Brits Who Looked Like A World Beater, But Never Made It.

[Coco]

How about Tony Sibson, commonwealth and european title holder and 3 time world title challenger? Unfortunate one of the shots was against Hagler, I think Hagler said once Sibson was the hardest puncher he faced.

But in those days you needed to be the best in the world to be world champ

[Coco]

Never convinced with Mark Kaylor but many were

I wasn’t either, I always wanted him to do well though. I thought he was a cool cockney.

Heard him interviewed a few years back, I think with Bunce, living in the States, his speech wasn't the best but seems to be living well.

[sibbo]

I was quietly expectant about Cliffton Mitchell, thought he might have worked his way into world class.... Then he took that James Oyebola right hand.

[GreenLightning]

Bradley Saunders looked pretty hot early on in his career and he had a solid amateur background.

He was struggling in a fight with some French dude that he was odds on to beat and just blatantly nutted him and was rightly disqualified.

Won his next fight and just packed it in. Think he had dodgy hands and eyes

Fred Evans and Eamon O'Kane. O'Kane looked a beast in the ams and they started throwing him in with contenders quite early. I mentioned it before but Simon Valily, he looked the part.

With Fred Evans, he will always have regrets I think.

I've never seen a fighter with such an accomplished amateur career fight like a novice pub brawler in my life, O'Kane would close his eyes and everything . It was baffling as it didn't look like a once good fighter who turned over late, it looked like someone who'd never thrown a punch in their life

[wrighty]

He loved a bent arm shot so he did!

[margaret thatcher]

i remember o kane getting a hammering from some lithuianian dude, but lucking out by having a clash of heads stop the fight before it could be scored. for a crude swinger he did okay, irish title, prizefighter, world title eliminator...at least had a few minor accomplishments

the world title eliminator vs taureano johnson, who was basically like him but with a better chin and more power. o kane gave it a go but did well to make it to the end after being dropped twice in the first and being hurt throughout the fight. was prob a good decision to retire then as i dont think he wouldve gone further and had a punishment soaking style

[wrighty]

He could have done the european title but it was dependent on who was holding the belt at the time!

[veriton]

Think Alex Arthur is worthy of inclusion on this list. Looked good at British and Euro level but the Gomez mauling derailed everything

[1150004]

How can you forget also that he could have also ruined a lot more packets of crisps too.

[1150004]

How about Tony Sibson, commonwealth and european title holder and 3 time world title challenger? Unfortunate one of the shots was against Hagler, I think Hagler said once Sibson was the hardest puncher he faced.

I always had the impression that Sibson was stuck between weights, I think if Supermiddle had existed when he was at his peak, he'd have picked up a world title.

[keithmoonhangover]

How about Tony Sibson, commonwealth and european title holder and 3 time world title challenger? Unfortunate one of the shots was against Hagler, I think Hagler said once Sibson was the hardest puncher he faced.

I always had the impression that Sibson was stuck between weights, I think if Supermiddle had existed when he was at his peak, he'd have picked up a world title.

[1150004]

Thank you.

Do you remember when Sibson stepped up to Lightheavy to fight Dennis Andries?

I've often wondered why Andries (who had won the WBC title in his previous fight) still held the British title.

[keithmoonhangover]

Thank you.

Do you remember when Sibson stepped up to Lightheavy to fight Dennis Andries?

I've often wondered why Andries (who had won the WBC title in his previous fight) still held the British title.

Yeah, a bizarre one that. It goes without saying that Fwank was the promoter.

[polecateddy]

Thank you.

Do you remember when Sibson stepped up to Lightheavy to fight Dennis Andries?

I've often wondered why Andries (who had won the WBC title in his previous fight) still held the British title.

Yeah, a bizarre one that. It goes without saying that Fwank was the promoter.

I think the logic was that Andries would be easily outboxed. Sibson was the favourite to win with the boxing press.

[keithmoonhangover]

Thank you.

Do you remember when Sibson stepped up to Lightheavy to fight Dennis Andries?

I've often wondered why Andries (who had won the WBC title in his previous fight) still held the British title.

Yeah, a bizarre one that. It goes without saying that Fwank was the promoter.

I think the logic was that Andries would be easily outboxed. Sibson was the favourite to win with the boxing press.

Yeah, but why for both titles. I can't think of any other fight that was for the Brit and the WBC.

[JamesPhilips]

HeroL Graham? He was super hyped and never got to a world title despite 3 shots.

[stujones]

Surprised no mention of Howard Eastman, but I was always a little sceptical of this supposed next gear he had

[skanksta]

What about a little detour in to.....

Brits who never looked like world beaters but were being given the push as if they would really make it..?
Perhaps another thread - biggest hype jobs !

[Noxy]

He loved a bent arm shot so he did!

I remember him from the amateur scene. He went further than I thought he would. I used to think he was just a hard man with not much else going for him. But he proved to be more than that.

[wrighty]

He won the commonwealth games fairly easy. I thought Keiron Harding who got a bronze was a good stylist and would have done something. I don't think he had many. O'Kane just seemed to go through everyone.

[GreenLightning]

i remember o kane getting a hammering from some lithuianian dude, but lucking out by having a clash of heads stop the fight before it could be scored. for a crude swinger he did okay, irish title, prizefighter, world title eliminator...at least had a few minor accomplishments

the world title eliminator vs taureano johnson, who was basically like him but with a better chin and more power. o kane gave it a go but did well to make it to the end after being dropped twice in the first and being hurt throughout the fight. was prob a good decision to retire then as i dont think he wouldve gone further and had a punishment soaking style

Think that was Vorgilogis Stapukionis, frampron Martinez undercard, said wouldn't be surprised if I Kane got done in the first, he almost did and got saved like you say

[wrighty]

Bomber Graham was class just very unlucky. He won the euro title 3 or 4 times and was a two weight British and commonwealth champion. His last fight against Brewer was a soft stoppage too

[Turpinr]

Back in the early 70's Vernon Sollas looked like he was going to go all the way.....
Same with Alex Arthur.
Bomber Graham could have been king in another era and fought top notch opponents.That brain scrambling right hand from Julian Jackson didn't help.