Fighters who had immense talent but weren't really dedicated?

[Roy Jones Jnr]

Scott’s point is still relevant, it seems to me. How would the fact that he didn’t come in shape for that defining fight (and I can’t think of this one fight “making” Hamed) make him an “underachiever”? He’s amongst the best featherweights ever; obviously not in the top 5, but still! I agree that he doesn’t belong the least bit in this thread. Maybe Hamed could indeed have been even better had he been more serious, but I think his achievments were nontheless spectacular...

His achievements were indeed spectacular...but they could have been so much more.

[Ringlife]

I would say Bowe.

[Japanese Boxing]

Naseem was a quitter, had absolutely nothing to do with work ethic.

James Toney is #1 on that list by far. The dude didn't give a **** and still was a dominant boxer.

I also agree with late Duran. Duran's power alone could have saved him some but he lost dedication and bloated up 40 lbs or some ****. Ridiculous for boxing. You can't cut too much weight and still fight the same for boxing.

[VapeRippa]

No zab Judah? I would figure that was one of the first guys to come up

This isnt NSB...

[Daddy T]

if Tua had had the dedidication and had teamed up with someone like Kevin Rooney he could have been an unbelievable beast (even more so than he was)

If the Douglas that beat tyson showed up against holyfied I think he would have won and then he'd have wins over prime Tyson (fair enough it was Tyson in terrible shape) and prime Holyfield ... he'd then have won all holyfield's defences up till the bowe fight which would have been something.

Bowe - again he could have been something very very special - Bowe v lewis would have been a fight.

Tyson - Well basically he could have stayed at or arounf the level he was for spinx or even somehow have improved even more if he had stayed dedicated and kept rooney ... he would basically be regarded as the GOAT now if he had kept his dedication.

[Roy Jones Jnr]

Naseem was a quitter, had absolutely nothing to do with work ethic.

Dont be ****ing ******.

If you dont have a clue what your talking about it's best to avoid speaking about it.

You wont see me saying anything about Japanese Boxing because barring one or two fighters i dont know **** all about it

I suggest you do the same regarding Hamed.

[Dynamite76]

Greg Page
Alex Ramos
Bernard Mays
Dwight Davidson
Milton McCrory
Johnny Bumphus
Bernard Taylor
Johnny Carter
Hilario Zapata.

[Bodyshot3]

Tim Witherspoon could and should have been so much better.

But I think the combination of hating fighting for King and his love of a good party often saw him turn up for fights almost completely reliant on his natural ability and top level sparring experience to get the result....and sometimes he got found out by guys he should have smashed.

As a young fan who religiously followed the whole build-up to the Bruno fight I seem to recall that just about every bit of media coverage referenced Tim's weight and to be fair it was not just Brit jingoism; the 'Spoon was carrying more than a bit of flab and was not even remotely cut.

Tim got the result that night against Big Frank by being cuter and more technically polished (Frank also helped him by not relaxing or knowing how to smother or step aside when put on the back foot) but 'Spoon did not win that contest through dedication to his diet or hours of road-work.

[Panamaniac]

With few exceptions (e.g. Moore, Barkley) post-prime Duran was in it primarily for the paycheck and any win was purely incidental. To a fat and out-of-shape Duran, eating was more important that training and it showed in the ring with losses against journeymen and club fighters. The latter portion of his résumé is disregarded upon being ranked amongst ATGs.

[Anthony342]

How about Michael Grant? Although I don't know if his talent was ever considered immense, but there was some decent hype surrounding him before he fought Lewis for the title. I've often read he didn't have the desire to fight, but did it because he had a talent for it more than anything.