What Boxer Fell Hardest From Genius Status at First Career to Sad Pathetic Punchbag in their 30's and 40's

[Kid Cauliflower]

For me, the recent decades fall from greatness (or potential greatness) prize goes to:

Roy Jones Jr.
Evander Holyfield
James Toney
Meldrick Taylor
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Greg Page
Livingstone Bramble
Elisha Obed
Antwun Echols
Jackie Beard
Rolando Navarrete
James JB Williamson
Terrence Alli
Rafael "Bazooka" Limon
Ricardo Mayorga

Half your picks never got high enough to take the fall as described. Antwon Echols? Meh.

[JAB5239]

Half your picks never got high enough to take the fall as described. Antwon Echols? Meh.

Echoes was actually a highly regarded puncher in the middleweight division in the late 90's, early 2000's. He never reached superstar status because Hopkins was ruling the roost, but his fall was still very quick and dramatic..

Terry Norris fall at the end of his career, but those last three losses were against guys he would have beaten and or demolished only a few years earlier.

[max baer]

Tommy Morrison had a tragic fall from grace. the media loved him the white mike tyson the golden boy. That was a sad example of how a boxer went from riches to rags. I can't bring myself to run him down as I just feel sad for him. he seemed a very decent man but very unfortunate.

[Kid Cauliflower]

Nobody had a bigger fall from grace than Roy Jones Jr.

Dude would be considered the GOAT, if he had retired after Ruiz.

Hell, Mike Tyson is still Mike Tyson in the eyes of much of the public, even at 60 years old, but Roy Jones's reputation is just nowhere near where it was in the '90s.

Everyone is right. Roy is #1. He fell harder because he fell farther, and it was instantaneous in the span of one punch. He went from serious contender for the best P4P fighter ever, to a man mocked for his chin. That punch finished Roy and his reputation.

They all fall from grace unless they retire in time.

[max baer]

didn't end up a punchbag but very tragic. this guy had mental problems. serious mental problems. Edwin Valero

[Willow The Wisp]

Half your picks never got high enough to take the fall as described. Antwon Echols? Meh.

Hello Kid.
"As described" is the key. It's vague. What I list, are fighters who where thought to be capable of going all the way, perhaps even to "greatness " by contemporary scribes, entered the global top 10; and ended with a bad string of losses.
Antwun Echols was no. 5 in the world in 2000.

[Willow The Wisp]

Everyone is right. Roy is #1. He fell harder because he fell farther, and it was instantaneous in the span of one punch. He went from serious contender for the best P4P fighter ever, to a man mocked for his chin. That punch finished Roy and his reputation.

They all fall from grace unless they retire in time.

Time is a thief

[billeau2]

For me, the recent decades fall from greatness (or potential greatness) prize goes to:

Roy Jones Jr.
Evander Holyfield
James Toney
Meldrick Taylor
Matthew Saad Muhammad
Greg Page
Livingstone Bramble
Elisha Obed
Antwun Echols
Jackie Beard
Rolando Navarrete
James JB Williamson
Terrence Alli
Rafael "Bazooka" Limon
Ricardo Mayorga

Wisp your one of a few that sees Mayorga that way... I know because I happen to be in full agreement with you on this one. Mayorga was explosive, I still would put him top 5 ATG for " s h i t talking" and when you look at his ascent he beat some damn decent fighters... In addition to the obvious Vernon Forrest scalp (RIP champ). Then he kind of seemed to lose the explosiveness that guided him... I always liked him...

[billeau2]

Tommy Morrison had a tragic fall from grace. the media loved him the white mike tyson the golden boy. That was a sad example of how a boxer went from riches to rags. I can't bring myself to run him down as I just feel sad for him. he seemed a very decent man but very unfortunate.

Good one. Considered by some to be in the argument for op 5 left hooker... When being brought along he was also a decent combo puncher, very talented.

[Biledriver]

Good one. Considered by some to be in the argument for op 5 left hooker... When being brought along he was also a decent combo puncher, very talented.

Ray Mercer basically ruined him as a top fighter. He was never the same after that beating.