BoxRec

Some others I thought would go higher than they did (I wouldn't call them flops).

The tree surgeon Lightweight, Steve Murray. I thought he would get to European honours - looked a real puncher.

Jimirez Jaca - gave a strong account for himself against JMM for the Featherweight title. A peak JMM. Thought he was destined to win a version when JMM moved up, hasn't transpired at all.

Similarly, a young world ranked Middleweight called Giovanni Petorius gave Robin Reid a very tough first defence in his first fight at Super Middleweight. Petorius was going to move down and I thought would be very successful at Middleweight - didn't quite happen for him.

Patrick Mullings - I really did think he was capable of winning a proper world title. He looked the pick of the exciting 3 Super Bantams after he lost to Oliver. It looked like he had learned from the Oliver fight.

Howard Clarke - okay my prediction when I saw a youngish Clarke in action was "he'll fight for a world title" proved correct in the funniest of circumstances - but I do believe he had the talent to win some honours domestically. I remember him boxing the head of Michael Smyth only for him not to get the decision.

Some other great calls - Dodson, Starie, Eamonn Magee etc - completely agree.

David Walker has already been mentioned, I thought he was going to be an excellent domestic level fighter with the possibility of snatching the European crown at some stage.
Was part of Mick Hennesey's Class of 2002 along with a certain Carl Froch amongst others.
Had some humdingers and was rarely involved in a boring fight. Got well schooled by Roman Karmizan for the European title and then disappeared for a while.
Has since comeback and been beaten by a Big Brother contestant...

It's doubtful that he was ever good enough to be successful on the world stage but I would consider him to have under achieved in his career.

johnnygreaves wrote:George could have done so much better. Trained in the same gyms a few times & he really looked the part. Remember him fighting one of the smith brothers at York hall & he just messed about , took a few piss taking libs & only got the draw. Shame really. Talented boy , don't train or fight hard enough for me.

He lost the fight against Ernie Smith - I was there that night. We all thought the fight was close, but nobody expected Smith would get the decision.

Mark Bowers

'Gypsy' Boy Mario. A life less ordinary...

stujones wrote:The tree surgeon Lightweight, Steve Murray. I thought he would get to European honours - looked a real puncher.

Howard Clarke - okay my prediction when I saw a youngish Clarke in action was "he'll fight for a world title" proved correct in the funniest of circumstances - but I do believe he had the talent to win some honours domestically. I remember him boxing the head of Michael Smyth only for him not to get the decision.

Murray was by far the hardest puncher I came across,wild too so you didn't know where the punches were coming from.
I shared I changing room with Smyth that night, his face was a mess afterwards, was dropped too, he still moaned he only had a draw!