[Yiddle]

What fighter/fighters stick in your mind as being thought of as near the top of the game but very quickly find themselves sliding down the ladder to faded star status

For me don curry comes to mind defeats to honeyghan & McCallum really put the skids under his career and presumed pound for pound status

 

[Chatty]

Dawson is well on his way, not that he was ever considered as highly as Curry but he got a fair bit hype as a champ.

Juan Diaz slowly crumbed down the division before retiring after Campbell and Marquez.

 

[scribbs]

Here's some that quickly went down after losing titles

Jeff Lacy - Calzaghe whupping ended his unbeaten run.

Junior Jones - Had 2 wins over Barrera after losing his WBA title but quickly burnt out

Kelly Pavlik - Martinez then Hopkins exposed him. Ward will win easily if they eventually fight

Rocky Graziano - Reached the top but lost 3rd fight with Zale & was never to reach the height again despite fighting & flooring SRR

Barry McGuigan - Won what some considered the Championship but Stevie Cruz ended his reign & was poor in a comeback

Milton McCrory - Along with Curry was the leading Welter but knocked cold in two rounds, put up a sterling effort V McCallum but faded

Tim Witherspoon - Possibly beat Holmes, Won 2 titles but problems with Don King used as an reason/excuse for loss to Bonecrusher, never the same.

 

[TBooze]

Meldrick Taylor never truly recovered from the first Chavez fight.

Alejandro Gonzales beats Kevin Kelley is the next 'Mexican sensation', but within 18 months is upset by Medina and flattened by Espinosa.

 

[TBooze]

Tim Witherspoon - Possibly beat Holmes, Won 2 titles but problems with Don King used as an reason/excuse for loss to Bonecrusher, never the same.

I would disagree there, he looked back to near top form aged 38 beating Cole, Gonzales and IMO, being jobbed against Mercer.

 

[bask]

I would disagree there, he looked back to near top form aged 38 beating Cole, Gonzales and IMO, being jobbed against Mercer.

He was 38 then! I always wanted Witherspoon to get a big name fight, I remember his manager was threatening to publish a list of fighters that "ducked" him around that time period.

 

[TBooze]

He was 38 then! I always wanted Witherspoon to get a big name fight, I remember his manager was threatening to publish a list of fighters that "ducked" him around that time period.

I know it is cheap to say it, as the matches did not happen. But in that Heavyweight era, that was arguably as strong as anything since the 70s. Witherspoon would of beaten everyone but Bowe (who was pretty much at his peak), Lewis (who was a few years from being primed) and Holyfield (who was coming off a prime victory). Witherspoon/Tyson in 96/97 is pick'em. Apart from that I would favour Tim over an unbeaten Tua and Mr President, Morrison, unbeaten Golota, Byrd and Grant...

 

[GazOC]

Benitiez: went from beating Duran and dropping a decsion to Hearns in world title fights aged 24-25 to not really recording another truely decent win.

 

[scribbs]

Meldrick Taylor never truly recovered from the first Chavez fight

I thought about Taylor but he had a run being WBA Welter titlist & made some defenses but your right, he was never the same.

I would disagree there, he looked back to near top form aged 38 beating Cole, Gonzales and IMO, being jobbed against Mercer.

If you look at his record after Bonecrusher Smith, it's not great. He had a string of wins against guys who were Journeyman/Fringe Contenders, eventually losing to BigFoot Martin. Al Cole was a Cruiser titlist but never did anything of note at Heavy. Gonzales was way overrated & had recently been exposed by Riddick Bowe. Mercer is always a puzzling fighter for me, he was a tough nut but was hot and cold in his performances.

I'm not bashing Witherspoon, he was the fighter I wanted to win the tourney that was arranged that eventually crowned Tyson as undisputed champ. Was never a massive Tyson fan although he was exciting but I had a soft spot for Tim until Holyfield moved up to Heavy. Witherspoon lost out through his association with Don King so that may have had something to do with it, but he was never really at the top level after capitulating to Smith.

 

[Teeto]

I would have to mention Conteh

just look how fantastic he was when he was riding high

a true legend

 

[Teeto]

Vernon Forrest was rated up there with anyone in the world when he beat Mosley, then after losing to Mayorga twice he was still quality and too good for a lot but went into the win and lose camp

 

[Teeto]

and look what happened to Miguel Canto after he lost his title, we're talking maybe the finest of all flyweights here

not to say he underachieved though, his career is littered with highlights

 

[TBooze]

I would have to mention Conteh

just look how fantastic he was when he was riding high

a true legend

Excellent shout. Fame and fortune did Conteh few favours.

 

[Teeto]

Excellent shout. Fame and fortune did Conteh few favours.

Yep, very true.

Conteh is so loved though by both media and fan, it's great that he is celebrated.

And oh yeah, women love him too. My mum and aunty always used to harp on when I was a kid about how good looking he was :lol: legend