Anyone still wish Khan had stayed amateur?

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 25 Jul 2005, 11:53

This kid has brought back a terrific buzz to British boxing following his pro debut this month. He appears to have serious potential to go with his hugely exciting box-fighting style, and loves the big occasion. There are some fun nights ahead for sure.

Is there anyone who still would have preferred him to keep his headguard on and go for gold in Bejing? I have to admit that prospect seems dull now by comparison.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jul 2005, 12:14

Kilburn wrote:This kid has brought back a terrific buzz to British boxing following his pro debut this month. He appears to have serious potential to go with his hugely exciting box-fighting style, and loves the big occasion. There are some fun nights ahead for sure.

Is there anyone who still would have preferred him to keep his headguard on and go for gold in Bejing? I have to admit that prospect seems dull now by comparison.

Good question, yes I do is my answer. I thought the ABA at least eased the money issue by offering him the 70 grand a year. I cannot remember who said it (might have been Seb Coe) but "second is the first loser". That Olympic GOLD medal was a critical aspect of the careers of Lennox, Ali, Leonard and many others. They always got announced as a gold medalist.

With the money aspect at least diffused Amir should have stayed amateur. If he would have failed in Beijing, then he could have been a 21 year old turning pro with less expectation (and less pressure) than is on him currently.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 25 Jul 2005, 13:50

But surely his market ability would have gone down if he had not got a least a medal in the next Olympics. I know I spoke to Chris Finnegan before he had his semi-final and he was adament he should turn pro and get the money asap

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jul 2005, 13:56

Kevin wrote:But surely his market ability would have gone down if he had not got a least a medal in the next Olympics. I know I spoke to Chris Finnegan before he had his semi-final and he was adament he should turn pro and get the money asap

Possibly, but he was getting 70, 000 a year plus sponsorship. I think it was a little bit different to Finnegan's day.

Yes, if he would have flunked his marketability would have decreased, it would have been a gamble - but a gamble I would have taken with the 70, 000 coming in.

With that money he could have trained as the cubans and had the proffesional approach to winning the gold.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 25 Jul 2005, 13:57

But how much will he earn in his first year as a pro?

Bailey got £5K for the fight, what did Khan earn?

Kev

sweetscience · Post by **sweetscience** » 25 Jul 2005, 14:02

Kevin wrote:But how much will he earn in his first year as a pro?

Bailey got £5K for the fight, what did Khan earn?

Kev

he has just bought a brand new Range Rover, at least £50k's worth, so i think he must be earning fat cash

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jul 2005, 14:04

Kevin wrote:But how much will he earn in his first year as a pro?

Bailey got £5K for the fight, what did Khan earn?

Kev

Nothing compared to what he would have earned if he would have won the gold and played his cards right after getting the gold.

He wouldn't be based in Britain if he got the gold - Arum / King would have signed him for a fortune.

I used to say turn pro now, cause he is offered tremendous money and would be struggling in the amateurs train as a gold medalists should. However, the 70, 000 was a huge insentive to carry on.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 25 Jul 2005, 14:50

Personally I like to see fighters develop an extensive amateur career before turning pro, but I think in Amir's case there is a reasonable exception to be made to the rule. Had Khan not done as well as he did in Athens then I imagine he would have stayed amateur, but winning that silver meant big marketability right now. Financially it wasn't worth the risk of staying on until Beijing, when he might be injured, or not qualify, or maybe meet the next Mario Kindelan, but maybe this time in his first fight.

Tarquin Tarpaulin IV · Post by **Tarquin Tarpaulin IV** » 25 Jul 2005, 15:55

£70k is peanuts compared to the potential earnings for Amir over the next couple of years. Forget wages and think of Sponsorship, TV appearances, Supermarket openings and product endorsements and it will all add up to more than £70k a year.

The risk of injury, the risk of losing the crown of near invincibility was too big in the amateurs. Yes, from a boxing point of view, to gain more experience he should have stayed amateur.............at least until the commonwealth games next year...................but what is done is done.

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 25 Jul 2005, 17:04

I think the rule of thumb here is that if a good amateur boxer is intending to turn professional then it should be done at the moment of maximum marketability. Interestingly then, I wonder had Lennox Lewis taken gold at Los Angeles in 1984 how would his career have turned out? I might just post something to that effect on the "Boxers of the Past" forum, stir up some Lewis-haters.......

Owain · Post by **Owain** » 25 Jul 2005, 18:56

70k is indeed peanuts.

Khan reportedly got a million quid signing fee. Then there is the none too small matter of purses, sponsorships, advertising etc. etc. all of which he is in an unique position to capitalise upon.

If he went to the next Olympics and didn't win a medal - a gold medal - then he would have kissed goodbye to all that.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 26 Jul 2005, 07:34

stujones wrote:
Kevin wrote:But how much will he earn in his first year as a pro?

Bailey got £5K for the fight, what did Khan earn?

Kev
Nothing compared to what he would have earned if he would have won the gold and played his cards right after getting the gold.

He wouldn't be based in Britain if he got the gold - Arum / King would have signed him for a fortune.

I used to say turn pro now, cause he is offered tremendous money and would be struggling in the amateurs train as a gold medalists should. However, the 70, 000 was a huge insentive to carry on.

That's a big IF, four years is a long time to wait to get olympic gold, and what would he have done in the meantime?

I've changed my opinion regarding Khan, I don't think he would have earnt any more or learnt much by staying amateur. In the next three years, all going well, he will earn a fortune, and will if moved right learn far more fighting pros.

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 26 Jul 2005, 07:37

I think getting dumped on his arse had more say in the decision than money, 70k, principles, age, timing, medals or anything else.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 26 Jul 2005, 08:26

Why's that Dave?

bugs · Post by **bugs** » 26 Jul 2005, 08:30

Ask me in 20 fights time

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 26 Jul 2005, 10:18

As an amateur boxig fan I wish he would stay at least to the World championships. But It's understandable that he couldn't afford to say no to the pro game. Ther's no doubt in my mind that he would go on to dominate the amateur scene. But the pros is different and he's only 18. He'll will need a couple of years before facing the best.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 26 Jul 2005, 15:58

He should have gone through with the ABA'S at least. Now we will have to watch him 'fight' a long line of featherweights before he lands a fight for a vacant wbu or iba etc 'world title'!!! ...yawn!!!.....

coneye · Post by **coneye** » 28 Jul 2005, 08:15

Asolutly no doubt about it TURN PRO he got a chance to earn big big money and u can guarantee for less risk of getting beat than he had in the ameteurs remember international competition u can't pick your opponent and personally i feel ther's plenty of ameteurs worlwide with the potential of beating him ,

His pro debut while he looked good and flash his opponent was'nt has good has the top ameteurs , no grab it while he can England are on the lookout for a national hero. and he's the one picked out,

Being of pakistani heritage and a muslim , gaurantee's him paper coverage and publicity money cannot buy , the coperate money avalable to him from companies wanting to show the world that they support him will be worth mega dollars .this would off faded away if he was to start losing over the next couple of years,

All in all if he was to off stayed ameteur he would off needed his head read and is advisor would need shooting

Anyone still wish Khan had stayed amateur?

Anyone still wish Khan had stayed amateur?

Re: Anyone still wish Khan had stayed amateur?