BoxRec

I was wondering if there were any fighters that had terrific potential but saw their careers cut short by chronic injuries (frequent cuts, broken hands, etc). Any ideas?

I can think of a load of fighters whose careers were hampered by cuts and broken hands and shoulders. Does that count?

The two biggest examples for me, I pondered writing a book about the topic years ago, are Wesley mouzon and Eddie Booker.

Leotis Martin came to mind.

Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Jnr. Badly broken hands.

I don't know about TERRIFIC potential, but Florida Al Jones was a decent heavyweight, a lower top-10 contender, who kept breaking his hands.

Dmitry Pirog, though I think there is some debate as to whether injuries or bad management shortened his career.

Billy Collins, though again Bob Arum claimed that Billy Collins could have fought again if he wanted to, but instead he tried to bolster his legal claim by not participating in any subsequent fights. Man, Bob Arum is quite the piece of work.

Joe Hipp comes to mind. Always wore knee braces whenever he fought. If I'm not mistaken so did Michael Spinks sometimes.

Gerry Cooney kept tearing a certain muscle in his upper back/shoulder area usually whilst sparring
that cancelled or post-poned a lot of fights that were scheduled leading to long periods of in-activity.

Pirog is a good shout and a real pity we did not see more of him.

Thinking about Brit fighters there was Henry Cooper's natural propensity to get cut anyway and then the fact that "back in the day" he'd probably been out fighting a relatively short time later and things had not fully healed.

Cooper called all that blood which poured off his face 'claret' and was typically stoic-humorous about it.....but I still think those unhealed cuts cost him dearly and he might have done a bit more.

Calzaghe's excellent book "No Ordinary Joe" made me wince....

….Joe writes candidly about the pain, frustration and challenge of being a decent puncher who has to come to terms with the fact his hands are essentially totally knackered just when he has become a player on the world title scene.

A good book in terms of understanding Joe and also how prize-fighting can make a young man old almost overnight.

jas80s wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 23:09 Dmitry Pirog, though I think there is some debate as to whether injuries or bad management shortened his career.

Billy Collins, though again Bob Arum claimed that Billy Collins could have fought again if he wanted to, but instead he tried to bolster his legal claim by not participating in any subsequent fights. Man, Bob Arum is quite the piece of work.

His Father insisted on Collins not fighting again to bolster his legal claim. This led to severe depressions for Collins, and his eventual suicide. At least that was the picture they painted on the "Assault in the Ring" documentary.

Kostya Tszyu had to take a good bit of time off due to injury. Though he still obviously had a wonderful career.

Sergio Martinez's knee injury obviously didn't do him any favors in the Cotto fight.

James Degale is a recent case of a guy who went downhill fast due to injuries.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 18:27 Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Jnr. Badly broken hands.

Jeff Fenech also had bad hands

littlepug wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 17:51

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 18:27 Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Jnr. Badly broken hands.

Jeff Fenech also had bad hands

Good shout

gilgamesh wrote: ↑15 Jul 2019, 17:46

jas80s wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 23:09 Dmitry Pirog, though I think there is some debate as to whether injuries or bad management shortened his career.

Billy Collins, though again Bob Arum claimed that Billy Collins could have fought again if he wanted to, but instead he tried to bolster his legal claim by not participating in any subsequent fights. Man, Bob Arum is quite the piece of work.

His Father insisted on Collins not fighting again to bolster his legal claim. This led to severe depressions for Collins, and his eventual suicide. At least that was the picture they painted on the "Assault in the Ring" documentary.

That's exactly where I got it, Gil. I recall that Bob Arum was making that very point. I agree that his father wanted to go the legal route (nothing wrong with that), but Arum was quite adamant that Collins could have fought again had he chosen to (or been allowed to). Nothing about that story that wasn't tragic, not a thing.

John Conteh was the name that sprang to mind. He had a very good career but for the final 6 years or so he was almost literally one handed. And still world class.

Of course his out of ring activities and attempts to self manage were also far from helpful but with two hands does he beat Saad and Parlov for example?

The Toeminator himself, Mr David Haye.

Could barely finish a training camp without getting injured, let alone a fight.

In fact, towards the end of his career, he'd pop a bicep wiping his backside after a dump!

Syntax Error wrote: ↑18 Jul 2019, 17:38 The Toeminator himself, Mr David Haye.

Could barely finish a training camp without getting injured, let alone a fight.

In fact, towards the end of his career, he'd pop a bicep wiping his backside after a dump!

Toe injuries are death for a fighter...

Sergio Martinez really broke down...It at least kept his prime pretty short.

Conteh is a real head-scratcher because, if you watch his 15-rounder with Jorge Ahumada, he hardly throws any right hands at all - and this was before his much-publicised hand troubles.

bennie wrote: ↑19 Jul 2019, 08:55 Conteh is a real head-scratcher because, if you watch his 15-rounder with Jorge Ahumada, he hardly throws any right hands at all - and this was before his much-publicised hand troubles.

good point- though i would say at least an element of that was keeping his right hand 'at home' to defend against Ahumada's frequent left hooks, his best (if not quite only) punch.

Do we add Murat Gassiev to the list?

and the great Vitali Klitschko of course

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 14:44 The two biggest examples for me, I pondered writing a book about the topic years ago, are Wesley mouzon and Eddie Booker.

hey just by coincidence-I finished My First Book !
and next week when I take it back to the Library. I think ,I'm gonna check out another one to read.

Caractacus wrote: ↑19 Jul 2019, 15:42

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 14:44 The two biggest examples for me, I pondered writing a book about the topic years ago, are Wesley mouzon and Eddie Booker.

hey just by coincidence-I finished My First Book !
and next week when I take it back to the Library. I think ,I'm gonna check out another one to read.

Good for you. Admirable learning to read at your advanced age.

Syntax Error wrote: ↑18 Jul 2019, 17:38 The Toeminator himself, Mr David Haye.

Could barely finish a training camp without getting injured, let alone a fight.

In fact, towards the end of his career, he'd pop a bicep wiping his backside after a dump!

Yeah Haye was the first name that sprang to mind for me, a 16 year career and only 32 fights with several fights cancelled due to his injuries and of course obviously crocked in the two Bellew fights.