If you let something sizzle too long, it will lose its flavor. Unfortunately, the same rationale applies to a fighter.
While some are offered a platinum path to the top, others are figuratively forced to wade through mud in a generally wearisome effort to gain recognition. Along the way many potential candidates for greatness burn out, while others erupt into stardom.
The list of legends whose careers simmered for years before making the big time is extensive; the list of would-be superstars is even greater.
A few years ago, South African Philip N’Dou impressed during his few appearances Stateside. In displaying smooth movement and flashy combinations, American promoters thought they’d unearthed a diamond from the rough. And when his title shot finally came against Floyd Mayweather, many insiders were predicting the birth of a new champion.
“I was fully convinced that Phillip N'Dou was the real deal,” boxing historian Lee Groves told krikya360.com. “I even went so far as to say that not only would he defeat Mayweather, but he would knock him unconscious. N'Dou looked awesome on the tapes I saw and I was awestruck by his sneaky right hand. He unleashed it with stunning speed and landed with incredible authority.
“But come fight night, Floyd turned in his best performance in years, while the fight marked the beginning of the end of N'Dou. You just never know what's going to happen when two highly-trained fighters step into the ring.”
N’Dou can’t complain, he was given an opportunity. What about the gifted fighters who never even came close to a title shot?
“Charley Burley is the perfect example of a fighter worthy of championship-level competition only to be denied,” said Groves. “He had all the skills any fighter could want and he knew how to use them. For whatever reason, whether it be his race or the age-old ‘high-risk, low-reward’ formula, Burley was never granted his championship chance.” [details]
While some are offered a platinum path to the top, others are figuratively forced to wade through mud in a generally wearisome effort to gain recognition. Along the way many potential candidates for greatness burn out, while others erupt into stardom.
The list of legends whose careers simmered for years before making the big time is extensive; the list of would-be superstars is even greater.
A few years ago, South African Philip N’Dou impressed during his few appearances Stateside. In displaying smooth movement and flashy combinations, American promoters thought they’d unearthed a diamond from the rough. And when his title shot finally came against Floyd Mayweather, many insiders were predicting the birth of a new champion.
“I was fully convinced that Phillip N'Dou was the real deal,” boxing historian Lee Groves told krikya360.com. “I even went so far as to say that not only would he defeat Mayweather, but he would knock him unconscious. N'Dou looked awesome on the tapes I saw and I was awestruck by his sneaky right hand. He unleashed it with stunning speed and landed with incredible authority.
“But come fight night, Floyd turned in his best performance in years, while the fight marked the beginning of the end of N'Dou. You just never know what's going to happen when two highly-trained fighters step into the ring.”
N’Dou can’t complain, he was given an opportunity. What about the gifted fighters who never even came close to a title shot?
“Charley Burley is the perfect example of a fighter worthy of championship-level competition only to be denied,” said Groves. “He had all the skills any fighter could want and he knew how to use them. For whatever reason, whether it be his race or the age-old ‘high-risk, low-reward’ formula, Burley was never granted his championship chance.” [details]
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