Great Amateurs That Just Didn't Make It In The Pros

[HomicideHenry]

Clay Hodges. Hodges defeated the young George Foreman not once but twice in the amateurs, but when it came time to turn professional, Hodges just couldn't cut the mustard. Hodges went 4-1 before retiring, his last fight ended with him getting a broken jaw by a novice opponent. Clay Hodges other claim to fame was playing Jess Willard in the made for tv movie Dempsey, starring Treat Williams as The Manassa Mauler.

[HomicideHenry]

Paea Wolfgramm is another whose great size and bulk and amateur background was greatly anticipated when he turned professional. However, Wolfgramm couldnt seem to get over the vast difference between the amateur system and the professional way of things, losing to Wladimir Klitschko among others.

[HomicideHenry]

Henry Tillman, in many ways, just might be the most famous amateur who never made it as a professional. The Tyson/Tillman rematch in 1991 later became the basis for the Spike Lee film 'The Great White Hype', where a heavyweight champion in need of an opponent gets matched against his amateur rival, the lone man to ever defeat him in the ring. Tillman was an Olympic gold medalist, and seemed to be on his way, however a loss to fellow Olympian Evander Holyfield effectively began a decline that was impossible for him to overcome.

[HomicideHenry]

Some could make the argument that Pete Rademacher belongs among this category, though imho he doesn't because he managed to not only get a title shot in his debut, but also managed to out point some decent fighters following his loss to Floyd Patterson. The best amateur in the world against the best professional in the world was the storyline for the Patterson/Rademacher match, and at least in round one Rademacher seemed destined for greatness as he dropped Patterson. However, it wasnt meant to be, he was kayoed in the 6th.

[Brutu]

Maybe the Patterson/Rademacher fight should only have been scheduled for six rounds?
An amateur goiing 15 rounds with the hw champ?C'mon that sounds nuts.

[HomicideHenry]

Maybe the Patterson/Rademacher fight should only have been scheduled for six rounds?
An amateur goiing 15 rounds with the hw champ?C'mon that sounds nuts.

I think with certain situations, there should be special circumstances. If anything the bout should have been scheduled ten rounds, like the Dempsey/Tunney bouts were. Thats quite a leap to make from amateur to professional, I dont care what anyone says.

[Controversial]

Obviously not a 'great' amateur in contrast to people like Papp, Stephenson etc... but Audley Harrison was meant to be the next big thing in heavyweight boxing after winning Olympic gold at superheavyweight in 2000. We all know what happened next.

Mark Breland was a fantastic amateur compiling a amazing 110-1 record, Olympic gold and 5 consecutive New York Golden Gloves titles with a record in this competition of 21-0 (19kos). Yes he went on to win a professional world title however his career never really hit the heights it should of, and he was normally found wanting at the highest levels.

Errol Christie was a fantastic amateur British fighter who many 'experts' claimed to be the next big thing in pro boxing. England captain and ABA champ he was highly touted. I think he lost 2 out of 80 fights. He even got to wear the coveted Kronk gold shorts

As a pro he fought at middleweight and went of to a flying start compiling a 13(12)-0 record before being stopped in 46 seconds by Jose Seys. He fought some 'names' but invariably lost and retired with a 32(26)-8-1 record without ever winning a British title, let alone anything else. 7 of his 8 defeats were by stoppage, seemingly the weak part of his game.

[HomicideHenry]

Obviously not a 'great' amateur in contrast to people like Papp, Stephenson etc... but Audley Harrison was meant to be the next big thing in heavyweight boxing after winning Olympic gold at superheavyweight in 2000. We all know what happened next.

Mark Breland was a fantastic amateur compiling a amazing 110-1 record, Olympic gold and 5 consecutive New York Golden Gloves titles with a record in this competition of 21-0 (19kos). Yes he went on to win a professional world title however his career never really hit the heights it should of, and he was normally found wanting at the highest levels.

Errol Christie was a fantastic amateur British fighter who many 'experts' claimed to be the next big thing in pro boxing. England captain and ABA champ he was highly touted. He even got to wear the coveted Kronk gold shorts

As a pro he fought at middleweight and went 13(12)-0 before being stopped in 46 seconds by Jose Seys. He fought some 'names' but invariably lost and retired with a 32(26)-8-1 record without ever winning a British title, let alone anything else. 7 of his 8 defeats were by stoppage, seemingly the weak part of his game.

Great examples Controversial. Myself I wouldnt have added Breland because he won a world title, cus to me thats making it in the sport---living up to expectations is quite another, that he didn't accomplish.

Brian Paul is another amateur who was impressive, having 80 some odd bouts, winning state and national titles. His pro record, however, ended up being 5-14-0 before ending up in prison. To me, thats a good example, maybe not a great one, but certainly not a bad one at all. Paul had potential to of been a good pro, but it just didnt turn out that way.

[Controversial]

Great examples Controversial. Myself I wouldnt have added Breland because he won a world title, cus to me thats making it in the sport---living up to expectations is quite another, that he didn't accomplish.

Another fighter than won a world title and had great amateur pedigree was heavyweight Michael Bentt. He won numerous golden gloves, national and regional titles compiling a 148-8 record. His pro career started disastrously losing his debut fight in the 1st round. Of course he later caused an upset beating Tommy Morrison in one round to win the WBO title only to lose it in his first defence to Herbie Hide. He retired with a very average 11(6)-2-0 record and was advised never to fight again after brain problems were found.

[Brutu]

Sam Berger
He was the National amateur champion and the
first Olympic HW Champion
when it was introduced in St.Louis MO. in the 1904 Summer Olympics.
6 ft 2 inches tall and 200 lbs.
He turned pro for just two years then quit after being knocked out by Al Kaufman,
He also had a 10 round ND with Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.
Apparently he was involved in some type of scandal involving boxing.

He went in the haberdasher biusness then became the manager of Jim Jeffries when he came out of retirement and even sparred with him.
Reportely Jack Johnson had said at the time he would rather face Sam Berger then fight Jeffriesfor that fight.

[zojo]

Kelcie Banks?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Howard Davis, while his career was somewhat successful in the pros. If you take into acount he was the obvious star on a team that included Leonard & the Spinks brothers it's pretty sad that he never got a strap. As a big fan, the late KD to Rosario was as heartbreaking a fight as I've ever watched. His management might have moved him along a bit too fast and he froze against the underrated jim Watt.


Jimmy Clark was an outstanding amateur who only ended up having a handful of pro fights and had troubles outside of the ring.

[HomicideHenry]

Tom and Peter McNeeley, imho, belong on this thread. Both guys rarely fought outside of Boston, where they built up very good records in the amateurs, and did well on the regional level as pros. However, once it came time to get into deeper waters, they drowned. Tom McNeeley was way over his head against Floyd Patterson and with Jose Torres. Peter, in turn, showed his true limitations when he fought Mike Tyson when the former undisputed heavyweight king got out of prison. It must also be noted that both Tom and Peter dealt with addiction issues throughout their careers as well, for Tom it was the bottle, for Peter it was street drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Chuck Wepner is another, though he would fight Ali for the title. Wepner had an excellent amateur record, winning the national golden gloves heavyweight title. However, Wepner's skin and overall limited skills held him back from being an effective pro---only his toughness and conditioning made him last rounds with Foreman, Liston, Terrell and Ali. On the whole, Wepner was, like the McNeeley's, a regional level fighter, being the New Jersey heavyweight champion.

[Controversial]

Big punching Duane Bobick beat Stevenson and Holmes as an amateur compiling a 93-13 record and winning a bronze at the 1972 Olympics.

His pro career went off great winning his first 19 fights by ko. He eventually extended this to a 38(33)-0 before being stopped by Ken Norton in one round. Retired with a 48(42)-4 record, all his defeats were by stoppage.

[Brutu]

Boone Kirkman.
He won the National AAU HW Championship or some other national amateur title I believe.

[giacomino]

Tyrell Biggs. '84 Olympic champion, as a pro, gets KO'd by Tyson, '84 Olympic silver medalist, Francesco Damiani, '88 Olympic champion Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe, finishing 30-10 with 7 KO losses.

[HomicideHenry]

Mitch 'Blood' Green had alot of damn talent as an amateur and had he had his wits about him and stayed off drugs, he probably could have become a damn good pro. He's one of few men who went the distance with a prime Mike Tyson.

Mitch Rose is another. Sure he kayoed Butterbean in one round, but for a man who won quite a few amateur titles, he has an amazingly shitty record.

[boxing72]

Heavyweight Jorge luis Gonzalez.

[Nile4000]

Alex Ramos.

[Grimm]

I'm sure it's been said plenty of times.

Craig Payne who beat Tyson and Teofilo Stevenson in the amateurs.

Didn't go so great as a pro and the sad thing is he thinks he a celebrity.

[Expug]

Sugar Ray Seales.
Gold in 72. Eye injuries as a pro were a big factor.
He was a contender though.

[wsbuf]

Kelcie Banks?

I was going to say him. He and Vernon McGriff fought often in national tournaments finishing 1-2. Neither one panned out in pros.

[yancey]

This thread screams Forest Ward.

[Brutu]

Tom T. Garrett according to Ron Lyle was an under estimated big puncher he fought and lost to in the amateurs.
"Billy Boy" Thompson was another amateur hwyt ca 1969, that never seemed to get anywhere.

[wouter]

Nick Wells, who twice knocked out Larry Holmes in the amateurs. There's also Olympic gold medalist Andrew Maynard, who had a disastrous pro career.