ten years older - wouldn't have a clue who I am. Its only 1/2 a mile away form where Travis and Jon Lewis Dickinson are from, so decent pedigree!!

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/I've+reki ... 0344388624

[kamicazze]

Ricardo Samms. 4 pro wins. Made it to Olympic box offs. Then he found a girl, got a degree and is now working in the states

[REEVE]

whats happened to double ABA champ and son of a legend craig lyons ?

reitred a few years back as far as i know

[stujones]

If we are talking globally, one of the fighters I was most disappointed with who had a stellar amateur career was Larence Cley Bey - loads of talent, just didn't have that desire.