Heavyweight contenders who were thought to be future champions but never made it?

Question

Heavyweight contenders who were thought to be future champions but never made it?

Answer 1

the ex great white hope duane bobick.

renaldo snipes who knocked down larry holmes in 7th rd before being stopped in the 11th rd. in 1981

to the answerer above me, john tate was the wba heavyweight champ from oct 20, 1979 to mar 31, 1980. greg page was wba champ from dec 1, 1984 to apr 29, 1985.

Answer 2

In the 80's there were Gerry Cooney, Greg Page and John Tate.  In the 90's there was David Tua and Andrew Golota.

Answer 3

Courage Tsabhala In the early to mid 90s i remember boxing historian Gil Clancy call him the greatest prospect he ever seen!!!! Well what happened Gil?

Answer 4

Marvis Frazier was a huge bust.

Answer 5

Two quickly come to mind for me are Duane Bobick and Gerry Cooney.  Also Mac Foster was thought to be a future champion.

Answer 6

You have guys like Michael Grant, Ike Ibeaubuchi (who probably would have if he got his mental issues treated and didn't end up in jail), Marvis Frazier, and Razor Ruddock that all come to mind.

But the one that stands out the most to me is Jorge Luis Gonzalez.  He was feared coming out of Cuba.  Guys were terrified of him.  And it led to a big showdown with Riddick Bowe.  A lot of trashtalking and threats.  It was a pick'em fight but the only thing that got picked was Gonzalez off of the canvas after Bowe creamed him.  I still remember Gonzalez getting pummeled in the corner, with his mane of hair flopping, as he crashed to the canvas.  After that he was a joke.  Reminded me of the school bully that everybody was afraid of until someone beat him up.  Then everybody was getting in line to beat him up!!!!

Answer 7

gerry cooney

david tua (may still yet!)

Ike Ibeabuchi (sent to jail)

andrew golota (came close against byrd)

samson po'uha

ernie shavers (came close against ali)

cleveland williams

Answer 8

David Tua, David Izzon, Razor Ruddock, Jerry Cooney, and here in South Africa we thought Peirre Coetzeer, Johnny Du Plooy and Courage Tshabalala would at least win the WBF or IBA titles but at least Pierre got close, getting beat up by Foreman and Bowe in title eliminators. Golota was also close if not a real contender, then there were a couple of boxers who were beaten by Lennox Lewis in the same strech as Tua, after Lennox avenged Oliver McCaul. Did Henry Akinwande win a championship? He's another contender who should have won something at least. Another boxer who was a contender even though he never turned pro was Felix Savon, think he as well as Theo Stephens were robbed by politics, they could have been good even considering the eras they would have fought in.