Curtis Parker - Too much too soon...the fall of the Middleweight Joe Frazier !!!!..

Curtis Parker....If you know him its probably as an 80s journeyman spanked out by hopefuls like Michael Nunn.......But it wasn't always that way...

Favorite to represent the US in the 76 Olympics after breezing the nationals his soon to be Manager advised him to skip the games and turn pro. He did and became a fan favorite...In the great Philadelphia style he was an exciting...all motion attacking fighter and he was christened the Middleweight Joe Frazier...

But his Management were in a rush and matchmaking wasn't there speciality....Barely a year after turning pro he was shipped in with the Hagler-beating Willie Monroe still decent at 39-7 and Parker dutifully came through on points.....In his next fight he was put in with former 154 champ Obed and stopped him by decision.....the ranked and respected 28-4 Guiden was next and Curtis stopped him late in a gruelling affair.....Next up was Philly killer David Love who had beaten such Philly heroes as Briscoe and Boogaloo Watts....Parker posted another impressive stoppage...

Still barely 2 years in and after a run of gruelling fights and in the Top 10......Someone had the bright idea of putting him in with Dwight Davison unbeaten in 30 fights and coming off a win over the resurgent Ray Seales....Parker lost his ranking and a decision.

Instead of time off and re-evaluation Parker was thrown in with another top contender Mustafo Hamsho losing another gruelling decision and a shot at Marv...If that wasn't enough straight after he was thrown in against another top contender and future Marv victim Wilford Scypion where he would lose another decision....

Later he'd lose to Hamsho again in a crossroads fight......and then like thousands of others would become a steppingstone for the future such as Olajide...Tate.....Nunn and Mugabi.....

There is a fine line between being protected like Benn and thrown in to the Lion's den like Parker......Your handlers can be too cowardly or confident on your behalf....Parker's was the latter and sadly he didn't have the career he deserved....

Though he joined and belongs in the proud Philly middleweight nest of the 70s..

Good work Beefster, nice to see an example of the old fashioned overview of a fighters' career