2008 beijing olympians going pro

[CoreyWash]

ok so i read a thread saying deontay wilder was going pro and he signed with shelly finkel..any updates on our other american olympians that will go pro? the only one i doubt will go pro anytime soon is molina, but idk thats just my opinion..

[DCAmateurBoxing]

I would think they all are maybe with the exception of Molina, but I can only speculate unless I hear firsthand. I DO KNOW firsthand that Raushee, Sadam, and Yanez are going pro. Haven't heard from any others directly, I do want to ask that everyone keep Shawn Estrada in their prayers. His father passed away last week.

[boxmel]

I'll bet both Molinas go pro. Local show at their club on the 14th. I'll find out.

[CoreyWash]

any info on andrade and russell? im anxious on who they'll sign with and when they will debut..

[El Raincoat]

Molina will go pro. I spoke with someone the other day about this.

Any ideas who Warren, Yanez & Ali will be managed or promoted by?

Anyone heard anything about any of the other fighters who aren't American what ones will turn pro?

[boxmel]

Molina will go pro. I spoke with someone the other day about this.

I believe you - but do you mind saying the name of "someone?" Thanks.

[CoreyWash]

seen a few threads that demetrius andrade turned pro..he will be a world champion in the future

[Kolya]

Yeah, I saw BooBoo on the FNF the other day when they were in Connecticut, I'm guessing he's already signing with someone. He'll be really good.

[scottmallon]

None of the U.S. fighters overly impressed me and I think all will have a hard time at the upper levels of the pro ranks.

[Puncher7]

I think all the olympians have much better chances at success in the pro ranks than the amateurs. The sports are waay different.
Especially Andrade
American's generally have a better pro style than amateur, which isn't saying anything not already noted by most boxing people
so just because they may not have done impressive in the olympics doesn't mean they wont be good pro's

[scottmallon]

Wilder will win a world title? If he does, my guess is will be short-lived. He is so very green and while he's got a story, he's a nice guy, and works hard in the gym, I think he's at least 3 years away from being anywhere near the world level. When I spoke with him before he fought Russo, he kept saying to me, "if I win the fight." I said to him, "you mean, when you win."

To me, he did not seem like a fighter with much confidence. He also told me of how he was alone in his training, save for one sparring partner and Rau'shee Warren. The entire team bailed...to me, that shows something.

If you think about a gym, it's the sort of place that when you're training, you want there to be noise, excitement, a buzz about it...how are you going to have this when the whole team is gone? Seems to me that there's so many problems with the program that it's going to take years to get it straightened out...at least 4 years.

The blame for losing lies with with the fighters. Say what you will about the lousy scoring but all of the fighters in the Olympics faced the same task and used the same scoring system. I watched almost but maybe 10 bouts, more than once too, and the Americans who lost weren't cheated or robbed - they were beaten and didn't do enough.

Vastine was a victim - as was Kenny Egan.

Andrade? Sorry - he was a victim of his own overconfidence. Watching him enter the ring, during his fights, and after his bouts it was apparent to me that he was so conscious of trying to be a star he didn't wasn't concentrating like he should have while he fought - this definitely goes for Warren too.

The others, Molina, Ali, Yanez - they're going to have a hard go of it in the pros. Decent fighters, but not great, and they just aren't seasoned as they should be to make a splash as pros. They don't have "it." Andrade - maybe in time, Warren, nope, I don't see it, Wilder - maybe thru hard work he'll get somewhere but like I said, he's quite a few years away. And unless he shows marked improvement, I don't see him being a dominant force.

Frankly, not one of the fighters have "it." This isn't saying they won't be solid pros. But I don't think any of them will reach the heights of a Roy Jones, and certainly not a Leonard or Ali - EVER. I would certainly like to see an American who comes from the games turn out like one of the greats but I just don't see it happening with this crop of fighters.

Cammarelle - liked his style and loved that his knockout punch of a Chinese fighter ended the boxing. Kenny Egan - thought he got the shaft. Lomachenko - excellent - he can flat out fight, period. Some of the Mongolian fighters, should they turn pro could make a little noise simply because they're always tough and they come to win. I didn't like how any of the Thai fighters fought - but they fought to win the fights using an amateur style.

David Price - he better try and fight in another Olympics because he looked terrible and definitely needs the experience. After he was knocked out by Cammarelle he was apparently griping about how unhappy he was with how the referee handled the fight...not sure why - he got his ass kicked and frankly, if he goes pro, he'll end up like A-Force, except faster.

Tishchenko, very good, I'd like to know what his plans are. The Cubans - extremely poor losers and off the top of my head, none of them deserved to win gold. They all looked disgusted on the podiums and were poor sports to the point where they barely could look at the person that beat them, and some would only shake hands after the winner would not relent in getting a handshake (DeGale). Paddy Barnes was entertaining and aggressive but I think he's limited and wouldn't go all that far in the pros. The Indians actually surprised me - they certainly didn't look fantastic but the two brothers could fight a little and perhaps in the next 1 or 2 Olympics, India will churn out a gold medalist.

I read a few people writing about Vastine and how they thought he had a good chance in the pros. IMO he was the one who took it the hardest in the ying-yang and I don't know if it was shown on US TV but he must have spent 10 minutes laying outside the ring, crying, he was so distraught. And I don't blame the guy...he got shafted and robbed of quite alot.

I think Vastine's a pretty good fighter who with the right guidance could get somewhere. A world title - the challenge nowadays is not so much the winning of a title - the ABC's are practically giving them away to earn revenues. The trick is to win the title and hold on to it for a few years while fighting respectable opposition.

You don't hear about the Chinese, or the Russians, or the Mongolians, whining about their coaches or what they're asked to do. For the most part they just do their business and don't complain - maybe the Americans should try doing the same instead of acting like they're the best thing since sliced bread and then blaming the coach, the lack of their personal coach, the US boxing program, or the scoring. Losers who eventually become winners don't make excuses, they learn from their mistakes and the experience, and move on.

And Verb - while I don't agree with you at all about Andrade, pro and amateur boxing are like apples and oranges and they shouldn't be.

[scottmallon]

time will tell...the great thing about sports is that all our theories/takes/predictions will be borne out at some point & we'll see who was right on which prediction!! i just want to get more clear on yours...are you saying NONE of the ameriican squad will win world titles?!?

if that's the case, i would say you are too close to the situation & are getting caught up in all the melodrama that surrounded this squad!! granted, it was poor team spirit & poorly handled by USA boxing!! IMO one of the problems was that they tried to create this artificial team environment & denied these kids the opportunity to train in a familiar environment, with the same trainers they grew up with!! that shouldnt be a problem in pros, since they will all be able to have the trainers of their own choosing!!

and i'm not even saying a majority of this squad will go farther in pros that OT competitors who didnt make team...like jacobs, thurman, garcia, etc but that's how it always has worked! some of the non-OG guys who fell short in amateurs came up huge in pros!! tommy hearns comes to mind...aaron pryor...gerald mcclellan, etc, etc, etc!!

Verballistic - I'm not saying none of them will win a world title and I'm not getting caught up in any melodrama. It's their drama, not mine. None of them are Hearns, Pryor, or McClellan though - as I said, I wasn't overly impressed with any of the Americans. I was however impressed with a few of the non-Americans. Nowadays just about anyone with a modicum of talent, a name, and the right connections can get a title shot. With all the ABC's out there, there's alot of belts to be had. Will any of the Americans become and undisputed champion or Ring Mag champion - it's a bit soon to say but if I were to bet on it, I'd say NO.

Also, IMO the majority of the blame belongs to the fighters. They didn't perform when they needed to - many other countries fought under the same ring conditions, yet won. So to blame the lack of team spirit or how USA Boxing handled the fighters is not the main reason these guys didn't win.

"Although some of the team members had their issues with the coach, we've grown tight over the past year," said Deontay Wilder.

While team spirit wouldn't have hurt and makes for a better training and fighting environment, once some of the fighters got into the in the ring, they chose not to listen, and like I said, didn't perform well enough to win. Some fights were close, but the bottom line is they didn't perform like gold medal winners.

[scottmallon]

It's not about who is right or wrong; I have my opinion, you have yours.

For as much is being made about the lack of trainers - these guys had at least a year to adjust to being under Dan Campbell....maybe, instead of looking to blame others, they need to man up and come to grips with the fact that they just didn't perform as expected, or up to their capabilities.

[boxmel]

they need to man up and come to grips with the fact that they just didn't perform as expected, or up to their capabilities.

Scott, I hope you're not putting 100% of the blame on the boxers? I think it was twofold - boxers allowing personal issues to distract them and lack of caring and knowledge on the part of USAB to make things run smoothly. As Millman said, it was a throw-away team and they responded as such.

[scottmallon]

they need to man up and come to grips with the fact that they just didn't perform as expected, or up to their capabilities.

Scott, I hope you're not putting 100% of the blame on the boxers? I think it was twofold - boxers allowing personal issues to distract them and lack of caring and knowledge on the part of USAB to make things run smoothly. As Millman said, it was a throw-away team and they responded as such.

No, not 100% - maybe 50%. The other 25% was scoring, then 25% because of the team problems.

I'm sure the problems with the USAB affected them to a certain extent but...Many of the American fighters had the physical ability to win. - but not the mental strength. The fact all but one let these problems get to them, didn't listen, and the majority of the team didn't even stay to root Wilder on...that says quite a bit.

I may sound a bit harsh but there are those who lose and blame it on the pressure and problems, and those who win despite it, like Wilder. When some of the Americans marched out for their fights...it looked like they were more concerned about looking good for the crowd and being the next superstar than concentrating on spanking their opponent inside the ring.

Wilder was somewhat lucky to win bronze but nonetheless, he got the job done to the extent of winning a medal. The least experienced guy on the team!!! The poor guy was practically alone training for Russo. Now imagine Russo with his Italian teammates, some still competing, in a gym with a buzz, with the energetic Damiani prepping him physically and mentally. Add in the experience factor - no contest...

Blame the scoring, blame the coaching - just make sure to remember to blame the fighters for getting beat.

[boxmel]

Blame the scoring, blame the coaching - just make sure to remember to blame the fighters for getting beat.

Scott, I am not disagreeing with you - honest!

[Bushboy]

Australian olympian Paul Fleming is turning pro at maroochydore rugby leagues club on the sunshine coast in queensland, early november, I read somewhere that bob arum showed some interest in him.

[JMac]

Russian Matvey Korobov signed with Top Rank and will box out of the US.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing ... id=3590772

[rmz]

Shawn Estrada signed with Bravo Boxing Management.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=17111&more=1

So him and Andrade are the only two to officially commit to the pros at this point for team USA?

Also, curious to know why Warren is not considered a good pro prospect or atleast not as good as the others? He has fast hands, good footwork, head movement, and pretty good power. Interested in your thoughts...

[Canada]

It might have something to do with his weight, there is less money involved in the lower weights where he fights. Also I have heard many times that the smaller African American boxers have more trouble because they dont have as much as a following as the Hispanic fighters at those weights that build a big fanbase with the Hispanic fans and it is hard for them to get a attention on TV or get a following that would lead to high ticket prices,PPV,higher purse,etc.... so promoters will pass them over for a heavier prospect.

[scottmallon]

Shawn Estrada signed with Bravo Boxing Management.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=17111&more=1

So him and Andrade are the only two to officially commit to the pros at this point for team USA?

Also, curious to know why Warren is not considered a good pro prospect or atleast not as good as the others? He has fast hands, good footwork, head movement, and pretty good power. Interested in your thoughts...

Deontay Wilder also...

[rmz]

My mistake, meant to include him on there as well.

It might have something to do with his weight, there is less money involved in the lower weights where he fights. Also I have heard many times that the smaller African American boxers have more trouble because they dont have as much as a following as the Hispanic fighters at those weights that build a big fanbase with the Hispanic fans and it is hard for them to get a attention on TV or get a following that would lead to high ticket prices,PPV,higher purse,etc.... so promoters will pass them over for a heavier prospect.

That's true, the lower weights are dominated by Mexicans, Thais and Filipinos but that doesn't mean he can't have success. No one really follows the small weights in the States, but popularity doesn't have that much correlation w/ winning a world title...

[Canada]

Thats true, but popularity brings more $$$$ wether a fighter wins a title or not. I think probably the biggest issue in terms of how the promoters look at it with Warren is his size. Its just an unfair fact that fighters around his size dont get the same type of money that even less skilled bigger guys are getting, and the promoters get a cut of the money. I think we will be hearing of Warren turning pro soon, he might just be sorting through offers from various people or taking some time to relax after all the Olympic drama. As far as his level of success as a pro, Im not doubting he will be successful. In my view he was the most talented of the team and I could see him being like a mini Floyd, pound for pound level fighter.

[rmz]

Thats true, but popularity brings more $$$$ wether a fighter wins a title or not. I think probably the biggest issue in terms of how the promoters look at it with Warren is his size. Its just an unfair fact that fighters around his size dont get the same type of money that even less skilled bigger guys are getting, and the promoters get a cut of the money. I think we will be hearing of Warren turning pro soon, he might just be sorting through offers from various people or taking some time to relax after all the Olympic drama. As far as his level of success as a pro, Im not doubting he will be successful. In my view he was the most talented of the team and I could see him being like a mini Floyd, pound for pound level fighter.

Yah, the funny thing is that we never hear about African-American fighters or American fighters for that matter in the lower weight classes. I think the last prominent guys were Kevin Kelly and Junior Jones. Haven't heard of any since then.

And I kind of think guys like Raynell Williams and Molina wouldn't be too bad off giving the Olympics one more shot. I don't blame them for wanting to go pro because of money and such, but they're still young, if they go to the pros they will sit in the developmental stage for a very long time. I don't see guys like Hylon Williams or Danny Jacobs fighting for a title for quite some time.