The Fruit Cakes of Boxing....Good Knockin' Bad Noggin.

[BoxBuzz]

I'd like to see the list of those you feel would have been anywhere from
30% to 100% better had they simply been able to tame their own demons.

The opposite of the most composed, and thoughtful planners.
I'm talkin' The Masters of Meltdowns. And once off the road, these guys could not find there way back in a fight. They had the tools but could not follow the (self discipline) rules.

The man who probably was able to tame, and keep his dragons best in check for my money was Monzon. Crazy as a loon on the outside of the ring, but in the ring he was cool, all thought, no reaction, just reasoned, planned and responsive. EVERYTIME.

The first example of " I can't help but lose it" name that come to mind is the Nutcracker himself Andrew Golata.
IF he could have borrowed Marvin Haglers Hat.....I'm thinking he could have been Champion.

Another guy who would lose his mind in a key fight would be Oliver McCall....toss a potential win away on a sad whim.

So I'm talkin' the guys who could really choke in the clutch because the ol' noggin was lacking.

So I got on my list

Tyson (once he could no longer intimidate.)
McCall
Golata
Zab Judah way erratic sometimes cool, sometimes drool.
Riddick Bowe (Instead of just fading slowly,) he tosses his belt,and then he also ends up tossing his career into the garbage can) He didn't have his emoting meltdown in the ring...but he had it none the less.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The only one I'd disagree with is Judah. He's just a victim of expectations he doesn't have the talent to deliver. The guy was always in shape and if you place him properly he was very consistent in his career.

I think Fernando Vargas could have been better without ballooning up in weight and what not.

And if you're going to give a fighter a Boxing IQ, Tyson and Oscar would have been spectacular.

[JC]

Ike Ibeabuchi and Herbie Hide

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I grabbed a random DVD out of my collection last night and it Was Starling/Honeyghan. Man was that an ass whipping.

[BoxBuzz]

You are so right about Tyson's IQ it was EQ that failed him.

When the emotions get out of the box, your intelligence just plummets.

[BoxBuzz]

lol watched it today. I didn't think it was "even" going into the fifth. But what do I know.

In Starlings previous title fight..How is it that Starling lost the WBA title on a punch that lands AFTER the bell?

Never could figure that one out. Should have been a NC.

[Flump]

Kirkland Laing
Michael Dokes

[BoxBuzz]

3-1, Marlon going into the 4th.

I had Marlon winning 7-1 before the TKO

Yep....that's what I thought as well.

[scallum]

Benitez has to be on this list imo

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Hell no.

[Dart340]

I certainly don't want to start yet another discussion about him, but the first name that came to mind was "Gerry Cooney".

Duce's List was pretty good. Saad, no to Benitez? Didn't he admittedly train for just a week or two before the Leonard fight or some silliness like that?

Hector Camacho probably should get a mention, although I don't know how much it held him back careerwise.

[Tuan_Jim]

Roy 'Tiger' Williams seemed to be his own worst enemy. A professional bridge burner by all accounts.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Duce's List was pretty good. Saad, no to Benitez? Didn't he admittedly train for just a week or two before the Leonard fight or some silliness like that?

That he did, but if we're going in that direction than we have to start adding everyone that hated the gym.

[Bodyshot3]

Johnny Tapia....although when you consider the hellish tragedy that haunted his life almost from the outset his ability to remain professional and hold together a relationship with his wife was hugely commendable.

[BoxBuzz]

Johnny Tapia....although when you consider the hellish tragedy that haunted his life almost from the outset his ability to remain professional and hold together a relationship with his wife was hugely commendable.

Yep, for the most part, I think of him as a guy who mostly tamed his demons...until he didn't.

[littlepug]

Audley-knew what to do but had so little confidence in himself didn't have the balls to try

[Expug]

Duran lost it pretty bad in the second Leonard bout.
Thats probably the worst "meltdown" I can think of.

However you gotta check out Al "Bummy" Davis losing his mind in the second Fritzie Zivic fight.
He got thumbed and then proceeded to use Zivics nuts as a speed bag, Total riot with the result a lifetime ban for Davis in NY.
Of course it was later lifted.

[Expug]

Johnny Lira

Always liked Johnny, even though he was out there sometimes.

I liked him alot too. Knew him pretty well and sparred with him a bunch of times.

Johnny could start a brawl in an empty room. Lol Good guy. Big Heart.

[Nile4000]

Kirkland Laing
Michael Dokes

Dokes was special, but always had a certain limit to his talent.