What IF ?

[Seamus]

After WW2, the Soviet Union, the communist countries of Eastern Europe, and Cuba had all allowed professional boxing. Would we have witnessed the greatest era in the history of the sport, or would these countries have come up well short of some of the amateur success they achieved ?

[Ezzard]

I think it would have definitely been a great time for the sport.

[The Great John L]

It was already a great time for boxing, and the addition of top fighters from the Eastern programs could have only deepened the talent pool. Of course we have to remember that success in the ams doesn't always equate to success in at the pro level.

[BoxBuzz]

Many of their touted fighters would have been handed there asses in some fairly good competitions.

[Ezzard]

They would have struggled in ther first decade they came through but competition would force them to close the gap with the USA. I'd think that by the 60s we'd see the Eastern Bloc making progress and by the 1970s they would have been competing on fairly even terms.

[TBooze]

Pro Boxing in the classic Western strongholds has suffered from the 90s onwards due to opening of the sport in the former Communist Countries of Eastern Europe.

I doubt the popularity of the sport of the States would of been what it was in the 50s, if Eastern Europe were producing their fair share of World class fighters.

History suggests if the USA is not winning, it is not really interested...

[Crease]

And for the record. I reckon Stevenson could have been World Heavyweight Champ.

[Crease]

After WW2, the Soviet Union, the communist countries of Eastern Europe, and Cuba had all allowed professional boxing. Would we have witnessed the greatest era in the history of the sport, or would these countries have come up well short of some of the amateur success they achieved ?

This thread that I made a while back might interest you:

http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f ... n#p2818867