BoxRec

What boxers from history would you guys say had the most unfulfilled potential? And why did they not fulfil their potential?

In fairly recent terms fighters like Riddick Bowe, James Toney and Naz come to mind. All achieved great things but could probably have done even more. Suppose there's even an argument for Mike Tyson as well.

Interested to know if there's other examples from other eras?

Tim Witherspoon

Booker and mouzon, retinas ended Booker's.career in the heart of his prime and Wesley before he even got there.

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Honestly one of the most talented heavyweights I have seen. But lacked dedication

tiny_acres wrote:

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Honestly one of the most talented heavyweights I have seen. But lacked dedication

That's sad but true, The way he could judge a punch and its speed to turn his head at the exact time as a punch was launched at his chin was
unbelievable it would barely touch him or it would sail by catching thin air legend material for sure was Tim,He would be a great teacher

Ike Ibeabuchi by a mile.. This guy had the potential to beat everyone including Lennox Lewis in the early 2000s

Superbad Mays

Donald Curry could of been a ATG.

campfire wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Honestly one of the most talented heavyweights I have seen. But lacked dedication

That's sad but true, The way he could judge a punch and its speed to turn his head at the exact time as a punch was launched at his chin was
unbelievable it would barely touch him or it would sail by catching thin air legend material for sure was Tim,He would be a great teacher

Maybe being under Don king took away his motivation. After all Im sure Witherspoons purse share would have been 20% and King 80%

Solis and Ibeabuchi spring to mind.

witherspoon and ibeabuchi

Andrew Golota deserves a mention.

Greg Page is a contender here.

TBEwasLangford wrote:Solis and Ibeabuchi spring to mind.

I've had as think about it and think Pryor should be high on the list. World champ but obviously made some bad decisions with regards to boxing and drug issues. Think he would have given both Leonard and Duran a great fight if he been managed and advised properly.

Ayala jnr as well, could have been an ATG. Also to lesser extent Paul Spadafora, talented guy, could have done a lot more.

Shame Michael Watson's career was ended so early. Think he had come on a lot from McCallum defeat the year before, only 26 when he was forced to retire.

Also quite a few amateur fighters. If Papp turned pro earlier and been allowed to fight where he wanted he could have been in the great middleweight mix at the beginning of the 50's. Same with a lot of the cuban and other eastern bloc fighters. Of recent years people like Balado, Saitov and Kindelan. Sure they will all feel they reached their potential by achieving what they did (although Balado only died at 25) but from a selfish point of view would have liked to see them all tussle with the best P4P pro's of their era.

TBEwasLangford wrote:

TBEwasLangford wrote:Solis and Ibeabuchi spring to mind.

I've had as think about it and think Pryor should be high on the list. World champ but obviously made some bad decisions with regards to boxing and drug issues. Think he would have given both Leonard and Duran a great fight if he been managed and advised properly.

Ayala jnr as well, could have been an ATG. Also to lesser extent Paul Spadafora, talented guy, could have done a lot more.

Shame Michael Watson's career was ended so early. Think he had come on a lot from McCallum defeat the year before, only 26 when he was forced to retire.

Also quite a few amateur fighters. If Papp turned pro earlier and been allowed to fight where he wanted he could have been in the great middleweight mix at the beginning of the 50's. Same with a lot of the cuban and other eastern bloc fighters. Of recent years people like Balado, Saitov and Kindelan. Sure they will all feel they reached their potential by achieving what they did (although Balado only died at 25) but from a selfish point of view would have liked to see them all tussle with the best P4P pro's of their era.

Tony Ayala jnr had no chance at being an all time great. None. Overhyped rapist junkie.

Mark Breland, Errol Christie, Colin Mcmillan and Audley Harrison

Breland and Christie were always going to be in trouble anytime they got hit hard.

Tomasino wrote:

TBEwasLangford wrote:

TBEwasLangford wrote:Solis and Ibeabuchi spring to mind.

I've had as think about it and think Pryor should be high on the list. World champ but obviously made some bad decisions with regards to boxing and drug issues. Think he would have given both Leonard and Duran a great fight if he been managed and advised properly.

Ayala jnr as well, could have been an ATG. Also to lesser extent Paul Spadafora, talented guy, could have done a lot more.

Shame Michael Watson's career was ended so early. Think he had come on a lot from McCallum defeat the year before, only 26 when he was forced to retire.

Also quite a few amateur fighters. If Papp turned pro earlier and been allowed to fight where he wanted he could have been in the great middleweight mix at the beginning of the 50's. Same with a lot of the cuban and other eastern bloc fighters. Of recent years people like Balado, Saitov and Kindelan. Sure they will all feel they reached their potential by achieving what they did (although Balado only died at 25) but from a selfish point of view would have liked to see them all tussle with the best P4P pro's of their era.

Tony Ayala jnr had no chance at being an all time great. None. Overhyped rapist junkie.

Maybe ATG was a bit over the top, he wouldn't have beat Duran or Leonard, then again not maybe would have. Still failed to fulfill potential and would have won a world title had he been in this era. Regarding being an awful person, there have been many boxers who were despicable.. Carlos Monzon for instance.. Doesn't stop them from being great fighters.

Most of the time.e threads like this are really just guys you thought were going to be better. I'm proud I haven't seen zab's name. He was incredibly consistent throughout his career.

TBEwasLangford wrote:

Tomasino wrote:

TBEwasLangford wrote:
I've had as think about it and think Pryor should be high on the list. World champ but obviously made some bad decisions with regards to boxing and drug issues. Think he would have given both Leonard and Duran a great fight if he been managed and advised properly.

Ayala jnr as well, could have been an ATG. Also to lesser extent Paul Spadafora, talented guy, could have done a lot more.

Shame Michael Watson's career was ended so early. Think he had come on a lot from McCallum defeat the year before, only 26 when he was forced to retire.

Also quite a few amateur fighters. If Papp turned pro earlier and been allowed to fight where he wanted he could have been in the great middleweight mix at the beginning of the 50's. Same with a lot of the cuban and other eastern bloc fighters. Of recent years people like Balado, Saitov and Kindelan. Sure they will all feel they reached their potential by achieving what they did (although Balado only died at 25) but from a selfish point of view would have liked to see them all tussle with the best P4P pro's of their era.

Tony Ayala jnr had no chance at being an all time great. None. Overhyped rapist junkie.

Maybe ATG was a bit over the top, he wouldn't have beat Duran or Leonard, then again not maybe would have. Still failed to fulfill potential and would have won a world title had he been in this era. Regarding being an awful person, there have been many boxers who were despicable.. Carlos Monzon for instance.. Doesn't stop them from being great fighters.

It didn't stop Ayala either...not being good enough did. He didn't have the stones for the top 10, never mind the top guys.

mimmy123 wrote:

campfire wrote:

tiny_acres wrote:
Honestly one of the most talented heavyweights I have seen. But lacked dedication

That's sad but true, The way he could judge a punch and its speed to turn his head at the exact time as a punch was launched at his chin was
unbelievable it would barely touch him or it would sail by catching thin air legend material for sure was Tim,He would be a great teacher

Maybe being under Don king took away his motivation. After all Im sure Witherspoons purse share would have been 20% and King 80%

I read once that Frank Bruno got ten times the amount Witherspoon got when they fought in England and Tim was The Champ,Good old Don

Harry Simon as well.. great fighter. Shame he didn't know how to drive a car properly.

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Yup. I can't watch a still-green Witherspoon give Holmes seven shades of hell without thinking hr should have achieved much, much more.

Counter-puncher wrote:

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Yup. I can't watch a still-green Witherspoon give Holmes seven shades of hell without thinking hr should have achieved much, much more.

Only had a handful of amateur fights as well, amazing how well he performed after just 15 pro contests. Peak for me was when he outclassed Smith in their first meet, was far too good.

Counter-puncher wrote:

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Tim Witherspoon

Yup. I can't watch a still-green Witherspoon give Holmes seven shades of hell without thinking hr should have achieved much, much more.

I always thought if fit and happy a 1987 Witherspoon may well have beaten tyson