BoxRec

kick asner wrote:Here is a list of ten fighters who stood on the brink of of greatness, but who never crossed the threshold. Fighters who had already accomplished much and should have still been in the prime of their career. Perhaps someone can fill in some details as to why they never lived up to their hype and or potential, or maybe you have some ad ons I may have left off of the list.

Here are my top ten in order, number one being the biggest disapointment.

10-Michael Nunn-looked unbeatable until he was knocked out by James Toney, any chance of reviving his career went up in smoke when he lost to club fighter Steve Little.


9-Hilmer Kenty-never recoverd from loss to the very ordinary Sean Ogrady, was subsequently knocked out in the second round by Roberto Elizondo.

8-Ray Boom Boom Mancini-lost his last four fights in a row starting with a knockout loss to unhealded journyman Livingstone Bramble.

7-Big John Tate-followed up his knockout loss with a lackluster knockout loss to Teaver Berbick. Final nail in his coffin was a loss to club fighter Noel Quarless.

6-Milton Mccrory-faded into oblivian after being knocked out in the second round by Donald Curry.

5-Edwin Rosario-the height of his demise was a first round knockout loss to Akinobu Hiranaka.

4-Meldrick Taylor-his fate was cemented with a loss to club fighter Kirino Garcia.

3-John The Beast Mugabi-looked unstoppable with a devestating knockout of Curtis Parker in round one where Parker was knocked out of the ring, but fade into oblivian after a knockout los to Marvin Hagler.

2-Greg Page-looked like the next Mohamed Ali until his dismal preformence in dropping a ten round decsision to Treavor Berbick.

1-Donald Curry-this one I really don't understand. Here was a guy who in the first half of his carrer looked like he might have the tools to defeat Marvin Hagler. That was a far cry from the Donald Curry who lost to Rene Jacquot.


Welcome any insights as to what might have turned the fortunes of these fighters who stood so close to greatness.

Nile4000 wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote:

kick asner wrote:7-Big John Tate-followed up his knockout loss with a lackluster knockout loss to Teaver Berbick. Final nail in his coffin was a loss to club fighter Noel Quarless.

Not so sure about this one. Tate was a very good amatuer with wins over the likes of Page, Dokes and Stinson but was also brutally KO'd by Emory Chapman & Teofilio Stevenson whilst wearing the vest. Ok getting stiffed by The Cuban Missile Launcher is no disgrace but it still along with the other KO loss a chink in his armour.

Tate fought some tough fighters on his way up such as Eddie 'The Animal' Lopez, Bernardo Mercado, Duane Bobick and hard hitting Kallie Knoetze in South Africa in front of about 60,000 hostile fans. He then returned to South Africa to win his WBA Title from the unbeaten Gerrie Coetzee in front of 86,000 fans this time.

A good CV but not a great one. Then of course his KO loses to Weaver and Berbick finished him at the top level.

Tate had a lot of ability who did everything well (but not great) but lacked the durability and mentality to go any further.

The drugs didn't help either. A good fighter but he never had that 'sparkle' of potential greatness in my eyes.

When did he beat Page?

wlvrne wrote:How about Hector "Macho" Camacho? I really like him as a boxer, but I had always felt he could have done better than he had.

wlvrne wrote:How about Hector "Macho" Camacho? I really like him as a boxer, but I had always felt he could have done better than he had.

silkov wrote:

wlvrne wrote:How about Hector "Macho" Camacho? I really like him as a boxer, but I had always felt he could have done better than he had.

Comatcho couldve been 'great' but he became a sfatey first runner after his fight with Rosairo and seemed to lose his desire...

Seamus wrote:10. Michael Nunn. Never quite the same after his disappointing loss to Toney, but still fairly impressive afterwards. Still won another world title, and even at 36 looked sharp in stopping William Guthrie. Deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, even if prison keeps him from attending his induction.

9. Hilmer Kenty. Very promising, but still had a ways to go.

8. Ray Mancini. Exciting fighter with alot of heart, but almost complete lack of defense guaranteed he wouldn't be an all time great.

7. John Tate. Never that impressed with him.

6. Milton McCrory. Very good fighter, but I never went for Emmanuel Steward's line that he hit's harder than Hearns.

5. Edwin Rosario. A very good fighter, but Idon't think he was ever on the verge of greatness.

4. Meldrick Taylor. AGREE After his one sided win over McGirt I thought he'd beat Chavez and go on to be an all time great.

3. John Mugabi. AGREE. Still a very good fighter after losing to Hagler, but the mystique was gone for good.

2. Greg Page. NEVER sold on this guy even as an amateur. Some called him the next Ali, but in comparison he was slow, flabby and unmotivated. Could take a punch though, I'll give him that.

1. Donald Curry. American boxing writers absolutely fell in love with this guy, and many had him eventually moving up to MW and beating Hagler. I would like to have had some of what they were smoking. Very good fighter, but definitely not great.