BoxRec

We all know them. The guys who had sparkling amateur careers, turned pro and then either disappeared or just never fulfilled that promise.

Recently I can think of Michael Grant and Jamie Cox, whose careers look like stalling, further back Tommy Sheils, Peter English, Keith Ferdinand and Mark Ramsey who either just disappeared or in Ramseys case turned into a journeyman.

Who can you guys think of.....

As a kid I remember watching Errol Christie and George Collins and both were tipped as future world champs but neither were quite as successful in the pro game

Herol Graham was very unlucky to be in a era where there was so many fighters at middleweight who were world class. Today Bomber would have cleaned up and made these suckers look bloody damn silly. He just didn't make it a world level at the very top of the tree.

Also Paul Sykes the British heavyweight from wakefield was very unlucky not to get to the top, after only 2 or 3 fights his manager had cards printed touting him as a future world champion, in todays league I would have put him on parr as Tyson fury.

Gary Mason was another, unfortunate to be in a stable with Bruno and Notice.

Bomber Graham was world class. No two ways about it, he didn't let anybody down.

John fewkes

Dean Francis could have had a fantastic career if he hadn't had his injuries.

Craig Dermody from Manchester.

One of Brian Hughes prospects who made boxing look easy.

I could watch him box all day - cracking style with all the shots

After losing to Brummie war horse Karl Taylor in a rematch he packed it in. Real shame

Check out this fight against Russ Davison on youtube

Spoke to Jamie and it looks like he's back out in Sept after finally sorting his hand out.

curtis wood wrote:John fewkes

This.

Fireball should have won titles with his ability

although i didnt think he was world championship material, i thought matthew thirwall would go further than he did

Biggest example currently - though I still hope he makes it - is Joe Selkirk. All the talent in the world and a top amateur.

James Rooney

Alan Temple

I think British fight fans can overrate Herol Graham. He was a superb boxer, but he was never going to be a world champion if he couldn't beat Sumbu Kalambay.

Colin Derrick

Eamon Magee, Joe Selkirk, Errol Christie, Steven foster jr, Courtney fry,

Marlon Ward.

Bill Hodge wrote:Gary Mason; Errol Christie.....WELL...these fighters ARE QUITE WELL KNOWN if BOXING IS YOUR THING. Both of them had developed "good names".

I think Christie didnt achieve his potential, but I would say that Mason did.

Some good names up there, amazing to think of the potential they had that just didnt translate to the pros.

johnty1888 wrote:James Rooney

Alan Temple

Rooney was made for the amateurs, a light puncher and a questionable chin.

keithmoonhangover wrote:I think British fight fans can overrate Herol Graham. He was a superb boxer, but he was never going to be a world champion if he couldn't beat Sumbu Kalambay.

Why not,Kalambay turned out to be a very good champion,and not beating him was no disgrace,look who Graham fought after that,3 champions and almost beat them all.Against McCallum,he was a point away from a draw if i remember right,and that was because he threw Mike over,then he was outboxing and outpunching one of the biggest punchers in history,after that he was old and past it against Brewer,but was still ahead.

Alan vaughan who I think was Britains youngest ever Olympic Boxer-loads of national titles-would be another one. I think it would make an interesting book if you could get these stories together. I guess it is the same in football. It must be very hard to come to terms with life if for a year or two you have been on a premiership clubs books and they they let you go.

Peter Richardson

Colin Jones. He would have beaten Milt McCrory in London.

I would've like to see how Rod Douglas's career would've panned out. Chucked in with Bomber Graham too quickly after only 12 fights and it ended his career.

Dean Pithie...if he has laid off the ale he would have done so much better. The talent was there

Some good names there guys-I remember Colin Derrick, Dean Pithie-also Cameron Lithgow from Swindon and Darwin Brewster from Wales. I was on the England squad with Rod Douglas who along with Brian Schumacher should have done better as pros. Colin Jones though I think could be argued may have reached his potential? Peter Richardson I think beat Vernon Forrest at the Olympics.

Shows the importance of management, the right promotion and I think in many boxers cases the feeling they have all the time in the world when they are young.