BoxRec

All have been mentioned already but my three 'can't miss flops' are:

Panchito Bojado
Goyo Vargas
Pele Reid

Jeff Lacy ... he seemed unnaturally strong and aggressive. Calzaghe set him straight and taught me to never overrate a fighter again.

Chad Dawson ... at one point, he was the best 175 pound fighter by far. Glencoffe fought him tough, but Dawson won. I will always contend that he wasn't motivated because there wasn't any competition and Chad has the tendency to have mental lapses during fights.

Zab Judah ... I thought he would put it all together for at least a 5 fight streak and challenge the best. It's a similar hope I see in Amir Khan fans today, but trust me, it ain't happening.

Vernon Sollas
Errol Christie
Mark Ramsey
Joey Frost
Bradley Pryce
Rudi Pika
Tommy Sheils
Pedro Soto
Alex Ramos
Joey Singleton
Alan Covelly
Lloyd Hibbert

and many many more

crusader wrote:I thought Victor Ortiz was probably going to be something special and do far more than he did.

It hurts to see that promise disappear.

I was convinced David Haye would destroy Wlad at the time.

I also thought Yuri Gamboa would have achieved so much more prior to aligning himself with Floyd then 50 Cent.

Andre Direll is just a wasted talent hopefully he gets active again.

I think Mikey Garcia has serious potential but needs to get back in the ring to.

I think Tomioki Kameda may be a serious talent from what I've seen and should have a better idea in the next two years

I"ll get it the way and say Audley Harrison from a British perspective. Away from these shores Yuriorkis Gamboa and JuanMa Lopez.

Jaunma Lopez, Jorge Linares, Naseem Hamed.

Howard Davis

Andrew Maynard

Edison Miranda
Jeff Lacy
Seth Mitchell

Great Responses.

Names others wrote (partial list) where I said, "Me too," are:

Kermit Cintron
Jeff Lacy
Alex Ramos
Pedro Soto
David Haye
Ricky Hatton
Howard Davis
Seth Mitchell
Jorge Luis Gonzales
LHs Cloud & Dawason

Names I did not see but may have missed that I could add on to my original list are:

Joe Mesi
Gerry Cooney
Leon Spinks
Mike Rossman

If Ward doesn't clear up his legal issues get back into the ring, I can see him ending up on this list.

Jeff Lacy. I picked him to KO Calzaghe in 1 round in PTBF!
Michael Grant

What's the issue with Hatton? I was a big fan but never felt that he could do any more than he did. He maximised his achievements with his skillset I think, and achieved plenty. What more did you guys think he could achieve?
Agree re Naseem Hamed - he should have been in trilogies and rematches with the Barreras and Morales' of the world, not fading out as a second rate fighter.

sharpei_louis wrote:What's the issue with Hatton? I was a big fan but never felt that he could do any more than he did. He maximised his achievements with his skillset I think, and achieved plenty. What more did you guys think he could achieve?
Agree re Naseem Hamed - he should have been in trilogies and rematches with the Barreras and Morales' of the world, not fading out as a second rate fighter.

Whilst acknowledging the personal nature of this sort of theoretical--I mean, you could say that fuckin' Sugar Ray Robinson underachieved if you'd've thought upon first viewing that he'd've won titles from welter to heavy & then retired undefeated after reigning for forty seven years--I too have a bit of a jaw-drop moment when I see people mention Hatton.

From someone who was derided at one time by certain sections of the nerdcore as a plastic WBU champ without ambition & who went on to win basically the undisputed championship in his division, defend that for a few years & then lose to basically the two best fighters around his weight at the time, he did pretty fvcking well, considering.

For a short, walk-in pressure fighter he had a decent amount of longevity as well, considering.

But I wouldn't wish to deride anyone's selections, because it's obviously an intensely personal thing obviously & also we'd be here all day & be on a hiding to nothing. I mean, someone's put Joe Fuckin' Mesi, FFS, & I assume they arrived at that summation after he barely squeaked by Monte Barrett. I can only assume that they saw him go life & death with Two Gunz & thought "Fvck me, it's the second coming of Rocky Marciano!!!"

& were actually legally blind.

Weird that Hatton and Haye have been mentioned! Both 2 weight world champs.

For me, David Price.

I'm usually pretty good at sniffing out an overhyped prospect. But for me, it was Allan Green. I really thought he was gonna be world champ at super middle, then he fizzled out BADLY......

But I wouldn't wish to deride anyone's selections, because it's obviously an intensely personal thing obviously & also we'd be here all day & be on a hiding to nothing. I mean, someone's put Joe Fuckin' Mesi, FFS, & I assume they arrived at that summation after he barely squeaked by Monte Barrett. I can only assume that they saw him go life & death with Two Gunz & thought "Fvck me, it's the second coming of Rocky Marciano!!!"

& were actually legally blind.[/quote]


Your Assumption would be Wrong. After Mesi had near life and death struggles with Barrett and Jirov, it was quite clear that Joltin' Joe wouldn't be as good as Quarry, much less Marciano. But BEFORE those 2 battles, Mesi had KOd Izon, Robert Davis, and Williamson in relatively impressive fashion. I thought Mesi would may have been better than he ended up being BEFORE the Barrett and Jirov fights.

danamba7 wrote:Weird that Hatton and Haye have been mentioned! Both 2 weight world champs.

For me, David Price.

Some people may have believed Haye would give Klitschko a better fight. Same with Hatton vs Mayweather. Price and Allan Green, I could also have put on my list as well.

Tony1244 wrote:

danamba7 wrote:Weird that Hatton and Haye have been mentioned! Both 2 weight world champs.

For me, David Price.

Some people may have believed Haye would give Klitschko a better fight. Same with Hatton vs Mayweather. Price and Allan Green, I could also have put on my list as well.

I understand that aspect of it but I thought this thread was more about disappointing overall careers or careers so far rather than particular fights because this then opens up countless options.

Tomasino wrote:Jaunma Lopez, Jorge Linares, Naseem Hamed.

Linares did and does have serious talent. Not sure exactly what has gone wrong there. Seems to have issues with being susceptible to cuts and possibly a touch chinny. Incredible athleticism though.

danamba7 wrote:Weird that Hatton and Haye have been mentioned! Both 2 weight world champs.

For me, David Price.

Well, Haye talked a good game as if he was the next great Heavyweight. Not that anyone believed him but I at least thought he would've fought his heart out against Klitschko and bring some interest back to the HW scene.

Broner, Linares and David Reid

Frankie Gavin (Early days but i think he's found his level)

Jean Pascal - After the war with Froch & beating Dawson i thought he'd tear up the division. A good fighter but i thought he may be more. cant remember the last time he particularly looked good even.

Kevin Mitchell - Well, i thought he'd manage to grab a world belt.... and pummel Kats, and dethrone Burns.....

Yes We Can wrote:Frankie Gavin (Early days but i think he's found his level)

Jean Pascal - After the war with Froch & beating Dawson i thought he'd tear up the division. A good fighter but i thought he may be more. cant remember the last time he particularly looked good even.

Kevin Mitchell - Well, i thought he'd manage to grab a world belt.... and pummel Kats, and dethrone Burns.....

I think Frankie has the talent to do it at world level but it would seem that he just doesnt hit hard enough to keep fighters honest against him and thus like you say has probably found his level now.