Biggest Waste Of Potential/Talent EVER?

[MakeItRain]

Gamboa is one.

[billeau2]

fernando vargas anybody

I would disagree with the caveat that you make a good point. Vargas did SEEM to fizzle, but as someone long intrigued by the Vargas situation....well this is what I concluded:

When Vargus was coming up team Duva seemed to bring him along perfectly. As he beat up on guys slowly but surely it seemed he was right on schedule. This is where it gets interesting.... Most people think that Tito ruined Vargus and Oscar finished the job, beating the roid ranging aztec warrior from pillar to post against the odds (if I remember correctly).

The question is.....How much more could team Duva had done for Vargas? He was brought along, much like Morrison, slowly and surely. When he fought Trinidad it is easy to say in hindsight he was not ready, but I don't know how much more ready he could have been.

I concluded that Vargas just did not have the talent of an elite fighter. He still fought well, just never was able to beat two guys who are elite fighters. I tend to think his talent was maximized and that he couldn't get the job done, is all.

[billeau2]

I always thought that if Tim Witherspoon had had the willpower as of other all-time greats, he would have belonged among them.

Yup. I liked Witherspoon. King may have screwed him out of a career.

[Panthershock]

He was just an incomplete fighter, he didn't have what it took mentally. I mean the guy outboxed Mayweather for four rounds straight, when the hell else has that ever happened?

Pretty much. If things weren't easy for him, he couldn't handle it.
He weighed 142 as an 18 year old making his pro debut in 1996, his last fight was at 140 in April 2013 So right away he's fighting at a weight that doesn't really require him to be in shape. At no point in his career does he get into great shape for a fight.
He never really progresses as a boxer, always trying to overwhelm opponents with his skill level early. Refinement is a challenge, and he chose not to deal with it.
Only natural that he couldn't handle challenges in the ring, he couldn't handle challenging himself

[CraigM]

Zab Judah...

If he could've kept his mentality in check I think he would've been an all time great and could've beaten Mayweather.

[Cardinal Buck]

The problem with Zab is that he always had defensive, stamina and chin issues. Equally as important is that his dad was not world class as a trainer. Still, he probably wouldve punched his hall od fame stamp if he had managed to beat Garcia and he came somewhat close.

[nivek535]

roy jones jr.
not exactly a waste of athleticism, but he could've been better had he been more technical(?)

[Scott9945]

roy jones jr.
not exactly a waste of athleticism, but he could've been better had he been more technical(?)

That's crazy. Roy was everyone's #1 P4P fighter for how many years? He couldn't have fought any better during that time.

[Scott9945]

Zab Judah...

If he could've kept his mentality in check I think he would've been an all time great and could've beaten Mayweather.

This reminds me of how overrated Judah has always been. He had fast hands and very good power, but an ATG?

[billeau2]

The problem with Zab is that he always had defensive, stamina and chin issues. Equally as important is that his dad was not world class as a trainer. Still, he probably wouldve punched his hall od fame stamp if he had managed to beat Garcia and he came somewhat close.

Yeah his dad was a big fuukk up for him. His dad was quite a fighter himself but the skills didn't translate well. I still remember the contrast. Roger in Floyd's corner telling him something very specific....like to move left to counter Zab's speed, or somethin like that. meanwhile Yoel J is spitting throwing his hands yelling something at his son Zab...."hit him!!!! boom boomboomm arghh"!

You know what? much like Roy with the right evil genius Judah could have learned to protect his chin, it wasn't god awful or anything. Judah could have been offensive enough to make guys have to worry about defense.

Zab will probably fight again for a title...I *****e you not. Everytime I write him off as a gatekeeper, which is really what he has been for most of his career, he gets a shot at the gold ring. But when Kahn has an easy time of it, the blueprint is out on ya.