Biggest Waste of Talent

[robjr]

zab judah.

[small_warrior]

Ike ibeabuchi : if he would not be in jail, i think he would be champion

david tua : had the ptential too become an exiting heavyweight, but he fights too rarely and comes often out of shape

[Zab Super Judah]

easy Zab Judah....

[col Blake]

I had a lot of time for Oliver McCall, if he could have beaten his demons he could have held on to the title a lot longer

[amagnin]

Zab Judah- pre-Tsyzu he looked like he might have been Pernell Whitaker with more power. After he looked more like a light weight version of post-prison Tyson.
Rid**** Bowe- Like the original poster said I have never been more excited about a HW. He annihilated a really prime great Evander Holyfield, seemed to be on his way to winning the 2nd fight before the bizarre "fan man" and then totally dropped off the face of the boxing earth. Golota pounded him and would have beaten him TWICE if not for his own mental deficiencies and then it was all over. Truly sad. He also failed to face Lennox Lewis after he won the belt which looked like a real ***** move because Lewis had KOd him at the Olympics.
Tyson- I wouldn't put Tyson on here because I think what happened to him was inevitable. When the bully is exposed and he no longer can intimidate part of his excellence went with it. Even if he had beaten Buster Douglas convincingly and not gone to jail, I think Holyfield would have done the same thing to him. Holyfield was considered "over the hill" when they fought the first time and he gave Tyson an epic ass whooping.

[Left2body]

I forgot to mention one guy:

James Toney: One of my favorite fighters but if he had the work ethic of Bernard Hopkins or PBF he could've fought his early career at 154lbs. Then moved up and dominated MW-and SMW for decades. The fact that he was still succesful at LHW, Cruiser and HW just shows how much talent he had.

Imagine if he would've stood in shape and at lower weight. How long would he have been king of the hill and transformed himself from a Great fighter which he is to an ATG fighter which he could have easily been.

[GranTorino]

I'd have to say I think Sharmba Mitchell is up there near the top of the list.

As well as Michael Grant, Mount Whitaker, and Jameel McCline. All the physical tools in the world, but none of the mental ones.

[GranTorino]

Who do you think was the biggest waste of talent in boxing. I don't mean a total scrub, but somone who has all the tools/skills to be great but didn't live up to their potential. Some that come to mind for me are:

Rid**** Bowe: He beats a prime Holyfield and then never fights close to that again. Instead he starts talking trash, gains weight and stops training. His last fight with Golota was embarassing, he was in no shape to be in there like that.

Corrie "the golfer" Sanders: A 6'4 power puncher with great agility and hand speed. He just never seemed to have any boxing skill, he'd just stalk his opponent, throw a weak jab and have his left hand ****ed trying to land a big shot. He also didn't seem to train hard and came in overweight for Vitali, a fight he might have been able to win otherwise.

Mike Tyson: He has all the skills to probably be the best heavyweight of all time. Instead he got ****y, stoped training and started partying like a rock star. He deserted his trainer and boxing skills and became a headhunter who got embarrssed by Holyfield and Lewis (and lesser opponents as well).

I dont really see how you can call any of these fighters wasted talent.

Every one of them made it to the Pinnacle of the sport. Doesn't sound like the talent was wasted to me.

[heat27]

Zab Judah imo

[Welter_Skelter]

For me.. I am sure these names have been mentioned already.. In Fact I know Corrie Sanders has..

But I would say Corrie Sanders.. If this guy would have just been in top shape.. and made Boxing his Number 1 job.. he would have ruled..

Floyd Mayweather... It's not just an exihibition of ones Skills.. They dont call it the fights for nothing.. Floyd only takes Fights he is certain of winning and uses Money as an excuse to dodge the REAL challenges..
What a shame since I am sure he could beat most of the Challenges but he would have to work a little.. And work seems to scare him..

Danny Williams.. The guy is no world beater.. But he has LOST too many fights to a lack of Fitness when his talent should have easily had him the victor..


And I give an Honorable mention To any Champ... 2 fights every 18 months is a waste of Talent...