BoxRec

There was an interesting article in this week's Boxing News about Dennis Andries. I must admit that when Andries first won the British title I thought he was one of the worst champions ever. He went on to become a worthy world champion and had 3 great fights with Jeff Harding.
In the 1960s I used to go to the Thomas A'Becket gym. There was a young heavyweight there who didn't hit hard enough to punch his way out of a wet paper bag. Billy Aird went on to fight for the European title and be robbed of the decision.
Of the present crop I never thought Bradley Skeete was sturdy enough to win a British title. He's now on the fringes of world class.

British ring last few years I'd say either Dave Ryan or Dai Davies.

Johnny Nelson - Went from a frigid joke to almost looking like being nigh on unbeatable!

I'd say Dennis Andries myself,he had no jab whatsoever and suddenly developed one literally over night to beat Bobby Czyz.

Steve Robinson,journey man to wbo champ

I didn't witness the Dennis Andries improvements. Johnny Nelson is definitely one who improved dramatically.

From more recent times I'd say ricky burns who went from losing to domestic class fighters to being legit world class.

stevedoc wrote:Steve Robinson,journey man to wbo champ

Yeah Robinson for me too. He really did seem to improve overnight when he won his title.

Fury is a good recent example. From getting a gift decision for the English title to soundly outpointing the undisputed world champion is quite something.

I can't imagine many would have predicted Jamie McDonnell's career trajectory after back to back losses?

Ricky Burns is a recent one.

dookus wrote:Fury is a good recent example. From getting a gift decision for the English title to soundly outpointing the undisputed world champion is quite something.

I agree, I never even thought he would win a British title after that performance, and he didn't look much better in the rematch.
Maybe part of the problem was his conditioning, but he has really become a savvy fighter, he has also learnt a lot from knock downs against Pakovic(sp) and Cunningham.
Peter Fury deserves a lot of credit too.

Crolla - From a guy hovering around British level to a world champion. Remains to be seen if he can be considered truly world class though.

McDonnell - I'd have never expected him to become a world level fighter and world champion after his early couple of losses.

Few ones mentioned above. Sticking with the Scottish theme, Jim Watt went from mediocrity to a great over night.

Steve Robinson for me too, he beat some top top lads after his title win.

Also, there is no way I would have thought that Matthew Hatton would have won and defended a proper European title and taken a top boxer to points for a World title.

bripez wrote:Steve Robinson for me too, he beat some top top lads after his title win.

Also, there is no way I would have thought that Matthew Hatton would have won and defended a proper European title and taken a top boxer to points for a World title.

Good shout with Matthew

I think Ovill deserves a mention too. Gone from a journeyman to a solid fringe-world level fighter who has some good wins over solid domestic level opponents like Dickenson, Askin and Conquest, won prizefighter, gave Bellew nightmares, beat Enzo (dodgy stoppage aside) and got a draw in a world title fight (I think Ovill should have got the nod personally).

Not bad for a guy who in his first 10 fights was 5-5.

Ovill Mckenzie is another recent one,suffered some losses,some by KO and yet still done enough in some peoples minds including my own to get more than a draw against IBF champ Ramirez in his last fight

tigermoth87 wrote:I think Ovill deserves a mention too. Gone from a journeyman to a guy who has some good wins over solid domestic level opponents like Dickenson, Askin and Conquest, won prizefighter, gave Bellew nightmares, beat Enzo (dodgy stoppage aside) and got a draw in a world title fight (I think Ovill should have got the nod personally)

Not bad for a guy who in his first 10 fights was 5-5.

Eff sake Tiger i just posted more or less the same thing

David Haye really left the Carl Thompson defeat behind.

Anthony Joshua has gone from strength to strength despite his relatively late start in the game. Even more impressively, he has remained humble throughout.

I'm still shocked at how much tyson fury has developed.

After having two wars with john mcdermott i made my mind up there and then that no matter how much he improved he would only go so far and by that i mean maybe a british title,at a push european.

To see him go out to germany and outbox the best heavyweight in the world for me was truly jaw dropping and something i didn't see coming at all.

Boxerbeetle wrote:Anthony Joshua has gone from strength to strength despite his relatively late start in the game. Even more impressively, he has remained humble throughout.

A role model for all,young and old.

stevedoc wrote:Steve Robinson,journey man to wbo champ

Great great shout!!

chiggsy wrote:

Boxerbeetle wrote:Anthony Joshua has gone from strength to strength despite his relatively late start in the game. Even more impressively, he has remained humble throughout.

A role model for all,young and old.

And he's humble

chiggsy wrote:I'm still shocked at how much tyson fury has developed.

After having two wars with john mcdermott i made my mind up there and then that no matter how much he improved he would only go so far and by that i mean maybe a british title,at a push european.

To see him go out to germany and outbox the best heavyweight in the world for me was truly jaw dropping and something i didn't see coming at all.

Big John was grossly underrated as well back then. I remember being one of very few people that thought Fury won the first fight, and I had money on Mcdermott to win on points.