What if we had an Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame?!?

[UntilTheNextRound72]

Pick 5 from the US and 5 from the International (AIBA) and who would it be?!? Granted this ABAHOF would hold way more but if this was a yearly nomination (Five and Five) who would get in the 1st Class?

My International:

Laszlo Papp
Felix Savon
Teofilio Stevenson
GULLERMO RIGONDEAUX
MARIO CESAR KINDELAN MESA
(thought about Kostya Z)


My USA:

Howard Davis
Pernell Whitaker
Ray Leonard
Mark Breland
Cassius Clay


They can't be active in the amateurs

Please be respectful when submitting. There isnt a right or wrong. It's about coming together and recognizing the best that have contributed and competed and left their imprint on the sport of Amateur Boxing.

[El Raincoat]

Pick 5 from the US and 5 from the International (AIBA) and who would it be?!? Granted this ABAHOF would hold way more but if this was a yearly nomination (Five and Five) who would get in the 1st Class?

My International:

Laszlo Papp
Felix Savon
Teofilio Stevenson
GULLERMO RIGONDEAUX
MARIO CESAR KINDELAN MESA
(thought about Kostya Z)


My USA:

Howard Davis
Pernell Whitaker
Ray Leonard
Mark Breland
Cassius Clay


They can't be active in the amateurs

Please be respectful when submitting. There isnt a right or wrong. It's about coming together and recognizing the best that have contributed and competed and left their imprint on the sport of Amateur Boxing.

Both of those are pretty tough to argue with. I guess Oscar De La Hoya could be in the American one but i'd struggle to remove one of the guys you have in the American team for him. Tischenko won two golds but again i'd struggle to put him over any of the guys in your list.

[UntilTheNextRound72]

Pick 5 from the US and 5 from the International (AIBA) and who would it be?!? Granted this ABAHOF would hold way more but if this was a yearly nomination (Five and Five) who would get in the 1st Class?

My International:

Laszlo Papp
Felix Savon
Teofilio Stevenson
GULLERMO RIGONDEAUX
MARIO CESAR KINDELAN MESA
(thought about Kostya Z)


My USA:

Howard Davis
Pernell Whitaker
Ray Leonard
Mark Breland
Cassius Clay


They can't be active in the amateurs

Please be respectful when submitting. There isnt a right or wrong. It's about coming together and recognizing the best that have contributed and competed and left their imprint on the sport of Amateur Boxing.

Both of those are pretty tough to argue with. I guess Oscar De La Hoya could be in the American one but i'd struggle to remove one of the guys you have in the American team for him. Tischenko won two golds but again i'd struggle to put him over any of the guys in your list.

Its debatable but if you had to make a suggestion for others by all means go for it. It's great to just put minds together and come up with entries. De La Hoya would surely be inducted. I didnt intend to make a list that wouldn't be topped. Would just like to see who you would all induct from international and US amateur boxing.

[Weston]

I apologize for not giving the 5 international and 5 US amateur boxers boxers as instructed, but I just want to give a little well deserved praise to Skeeter McClure.

Perhaps he wouldn't be in most folk's top 5, but McClure did have outstanding amateur credentials.

2 time Chicago Golden Glove Champion
1958 AAU and Pan American Champion
1959 Outstanding US Amateur Fighter
1960 Olympic Gold Medalist and co-captain (with Clay/Ali) of team

Plus I give McClure some bonus life time achievement points for his work with youth boxers. He was also a boxing commissioner in Massachusetts and every year I see him at the New England Golden Gloves supporting amateur boxing.

Ok, i know he would not get in the first class, but he belongs!

[UntilTheNextRound72]

I apologize for not giving the 5 international and 5 US amateur boxers boxers as instructed, but I just want to give a little well deserved praise to Skeeter McClure.

Perhaps he wouldn't be in most folk's top 5, but McClure did have outstanding amateur credentials.

2 time Chicago Golden Glove Champion
1958 AAU and Pan American Champion
1959 Outstanding US Amateur Fighter
1960 Olympic Gold Medalist and co-captain (with Clay/Ali) of team

Plus I give McClure some bonus life time achievement points for his work with youth boxers. He was also a boxing commissioner in Massachusetts and every year I see him at the New England Golden Gloves supporting amateur boxing.


Weston, let's just say a nominations can lead to a work in progress my friend....

Ok, i know he would not get in the first class, but he belongs!

[Zelley]

WHY CASSIUS CLAY? Didn't he get beat while trying for the 1959 Pan am Games.
His teammate WILBUR SKEETER MCLURE was likely a deserving amateur.
Of course Skeeter should get picked before the amateur Clay version of Ali.

There are countless USA amateur boxers that were head and shoulders better than Clay.
Remember BUSTER MATHIS who was a better amateur than JOE FRAZIER.
One should not let pro bias get in the way of picking the best amateur, not
a good amateur that became a pro champion.

[UntilTheNextRound72]

WHY CASSIUS CLAY? Didn't he get beat while trying for the 1959 Pan am Games.
His teammate WILBUR SKEETER MCLURE was likely a deserving amateur.
Of course Skeeter should get picked before the amateur Clay version of Ali.

There are countless USA amateur boxers that were head and shoulders better than Clay.
Remember BUSTER MATHIS who was a better amateur than JOE FRAZIER.
One should not let pro bias get in the way of picking the best amateur, not
a good amateur that became a pro champion.

Would you base that they are head and shoulders above Clay because of the awards won? You can argue Leon Spinks is a worthy receptor to the honor (not saying he wouldnt be in he and mike). But consider the fact that Clay won numerous state titles, two national titles for the Golden Gloves and I think an AAU title. World Championships weren't around until 1974 and Clay may have lost but he was still very very talented as well as young. He won the Olympic Gold in 1960 at LHW.

Mathias is a worthy consideration as well even if his injury cost him an Olympic Medal in Japan which Frazier one. But, I wouldn't write off Clay as not being as talented as his peers based on total number of Awards.

Instead of calling Clay not "worthy" could you contribute alternatives for a selection?

[locoxelbox]

Pick 5 from the US and 5 from the International (AIBA) and who would it be?!? Granted this ABAHOF would hold way more but if this was a yearly nomination (Five and Five) who would get in the 1st Class?

My International:

Laszlo Papp
Felix Savon
Teofilio Stevenson
GULLERMO RIGONDEAUX
MARIO CESAR KINDELAN MESA
(thought about Kostya Z)


My USA:

Howard Davis
Pernell Whitaker
Ray Leonard
Mark Breland
Cassius Clay


They can't be active in the amateurs

Please be respectful when submitting. There isnt a right or wrong. It's about coming together and recognizing the best that have contributed and competed and left their imprint on the sport of Amateur Boxing.

Those ten names are difficult to argue against. So I start making my nomination for the second year:

International:
Roberto Balado
Hector Vinent
Boris Lagutin
Ariel Hernandez
Alexey Tischenko



USA:
Oscar De La Hoya
Eric Griffin
Tyrell Biggs
David Reid
Antonio Tarver

I guess there are at least ten names in both the US and international category that could replace some of the above mentioned boxers.

[UntilTheNextRound72]

Pick 5 from the US and 5 from the International (AIBA) and who would it be?!? Granted this ABAHOF would hold way more but if this was a yearly nomination (Five and Five) who would get in the 1st Class?

My International:

Laszlo Papp
Felix Savon
Teofilio Stevenson
GULLERMO RIGONDEAUX
MARIO CESAR KINDELAN MESA
(thought about Kostya Z)


My USA:

Howard Davis
Pernell Whitaker
Ray Leonard
Mark Breland
Cassius Clay


They can't be active in the amateurs

Please be respectful when submitting. There isnt a right or wrong. It's about coming together and recognizing the best that have contributed and competed and left their imprint on the sport of Amateur Boxing.

Those ten names are difficult to argue against. So I start making my nomination for the second year:

International:
Roberto Balado
Hector Vinent
Boris Lagutin
Ariel Hernandez
Alexey Tischenko



USA:
Oscar De La Hoya
Eric Griffin
Tyrell Biggs
David Reid
Antonio Tarver

I guess there are at least ten names in both the US and international category that could replace some of the above mentioned boxers.

Thanks for contributing. The selections you made are very good ones for the second year. Especially De La Hoya who had a stellar amateur career. Tarver started late in the game but made his impact felt immediately with a World Championship.

[Mighty Atom]

Again I can't argue with any oft he choices - so I'll put together a 3rd year class with a nod to some to some real old timers.

International
Richard Gunn
Harry Mallin
Jerzy Kulez
Mate Parlov
Nino Benvenuti

US
Eddie Eagan
Fidel La Barba
Meldrick Taylor
George Foreman
Norvel Lee

[UntilTheNextRound72]

Again I can't argue with any oft he choices - so I'll put together a 3rd year class with a nod to some to some real old timers.

International
Richard Gunn
Harry Mallin
Jerzy Kulez
Mate Parlov
Nino Benvenuti

US
Eddie Eagan
Fidel La Barba
Meldrick Taylor
George Foreman


Solid picks. I like niño and definitely bringing it back with la barba
Norvel Lee

[marbles]

hard one to pick so many great amateurs but my all time fav amateur from anywhere ANGEL ESPINOSA should be in anyones top 5 did not win a olympic gold becouse of the cuban boycotts of 84 88 when he went to barcelona 92 well passed his best but in his prime beat henry maske 3 out 4 contests knocked out meldrick taylor and darin allen beat sven otke was world champion as well many cubans regard him as the best including teofiolio and felix ect

adolfo horta another cuban who the cubans call THE TOTAL BOXER over 300 contests only 29 defeats

dick mctaggerett scotland gold medal olympics over 600 contests only 30 odd defeats

what about the great roy jones on the amercian side robbed in 88

[UntilTheNextRound72]

hard one to pick so many great amateurs but my all time fav amateur from anywhere ANGEL ESPINOSA should be in anyones top 5 did not win a olympic gold becouse of the cuban boycotts of 84 88 when he went to barcelona 92 well passed his best but in his prime beat henry maske 3 out 4 contests knocked out meldrick taylor and darin allen beat sven otke was world champion as well many cubans regard him as the best including teofiolio and felix ect

adolfo horta another cuban who the cubans call THE TOTAL BOXER over 300 contests only 29 defeats

dick mctaggerett scotland gold medal olympics over 600 contests only 30 odd defeats

what about the great roy jones on the amercian side robbed in 88

I would agree on all those selections.

[Zelley]

BACK TO BASICS at the GROUND LEVEL

We could start at the ground level on a National basis and a regional level
and start listing names for boxers and builders. We could also, consider other categories
such as great boxing clubs or great events.

In British Columbia, Canada we have a
BRITISH COLUMBIA AMATEUR BOXING HALL OF FAME
For 2010 and 2011 there are now 25 names, it is difficult to say if any of them would ever make an International Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame, but it is a good starting point.
Without listing all 25 one of the boxers is EDDIE HADDAD and a member of the pioneer group is TOMMY PAONESSA.

On a Canadian level, a logial choice would be LENNOX LEWIS but there are many others such as IAN CLYDE For the builders category a logical Canadian choice would be JERRY SHEARS.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

Cuba's ANGEL ESPINOSA was an absolute KILLER from every weight from 139 to 165...I know of at least one Cuban coach who ranks Espinosa ABOVE both Savon and Stevenson...that in itself should tell u what type of boxer that man was...

[marbles]

angel was my fav amateur ever i think he is the best but everyone has there own favs

just a shame he did not go to olympics 84 88 would of walked it to gold at that time the man was amazing battered world class boxers

read a few years ago he lives in the same little town in cuba leading a quite life angel was quite a rebel did not get the house pensions ect that the top cubans get sad story really as angel was so so good . anyone who watched him box knows how great he was

[BARNEYKX]

Irelands Katie Taylor 12 golds in world and european boxing

[TwoFistedPiston]

Oleg Saitov - Russia

2 Olympic Golds (96 & 00), 1 Olympic Bronze (04)

World: Gold (97), Silver (95), Bronze (93)

Euro: Gold (98 & 04), Bronze (96)

Serafim Todorov

Olympic Silver (96)

World: 3 Gold & 1 Silver (91, 93, 95 & 89)

Euro: 3 Gold & 1 Silver (89, 91, 93 & 96)

[iamasadlittleboy]

Harry Mallin
Possibly the only nailed on Brit, 2 time Olympic gold medal winner (1920, 1924) and British champion 5 times (1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923)

[Brute]

I thought the idea was a Hall for boxers who only fought as amateurs. Your lists are full of top professionals.