Heavyweights who LOOKED like champs but just didn't have it.

[Peat56]

There have been plenty of guys throughout heavyweight history who looked the part of heavyweight contender or champ. One such fighter was Michael Grant. Anyone remember him? And no disrespect to Mr. Grant whatsoever. In his prime he could have kayoed THOUSANDS of fighters. He just couldn't do it to the guys in the better half of the top ten in his division at the time. We forget that about heavyweight contenders. Even the 2nd and 3rd tier heavyweights are still pretty awesome, dedicated athletes who would KO any regular guy even when they're way past their prime. But Grant sure looked the part. 6'7", very fit looking, and he had a couple of spectacular KOs on his highlight reel. Lennox Lewis crushed him and it was all downhill from there. There have been lots of Michael Grants, and I am mindful of this when I see heavyweights at the top and who still have question marks hovering over their heads, and who still seem untested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN4ZSipJui8

[undefeatedchamp]

Calvin Brock- I thought the boxing banker might have had the goods until he got embarrassed by Wlad.
Baby Joe Mesi- I wanted Mesi to win just because he was from Upstate NY. Hematoma. from Jirov took him out of the game, but so would Lennox or the Klitschko's.

[Peat56]

Mesi was forced to retire undefeated, and by all accounts has done well for himself

[jeff_lacy_ko]

Mccline looked the part and knocked out briggs and grant. But he was a choke artist

[the13r]

How about Kirk Johnson (dropping a canadian name here lol)

There are a few out there. Early HWs often look great but can't go past the next level.

[rocketcoe]

Dominick Guinn...looked like the real deal against Grant and Dokiwari. No-showed against Barrett and just didn't seem to want it from there.

[Hillsinitialrebirth]

In recent history: We have Bryant Jennings. Guy looks the part, is in great shape, can fight pretty well, but could never get over the hump against the guys at the top of the division.

[Papa1472002]

Mike Williams aka Union Cane. He was built like a Greek God chiseled from stone, but every time he stepped up, he lost.

[Canvas]

David Price.

[gilgamesh]

Mccline looked the part and knocked out briggs and grant. But he was a choke artist

He got a UD over Briggs, but your point is well taken.

Thinking purely of physiques here Jimmy Thunder comes to mind. Dude had power, and an amazing physique, but couldn't take a punch for shit.

[lurkyshaka]

Dominick Guinn...looked like the real deal against Grant and Dokiwari. No-showed against Barrett and just didn't seem to want it from there.

Dokiwari himself was a let down. Initially looked a promising prospect but was obviously a letdown.

[chucktaylor]

How about Henry Akinwande?
He was a big, scary dude and had a good record against 2nd tier guys, but he panicked when faced with Lennox Lewis.

[gilgamesh]

Dominick Guinn...looked like the real deal against Grant and Dokiwari. No-showed against Barrett and just didn't seem to want it from there.

Going back to my early days of Boxing fandom because Dominick Guinn would often lose fights because he just basically stood there, and put forth no effort me and a buddy of mine have always called guys that just kinda stood there, and got outworked guys who suffer from "DGS"...aka Dominick Guinn Syndrome.

[J.J.Dillon]

Ibeabuchi. Looked and acted the part but was mentally missing something...like the gene that keeps guys from assaulting and raping women, and kidnapping kids.

[Bertel1]

Calvin Brock- I thought the boxing banker might have had the goods until he got embarrassed by Wlad.
Baby Joe Mesi- I wanted Mesi to win just because he was from Upstate NY. Hematoma. from Jirov took him out of the game, but so would Lennox or the Klitschko's.

_______

I cant remember seeing Brock again after that KO loss.

[Bertel1]

Mccline looked the part and knocked out briggs and grant. But he was a choke artist

______

I use to call him DeCline on the ESPN boards. Not very nice on my part. Nothing against him personally, but he could never get over the hump.

[Bertel1]

Samuel Peter should be on this list.

[the13r]

Dominick Guinn...looked like the real deal against Grant and Dokiwari. No-showed against Barrett and just didn't seem to want it from there.

Can you beleive Guinn is still fighting... fighting in Costa Rica Saturday

[Hillsinitialrebirth]

I cant remember seeing Brock again after that KO loss.

I think Brock ended up going blind in one eye, or some crazy shit like that. That's why he stopped fighting. I'll have to look it up....

[the13r]

Wasn't he a tap dancing banker lol? i guess banker ain't too bad for second job if all goes wrong...

Eye problems are quite common and even more at heavyweight it seems

[jeff_lacy_ko]

Brock lost to eddie chambers and never fought again due to eye problems

[yoloswaggy911]

David Tua

[straycat]

Malcolm Tamn

[straycat]

Who was that freak ass big tall white guy knocking out no hoppers turned out to be a clown. Damn I hate when my 80's disease acts up.

[J.J.Dillon]

Who was that freak ass big tall white guy knocking out no hoppers turned out to be a clown. Damn I hate when my 80's disease acts up.

Which one?