Boxers who reached their full potential?

YNG1y ago

Which boxers ended up exceeding the expectations originally set for them?, specially the ones who achieved financial or sporting success disproportionate to their talent or "skill". Ricky Burns: Three division world champion. I was never impressed by Burns but he shows why living in a country with developed boxing programs can be more important than talent. Scott Quigg and Anthony Crolla: Same case as Burns. Daniel Zaragoza: Two division world champion. Despite not being the most flashy or athletic boxer, Zaragoza became the first champion of Nacho Beristain, he beat some excellent boxers and also attended the 1980 Olympics. Orlando Salido: Two time featherweight champion. Despite turning pro at 14 with no amateur career, Salido earned good money, became a champion and was able to upset 4 privileged Olympians. Leo Santa Cruz: Four division world champion. While Leo was a beast at the lower weights, Al Haymon was able to set him up for huge paydays and WBA vacant belts that cemented Santa Cruz in history, all without having to face Rigondeaux. Leo named his son Al. Andre Berto: Two time welterweight champion. Although he lost at the Olympic trials, Berto was able to attend the games representing Haiti. He was one of Al Haymon’s favorites, earning multiple million dollar paydays and despite losing twice in eliminators for the Floyd Mayweather lottery ticket, Berto got to face Money the night he retired. Josesito Lopez: Got a lot of good paydays thanks to Al Haymon. Luis Alberto Lopez: Featherweight champion. Started boxing at 22 and turned pro after 12 amateur fights. To become a champion after starting at 22 and in a lower weight class is incredible, he beat boxers who started as kids. George Kambosos: Unified lightweight champion. Nobody believed in Kambosos but he fought like a lion against Teofimo. Unfortunately, he’s been riding on that win for a bit too long. Jake Paul: No explanation needed. THE ELITE Boxers with high expectations can also surprise. Nonito Donaire: Four division world champion. Many people don’t know this but Nonito would knock out the best historical flyweights and bantamweights. He surprised father time after dropping back to bantamweight and scoring brutal knockouts, despite losses against beasts like Rigo, Inoue and Walters, you couldn’t have asked more from the sixth boxer to win world titles on three separate decades. Oleksandr Usyk: Undisputed cruiser weight and heavyweight champion. European Champion, World Amateur Champion, Olympic Champion, x2 undisputed, WBSS winner. Just a perfect career, any of his accolades would be the pride of any gym. Lauren Price: Unified welterweight champion. Captain of the U-19 Wales football team, Wales football player of the year, 4 time kickboxing world champion, world amateur champion and olympic champion. Adding three world titles would have been too much for many but not for Price.

Comments (13)

Southpawology

Rocky marciano 8-4 amateur record turned pro at 23 severely undersized HW 5'9" 185lbs

1y ago

Teddy_A

Chris Byrd Started out as a middleweight, never had much power, and pecked his way to a heavyweight title.

1y ago

Smash

eggie benn

1y ago

Smash

tony bellew

1y ago

YNG

Badou Jack. Olympian, Olympic flag bearer, three division world champion, multiple million dollar paydays. Mahmoud Charr. Made a lot of money being a WBA regular champion.

1y ago

SouthpaRight

Floyd - did anyone expect a defensive wizard who's picky about his shots to become the PPV GOAT Miguel Cotto - he fought as many greats as he could. Beat one clearly in a close fight, was destroyed by one, and gave the best one his toughest fight in years Sergio Martinez - started boxing at 20 years old which is incredibly late outside of heavyweight. At his peak a very good boxer and hall of fame caliber Bernard Hopkins - the king of turning your life around with boxing. went onto become the oldest boxer to win a world title

1y ago

Toffee

No mention yet of the obvious one? Wilder - limited skill, started late, surprised people in the amateurs but I don't believe was rated too highly, spent a long time boxing in gymnasiums and yet somehow became one of the biggest names in the sport.

1y ago

El_Escorpion

Jose Luis Ramirez at 21 years old, had knocked down a prime Alexis Arguello and should had won after he had outworked him. He was however given a split decision loss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mI3GQCyPiQ He is the first fighter to have beaten and stopped Edwin Rosario in a rematch after a knocked down. https://x.com/KOJournals/status/1720466472324255992?t The first fight was also competitive and debatable on who should had won. Ramirez albeit in a competitive fight, was gifted a win over Pernell Whittaker. https://x.com/KOJournals/status/1767531021484904668?t There was also stories that as the older stalemate of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, he gave the upcoming fighter rough sparring sessions. Reason why the match up was intriguing, as he made Chavez Sr fight in the backfoot until Julio got his timing right and was taking over until the head clash. On paper he also beaten other former world champions in Charlie Brown and Cornelius Boza-Edwards. He also beat top contender Terrance Ali. Ramirez had lost more often than won at the championship level against Hall Of Famers at a stacked era, but he fought the best and certainly a great account for himself as relentless heavy hitting southpaw pressure fighter who scored some big wins.

1y ago

famicommander

Kambosos had no business beating Mickey Bey, then he had no business beating Lee Selby, then he had absolutely no business beating Teofimo Lopez. Three straight fights, all in the home countries of his opponent, all as the b-side expected to lose, and frankly all three of his opponents were considerably more talented fighters. Especially Lopez. And, somehow, Kambosos came out of those three fights as the unified, lineal lightweight world champion. Kambosos is a b level guy through and through. Not a master technician, not particularly fast, not a ton of power, not a great ring IQ. All he really has is a chin and a willingness to engage. But it took him all over the world and he's still cashing checks based on that three fight run despite several decisive losses since then.

1y ago

YNG

hold on a sec he turned pro at 22 but according to google AI lol he was in boxing gyms since he was 11 Google AI sucks, he says in this interview that he started at 22, turned pro after 8 months and 12 amateur fights, he also says most of his experience came from street fighting. https://izquierdazo.com/noticias/Venado-Lopez-El-boxeador-que-empezo-a-los-22-para-evitar-las-peleas-callejeras-20221207-0006.html

1y ago

Smash

Luis Alberto Lopez: Featherweight champion. Started boxing at 22 and turned pro after 12 amateur fights. To become a champion after starting at 22 and in a lower weight class is incredible, he beat boxers who started as kids. ; hold on a sec he turned pro at 22 but according to google AI lol he was in boxing gyms since he was 11

1y ago

Smash

rolly romero but for whatever reasons he had a lot of help

1y ago

anonymous20

Gabe Rosado is an ATG at overachieving, he was a fan favorite and a promoter's wet dream. Derek Chisora also overachieved. Funnily enough once people stopped having big expectations of him did he really take off with his career.

1y ago