British Boxings Underachievers?

[Stuarty]

Who can you think of recently or in the past who didn't quite hit the heights their talent merited? A lot of people would say big Auds but in hindsight he had a decent enough career and just didn't live up to the hype.

I was just thinking of Alex Arthur there which prompted this thread. I honestly think he massively underachieved considering the talent he had. Heard that he was difficult to deal with in the gym and never listened. Also switched trainers quite a lot.

Anyone think of anymore?

[Taansend]

Who can you think of recently or in the past who didn't quite hit the heights their talent merited? A lot of people would say big Auds but in hindsight he had a decent enough career and just didn't live up to the hype.

I was just thinking of Alex Arthur there which prompted this thread. I honestly think he massively underachieved considering the talent he had. Heard that he was difficult to deal with in the gym and never listened. Also switched trainers quite a lot.

Anyone think of anymore?

Didn't Arthur say that the drive to the gym made his back hurt?

Going back a couple of decades I thought Colin McMillan head great skills but his body let him down.

[Stuarty]

Who can you think of recently or in the past who didn't quite hit the heights their talent merited? A lot of people would say big Auds but in hindsight he had a decent enough career and just didn't live up to the hype.

I was just thinking of Alex Arthur there which prompted this thread. I honestly think he massively underachieved considering the talent he had. Heard that he was difficult to deal with in the gym and never listened. Also switched trainers quite a lot.

Anyone think of anymore?

Didn't Arthur say that the drive to the gym made his back hurt?

Going back a couple of decades I thought Colin McMillan head great skills but his body let him down.

That rings a bell mate yeah. Looks as if he's been rattling the roids recently man. My mate treats him sometimes and says he's pumped up to fukk!

[skanksta]

I KNOW he achieved a lot but Naz for me.

Staying humble, not believing your own hype, staying loyal to the team that got you there - all those cliches you hear thrown at starry prospects - he ignored them all and paid the price. He coulda/shoulda been in the TBE conversations and he only just snuck in to the HOF.

[Counter-puncher]

With better focus I think The Cockfeeder could have won a world title

Not that he would be a guy who made 5 defences necessarily, but if you look at Burns and Crolla doing so, on lesser talent in my opinion, then you'd have to say Mitchell underachieved.

Stopping Murray when he did was world class form IMO

[davie]

With better focus I think The Cockfeeder could have won a world title

Not that he would be a guy who made 5 defences necessarily, but if you look at Burns and Crolla doing so, on lesser talent in my opinion, then you'd have to say Mitchell underachieved.

Stopping Murray when he did was world class form IMO

I was just talking about his underachieving the other day, he really did look like he had world class talent at times.
Couldn't believe Burns sparked him

[davie]

I was also talking about Arthur the other day.

We were discussing having a Scottish fighter with a bit of buzz about them as the come through the ranks (in reference to Josh Taylor)
Arthur was a prospect everyone expected to make it while Burns most thought would struggle at Euro level or beyond

[rd350lc]

If Tyson fury never fights again you could put him in the list without question

[Crease]

Who can you think of recently or in the past who didn't quite hit the heights their talent merited?

Okay, it's always controversial subjects like these because we all rate boxers differently, but I'll give it a bash and see what I come up with.

Paul McCloskey
Dudey was turning some heads with silky boxing skills and his accurate southpaw style. He won the European title and finally broke into the World top 10, but Just as he was on the threshold a number of bad management decision cost him a great opportunity at fighting for a vacant World Championship.
First off, he should NEVER has fought Amir Khan. Khan had been talking about moving up in weight along with Tim Bradley & Devon Alexander... This would have left the field clear for Paul to pick up one of the three titles that were left behind. But alas, he tried to do too much, too soon and ballsed it all up in the end.


Bernard Dunne
I'm still convinced to this very day that Dunne was one of the top operators at Super Bantamweight for a couple of years there. But again, he came up against a monster in his prime when he fought Kiko Martinez. Then later he lost to Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym - another brilliant fighter who would also go on to World honours.

There's no shame in losing to either of those men in their prime, but I just can't help feeling that Bernard could have and should have done more in his career...


Eamon Magee
Magee should have went on to become a force at Light Welterweight & I do believe that he had the destructive power to be one of the best punchers that we've ever seen in that division. But his bad temper, his jealousy toward his ex wife and his generally mad behaviour with drink in him cost him a World title and a VERY luxurious career.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Frankie Gavin recently, Kirkland Laing going back.

[Tomasino]

Frankie Gavin recently, Kirkland Laing going back.

I watched Gavin live at ringside recently and you'd never have thought he won World Am gold. Was sad in a way.

[littlepug]

Michael Jennings, pat Barrett and Derek angol

[Crease]

I watched Gavin live at ringside recently and you'd never have thought he won World Am gold. Was sad in a way.

I do agree with that.

Gavin hasn't been the same fighter since the Bundu fight, I'm not sure if he lost confidence in himself or what it was. Then he lost something again when Brook destroyed him. I know that Frankie is trying to rebuild his career, but he just doesn't look the same fighter he did when he was a young prospect 5/6 years ago.

At this point, I'm unconvinced that he'll ever make a breakthrough to the top level...

[Crease]

Ian Napa

After his loss to Damaen Kelly, I thought that he had learned and put it all behind him when he won the European title, but alas his inconsistency kept catching up with him & when he lost that fight to Jamie McDonnell that spelt out the end for him.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Frankie Gavin recently, Kirkland Laing going back.

I watched Gavin live at ringside recently and you'd never have thought he won World Am gold. Was sad in a way.

I pegged him for big things.

[Tomasino]

Frankie Gavin recently, Kirkland Laing going back.

I watched Gavin live at ringside recently and you'd never have thought he won World Am gold. Was sad in a way.

I pegged him for big things.

He had some moves but got caught by some wild swings and had to dig his toes in to discourage the guy. I spoke to him after and he was sound, seemed a gentleman. The other boxers on the bill said he was a great guy in the changing rooms, giving friendly advice and was very relaxed. His reflexes and speed, even his footwork, it just wasn't what it was.

[boxingknockout]

With better focus I think The Cockfeeder could have won a world title

Not that he would be a guy who made 5 defences necessarily, but if you look at Burns and Crolla doing so, on lesser talent in my opinion, then you'd have to say Mitchell underachieved.

Stopping Murray when he did was world class form IMO

Cockfeeder wasn't good enough or tough enough. He was well touted as an amateur but just not sturdy enough.

[boxingknockout]

Who can you think of recently or in the past who didn't quite hit the heights their talent merited?

Okay, it's always controversial subjects like these because we all rate boxers differently, but I'll give it a bash and see what I come up with.

Paul McCloskey
Dudey was turning some heads with silky boxing skills and his accurate southpaw style. He won the European title and finally broke into the World top 10, but Just as he was on the threshold a number of bad management decision cost him a great opportunity at fighting for a vacant World Championship.
First off, he should NEVER has fought Amir Khan. Khan had been talking about moving up in weight along with Tim Bradley & Devon Alexander... This would have left the field clear for Paul to pick up one of the three titles that were left behind. But alas, he tried to do too much, too soon and ballsed it all up in the end.


Bernard Dunne
I'm still convinced to this very day that Dunne was one of the top operators at Super Bantamweight for a couple of years there. But again, he came up against a monster in his prime when he fought Kiko Martinez. Then later he lost to Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym - another brilliant fighter who would also go on to World honours.

There's no shame in losing to either of those men in their prime, but I just can't help feeling that Bernard could have and should have done more in his career...


Eamon Magee
Magee should have went on to become a force at Light Welterweight & I do believe that he had the destructive power to be one of the best punchers that we've ever seen in that division. But his bad temper, his jealousy toward his ex wife and his generally mad behaviour with drink in him cost him a World title and a VERY luxurious career.

Are you serious????!

[crusader]

I think Dunne may have overachieved. He wasn't really that tight of a boxer, his power was about average, and he didn't exactly have a good chin (look at how he melted against Poonsawat). He did very well to win the EBU and WBA titles, the latter being earned against a respectable opponent in an excellent fight.

[Covfefe]

If Tyson fury never fights again you could put him in the list without question

Undisputed heavyweight world champion? Not sure he'll ever get any further on than that, even without the break.

[rd350lc]

If Tyson fury never fights again you could put him in the list without question

Undisputed heavyweight world champion? Not sure he'll ever get any further on than that, even without the break.

Yes he could

He could have actually proved he was the best and took on all the best fighters at the weight and beat them .

Was his career fulfilled in dullfest of a fight where he fiddled his way to the win ?

[Covfefe]

If Tyson fury never fights again you could put him in the list without question

Undisputed heavyweight world champion? Not sure he'll ever get any further on than that, even without the break.

Yes he could

He could have actually proved he was the best and took on all the best fighters at the weight and beat them .

Was his career fulfilled in dullfest of a fight where he fiddled his way to the win ?

Fiddled his way to the win? By out pointing the heavyweight champion away in Germany?

I don't think he has the temperament to be a long term champion, I think this is as good as it will get for Tyson, and I think he's achieved very well.

[rd350lc]

Undisputed heavyweight world champion? Not sure he'll ever get any further on than that, even without the break.

Yes he could

He could have actually proved he was the best and took on all the best fighters at the weight and beat them .

Was his career fulfilled in dullfest of a fight where he fiddled his way to the win ?

Fiddled his way to the win? By out pointing the heavyweight champion away in Germany?

I don't think he has the temperament to be a long term champion, I think this is as good as it will get for Tyson, and I think he's achieved very well.

Yes he danced and fiddled his way to the win .

Joshua and Klitschko gave us far more entertainment and in Germany the result would have been the same

The fight with Fury was one of the dullest heavyweight title fights In living memory and Fury had a part to play in that .

Fury still had the beating of many of the top heavyweights and to conclude his career in the manner he has leaves many questions .

[crusader]

I don't see why him 'fiddling' to a win is particularly relevant if we're talking about underachieving. Boring, sure, but he still achieved a HW title winning victory over the long dominant and reigning champ.

[Covfefe]

Yes he could

He could have actually proved he was the best and took on all the best fighters at the weight and beat them .

Was his career fulfilled in dullfest of a fight where he fiddled his way to the win ?

Fiddled his way to the win? By out pointing the heavyweight champion away in Germany?

I don't think he has the temperament to be a long term champion, I think this is as good as it will get for Tyson, and I think he's achieved very well.

Yes he danced and fiddled his way to the win .

Joshua and Klitschko gave us far more entertainment and in Germany the result would have been the same

The fight with Fury was one of the dullest heavyweight title fights In living memory and Fury had a part to play in that .

Fury still had the beating of many of the top heavyweights and to conclude his career in the manner he has leaves many questions .

What does it matter if it was boring? Ffs.

He beat the long reigning heavyweight champion in his backyard and you criticise the way he did it? There really is no pleasing everyone.