Tweet
This was the front cover of Ring Magazine about who will replace Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield as all careers seemed to be coming to a end. This is from 5 years ago.
It's pretty astonishing when you look back, but the three getting touted to do it were Audley Harrision, Domick Guinn and Joe Messi, and all never won a single World Title bewtween them, and all never furfilled there potential.
Audley Harrison
Harrison won Gold at the 2000 Olympics capping off a wonderfull amature career, big big things were expected as people were touting him to take over from Lennox Lewis as the next great British Heavyweight. He was signed right away to multi million pound contract.
Harrision seemed to get off to a good start, winning his first 19, but danger signs were already there as he was really getting booed even when winning. He was given his first loss against Danny Williams in 2005, Williams was 32 years old who's best days were thought to be coming to a end, as this was considered a stepping stone for Audley. It wasn't to be as Audley was beaten in a sloppy affair.
Over the next 4 years Harrision's career was stop and start. He would lose his next fight in the USA against Dominick Guinn on UD. But would comeabck to KO Danny Williams. In his last 4 fights he had won 2 and lost 2 and in those fights has been knocked out by journyman Michael Sprott in 3. Harrision was such a letdown, and didn't even win a British Title never mind a World Title. He still thinks he can become World Champion, but it is now a very slim chance.
Domick Guinn
Guinn was being groomed as the next USA Heavyweight Hopefull, after a stellar amature career which included winning the National Golden Gloves. Guinn turned Pro and won his first 24 and was getting talked about by alot.
In those 24 wins, he knocked out fomer USA Hopefull Michael Grant in 7 rounds, and people started to take alot more notice of Guinn. He was then given decent gatekeeper Monte Barrett in a fight may expected him to win, but it wasn't to be. As to say Guinn was lackluster would be the under statement of the year. Guinn hardly looked like he wanted to be in there and lost a SD.
After this Guinn would never be the same, in his next 3 fight he won 1 and lost and drew the other 2, he cound't even defeat medicore Friday Ahunanya who he drew with. He would go on to lose to most of the note worthy Hevayweights he fought, including James Toney, and Eddie Chambers.
I think the final straw was when people knew Guinn was never going to be anything more than a contender gate keeper is when he was defeated by journyman Robert Hawkins on UD. He is now 34 years of age and has won his last 3, and is coming off a 1st round KO victory over 21-0 Johnnie White, which should get him a note worthy fight of some sort, but what Guinn was getting touted for, he hasn't lived up to none of it.
Joe Messi
Messi had a career nothing like the two prior to him as Messi is still unbeaten to this day. Messi was a good amature winning the New York State Golden Gloves Title. He turned Pro at 24 years of age.
After winning his first 26, which included wins over decent names in Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Bert Cooper, David Izon, and Robert Davis. Do all were past there best, Messi was gathering a huge fan following and being groomed at the next white hope. He was then matched with top amature DaVarryl Williamson in his hometown Buffalo. Messi didn't dissapoint knocking out Williamson cold in 1 round.
The hype got bigger, Messi then fought Monte Barret, a fight virtually everyone thought he would win with ease. But Messi looked flat and got past Barret on a SD, in a fight were most thought Barret had won.
After this Messi would win his next 8, and only one fight stands out when he met Vassiliy Jirov. Messi and Jirov fought at the MGM on the undecard to Winky Wright Shane Mosely 1. In a brutal battle were Messi was down 3 times, and both took alot of beating. Messi walked away with the decision, but lost something much more.
After the fight Mesi received a subdural hematoma (bleeding around the brain) during this fight; on March 14th, Mesi's liscence to box in Nevada was suspended due to the medical condition. This is when Messi's career stalled. Messi would have 7 more fights in states were he would be licensed, against journyman winning all. His record now stands at 36 fights with 36 wins and 30 ko's. He hasn't fought since 2007 and is now invovled in politics full time. After beating Jirov he was rated number #1 by the WBC.
Do it was a true shame, many feel Messi wound't of ruled the division anyway and may have not even got a world title, he showed signs of vulnerability when just scraping past D level Monte Barret and then having a life or death struggle with former cruserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov which took alot of him and probaly ruined him for good.
My point here is all were getting touted with so much hype etc, but yet none lived up to it. Down the years there will be pleny more, but just thought this was a very interesting subject as I seem to think many people are forgetting about just how much there 3 were getting touted, but due to them all never getting to the level they were supposed to get to, they were all forgotten about.
I hope this can refresh your minds.
It's pretty astonishing when you look back, but the three getting touted to do it were Audley Harrision, Domick Guinn and Joe Messi, and all never won a single World Title bewtween them, and all never furfilled there potential.
Audley Harrison
Harrison won Gold at the 2000 Olympics capping off a wonderfull amature career, big big things were expected as people were touting him to take over from Lennox Lewis as the next great British Heavyweight. He was signed right away to multi million pound contract.
Harrision seemed to get off to a good start, winning his first 19, but danger signs were already there as he was really getting booed even when winning. He was given his first loss against Danny Williams in 2005, Williams was 32 years old who's best days were thought to be coming to a end, as this was considered a stepping stone for Audley. It wasn't to be as Audley was beaten in a sloppy affair.
Over the next 4 years Harrision's career was stop and start. He would lose his next fight in the USA against Dominick Guinn on UD. But would comeabck to KO Danny Williams. In his last 4 fights he had won 2 and lost 2 and in those fights has been knocked out by journyman Michael Sprott in 3. Harrision was such a letdown, and didn't even win a British Title never mind a World Title. He still thinks he can become World Champion, but it is now a very slim chance.
Domick Guinn
Guinn was being groomed as the next USA Heavyweight Hopefull, after a stellar amature career which included winning the National Golden Gloves. Guinn turned Pro and won his first 24 and was getting talked about by alot.
In those 24 wins, he knocked out fomer USA Hopefull Michael Grant in 7 rounds, and people started to take alot more notice of Guinn. He was then given decent gatekeeper Monte Barrett in a fight may expected him to win, but it wasn't to be. As to say Guinn was lackluster would be the under statement of the year. Guinn hardly looked like he wanted to be in there and lost a SD.
After this Guinn would never be the same, in his next 3 fight he won 1 and lost and drew the other 2, he cound't even defeat medicore Friday Ahunanya who he drew with. He would go on to lose to most of the note worthy Hevayweights he fought, including James Toney, and Eddie Chambers.
I think the final straw was when people knew Guinn was never going to be anything more than a contender gate keeper is when he was defeated by journyman Robert Hawkins on UD. He is now 34 years of age and has won his last 3, and is coming off a 1st round KO victory over 21-0 Johnnie White, which should get him a note worthy fight of some sort, but what Guinn was getting touted for, he hasn't lived up to none of it.
Joe Messi
Messi had a career nothing like the two prior to him as Messi is still unbeaten to this day. Messi was a good amature winning the New York State Golden Gloves Title. He turned Pro at 24 years of age.
After winning his first 26, which included wins over decent names in Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Bert Cooper, David Izon, and Robert Davis. Do all were past there best, Messi was gathering a huge fan following and being groomed at the next white hope. He was then matched with top amature DaVarryl Williamson in his hometown Buffalo. Messi didn't dissapoint knocking out Williamson cold in 1 round.
The hype got bigger, Messi then fought Monte Barret, a fight virtually everyone thought he would win with ease. But Messi looked flat and got past Barret on a SD, in a fight were most thought Barret had won.
After this Messi would win his next 8, and only one fight stands out when he met Vassiliy Jirov. Messi and Jirov fought at the MGM on the undecard to Winky Wright Shane Mosely 1. In a brutal battle were Messi was down 3 times, and both took alot of beating. Messi walked away with the decision, but lost something much more.
After the fight Mesi received a subdural hematoma (bleeding around the brain) during this fight; on March 14th, Mesi's liscence to box in Nevada was suspended due to the medical condition. This is when Messi's career stalled. Messi would have 7 more fights in states were he would be licensed, against journyman winning all. His record now stands at 36 fights with 36 wins and 30 ko's. He hasn't fought since 2007 and is now invovled in politics full time. After beating Jirov he was rated number #1 by the WBC.
Do it was a true shame, many feel Messi wound't of ruled the division anyway and may have not even got a world title, he showed signs of vulnerability when just scraping past D level Monte Barret and then having a life or death struggle with former cruserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov which took alot of him and probaly ruined him for good.
My point here is all were getting touted with so much hype etc, but yet none lived up to it. Down the years there will be pleny more, but just thought this was a very interesting subject as I seem to think many people are forgetting about just how much there 3 were getting touted, but due to them all never getting to the level they were supposed to get to, they were all forgotten about.
I hope this can refresh your minds.
Comment