BoxRec

After doing a few Hot Prospect articles it got me thinking..who are British Boxings biggest waste of talent?? Who has really not lived up to their potential??

And why do they flop?? Are todays young fighters trainging hard enough??

In recent years:

Danny Williams, David Starie, Adrian Dodson, Crawford Ashley,Ryan Rhodes, James Hare, David Barnes, Steve Murray, Anthony Maynard, Patrck Mullings, Ian Napa.

Unequivocably Kirkland Laing and arguably Herol Graham

These threads pop up every now and again and the first name that always springs to my mind is Adrian Dodson.

Another one, all be it a controversial choice would be Colin McMillan - What a beautful boxer, but he was never the same after the dislocation injury.

deadpan wrote:Unequivocably Kirkland Laing

Excellent call. Saw an interview with 'The Gifted One' where he admitted smoking a spliff on the way to a British title fight , I think he still won. He oozed talent as the Duran result shows, but lacked the commitment, hence why he's being mentioned on here.

I heard from a mate that Kirkland died from his injuries when he fell from a balcony, can anyone confirm??

Errol Christie/Rod Douglas.

Twinkle Toes wrote:These threads pop up every now and again and the first name that always springs to my mind is Adrian Dodson.

Another one, all be it a controversial choice would be Colin McMillan - What a beautful boxer, but he was never the same after the dislocation injury.

I agree on McMillan, however what I don't necessarily agree with is that he could be defined as an underachiever.... it was primarily rotten luck not through a fault of his own.

Part of the reason why I didn't include him, Dean Francis and Spencer Oliver on my list.

George and Tony Collins were under-achievers

It's a shame they had an amateurish manager/promoter in allegedly

STP wrote:George and Tony Collins were under-achievers

It's a shame they had an amateurish manager/promoter in allegedly

True about the promoter but I don't think either of them were really up to it, especially George.

Michael Brodie... Just couldn't get his hands on that world title.

Audley Harrison
Damaen Kelly
Bobby Vanzie

although he achieved great status during his career, surely naz could be considered to have under achieved considering his amazing talent. what he could have gone on to do with his talent could have surpassed any other uk fighter's legacy.

Mario Culpepper then Errol Christiea and Herol Graham

Mc Mllan had 3 ops on hjs shoulder non a success. Near the end both shoulders were Knackered He had some bottle Colin.

Wayne Alexander (although with that chin), Takaloo and Eamonn Magee could have achieved alot more with the talent that they had.

I always thought Gary Mason could have maybe gone further.

Howard Eastman is the biggest underachiever in recent years

dr_devious wrote:Howard Eastman is the biggest underachiever in recent years

Yes its a hard one to call that, Eastman has achieved alot. Britsh, Euro and Commonwealth titles, and has challenged twice for a world title losing on points both times (once to a HOFer), but most would say he has underachieved.

Compare him to Michael Watson , he only won the commonwealth title and came up short in 3 tries at a world title, losing 2 of those by KO. But would you say he underachieved?

Whats the difference?

Old bones Ian wrote:

dr_devious wrote:Howard Eastman is the biggest underachiever in recent years

Yes its a hard one to call that, Eastman has achieved alot. Britsh, Euro and Commonwealth titles, and has challenged twice for a world title losing on points both times (once to a HOFer), but most would say he has underachieved.

Compare him to Michael Watson , he only won the commonwealth title and came up short in 3 tries at a world title, losing 2 of those by KO. But would you say he underachieved?

Whats the difference?

Hard to say if Watson underachieved, because who knows what he might or might not have done had his career not been cut short.

oliverfennell wrote:

Old bones Ian wrote:

dr_devious wrote:Howard Eastman is the biggest underachiever in recent years

Yes its a hard one to call that, Eastman has achieved alot. Britsh, Euro and Commonwealth titles, and has challenged twice for a world title losing on points both times (once to a HOFer), but most would say he has underachieved.

Compare him to Michael Watson , he only won the commonwealth title and came up short in 3 tries at a world title, losing 2 of those by KO. But would you say he underachieved?

Whats the difference?

Hard to say if Watson underachieved, because who knows what he might or might not have done had his career not been cut short.

yes thats true to an extent, but he had 3 tries at a world title.
Or how about Tony Sibson? He also won the same titles as Eastman, and also came up short in 3 world title tries, but no-one mentions him as a underacheiver.

Old bones Ian wrote:I always thought Gary Mason could have maybe gone further.

May have done if it wasn't for his detached retina. Mason Vs Bruno would have been a cracker

Old bones Ian wrote:

oliverfennell wrote:

Old bones Ian wrote: Yes its a hard one to call that, Eastman has achieved alot. Britsh, Euro and Commonwealth titles, and has challenged twice for a world title losing on points both times (once to a HOFer), but most would say he has underachieved.

Compare him to Michael Watson , he only won the commonwealth title and came up short in 3 tries at a world title, losing 2 of those by KO. But would you say he underachieved?

Whats the difference?

Hard to say if Watson underachieved, because who knows what he might or might not have done had his career not been cut short.

yes thats true to an extent, but he had 3 tries at a world title.
Or how about Tony Sibson? He also won the same titles as Eastman, and also came up short in 3 world title tries, but no-one mentions him as a underacheiver.

I think the thing is with Sibbo that you felt he acheived the maximum of his potential, gave all he could.

I think people are now confusing the original question.

I don't think anybody ever thought Sibson or Eastman would go to become undisputed world champions of their division so therefore they didn't really fail to live up to their potential.

Yes its a fine line isn't it, I remember reading that Eastman trained like a madman, and keeps himself in shape between fights. So maybe he has reached his full potential.

I remember a fighter who was meant to be an exceptional talent - lower weight, I think Danny something. HE got into some trouble poss drugs etc and it just never happened...

Was it Danny Costello???


And on a lighter note, if you listen to Brendan Ingle, Khalique Shaffiq and Daniel Teasdale...

Pat Barrett