Amateurs who vanquished future top pros

[Punchy Joe]

Hamed knocked out Michael Brodie in 1 round in both their last amateur fights.
Dean Pithie decisioned Hamed.
Juergen Braehmer flattened Ricky Hatton in 1 round and outpointed him a month or so later.
Henry Akinwande decisioned Herbie Hide in heavyweight ABA Final.

hhmmmm i'll try and think of some more............

[locoxelbox]

Im fairly sure Joe calzaghe and Chris Byrd met at some point in the amateurs, can anyone confirm?

Why didn't Calzaghe fight at the 1992 Olympics? Didn't he qualify? If he beat Byrd, who won silver, he must have been really good at the moment.

yeah calzaghe beat chris byrd as an amatuer dont know what happened with the olympics i know hw lost at the 1990 European Junior Championships in Prague

When was this bout supposed to happen? I've never heard anyone come up with some proof this bout actually took place.

[crusader]

Neither have I! It is nothing more than a myth at this point. I have also heard that they were scheduled to fight in a dual but Byrd pulled out and Calzaghe beat another American, but there is no proof for that either.

[boxinggirl18]

Some results:

Don Diego Poeder (HOL) over Wladimir Klitscko (UKR) RSCI
Marco Theuer (GER) over Robin Reid (GBR) KO
Alexey Lezin (RUS) over Wladimir und Vitali Klitschko Points
Christoph Mendy (FR) over Vitali Klitschko Points
Marco Theuer (GER) ober Vincenzo Nardiello (ITA) Points
Jörg Heidenreich (GER) over Kosta Tzsyu (RUS) Points
Andreas Zülow (GER) over Kosta Tzsyu (RUS) 3x Points
Henry Petrich (POL) over Sven Ottke (GER) 2x Points, 2x KO
Betru Salomon (ETH) over Felix Sturm aka Adnan Catic (GER) Points
Angel Herrera (CUB) over Pernell Whitaker (USA) Points
Sandor Hranek (HUN) over Markus Bott (GER) Points
Harald Geissler (GER) over Mikael Loewe (RUM) KO
Angel Espinosa (CUB) over Meldrick Taylor (USA) KO
Francis Vastag (RUM) over Markus Beyer (GER) 3x Points
Angel Espinosa (CUB) over Henry Maske (GER) 2x Points
Francis Vastag (RUM) over Raul Marquez (USA) 3x Points
Francis Vastag (RUM) over Bernd Schenk (GER) Points

[craigjenkins05]

well its in calzaghes biography dont see why a world champion with a 46-0 world record would like about beating byrd in 1992 as a amateur

[crusader]

well its in calzaghes biography dont see why a world champion with a 46-0 world record would like about beating byrd in 1992 as a amateur

Because its a win over another top boxer who went on to become heavyweight champion of the world. Even if there's no reason to lie it would be nice if there was a little evidence of it actually taking place. Chris Byrd said it never happened and I have heard that they were scheduled to fight, but Byrd pulled out with an injury and Calzaghe beat a replacement instead.

[thenalo]

dumont welliver beat chad dawson @ the national jo's.

[hhascup]

Can you name a boxer that stopped 2 future heavyweight champions in the amateurs and the 2 future heavyweights fought each other in the pro's?

[JMac]

Can you name a boxer that stopped 2 future heavyweight champions in the amateurs and the 2 future heavyweights fought each other in the pro's?

I'll take a guess and say the boxer who stopped two future champs would be a Cuban like Savon and he probably stopped somebody like Brewster and Klitschko who fought each other as pros.

[JC]

Im fairly sure Joe calzaghe and Chris Byrd met at some point in the amateurs, can anyone confirm?

Why didn't Calzaghe fight at the 1992 Olympics? Didn't he qualify? If he beat Byrd, who won silver, he must have been really good at the moment.

yeah calzaghe beat chris byrd as an amatuer dont know what happened with the olympics i know hw lost at the 1990 European Junior Championships in Prague

Calzaghe felt he should have gone to the Barcelona Olympics and was very bitter about it for his whole career. The way his Dad tells it is that the Welsh ABA snubbed him because they believed he had become "big headed" after he pulled out of an international against Norway with an injured hand. Who knows what the truth of the matter is but Calzaghe was ABA champion at the time so something must have been up.

[Nile4000]

Davey Moore-Kevin Rooney.

[locoxelbox]

Can you name a boxer that stopped 2 future heavyweight champions in the amateurs and the 2 future heavyweights fought each other in the pro's?

Felix Savon stopped Lamon Brewster and Luan Krasniqi who fought each other for the world title as pros.

[hhascup]

Can you name a boxer that stopped 2 future heavyweight champions in the amateurs and the 2 future heavyweights fought each other in the pro's?

Felix Savon stopped Lamon Brewster and Luan Krasniqi who fought each other for the world title as pros.

Yes, but Luan Krasniqi was never the World Champion.

[locoxelbox]

Oops, you're right. I didn't read it properly...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

Rhode Island's ERIC FAGAN never went pro...but he holds amateur victories over "Bad" Chad Dawson, Mike Oliver (IBO 122), and Brian Viloria...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

Prince Naseem Hamed beaten by Michael Brittingham in 1990? Mel might know better than I, but Buddy Shaw told me that Brittingham put it on Prince as part of a JO dual between the 1990 champions. He said Hamed was crying. Any truth to that Mel?

Michael's coach (Moses) told me MB put it on Naz good...

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

One aspect of boxing that I have always been very intrigued by is the results of amateur fights involving big name boxers that went on to become champions and contenders. Sometimes you see results of amateur fights and are amazed that they went much differently than you figured they would have. The national amateur tournaments are full of future champions and contenders and if you ever get a chance to go check one out then, by all means go do so because you will be seeing the future stars of boxing. I have been to many of these tournaments as both a boxer and as a coach and I also have dozens of amateur boxing magazines full of interesting amateur results to retrieve past results from for you to see.

I myself, for example, saw Roy Jones, Jr. when he was nineteen years old, Shane Mosley and Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson when they were sixteen and Bones Adams when he was just thirteen. I saw Lawrence Clay-Bey very early in his amateur career in local tournaments here in the Connecticut area and I was present at the same Golden Gloves tournament back in 1983 (as a spectator, not a participant) that featured a 201 pound sixteen year old named Michael "The Tank" Tyson.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

One of the greatest knockouts I ever saw in person was at the 1988 National Golden Gloves when, in the 139 pound finals, future pro contenders Skipper Kelp and Emmit Linton met for the light welterweight title. Skipper was known for his lightning bolt left hook and two consecutive ones in the second round ended that fight.

Linton had won the National Junior Olympic title two years earlier (1986) with a 119 pound championship bout victory over "Mighty" Ivan Robinson. Oscar DeLaHoya also scored three open class decisions over Robinson in the amateur ranks.

1984 Olympic gold medalist and future IBF middleweight champion Frant Tate had a hot rivalry with Canada's top 156 pounder, and future pro prospect, Sean O'Sullivan that lasted for a couple of years in the early 80's. Of the three matchups that I know of, Tate came away with two of the three victories. Their first fight saw O' Sullivan beat Tate at the 1983 North American Championships but then Tate reversed the verdict at the 1984 World Championship Challenge. Their last meeting was in the gold medal round of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Tate came away with the decision and the gold.

Tate also defeated future WBA 160 pound champion John David Jackson, future NABF 160 pound champion Fabian Williams and four time NYC Golden Gloves champion Dennis Milton in 156 pound matches to win gold at the 1983 U.S. National championships in Colorado Springs and future WBA Middleweight Champion Reggie Johnson at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Reggie tells me he lost a decision in his first ever national tournament, at age sixteen, to top rated Dennis Milton of The Bronx. Milton, on the other hand, also scored great amateur victories over future three-time world champion, and good friend, Iran Barkley in the 156 pound finals of the 1981 NYC Golden Gloves and Michael Nunn in a 156 pound fight back in 1983.

Kevin "The Flushing Flash" Kelley scored three decisions at 119 and 125 pounds over future top junior welterweight "Sucra" Ray Olivera.

Hard punching Venezuelan welterweight Engels Pedroza scored a victory in 1985 at 132 pounds over Joey Gamache in a USA-Venezuela duel meet. Gamache, meanwhile, scored a 1984 Olympic Trials victory over future lightweight contender Anthony "Baby" Jones.

The 1998 National Junior Olympic tournament saw future (2004) 201 pound Olympian Devin Vargas win a decision over future pro heavyweight prospect "Fast" Eddie Chambers in a 178 pound light heavyweight match.

In 1986 at the National PAL tournament in the 112 Junior Olympic division, future World Champion "Poison" Junior Jones won a semi-final decision over future world title challenger "Diamond" David Santos.

Future two-division World Champion Donald "Cobra" Curry defeated future WBA 154 pound champion Davey Moore in the 1980 Olympic Trials finals at 147 pounds. Moore advanced to the finals against Curry by winning a decision over future WBA 140 pound champion Gene "Mad Dog" Hatcher. Hatcher, meanwhile, gained the right to face Moore by winning the decision in a prelim fight against future WBA 160 pound champion John David Jackson.

The 1978 National AAU tournament saw Curry defeat future contenders Pedro Vilella and Bobby Joe Young on the way to the welterweight crown.

Every amateur boxing aficionado knows that Mark Breland was the first ever five-time New York City Golden Gloves champion but what many might not realize is that four time champion -and future WBA 154 pound champion- Davey Moore also attempted to win a fifth title back in 1980 but was defeated by future welterweight contender Pedro Vilela.

Vilela also beat future Mike Tyson trainer Kevin Rooney on Aug 18, 1978 in New York's Empire State Games

Bernard Taylor was a spectacular amateur boxer who defeated, among many others, Johnny Bumphus in the finals of the 1977 National Golden Gloves tournament, Jimmy Paul in the semi's of the 1978 National AAU's and Livingstone Bramble at the 1980 National Golden Gloves.

Future 140 pound world champion Johnny "Bump City" Bumphus defeated both Harry Arroyo and Ronnie Shields at the 1980 National AAU tournament.

I was recently looking at a 1983 issue of "The Amateur Boxer" magazine that had a picture of 17 year old wonder-kid Todd Hickman scoring a Sports Festival decision over Stevie McCrory just one year before McCrory would go on to win gold at the 1984 Olympic games. Sad to realize that here it is just about twenty years later and both of them have passed away since. Hickman was shot and killed in the mid-80's (late 1985 I think) while McCrory passed away from an undisclosed illness in August of 2000.

On August 6, 1983 at the Pan-American games Box-off in St. Louis you had Michael Nunn, Virgil Hill and Evander Holyfield all losing that day to Dennis Milton, Michael Grogan and Ricky Womack respectively. (Holyfield defeated Womack the following day to make the team)

1994 National Golden Gloves: Derrick Jefferson beat both Michael Grant and Lawrence Clay-Bey by decision.

Most boxing fans know that James "Lights Out" Toney did not have an extensive amateur career but one of his losses did come against top ranked (nationally) amateur middleweight Joe Lipsey in -or around- 1987.

Courtney Burton, who stopped Angel Manfredy as a professional, won a decision over future pro star Jermain Taylor at 147 pounds at that same JO tournament in 1994.

Back sometime in the early 1990's, I am guessing 1993 or 1994, future world champions Martin Castillo of Mexico (WBA super flyweight) and Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather (multiple titles) met up in an international meet with Castillo taking the decision at 106 pounds.

1996 U.S. Olympian Nate Jones scored a 1994 national tournament decision over Fres Oquendo while future WBO heavyweight champ Michael Bent scored a finals night decision at the 1985 New York City Golden Gloves tournament over future title contender Alex Stewart.

1995 saw future 168 pound prospects Brandon Mitchem and Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy match up with Mitchem taking a decision at the U.S. Under-19 National Championships in the Light middleweight class.

At the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival Augie Sanchez won a decision over future champ Diego Corrales. Corrales also lost a decision in the U.S. Championship finals that same year to future Olympian Terrance Cauthen. Augie also split two amateur fights with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Vassily Jirov defeated future WBO 175 pound Champion Julio Gonzalez and future WBC champion Antonio Tarver on the way to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Jirov, the future cruiserweight champion, also defeated future 168 pound champion Sven Ottke in 1995. Ottke then turned around and defeated future WBO 175 pound champion Zolt Erdie in a 1996 match.

Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker scored a 1982 National AAU decision over another future champ in Frankie "The Surgeon" Randall.

The 1994 Olympic Festival also saw current WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster score a second round stoppage over future (1996) Olympian Nate Jones in the 201 pound class while super heavyweight Derrick Jefferson scored a championship night stoppage over DaVarryl Williamson.

Williamson, meanwhile, defeated future contender Monte "Two-Gunzz" Barrett in a national tournament in, or around, 1995 in the 201 pound class and he also scored a stoppage victory over future (and current) WBO champion Lamon Brewster. Other Williamson amateur victims include four different U.S. Olympians in Calvin Brock, Nate Jones, Jason Estrada and Michael Bennett.

Brock and Williamson actually stopped each other in separate tournaments back in 1997. Brock also scored at least two decisions over Dominick Guinn including one in the semi's of the 1999 USA/ABF nationals.

When Lennox Lewis stopped Donovan "Razor" Ruddock in just two rounds back in 1992 it likely erased much of the memory of his Junior Division loss to Ruddock back in 1980.

Rising middleweight contender Jermain Taylor reportedly split two amateur contests with former WBO 154 pound champ Felix Sturm while future champs Wayne McCullough and Tim Austin met up in the early 1990's with Wayne taking the decision. McCullough, on the other hand, lost in the 1992 Olympic gold medal match to another future world champion, Joel Casamayor of Cuba.

The 1995 Pan-American Games saw future WBA 154 pound champion David Reid score victories over future contender Hercules Kyvelos of Canada and (in the finals) future WBO Champion Daniel Santos of Puerto Rico

The early 90's saw a 139 pound bout that had Ronald "Winky" Wright winning a decision over future lightweight champion Stevie "Lil' But Bad" Johnston.

Marvis Frazier, a great amateur in his own right who was sometimes overshadowed by the legend of his father Smokin' Joe, defeated the likes of Phillip Brown, "Bonecrusher" Smith, Tony Tubbs, Tim Witherspoon and Mitch Green in his illustrious amateur career. He defeated Green in the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials quarterfinals before losing in the finals to James Broad.

Michael Spinks won the 165 pound class at the 1976 Olympic Trials, defeating future 168 pound IBF champion Lindell Holmes in the process.

As young kids, twelve or thirteen years old, future Olympic Gold medalist/WBA World Champion David Reid and light heavyweight contender Eric Harding fought twice with each winning once

The 1986 National Golden Gloves in Cedar Rapids, Iowa saw future WBA cruiserweight champions meet up, with Orlin Norris winning a decision over Nate "MR" Miller.

Future light heavyweight contender Johnny Davis won a decision over Gerry Cooney in the light heavyweight final of the 1975 New York City Golden Gloves tournament.

The 1988 version of the New York City tournament saw future ranked contender Ernest "M-16" Mateen win a finals night decision at 178 pounds over fellow Brooklyn-based boxer Clinton Mitchell (Interesting when you know that Mitchell turned pro about six months later with a decision victory in Atlantic City over future world middleweight champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins).

The 1990 New York City Golden Gloves tournament saw two future Roy Jones opponents match up in the 178 pound when Richard Frazier won a decision over future WBA 175 pound champion Lou "Honey Boy" Delvalle.

The 156 pound final of the 1984 National Golden Gloves championships saw future NABF 168 pound champ Ron Esset win a decision over future IBF light heavy champ William Guthrie

Sharmba Mitchell won the 1985 National Junior Olympics 106 pound title with a championship round decision over fellow future Champion Paulie Ayala.

The semi-finals of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials saw Riddick Bowe win by second round disqualification over Lou Savarese. In that same tournament, at 201 pounds, Ray Mercer won a decision over Tommy Morrison

In either 1993 or 1994, at a national tournament, future champions Floyd Mayweather and Eric Morel met up in a 106 pound match-up that saw Mayweather come away with a decision victory.

Jermain Taylor scored a 1999 National Golden Gloves decision over SHOWTIME 168 pound tournament finalist (he had a draw with Jean Paul Mendy) Anthony Hanshaw

Sugar Ray Leonard won the 1973 National Golden Gloves Championship with a final round decision over future world champion Hilmer Kenty from Detroit

Two future world champions met up in the 125 pound class at the 1988 National Golden Gloves in Omaha with future 130 pound champion Eddie Hopson winning a decision over future featherweight champ Kevin Kelley. The semifinals of that same tournament saw 106 pound Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson win a decision over future bantamweight world champion Timmy Austin.

The 1988 U.S. National Championships saw future WBA 154 pound Champion Carl Daniels win an opening day decision at featherweight (125 pounds) over fellow future champ Sharmba Mitchell.

Kelcie Banks lost in a big upset in the semi-finals of those same 88' U.S. Championships to Daniels at 125 but not before defeating future elite status World Champion Shane Mosley in the quarterfinals.

Carl Daniels had a spectacular week there at the 88' Nationals where he not only beat Banks and Mitchell but he also scored a decision over "Mighty" Ivan Robinson along the way.

To give you an idea of what type of competition is seen at these national tournaments, take a look at the quarterfinal round of those 1988 nationals in the loaded 125 pound division. Ivan Robinson, Vernon Forrest and Sugar Shane Mosley all were defeated (by Daniels, Myron Walker and Banks respectively) on the same day. Add that to the fact that you had Kevin "The Flushing Flash" Kelly lose in an earlier round of competition and you have yourself a DEEP Featherweight class.

At the 1988 Eastern U.S. Olympic Trials two future world champions matched up on opening day in a tussle that saw a young Sharmba Mitchell win a decision at 125 pounds over an even younger Vernon Forrest (I was there) before losing later in the competition to another future champ in Kevin Kelley. At the Eastern Trials one year earlier (Lake Placid, 1987) Mitchell won the 125 pound crown and defeated future world title challenger Virgil McClendon along the way.

Chris Byrd's brother Patrick scored a decision at those 87' Eastern Trials over future (1988) Olympian Romallis Ellis.

Ivan Robinson scored a 1989 stoppage in the first round over future welterweight contender Thomas Damgaard of Denmark and Jeremy Williams, maybe best known now as one of the trainers on "The Contender," scored a 1990 stoppage in the second round over future cruiserweight contender Dale Brown of Canada.

The 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials saw Carl Daniels score another big win, this time in the semis, over Kevin "The Flushing Flash" Kelley. Daniels lost the next day in the finals to Ed Hopson.

The 1999 National PAL tournament saw 132 pounder (and future 2004 U.S. Olympian) Rock Allen score a decision over future world champion Paulie Malignaggi.

The 1988 USA National Junior Olympic tournament, for fourteen and fifteen year olds, saw future Olympic Gold Medalist and WBA world champion David Reid get stopped in the third round of a fight with Tony Hodge of Detroit in the 125 pound semifinals. Oscar DeLahoya won that same J.O. tournament at 119 pounds, beating future lightweight contender Lamar Murphy along the way in the semi's.

Contender Results:
In a result that might be of interest to some boxing fans that have been keeping up with the NBC TV series "The Contender," at the 1998 USA Under-19 National Championships, in the 147 pound class, Miguel Espino (last seen on the "Contender" losing to Peter Manfredo Jr.) scored a championship night victory over future (and current) WBA regular welterweight champion Luis Collazo of New York.

What's very interesting about the show is the fact that, even though they never mentioned it, several of the guys on the show actually fought each other in the amateur ranks and were often together at national tournaments and, in some cases, they were even teammates on USA teams that fought internationally against other countries. For example, in July of 1999 a United States squad of amateurs faced off with a team from Korea and two of its members were future "Contenders," 147 pound Ishe Smith and 156 pound Sergio Mora.

NBC's "Contender" Champion Sergio Mora lost a decision at the 2000 U.S. Olympic trials to future undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor (Taylor also defeated future -and now current- up and comer Kelly Pavlik by decision at those same 2000 Olympic Trials). Taylor also scored a victory in the amateurs over future Contender star Peter Manfredo.

The 1992 U.S. Championships saw Season 1 star Tarick Salmaci score decisions over Cleveland Corder and Ross "The Boss" Thompson before being eliminated while Season 2 star Nick Acevedo lost a decision to Bones Adams in the 119 pound class at the 1991 National Junior Olympic tournament that Clarence (bka Bones) captured gold at.

Zab "Super" Judah won the 1995 National PAL 139 pound title with victories over David Diaz, Hicklet Lau, Chantel Stanciel, Kimberlin Baine, and current "Contender" TV star Ishe Smith. Ishe also lost at the 1999 National PAL tournament on a preliminary round decision to future welterweight champion Luis Collazo.

Hector Camacho, Jr. won decisions over Ishe Smith at both the 1994 National Junior Olympics and the 1995 U.S. Championships.

In a very interesting occurrence, current up and coming prospect 154 pound Sechew Powell not only won decisions at the 1999 National PAL tournament over both "Contender" winner Sergio Mora and runner-up Peter Manfredo Jr. but Powell also defeated Contender star Miguel Espino at the 1997 U.S. Under-19 nationals.

The 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials saw future contender Rockin' Robin Blake beat Joe Manley in the quarterfinals at 132 before losing in the semi's to Frankie "The Surgeon" Randall.

The 1997 World Junior Olympic Championships in Mexico City, Mexico (15-16 age division) saw Ricardo Williams win a clean decision over current star Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Williams did not lose a whole lot of fights as an amateur, that much we know. However, one guy who he won a decision over -a VERY disputed and controversial one- was future (2004) USA Olympian Rock Allen of Philly at the 1997 National PAL.

Cotto, meanwhile, defeated Francisco Bojado in the finals at 132 pounds of the 1999 Cheo Aponte Tournament in Puerto Rico.

The 1986 final in the super heavyweight division at the New York City Golden Gloves saw two future contenders match up with Lou Savarese taking a decision over Alex Stewart. At the 2000 NYCGG tournament future WBA champion Luis Collazo matched up with future contender Yuri Foreman and came away with a decision victory at 147 pounds.

THE CUBANS:
The tiny island of Cuba has long had a reputation as an amateur boxing powerhouse and it is with good reason that they are seen in such light. The list of talented and accomplished Cuban amateurs that never turn professional is VERY long and former 139/147 pounder Juan Hernandez is very prominent on that list. Hernandez defeated Kostya Tszyu in the 1987 Junior World Championships and then bested #1 rated american light welter Nick Kakouris in 1987. In 1988 Charles "The Natural" Murray fell victim to Hernandez by way of a decision as did Englishman, and future world ranked contender, Robert McCracken, who fell to the Cuban by way of a second round knockout. Then Hernandez scored two early 1990's decisions over future Olympic gold medalist David Reid and a 1994 Goodwill Games stoppage of future WBO 154 pound champion David Santos. Hernandez' celebrated amateur career also saw him defeat future contender Ross Thompson and score two decision victories over Patrick Byrd (the younger brother of Chris).

Another special Cuban was 165 pounder Ariel Hernandez. Ariel defeated future contender Stephan Ouellette at the 1989 Junior world championships before defeating the trio of future world ranked contender Joseph Laryea, IBF Super Middle Champ Sven Ottke and future heavyweight champion Chris Byrd on his way to winning the 1992 Olympic Gold Medal at 165 pounds in Barcelona. At the 1993 World Championships Ariel defeated both Ottke and future middleweight contender Raymond Joval on the way to that gold medal.

Antonio Tarver won a decision over future 168 pound WBA Champion Byron Mitchell at the 1994 Golden Gloves and again at the Olympic Festival that same year. At a 1994 Cuba-USA dual meet Tarver lost a decision to future Cruiserweight Champion Juan Carlos Gomez

Cuban great Felix Savon scored stoppage wins over David Tua (first round), Andrew Golota, Shannon Briggs and Davarryl Williamson and decisioned David Izon, Nate Jones, future WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chargaev, and future WBO champions Ray Mercer and Lamon Brewster, and Michael Bentt. The Cuban also stopped and decisioned Kirk Johnson.

Cuban Super heavyweight Jorge Luis Gonzalez scored 1987 Pan Am Games decisions over both Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe. Gonzalez also won the 1983 Pan-Am Games with a gold medal decision over the following years (1984) Olympic Champion Tyrell Biggs. On top of that, Gonzalez once scored a decision over fellow Cuban star Teofilo Stevenson. (Many knew already that Gonzalez had beaten Lennox as an amateur in those Pan-Am games but what most do not know is that only one week later, in the North American Championships, Lennox reversed the loss with a decision win in the finals.)

The 1971 Pan-American Games saw American heavyweight Duane Bobick cleanly defeat legendary Cuban Teofilo Stevenson. Stevenson on the other hand reversed the loss to Bobick later on in a different tournament, adding Bobick to a list of victims that includes future pro heavyweights Phillip Brown, Jose Ribalta, Tyrell Biggs (twice), Michael Dokes, Tony Tubbs, John Tate (at the 1976 Olympics) and Greg Page.

Cuba's very well regarded 165 pounder Bernardo Comas was a feared middleweight in the 1980's who defeated many top level boxers, including future two-time world champion Michael Nunn who ended up on the wrong end of an RSC loss in 1983.


Cuban Great Angel Espinosa defeated top Americans like Meldrick Taylor, Fabian Wiliams, Vincent Releford, Darin Allen and Jerome James. Espinosa also scored THREE unanimous decisions over future IBF light heavyweight Champion Henry Maske and, in the 1987 Pan American Games finals, Espinosa scored a decision over future WBO Middleweight Champion Otis Grant. In the 1986 world amateur championship tournament he beat future 168 pound contender Danny Sherry from Canada in the light middleweight class and he also defeated Otis' Brother, #1 world rated Howard Grant, at 139 pounds in the same tournament (1983 Junior Worlds) that he stopped Meldrick Taylor with a body shot in. Espinosa also scored a 1989 decision over future IBF 168 pound world champion Sven Ottke. (At one point in 1987, Espinosa was ranked Number 1 in the world at 165 pounds ahead of amateur stars like Henry Maske, Egerton Marcus, Joe Lipsey, Darin Allen and Sven Ottke).

The only American I ever heard of that ever beat Espinosa was Bomani Parker (a.k.a. Parker White) in a 1986 CUBA-USA duel meet, no shame there, and Espinosa was thought of so highly by Otis Grant's coach, Russ Anber, that Russ told me once that Espinosa was the second best fighter he has ever seen fight in person... behind only Roy Jones, Junior.

1970's and 1980's era Cuban star Angel Herrera scored a 1976 decision over U.S. Olymian Davey Armstrong, a 1977 decision over future champ Rocky Lockridge and a 1978 decision over another future champ in Johnny Bumphus. Herrera's main nemesis as an amateur was U.S. 132 pounder Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker who defeated Herrera in four of their five meetings.

One more Cuban for you. Hector Vinent, a 139 pounds who between 1990 and 1993, scored decision wins over Sugar Shane Mosley, Oktay Urkel and Steve "Lil' But Bad" Johnston.


In the light heavyweight championship bout held in the finals of the 1979 New England Golden Gloves tournament in Lowell, Mass. its two participants were among the best boxers in the entire nation and it ended with Hartford's Kelvin Anderson winning a hard fought decision over New Bedford, Massachusetts boxer Andre McCoy to qualify for the 1979 national tournament.

Both Anderson and McCoy had been successful internationally as members of Team USA and were both considered to have realistic chances at making the 1980 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Sadly, neither boxer would get the chance to try as they were both members of the U.S. Boxing Team that perished less than a year later on a plane that crashed en route to an international meet in Poland, tragically killing each passenger.

(A statue of a "fallen boxer" that is dedicated to the entire team stands on display on the grounds of the U.S. Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.)


Amazingly, I was looking through an old issue tonight of the AMATEUR BOXER MAGAZINE that covered the 1987 Ohio State Fair Nationals. In it, the complete results of championship night were printed. You had me winning the 165 pound Open division title by decision over future Heavyweight contender Melvin Foster and you had quality boxers like "Too Sharp" Johnson, Vernez Duskin aka Kady King and Bones Adams winning titles, too. One thing I never noticed before, though, was that at 139 pounds in the senior JO division future cruiserweight contender Ravea Springs won a championship night decision over the guy I defeated in my last professional fight, Cleveland Nelson of Detroit.

At the 1996 World Junior Olympic tournament, Brian Viloria scored a decision over one-time Sugar Ray Leonard protege' Bernard Dunne of Ireland.

One of the greatest pure boxers in history, Howard Davis Jr., defeated future world champions Hilmer Kenty, Aaron Pryor and Tommy "Hitman" Hearns in the 1970's on his way to Olympic Gold in 1976. Hearns, meanwhile, won the 1977 National Golden Gloves tournament and defeated future 140 pound contender (and high profile trainer) Ronnie Shields along the way to do so.

1993 saw future cruiserweight contender Don Diego Poeder sore an RSC (stoppage) victory over future heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitscko while 1990 saw Oleg Maskaev turn the same trick against brother Vitaliy.

The 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials saw future heavyweight champion Larry Holmes knocked down with a right hand on his way to losing by disqualification to Duane Bobick while the 1973 National AUU championships saw Randy Shields defeat Sugar Ray Leonard on his way to the 139 pound crown.


Heavyweight Duane Bobick not only won that fight over Holmes, but he also beat future WBA heavyweight champ Mike Weaver by decision in 1969, and defeated legendary Cuban Teofilo Stevenson on a unanimous decision in 1971.

Bobick was also stopped twice as an amateur, once by future contender Ron Lyle in 1970 and also once by Stevenson in a rematch that took place at the 1972 Olympics.

The 1971 New York City Golden Gloves tournament saw future light heavyweight champion Eddie Gregory (aka Eddie Mustapha Muhammad) win a decision over future middleweight champion Vito Antuefermo in the 147 pound final.

Rocky Marciano, as you all know, ended up 49 and ZERO as a professional champion. In the amateur ranks, though, at the Eastern Regional Golden Gloves tournament in 1948, he lost an opening bout decision to Coley Wallace of New York City, making Coley a famous footnote in the annals of boxing history along with at least two other men who reportedly beat the Rock (Bob Girard and Joe DiAngelis).

In his autobiography "Sugar Ray," Ray Robinson tells of an amateur bout that saw him lose a close decision to future professional contender Billy Graham.

Muhammad Ali (then,obviously, known as Cassius Clay) split a few childhood bouts at different weights and ages with fellow future heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis back in the 1950's while another eventual 1960 gold medalist (and future M.D.), Wilbert "Skeeter" McClure, defeated Ellis in the finals of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials in the middleweight class.

And, FINALLY, in what might be the most interesting -yet little known- amateur boxing result in the history of the game, a decision was rendered right here in Connecticut (in either Norwich or Thompsonville, depending on who you talk to) after a three round bout back in the late 1930's (1938?), that is the stuff of legend.

In an over the weight matchup that featured two future all-time greats (legitimate legends) of the professional game, two men who would go on to win over 400 professional fights between them in Willie Pep and Sugar Ray Robinson, the two teenagers battled each other in a three round bout that saw Robinson come away with a decision victory over his fellow future Hall Of Famer.

Note: Both Pep and Robinson referred to the match in detail in their autobiographies (Pep's "Friday's Hero's" and Robinson's "Sugar Ray").

Imagine what a videotape of those two going at it as amateurs would fetch among memorabilia collectors today? Actually, when you think of it, how crazy would it be to actually have a tape of fights like Jones-McClellan, Gregory-Antuefermo, or Leonard-Kenty?? I know that a tape exists of the Pryor-Hearns fight because I have it.
www.icemanjohnscully.com

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

It is also a source of interest for me, personally, because there are many boxers who didn't pan out for one reason or another as professionals and because of that, because of the fact that some of them turned out to be very average professional fighters, they don't get the respect I feel they deserve as boxers because many of them back in their days were tremendous amateur boxers who were looked at in the same light (at the time) as many guys who went on later to become superstars in the game. In other words, there were times when future stars like Riddick Bowe, Roy Jones and Shane Mosley were not the top guy in their respective weight class and some of the guys who were actually rated above them back then are guys who you likely wouldn't recognize if they walked by you today on your own street.

A perfect example of what I am saying is reflected in the professional record of former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins. You all know the big names listed there, stars like Roy Jones, Antonio Tarver, Oscar DeLaHoya, and Jermain Taylor, all great former amateurs in their day, but those of us who know the deal are also impressed with his series of impressive wins over former top flight amateurs, Dennis Milton, Adam Garland and Roy Richie. Garland in particular was an elite U.S. amateur back in the early 1980's who many thought had the power and style to become a real force as a professional but, for whatever one of the million reasons that some guys don't pan out to full potential, he didn't make it to the heights that peers of his (at 165 pounds) like Virgil Hill and Michael Nunn did. And for the record Hopkins also scored professional victories over several other former top class U.S. amateurs including Joe Lipsey, Percy Harris, Willie Kemp.

Former top amateurs who did defeat Bernard in the pro ranks include Jones, Taylor, and Clinton Mitchell (in Bernard's pro debut).

It is also amazing and interesting to me that you can be at what might appear to be an average run of the mill tournament somewhere and you will have no idea who the guys on the show may or may not turn out to be in the future. Like the night of February 16, 1983 at the New England Golden Gloves tournament in Lowell, Massachusetts, for example, when bout number eight that night saw "Irish" Mickey Ward and Joey Gamache match up in a 132 pound bout while, bout number fourteen saw John Wilkinson defeat future IBF world title challenger Kevin Daigle and bout number twenty-one featured a fierce sixteen year old heavyweight by the name of Tyson.

So here we go with just some of the most interesting amateur fights from days gone by that I remember either seeing live or reading about:

In the finals of the 1976 National Golden Gloves (I have it on video tape), at 132 pounds, future great Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor won a decision over another future legend in Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns (back when amateur boxers didn't wear head gears). Later on, in the qualifying tournament for the 1976 Olympics, Aaron defeated future WBA lightweight champion Hilmer Kenty before losing a decision to Howard Davis, Jr. (in what was the second time that Howard defeated Aaron as an amateur). Pryor also scored a 1976 decision over future IBF 140 pound world champion Gary Hinton. Hearns went on to beat Bobby Joe Young twice in 1977 as an amateur and also defeated Ronnie Shields the same year while future world 175 pound champion Michael Spinks lost a decision in the 1975 National AAU finals at 165 pounds to future well known trainer Tommy Brooks.

The 1991 World amateur championship final saw future professional world champions Vernon Forrest and Kostya Tzyu match up at 139 pounds with Kostya landing more than a few solid and very accurate straight right hands on his way to capturing a solid decision over his much taller opponent. Also in 1991 Vernon won the U.S. Championships with consecutive victories over Terron Millet, Ross Thompson, Lamar Murphy and Stevie Johnston.

Vernon then turned around and had another spectacular week at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials where he defeated future world title challenger Robert "Push Up" Frazier, and a pair of future world champions in "Sugar" Shane Mosley and Stevie Johnston on his way to the championship at 139 pounds.

Vernon also once scored an amateur decision over future IBF welterweight champion Michael Piccorillo.

People know Chris Byrd as a former IBF heavyweight champion and some even remember him back when he was a 165 pound amateur in the 1992 Olympics. But I remember Chris way back when he was a 139 pound light welterweight amateur who twice lost in 1988 to Todd Foster. Once in the finals of the U.S. Championships and again in the U.S. Olympic Trials a few months later. Chris won a final round decision over future IBF junior middleweight champion Paul Vaden in that same tournament one year later (the 1989 USA/ABF championships) in the 156 pound class.

In what may be Byrd's most interesting, if not most pleasant, amateur result, he was once stopped (on an RSC) at 165 pounds by another future champ in Joe Calzaghe in a USA-Italy meet in December of 1992.

William Joppy lost by decision to Chris Byrd at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials at 165 pounds and he also fought, and defeated, Antwon Echols in the amateurs. At the 1992 Eastern U.S. Olympic Trials William scored a quarterfinal round decision over future cruiserweight contender Ravea Springs on his way to the gold medal at that tournament.

In the 156 pound final of those same 1992 Olympic Trials Raul Marquez scored a wide decision over future contender Antwun Echols, a semi-final win that week over future WBO middleweight champion Lonnie Bradley and a quarterfinal stoppage over future contender (and two-time Hopkins challenger) Robert Allen.

Another quarterfinal bout in the 156 pound class that week saw Bradley score a decision over future WBC 154 pound champion Keith Mullings.

Future heavyweight contenders David Izon (then known as David Izonretie) and David Tua met up in the 1992 Olympic semi-finals in the 201 pound division where Izon captured a decision victory.

Roy Jones scored decisions over future professional contenders and champions Derrick "Poppy Too Sweet" Rolon, NABF middleweight champion Fabian Williams, WBO junior middleweight champion Verno Phillips, Thomas Tate, Ray McElroy, WBC 168 pound champion Richie Woodhall of England (in the 88' Olympics) and Frank Liles (twice). RJ also lost decisions to Liles and Gerald McClellan.

McClellan beat Tim Littles in the finals of the 1987 U.S. national championships and defeated Roy Jones in the 1988 National Golden Gloves while losing (in other tournaments) to Thomas Tate, Frank Liles and, more than once, to Ray McElroy. Tim Littles lost three times to Liles (As pros they split two bouts) while defeating Michael Moorer twice and Antoine Byrd once at the 1985 Eastern Trials. Tim also defeated future world title challenger Dan Schommer at a mid 80's national tournament (Schommer himself had defeated the very formidable Bomani Parker in an earlier amateur event). Liles, meanwhile, defeated the likes of Jones, McClellan and Littles as an amateur. He also lost to Roy twice in subsequent rematches. It's kind of funny to think Liles defeated three powerhouses at 156 like Roy, Tim and Gerald while in 1987, at 147 pounds, he was outpointed pretty convincingly by the light punching welterweight Kenny Gould.

The Amateur Boxer, May 1987. U.S. Championships results:
"147 pounds. Frank Liles said after his match with Gould" "I just had an off day. I felt really sluggish." Well, Frank, even a gadfly might feel sluggish around Kenneth."

156 pounds: Timothy Littles of Flint is a pretty boxer but a round and a half of Gerald McClellan's straight on, no nonsense hard punching took away his cuteness and his legs. Littles impressed with his boxing skills but he eventually wilted against McClellan's murderous punching."

I was there for some of those fights including the Jones fights with Liles, McElroy, McClellan and Williams. The Jones-McClellan fight was a back and forth affair that saw RJ backed to the ropes often but he constantly fought off the ropes with great flurries of combinations. Good fight. And when Roy beat Fabian Williams I remember that Roy hit Fabian with a good shot that knocked him down and while Fabian was receiving the mandatory eight-count I was standing next to Hartford trainer Johnny Duke who told me, "If the kid (Jones) is a smart fighter then he'll come right out and go to the body right away."

Sure enough, once the action resumed Roy came right out and went right to the body with a left hand. Duke wisely explained to me afterwards that when a boxer is hurt or stunned his first reaction will be to cover his head so the guy attacking him should plan for that and go for his usually unprotected body right away. Good advice that I still use with my own boxers to this day.

Future IBF cruiserweight champion Al "Ice" Cole beat Michael Moorer once at 165 pounds and won one of three bouts at 178 with 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Andrew Maynard. Cole also beat Bomani Parker in the 1988 Olympic Trials at 178 but lost in earlier competitions to the spectacular amateur trio of 165 pound stars Darin Allen, William Guthrie (he actually defeated Guthrie once in three or four tries) and Anthony Hembrick. Also at 165 pounds, Cole defeated future WBO title challenger (to Chris Eubanks) Dan Schommer and future WBO 175 pound champion Leonzer Barber.

[Nile4000]

I don't think Greg Page fought Teofilo Stevenson, in an interview, Page claims it was politics, though I'm not sure if it was the real reason.

[Dennis]

John Scully - all I can say is wow. That was a lot of info in just two posts. I too look back at old program books and become amazed at all the names of boxers who later become top pros. It is really interesting looking back at J.O. tournament results from National Junior Olympics, National Jr Golden Gloves and National Silver Gloves. Some of the boxers who won don't stick with boxing and some of the guys they defeated end up becoming world champs in the pros.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

definitely....I LOVE looking back at the old Silver Gloves bout sheets and who fought who, etc...ha, if I was just a few pounds heavier in 1983 at the regional JO's I would have had to fight...RIDDICK BOWE (in only my 2nd fight EVER)...

[marbles]

joe calzaghe did not go to 92 olympics as not selected by welsh aba for qualifyin tournaments think it was polictal but mathew turner rhoose abc was selected but did not qualify robin reid beat turner and made it a gb rep and won bronze

gareth lovell pontypool abc beat calzaghe twice in the amateurs and michael smyth barry abc beat him once in welsh aba finals

alan vaughan huyton abc liverpool beat doiblyes hurtado in world junior championship where he was crowned world champion . hurtado gave pernell whittaker a great fight for world pro title

alan page louivillte abc manchester beat mikkel kessler in an international england v denmark page went pro winning ten and losing 1 to carl froch in 7

my fav amateur ever the great angel espinosa beat loads of top pros as john scully has excellently pointed out knocking out meldrick taylor in 2 darrin allen in 1 check that out on you tube what an awesome display from espinosa beat henry maske 3 out 4 and sven otke
great fighter

[ReggieDiggs]

Michael "The Tank" Tyson lol. Hell of a couple posts Ice. Enjoyed them completely & the whole thread is interesting. And the mere mention of guys like Skipper Kelp & Jeremy Williams makes me happy. I don't know if you'd sell many copies, but I'd love to read & would be a buyer of a amateur boxing history book of sorts with this type of info & the stories that go along with them.

[moorser]

Wayne McCullough also beat Gatti in the ams.

andre ward beat john duddy 5-4