2013 Independence cup

[JMac]

He does seem incredibly talented with a long fluid reach but he is still just 17 and there are a hundred different types of styles out there to test him.It would be interesting to see him fight Berinchuk as the Ukrainian never takes a backward step.Iglesias outboxed him at the Olympics but he is a true champion.
He and Shawn will be in my March World rankings.You have to take notice of victories over Olympic medallists especially Cubans.
The US team did well against the Cubans bearing in mind their age and experience.Veitia and Iglesias are world number ones in my lists.
The future looks good for the US-Salazar,Nico,Julian and Maliek eg are really promising.

Berinchuk must be the Ukranian that beat Iglesias in the World Championships... That would be an interesting fight, though I would still have to go with Lubin. As far as the US team having a bright future, don't count on it. The cost/benifit analysis of remaining in the amateurs was already leading a number of our top guys to turn pro early, but now with the removal of the headgear you are going to see a lot of these kids turn pro. I don't want to name anybody specifically but I know of 3 people on this team that wont be around much longer because of the removal of the headgear.

That doesn't make much sense.....the amateurs get rid of headgear...so they turn pro where you don't wear headgear.

[T Duquette]

He does seem incredibly talented with a long fluid reach but he is still just 17 and there are a hundred different types of styles out there to test him.It would be interesting to see him fight Berinchuk as the Ukrainian never takes a backward step.Iglesias outboxed him at the Olympics but he is a true champion.
He and Shawn will be in my March World rankings.You have to take notice of victories over Olympic medallists especially Cubans.
The US team did well against the Cubans bearing in mind their age and experience.Veitia and Iglesias are world number ones in my lists.
The future looks good for the US-Salazar,Nico,Julian and Maliek eg are really promising.

Berinchuk must be the Ukranian that beat Iglesias in the World Championships... That would be an interesting fight, though I would still have to go with Lubin. As far as the US team having a bright future, don't count on it. The cost/benifit analysis of remaining in the amateurs was already leading a number of our top guys to turn pro early, but now with the removal of the headgear you are going to see a lot of these kids turn pro. I don't want to name anybody specifically but I know of 3 people on this team that wont be around much longer because of the removal of the headgear.

That doesn't make much sense.....the amateurs get rid of headgear...so they turn pro where you don't wear headgear.

Of course it makes sense Jmac. Fighting without headgear is dangerous. Getting all cut up from fighting 5 days in a row can cause a fighter to develop a significant amount of scar tissue which could effect their pro career. The amateurs are fun and everything but ultimately this is about the money for most of our elite guys. The benefit of staying in the amateurs for an extended time period to win a medal was already questionable. For a lot of the guys ive talked to, its just not going to be worth it to stay in the ams anymore. Your an experienced boxing guy though so im not sure why I have to explain this...

The removal of the headgear has to be about the most moronic move AIBA has ever made. It has the potential to ruin our sport.

[scallum]

I bet many elite guys start turning pro at 18 now. It is going be to o much fighting in Tournaments vs good fighters with no headgear, might as well get paid have a chance to build your name as a professional. I'm taking my kid straight to pros at 18 not gonna Have him fight 4 or 5 times in one week no headgear.

[JMac]

That doesn't make much sense.....the amateurs get rid of headgear...so they turn pro where you don't wear headgear.

Of course it makes sense Jmac. Fighting without headgear is dangerous. Getting all cut up from fighting 5 days in a row can cause a fighter to develop a significant amount of scar tissue which could effect their pro career. The amateurs are fun and everything but ultimately this is about the money for most of our elite guys. The benefit of staying in the amateurs for an extended time period to win a medal was already questionable. For a lot of the guys ive talked to, its just not going to be worth it to stay in the ams anymore. Your an experienced boxing guy though so im not sure why I have to explain this...

The removal of the headgear has to be about the most moronic move AIBA has ever made. It has the potential to ruin our sport.

Yes I have a lot of experience and have been around this sport longer than you have been alive. I remember the glory days of USAB when it was called AAU and then USA ABF and the headgear did not exist for amateurs. I can tell you that the boxers did not suffer cuts like you think they will. Can it happen...sure it can but boxers adjust their styles and don't lead with their heads as much. When USA was winning gold medals at the Olympics, boxers got big contracts to turn pro. They don't get big contracts now because they have not been successful on that level. I think AIBA is doing USAB a favor by turning the clock back and getting rid of computer scoring which USAB never made adjustments to and sucked at and removing the headgear which may lead more to a pro style that US coaches still teach. As the style changes to a more pro style that is stand in there and bang from a punch and run, punch and hold/wrestle and there is no headgear, watch the fans come back to amateur boxing like they did in the glory days that you were not around for. When fans and TV start to appreciate amateur boxing...money comes back to the sport in endorsements and if USA becomes successful, the pro contracts will get big again. You don't remember the days of ABC Wide World of Sports.....at least once a month they showed USA in a duel match against the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc etc. Ask coach Israel Acosta about those days. He was the US #1 boxer at 106 lbs and had over 400 amateur bouts. He was on TV all the time back in the days of no headgear. Sugar Ray Leonard won gold in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and became a superstar in both his amateur and professional days. He never wore headgear. Does he look like he has a lot of scar tissue?

[scallum]

One good thing about no headgear I just now thought of is that it may force coaches to start teaching kids better defense. I hardly ever see any kids now working on defense moves its like 90 % offense 10 % defense at best in most mcases I see.

[bpxer2016]

I dont think Kenneth Sims Jr. gets enough credit. Did anyone notice he was the only boxer that competed everyday. He had a very strong showing. Losing a close decision to the Cuban in a fight i heard many thought he deserved to win

[hbomb2]

That doesn't make much sense.....the amateurs get rid of headgear...so they turn pro where you don't wear headgear.

Of course it makes sense Jmac. Fighting without headgear is dangerous. Getting all cut up from fighting 5 days in a row can cause a fighter to develop a significant amount of scar tissue which could effect their pro career. The amateurs are fun and everything but ultimately this is about the money for most of our elite guys. The benefit of staying in the amateurs for an extended time period to win a medal was already questionable. For a lot of the guys ive talked to, its just not going to be worth it to stay in the ams anymore. Your an experienced boxing guy though so im not sure why I have to explain this...

The removal of the headgear has to be about the most moronic move AIBA has ever made. It has the potential to ruin our sport.

Yes I have a lot of experience and have been around this sport longer than you have been alive. I remember the glory days of USAB when it was called AAU and then USA ABF and the headgear did not exist for amateurs. I can tell you that the boxers did not suffer cuts like you think they will. Can it happen...sure it can but boxers adjust their styles and don't lead with their heads as much. When USA was winning gold medals at the Olympics, boxers got big contracts to turn pro. They don't get big contracts now because they have not been successful on that level. I think AIBA is doing USAB a favor by turning the clock back and getting rid of computer scoring which USAB never made adjustments to and sucked at and removing the headgear which may lead more to a pro style that US coaches still teach. As the style changes to a more pro style that is stand in there and bang from a punch and run, punch and hold/wrestle and there is no headgear, watch the fans come back to amateur boxing like they did in the glory days that you were not around for. When fans and TV start to appreciate amateur boxing...money comes back to the sport in endorsements and if USA becomes successful, the pro contracts will get big again. You don't remember the days of ABC Wide World of Sports.....at least once a month they showed USA in a duel match against the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc etc. Ask coach Israel Acosta about those days. He was the US #1 boxer at 106 lbs and had over 400 amateur bouts. He was on TV all the time back in the days of no headgear. Sugar Ray Leonard won gold in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and became a superstar in both his amateur and professional days. He never wore headgear. Does he look like he has a lot of scar tissue?

A study shows that the addition of headgear reduced cuts by 90%.

[JMac]

Yes I have a lot of experience and have been around this sport longer than you have been alive. I remember the glory days of USAB when it was called AAU and then USA ABF and the headgear did not exist for amateurs. I can tell you that the boxers did not suffer cuts like you think they will. Can it happen...sure it can but boxers adjust their styles and don't lead with their heads as much. When USA was winning gold medals at the Olympics, boxers got big contracts to turn pro. They don't get big contracts now because they have not been successful on that level. I think AIBA is doing USAB a favor by turning the clock back and getting rid of computer scoring which USAB never made adjustments to and sucked at and removing the headgear which may lead more to a pro style that US coaches still teach. As the style changes to a more pro style that is stand in there and bang from a punch and run, punch and hold/wrestle and there is no headgear, watch the fans come back to amateur boxing like they did in the glory days that you were not around for. When fans and TV start to appreciate amateur boxing...money comes back to the sport in endorsements and if USA becomes successful, the pro contracts will get big again. You don't remember the days of ABC Wide World of Sports.....at least once a month they showed USA in a duel match against the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc etc. Ask coach Israel Acosta about those days. He was the US #1 boxer at 106 lbs and had over 400 amateur bouts. He was on TV all the time back in the days of no headgear. Sugar Ray Leonard won gold in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and became a superstar in both his amateur and professional days. He never wore headgear. Does he look like he has a lot of scar tissue?

A study shows that the addition of headgear reduced cuts by 90%.

The same study also showed an increase of bouts being stopped by RSC and RSCH with headguards worn which shows that boxers are willing to take a shot to the head when wearing the headguard. So with headguards, you get less cuts and more brain damage.

Funny thing is for me when I boxed, sometimes I wore headguards and sometimes I didn't. The only time I got cut and the bout was stopped due to the cut, I was wearing a headguard.