How big a gamble are Olympians?

[Chris W 1982]

With the figures being thrown around regarding the worth of James Degale, are promoters taking a huge gamble signing these guys for the numbers being quoted?

If £2m gets Degale, £1m each for the other medalist, plus another £1m for Frankie Gavin, then how the hell can promoters/managers expect to see a return? Especially with other former Olympians not hitting the heights.

[Old bones Ian]

Its a big gamble on any boxer, how many really generate big money.

[hitman_hatton1]

i think pay often gets over inflated.

although not in amir khan's case by the looks of his house and cars.

i'm sure degale will have to deliver in the ring to an extent to cash in his 2m.

but he will.

[Scrap]

Look and compare, the class of 76 to 08. Its a different sport, now its Fencing with Gumshields. DD

[lefthook82]

Depends on lot of things

Their background,ethnicity, location, style, looks, charm, profile, even a clear affiliation to a football club

If you have most of these in your favour you'd be likely to earn some coin off of your signing

[johnswan1]

Look and compare, the class of 76 to 08. Its a different sport, now its Fencing with Gumshields. DD

I'm going to say that not 1 of the Olympians will come close to what the Olympians at 76, 80 & 88 achieved. Its just a totally different sport. The best pro's these days come from fighters that have only a little amateur experience, just enough for them not to panick when the going gets tough and how to move with the punches correctly. I would say and i'm sure people would dissagree that fighters who have long amateur careers wont make a massive impact that they would of years ago circa 70's 80's early 90's, its just too tip tap bull sh*t these days.

Agree with Scrap and Teddy007. Audley Harrison should be a lesson to all.

[Old bones Ian]

Well i remember Andrew Maynard as an amatuer, he was all agression and throwing loads of punches, steamed to the gold medal in Seoul.
Then a bust as a pro, i remember watching him and thinking is this the same boxer.

For me i'd like to see these boxers that get a big signing on fee , have some of that automatically put into a trust fund for when they retire.

[Scrap]

Im pretty sure, its whats been the amount of work and toil thats got them there in the First place, and mindset.

[bennie]

Teofilo Stevenson would have been 'can't miss'. No gamble at all.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

They're not that good, I doubt any will be world champs, but they should be enough to guarantee a TV deal, which is worth a few million in itself

[Old bones Ian]

Teofilo Stevenson would have been 'can't miss'. No gamble at all.

Yeah he would have been a hit, but so would of Roberto Balado, triple world champion, olympic champion. Killed in an accident at age 25 i think, such a shame.

here he is vs Oleg Maskaev

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mkX7j_lCNCE

[Scrap]

In this country alone, in the 70s there were 120,000, Carded Boxers. Now we have 9,000, the clues are there, who lives in a House like this.

[TJAY]

In Boxing news today it says one of the Olympians Joe Murray is back in the Amateur ring next week in a tournament in Finland.