Ams vs. Pros? from a fan perspective

[Trained By CHAD]

as an amateur boxing fan why do you prefer to watch the amateurs over the pros? and visa versa.

[hbomb2]

As an amateur boxing fan I prefer watching the amateurs execute as they are a work in progress and I am able to watch and observe the athlete develop throughout the years and look back and say I remember when that kid... now he/she is a world champion. I think that is so beautiful.

[squarering]

Well said Hbomb, It is fun to watch these kids build the foundation that will make them what they are to become. It is also interesting watching the crossover from the ams to the pros to see if they can adjust and what changes they make or are unable to make.

[boxmel]

I prefer watching the art and the technique of the amateurs as opposed to the waltzing, clubbing, holding, dancing, grappling of the pros. Amateur boxing is all about the sport; pro boxing is all about the money. Now - ask me how I REALLY feel!

[Trained By CHAD]

i like that mel. the love of the sport vs the love of the money. the heart of an amateur champion vs the wallet of a professional champion.

i like them both. two different games. i respect the athleticism of the amateurs a bit more. they have to be prepared to fight a variety of styles at any given moment where the pro get to plan a strategy for weeks even months. they should still be prepared for anything but usually aren't.

[boxmel]

where the pro get to plan a strategy for weeks even months

Amateur atheltes, in a tounament, never know who they are going to box until the draw is done. Pro fighters go for months, if not years, inbetween fights looking for the one that will bring them the most money with the least amount of risk. Mostly boring.

[Dennis]

Unfortunately, amateur boxing can be boring at times too. Did anyone watch the 2008 Olympic boxing? We have much better bouts at our local shows and tournaments.

I agree that amateur boxers have to be very diversified and ready for anything. There is no such thing as avoiding all southpaws, all tall boxers, or all boxers with unorthodox styles unless a boxer doesn't enter any tournaments. For the top open class boxers who might compete 4 or 5 days in a row at a national tournament, they have to be ready for anything and everything!!!

[boxmel]

Unfortunately, amateur boxing can be boring at times too

Yeah - think novice or blubberweights. D

[Dennis]

Unfortunately, amateur boxing can be boring at times too

Yeah - think novice or blubberweights. D

Stop it now Mel. The big guys like me have feelings too!
Many novice bouts can be very entertaining. Sometimes the skills are a little lacking, but they can be very exciting and they give it their all.

[boxmel]

Stop it now Mel. The big guys like me have feelings too!
Many novice bouts can be very entertaining. Sometimes the skills are a little lacking, but they can be very exciting and they give it their all.

I take the fifth. No comment.

[benvolio]

I prefer amateur boxing. In pro boxing the heavier weight classes get too much importance, in amateur boxing the weight classes are equally matched. The fights are shorter, there is more change in program. It's more sport and less show. It's pity that most spectators prefer pro boxing and amateur boxing gets less public attention except golden gloves. I think that amateurs are not equally respected on account of the simple reason that they wear headgears and jerseys. I wouldn't advise to do away with the headgears but get off the vests that the guys get the traditional barechested boxing attire the majority of spectators prefer.

[boxmel]

I wouldn't advise to do away with the headgears but get off the vests that the guys get the traditional barechested boxing attire the majority of spectators prefer.

Hmmm - so are you saying that spectators prefer to watch bare chests rather than the actual boxing? Interesting.

[benvolio]

I wouldn't advise to do away with the headgears but get off the vests that the guys get the traditional barechested boxing attire the majority of spectators prefer.

Hmmm - so are you saying that spectators prefer to watch bare chests rather than the actual boxing? Interesting.

It's not such quite easy, it's the total of the presentation, and it's the tradition, I think.

[ringsidemike]

IMO, amateurs are better because the top guys are willing to fight each other, early and often. In pros, they want to get paid so they turn down tough matchups.
So the quality of fights is alot better. I can go to any weekend smoker and find one or two fights that are better than any of the bouts on a local "club" pro card. Then when I go to a local Golden Gloves, J/Os, or U.S.A.'s tournament, there is no comparision, there will be 10-20+ superior matchups as compared to even the best local cards (HBO, ESPN, etc.)

[boxmel]

It's not such quite easy, it's the total of the presentation, and it's the tradition, I think.

Maybe a tradition in the pros - certainly not in amateur boxing. And please remember that they are two different sports; it's really hard to compare.

[hbomb2]

It's not such quite easy, it's the total of the presentation, and it's the tradition, I think.

Maybe a tradition in the pros - certainly not in amateur boxing. And please remember that they are two different sports; it's really hard to compare.

In all actuality they really aren't two different sports. That is like saying college football or basketball is a different sport than professional football or basketball. Some rules change but boxing is boxing. I would say that MMA is a different sport. Mel, I just had to put that in to say hello to you.

[Puncher7]

if they were two different sports then having amateur experience before turning pro wouldn't be necessary

[benvolio]

I'm glad some others agree that it's the same sport! The only differences in some rules you all know. And concerning tradition amateur boxers in the US didn't wear jerseys for decades up to the seventies!

[JMac]

I'm glad some others agree that it's the same sport! The only differences in some rules you all know. And concerning tradition amateur boxers in the US didn't wear jerseys for decades up to the seventies!

Actually it was in 1984 when headgear and shirts became mandatory.

[hbomb2]

Hey JMac, it was nice seeing you and Hal a couple weeks ago. What are your thoughts about the overall process?

[boxmel]

Mel, I just had to put that in to say hello to you.

Hi, Ron - hello back! DD

[boxmel]

if they were two different sports then having amateur experience before turning pro wouldn't be necessary

Different rules, different styles, different attire, different judging and ref criteria. D

[JMac]

Hey JMac, it was nice seeing you and Hal a couple weeks ago. What are your thoughts about the overall process?

Hi Ron,
Overall, I think the symposium was good. The bottom line is USAB needs to get back on track and needs to move into the future with amateur boxing. The sport has changed with the scoring system, not for the better but it has changed and we need to make some changes to be better than what we have been in the past. There is a good chance the scoring system can change again before 2012 and we need to be on top of what is going on. I think getting everybody on the same page will help though that is a big task.
I do like many of the ideas that did come out of the symposium on how we need to move forward.
Cheers