Heavyweight: Who do you think was the biggest disappointment of the last 40 years?

[APerno]

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For me, it was Riddick Bowe. After watching Bowe dismantle Evander Holyfield in their first fight I was convinced that Bowe was going to be very tough to beat and would be champion for several years to come, (and I wasn’t even a Bowe fan); I thought he had both the size and skill to be a dominate champion, and then, surprise - he was gone 'oh so quickly.'

[Controversial]

Was it that Bowe was so good? Or was he just too big for Holyfield and Evander fought the wrong fight by trading with him? There are quite a few disappointments in the HW division over the years, I guess on paper Bowe would be up there.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The whole division for ages, the most disappointing has to be Wlad for me. Watching him refuse to finish fighters begging to be stopped made the Heavyweight title fights completely unwatchable for me. Worse than Ruiz because the skills were there. I loved Wlad coming up, he had to do what he could to win fights, even then he took it way to the extreme. A real bitch of a giant and the most delicate and kind power puncher in history.

[littlepug]

Michael moorer for me, thought he looked like a killer at light heavy but cracks in his mental makeup soon appeared after his move to heavyweight

[davie]

Audley Harrison.

He kept telling us he could.... but never ever did.

He's destroyed my faith in fate and destiny altogether

[Counter-puncher]

For me Witherspoon

[BoxBuzz]

Greg Page...good guy, but disappointing in his work ethic....he could have done much more in my opinion.

Buster Douglas, he was as good as his best night...but never really kept momentum going before or after.

Bowe's on my list....yep, not a hard enough worker....he was given all the gifts...but didn't ask enough of himself in my opinion.

Harrison? I think he was great salesman, and that's it. He may have never had it to delivery, even if he wanted to.


And the never heard of Ed Mahone. USA network told me he was going to be a great.....I had no reason to assume they didn't know what they were talking about. I mean they lied straight to my face, and to my beer bottle.

[APerno]

Michael moorer for me, thought he looked like a killer at light heavy but cracks in his mental makeup soon appeared after his move to heavyweight

I am been looking through my old boxing rags lately and I was amazed at how everyone was concluding that Michael Moore was going to be unbeatable - he seems to have had everyone fooled.

[gilgamesh]

Ricardo Williams Jr. - Winning the Silver Medal, Receiving a Million Dollar signing bonus, and then getting busted and going to Prison on a huge Cocaine bust essentially ruining his career has to rank up there. Especially in the eyes of who ever paid him that signing bonus

[elmersalsa]

.

For me, it was Riddick Bowe. After watching Bowe dismantle Evander Holyfield in their first fight I was convinced that Bowe was going to be very tough to beat and would be champion for several years to come, (and I wasn’t even a Bowe fan); I thought he had both the size and skill to be a dominate champion, and then, surprise - he was gone 'oh so quickly.'

I second that sentiment. I couldn't understand the throwing of the title belt in the thrash can and all that nonsense. He went downhill little by little after that.

[ElJefe]

Michael moorer for me, thought he looked like a killer at light heavy but cracks in his mental makeup soon appeared after his move to heavyweight

I am been looking through my old boxing rags lately and I was amazed at how everyone was concluding that Michael Moore was going to be unbeatable - he seems to have had everyone fooled.

What was the deal with Moorer? What stopped him being as good as people thought? He's before my time so I don't know the ins and outs of what was happening back then. I've seen the Foreman/Moorer legendary nights documentary and he comes across as a bit arrogant, like he thought he knew it all. Was it an attitude thing?

[sweetsci]

Culturally speaking, it has to be Mike Tyson. Sure, he mopped up the heavyweight division between 86-89, but he was supposed to rule for YEARS in the manner of a Joe Louis. He was a boxing fan's dream - fierce, fast, powerful, and always in top shape. He studied the greats and could discuss them. Through early '88 his PR people made him out to be a squeaky clean bad boy goes good. He was (supposedly) a good kid with a great team behind him. And if he could do what he did at 20-21-22, imagine what he'll do when he matures! Tyson was supposed to BE boxing in the 1990's. He had higher expectations placed on him than any heavyweight since Joe Louis.

Tyson wasn't supposed to be lured in by Don King. He wasn't supposed to lose to Buster Douglas. And even when he did, well, perhaps Douglas was his Max Schmeling. Tyson will learn from the loss and come back stronger. He wasn't supposed to have marital troubles or get into street fights. He wasn't supposed to go to prison. He wasn't supposed to have fights declared NC because of drug use, or be DQ'd because he snapped and bit a man's ear.

We boxing fans can talk of being disappointed by Duane Bobick, Gerry Cooney, Greg Page, Michael Dokes, Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs, Riddick Bowe, Michael Grant, and many others. But Mike Tyson... he had mainstream Joe Public's attention.

[littlepug]

Michael moorer for me, thought he looked like a killer at light heavy but cracks in his mental makeup soon appeared after his move to heavyweight

I am been looking through my old boxing rags lately and I was amazed at how everyone was concluding that Michael Moore was going to be unbeatable - he seems to have had everyone fooled.

What was the deal with Moorer? What stopped him being as good as people thought? He's before my time so I don't know the ins and outs of what was happening back then. I've seen the Foreman/Moorer legendary nights documentary and he comes across as a bit arrogant, like he thought he knew it all. Was it an attitude thing?

Think he lost the intimidation thing he had at light heavy when he moved up and just wasn't mentally up to it

[APerno]

Culturally speaking, it has to be Mike Tyson. Sure, he mopped up the heavyweight division between 86-89, but he was supposed to rule for YEARS in the manner of a Joe Louis. He was a boxing fan's dream - fierce, fast, powerful, and always in top shape. He studied the greats and could discuss them. Through early '88 his PR people made him out to be a squeaky clean bad boy goes good. He was (supposedly) a good kid with a great team behind him. And if he could do what he did at 20-21-22, imagine what he'll do when he matures! Tyson was supposed to BE boxing in the 1990's. He had higher expectations placed on him than any heavyweight since Joe Louis.

Tyson wasn't supposed to be lured in by Don King. He wasn't supposed to lose to Buster Douglas. And even when he did, well, perhaps Douglas was his Max Schmeling. Tyson will learn from the loss and come back stronger. He wasn't supposed to have marital troubles or get into street fights. He wasn't supposed to go to prison. He wasn't supposed to have fights declared NC because of drug use, or be DQ'd because he snapped and bit a man's ear.

We boxing fans can talk of being disappointed by Duane Bobick, Gerry Cooney, Greg Page, Michael Dokes, Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Biggs, Riddick Bowe, Michael Grant, and many others. But Mike Tyson... he had mainstream Joe Public's attention.

MAYBE it was as simple as two words: Don King - than maybe that's unfair to Don King ('unfair to Don King' - Hey I just made myself LOL)

[BoxBuzz]

Sometimes a boxer....(in this case Moorer) needs to know just what got him as far as he got.....and have some faith...in this case in his trainer.


With Tyson....didn't his troubles really begin when Cus died? I think Cus was helping him form his character....and he died before the job was finished.

I think Mike could have had a different story if he hadn't lost that "family" member.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I am been looking through my old boxing rags lately and I was amazed at how everyone was concluding that Michael Moore was going to be unbeatable - he seems to have had everyone fooled.

What was the deal with Moorer? What stopped him being as good as people thought? He's before my time so I don't know the ins and outs of what was happening back then. I've seen the Foreman/Moorer legendary nights documentary and he comes across as a bit arrogant, like he thought he knew it all. Was it an attitude thing?

Think he lost the intimidation thing he had at light heavy when he moved up and just wasn't mentally up to it

He was a better Heavyweight than Light Heavyweight. He's underrated imo.

[bw14]

He was a better Heavyweight than Light Heavyweight. He's underrated imo.

I'd say that's about right. Best win at LHW was Leslie Stewart.

Meanwhile at HW it's Evander Holyfield.

Crazy how he went from 175 to 213 in four months.

[Kalan]

Tim Witherspoon had loads of talent... He only had 7 amateur fights but the learned fast.. I was very angry at his team for putting him in with Larry Holmes when he had 15 fights.. WHY??? If a kid is showing so much potential after 15 fights, let him sharpen up for another 10 fights -- and he'd be sure to win the title instead of maybe getting knocked out.. Everybody told Tim he won the Holmes fight and it went to his head big time.

Spoon fought extremely well versus Holmes, but I didn't think he won.. That was probably his best career effort and it's a shame.. He made very poor efforts preparing for the majority of his post-Holmes fights... Other slackers were: Buster Douglas, Greg Page, Gerry Cooney, Michael Dokes, John Tate, Riddick Bowe etc... Tyrell Biggs is another who had potential and they pushed him up against Tyson way early... Why do that???

The worst rush job was Marvis Frazier... He was 10-0 when he was pushed him against Larry Holmes 44-0... The funny thing is, his dad wanted the fight.

[foxdog1923]

David Tua.

[Controversial]

David Tua.

Good shout, with his power and chin he should've achieved much more

[Seamus]

Golota.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Golota.

I think tua overachieved. Weird how public sentiment goes. Judah would lead a poll on a question like this and he's one of the most consistent performers of his era. Sometimes people just aren't as good as we want them to be.

[Tony1244]

Golota.

I think tua overachieved. Weird how public sentiment goes. Judah would lead a poll on a question like this and he's one of the most consistent performers of his era. Sometimes people just aren't as good as we want them to be.

Golota had the Bowe and Grant fights won. Golota could have won those 3 fights by walking around the ring crying like McCall for 6 minutes.

If he had hung around a bit longer against Tyson, who knows Tyson may have quit first. Yes, Andrew was a huge disappointment. He could box quite nicely.

[Seamus]

Golota may have been the biggest headcase in the history of the Heavyweight division.

[Syntax Error]

Tim Witherspoon had loads of talent... He only had 7 amateur fights but the learned fast.. I was very angry at his team for putting him in with Larry Holmes when he had 15 fights.. WHY??? If a kid is showing so much potential after 15 fights, let him sharpen up for another 10 fights -- and he'd be sure to win the title instead of maybe getting knocked out.. Everybody told Tim he won the Holmes fight and it went to his head big time.

Spoon fought extremely well versus Holmes, but I didn't think he won.. That was probably his best career effort and it's a shame.. He made very poor efforts preparing for the majority of his post-Holmes fights... Other slackers were: Buster Douglas, Greg Page, Gerry Cooney, Michael Dokes, John Tate, Riddick Bowe etc... Tyrell Biggs is another who had potential and they pushed him up against Tyson way early... Why do that???

The worst rush job was Marvis Frazier... He was 10-0 when he was pushed him against Larry Holmes 44-0... The funny thing is, his dad wanted the fight.

When you say that Marvis's father wanted the fight, do you mean Smokin' Joe was planning a comeback against Holmes, or that he wanted Marvis to fight Holmes?