Biggest career turn-around

[davie]

Just spotted this guy
http://boxrec.com/boxer/337404

With a 10-7-3 record boxrec has him ranked 14th in the strongest and deepest weight division.
I thought Boxrec maybe had a few too many shandies at the weekend but then I looked at his record.
He went from an early career being beaten by some appaulingly poor opposition to going on a winning streak against some respectable, if not spectacular, scalps. (Still doesn't merit being the no14 welter in the world but a solid upturn in form none the less)
Quite an impressive turn around in his career and someone i'll keep an eye on to see how he progresses.

Got me thinking. Who has had the biggest career rivival.
Anyone who has gone from relative journey man to world champion?

[crusader]

-Steve Robinson was 5-6 at one point but went on to win a WBO title (admittedly when it was in it's weaker, incipient stages) and make several defenses.....similar story with Johnny Nelson.

-Freddie Pendleton started his career 2-4, was 24-16 when he first boxed for a world title, and won the IBF title at 32-17.

-Robinson Castellanos was 5-8 but is now 21-10 and a legitimate contender.

-Quirino Garcia started his career 0-18 but eventually became a fringe-contender and ended up at 40-28.

[ScottDetonator]

He's higher on the rankings here than Berto.

Johnny Nelson didn't do bad for turning a career around!

http://boxrec.com/boxer/623

[davie]

Johnny Nelson was the first name that popped into my head too

[Boxing Prospect]

Gerpaul Valero- He went from 1-13-3 and is now 20-16-3 (14)
Robinson Castellanos- Was 8-9 (5) and is now 21-10 (13) (and ranked #3 at Featherweight by boxrec.com)
Francisco Quiroz-was 6-10-0-1 (1), climbed to 11-10-1-1 (5) and was the then WBA Light Flyweight champion, ended 11-15-1-1 (5) before retiring

[handsofstone]

Orlando Salido was the first one that came into my mind,he'd been KO'd about half a dozen times before he got his first world title shot,he turned pro in 1996 and had been KO'd 5 times up until 2000 and hasnt been KO'd since,won his first title 14 years after turning pro

[Badhusker]

James J. Braddock "Cinderella Man"

[IRLangmaid25]

Orlando Salido was the first one that came into my mind,he'd been KO'd about half a dozen times before he got his first world title shot,he turned pro in 1996 and had been KO'd 5 times up until 2000 and hasnt been KO'd since,won his first title 14 years after turning pro

Yep he has in my head as weLl, and from a British perspective Chris Edwards deserves an honourable mention http://boxrec.com/boxer/15404.

[Dancin' Dan]

Quirino Garcia. Homeless malnourished fighter 0-18 to contender fighting on TV. Hard to beat. Pendleton is another. Emanuel Agustus. Mike Weaver. Orlando Salido. Jesse James Hughes till he was murdered. Some years back there were many too Braddock, Walcott, Bud Smith, etc

[Redback Rasta]

Just spotted this guy
http://boxrec.com/boxer/337404

With a 10-7-3 record boxrec has him ranked 14th in the strongest and deepest weight division.
I thought Boxrec maybe had a few too many shandies at the weekend but then I looked at his record.
He went from an early career being beaten by some appaulingly poor opposition to going on a winning streak against some respectable, if not spectacular, scalps. (Still doesn't merit being the no14 welter in the world but a solid upturn in form none the less)
Quite an impressive turn around in his career and someone i'll keep an eye on to see how he progresses.

Got me thinking. Who has had the biggest career rivival.
Anyone who has gone from relative journey man to world champion?

Sam Soliman sure fits the journeyman to world champion criteria.

Soliman was 35-11 after losing to Mundine in mid 2008.

10 straight wins* later he was IBF champion having beaten Felix Sturm.

*one of those wins was later changed to an NC.

[jezzamundo]

If you look back earlier at Soliman's career you'll find most of his losses came in his first few years as a pro. After losing a split decision to Mundine (where many believe he was robbed) in 2001, his professional record was 12-7-0. The next time he lost was in 2005 - a competitive decision loss to p4p top ten Winky Wright in an IBF middlweight title eliminator after reeling off 19 consecutive victories.

[Redback Rasta]

If you look back earlier at Soliman's career you'll find most of his losses came in his first few years as a pro. After losing a split decision to Mundine (where many believe he was robbed) in 2001, his professional record was 12-7-0. The next time he lost was in 2005 - a competitive decision loss to p4p top ten Winky Wright in an IBF middlweight title eliminator after reeling off 19 consecutive victories.

I wasn't setting out to be critical of Soliman. I admire him. But winning your first world title at 40 after 11 losses puts him in the unusual category.

[johnswan1]

Glen Johnson, Ricardo Mayorga, Jose Castillo, Carlos Monzon.

[Sids]

Jack Assis is worth a mention.

http://boxrec.com/boxer/207460

[caldo2025]

What about Big George Foreman's second career? That was pretty amazing when you think about it.

[Ricky_]

What about Big George Foreman's second career? That was pretty amazing when you think about it.

True, but we're talking about an elite, pedigree fighter. He always had it and never should have retired the first time, he's an ATG. He could have dominated the HW division for years. Instead we got an old fat version who was just about good enough to grab a world title by KO while behind against a guy who wasn't fit to share a ring with the kind of fighter George was.


Juan Manual Marquez did ok for an accountant who started his pro career with a loss

[johnswan1]

And Hopkins, an ex-con who lost on his pro debut at age 23.

[Boxing Writer]

Henry Armstrong started career with 3 losses in 4 fights, but went on to become one of the greatest fighters P4P of all time. Saying that, my vote goes to Quirino Garcia. What he did after starting his career with 0-18 record was amazing.

[jezzamundo]

Double post, please delete.

[jezzamundo]

If you look back earlier at Soliman's career you'll find most of his losses came in his first few years as a pro. After losing a split decision to Mundine (where many believe he was robbed) in 2001, his professional record was 12-7-0. The next time he lost was in 2005 - a competitive decision loss to p4p top ten Winky Wright in an IBF middlweight title eliminator after reeling off 19 consecutive victories.

I wasn't setting out to be critical of Soliman. I admire him. But winning your first world title at 40 after 11 losses puts him in the unusual category.

Sorry, my post wasn't intended to come across as defensive of Soliman (although looking back I realise that is does look that way), but to suggest that his going from 12-7-0 to winning 19 on the trot and pushing Wright to a competitive decision in a world title eliminator was arguably a bigger turn-around than going on to win a world title after the second Mundine loss. Both turn-arounds are impressive, no doubt.

[Redback Rasta]

If you look back earlier at Soliman's career you'll find most of his losses came in his first few years as a pro. After losing a split decision to Mundine (where many believe he was robbed) in 2001, his professional record was 12-7-0. The next time he lost was in 2005 - a competitive decision loss to p4p top ten Winky Wright in an IBF middlweight title eliminator after reeling off 19 consecutive victories.

I wasn't setting out to be critical of Soliman. I admire him. But winning your first world title at 40 after 11 losses puts him in the unusual category.

Sorry, my post wasn't intended to come across as defensive of Soliman (although looking back I realise that is does look that way), but to suggest that his going from 12-7-0 to winning 19 on the trot and pushing Wright to a competitive decision in a world title eliminator was arguably a bigger turn-around than going on to win a world title after the second Mundine loss. Both turn-arounds are impressive, no doubt.

I wasn't suggesting it was the biggest career turn-around of all time. Just a significant one. All good

[Michael bennt]

What about Afiff Djeltio never turned pro til he was 31 after having no amateur experience then loses his first 3 fights by stoppage, but turns it all around finds his peak form at the age of 41 and becomes ibo world champion and European champion and was rated as high as number 5 in the world at super featherweight by the ring magazine world rankings.

[Lackeos]

Other decent career revivals or career spikes:
Carlos Baldomir
Ross Purritty
Adonis Stevenson

[Michael bennt]

-Steve Robinson was 5-6 at one point but went on to win a WBO title (admittedly when it was in it's weaker, incipient stages) and make several defenses.....similar story with Johnny Nelson.

-Freddie Pendleton started his career 2-4, was 24-16 when he first boxed for a world title, and won the IBF title at 32-17.

-Robinson Castellanos was 5-8 but is now 21-10 and a legitimate contender.

-Quirino Garcia started his career 0-18 but eventually became a fringe-contender and ended up at 40-28.

Quirino garcia was robbed against Olympic gold medalist David Reid and Garcia apparently was beating up de la Hoya in sparring before the gatti fight

[Tomasino]

Orlando Salido was the first one that came into my mind,he'd been KO'd about half a dozen times before he got his first world title shot,he turned pro in 1996 and had been KO'd 5 times up until 2000 and hasnt been KO'd since,won his first title 14 years after turning pro

Yep he has in my head as weLl, and from a British perspective Chris Edwards deserves an honourable mention http://boxrec.com/boxer/15404.

Good call on Edwards, superb turnaround. Loved to watch him go to war.