Biggest Waste Of Potential/Talent EVER?

[StarshipTrooper]

Sanders. Had raw talent, but threw it away. Could have been an ATG HW had he been more dedicated to Boxing. Had great hand speed and athletic ability in his younger years.

Laughable.

[Mugwump]

Nowhere near the monumental waste that was Hamed but Kirkland Laing - who once defeated none other than Roberto Duran - is a great example of a fighter blessed with outstanding natural gifts who tragically let it all slip through his fingers. I recall Steve Bunce's documentary in which he tracks him down living homeless. Heartbreaking stuff.

[Mintcar923]

Prince Naz... It seemed as though that one loss to Barrera caused him to give up too easily. He could have come back stronger and accomplished more if he wanted to IMO... Most of us believe Mike Tyson's talent would have made him the GOAT had he stayed on course with his original team.. Even Bowe and Douglas could've been better than they were.. Roy Jones in his prime was almost like "The Ultimate Boxer!" But for some reason he couldn't sustain it in his later years. It was sad to see Sugar Ray lose to a much lesser fighter in Camacho.. We all know that was a product of all the ring rust he had...

[StarshipTrooper]

We all know Mike Tyson's talent would have made him the GOAT had he stayed on course with his original team.

I know nothing of the kind. Tyson NEVER had GOAT potential. Not with guys like Ali and Louis topping the list. Even if he had maxed out his potential he would still always be a short-armed swarmer who'd get merked by the Foremans and Listons.

Poet

[Mintcar923]

I know nothing of the kind. Tyson NEVER had GOAT potential. Not with guys like Ali and Louis topping the list. Even if he had maxed out his potential he would still always be a short-armed swarmer who'd get merked by the Foremans and Listons.

Poet

Sorry about the misprint.. I didn't mean to say "We all" in that reference. But I and a lot of the people I know do believe Tyson had potential to be the GOAT. If you watch him in his prime closely, you'd see he was much more than a short-armed swarmer. Besides, it isn't a horrible thing to be that. Marciano made a career out of it and was the only heavy to retire undefeated at 49-0. That's something Liston and Foreman could never come close to accomplishing..

[StarshipTrooper]

Sorry about the misprint.. I didn't mean to say "We all" in that reference. But I and a lot of the people I know do believe Tyson had potential to be the GOAT.

That makes you and a lot of people wrong.

If you watch him in his prime closely, you'd see he was much more than a short-armed swarmer. Besides, it isn't a horrible thing to be that. Marciano made a career out of it and was the only heavy to retire undefeated at 49-0. That's something Liston and Foreman could never come close to accomplishing..

Put a swarmer in the ring with either Foreman or Liston, I don't care of it's Marciano, Tyson, or someone twice as good as both combined, the swarmer is getting KTFO. Period. And Tyson knew it too: D'Amato drilled it into him. And by the way, I know of no one who isn't obsessed with Marciano's pigmentation that has him as a top-5 Heavy....while Liston and Foreman routinely appear in people's top-5. And that's people who know a lot more about boxing than YOU and your "lot of peeps" (presumably Tyson nuthuggers) do.

Poet

[Mintcar923]

Hahahah! Please!! Marciano would've been beaten?? He's not a top 5 GOAT heavyweight??? Oh, ok... That's why he's the only heavyweight champ who's never lost. Furthermore, the only possible thing a heavyweight champion can do is beat the best of his era. Marciano cleaned house and retired undefeated at 49-0. Oh, I don't consider myself a Tyson nuthugger. But, I am a big fan of his as he proved his greatness by staying undefeated for 37 fights, unifying the title and succussfully defending it for 3+ years. He had even went on to winning it back after not having any boxing training for well over three years. He would never quit on his stool like Liston did while defending the title. i don't believe he'd struggle with a Lyle or a Young like Foreman. Stop being a Tyson/Marciano hater...

[Mugwump]

Hahahah! Please!! Marciano would've been beaten?? He's not a top 5 GOAT heavyweight??? Oh, ok... That's why he's the only heavyweight champ who's never lost. Furthermore, the only possible thing a heavyweight champion can do is beat the best of his era. Marciano cleaned house and retired undefeated at 49-0. Oh, I don't consider myself a Tyson nuthugger. But, I am a big fan of his as he proved his greatness by staying undefeated for 37 fights, unifying the title and succussfully defending it for 3+ years. He had even went on to winning it back after not having any boxing training for well over three years. He would never quit on his stool like Liston did while defending the title. i don't believe he'd struggle with a Lyle or a Young like Foreman. Stop being a Tyson/Marciano hater...

If you worship undefeated fighters and/or unifiers then I guess you must think the Klitschkos are #1 & #2 GOAT.

[Mintcar923]

If you worship undefeated fighters and/or unifiers then I guess you must think the Klitschkos are #1 & #2 GOAT.

Well, I never said I WORSHIP them. But, you've got to give boxers credit for winning fights and belts. The Klitschko's are good. Unfortunately, their styles are not very exciting which makes them seem rather dull in comparison to past champions. They are certainly not undefeated. Vlad has a weak chin that not many guys seem able to reach. Vitali has a very awkward style that gives his opponents fits. Perhaps, when their careers are done they'll be known as the best of this particular era. I'm sure they'll be regarded as ATG's. But, again their styles make them somewhat unpopular.

[Dynamite76]

Greg Page.