Noteworthy Pro Debuts

[keithmoonhangover]

Whether they won, lost or fought someone noteworthy on their debuts, can we get a list going.

- David Bey stopped unbeaten future world champion James 'Buster' Douglas in two rounds in his pro debut.
- Riddick Bowe beat future contender Lionel Butler in his debut.
- As mentioned in another thread, Joe Bugner lost his debut against a guy that never won another pro fight.
- Future Tommy Morrison conqueror Michael Bentt also lost his debut against Jerry Jones

Any more?

[chrisjs1985]

Pete Rademacher fought Floyd Patterson for the title in his debut.

[oogiebe]

Pete Rademacher fought Floyd Patterson for the title in his debut.

Damn you! You beat me to it!!!!! Nice shout.

[margaret thatcher]

Future world champ Miguel Vasquez lost by split to decision to Canelo Alvarez

[scartissue]

Future welterweight champ Curtis Cokes made his pro debut by beating future 2 time world title challenger Manny Gonzalez. It should also be noted that one of Gonzalez' 2 world title shots was against Curtis Cokes.

[oogiebe]

Future welterweight champ Curtis Cokes made his pro debut by beating future 2 time world title challenger Manny Gonzalez. It should also be noted that one of Gonzalez' 2 world title shots was against Curtis Cokes.

That's two for the price on one. Nice one!

[paddy chavez]

James bonecrusher Smith future heavyweight champ lost his debut to contender James broad

[Jaywheel]

Hopkins lost against a guy that finished with a 3-1-1 career record.

[Ruthless-RKO]

JM Marquez lost his pro debut.

Marquez was DQ'd for a headbutt. He was supposed to make his pro debut in 1990 but due to a spinal injury he had to postpone his debut by three years.

[wouter]

Michael Carbajal beat future IBF champion Will Grigsby.

[locoxelbox]

1988 Olympic champion Kwang-Sun Kim beat future IBF World champion Manny Melchor in his pro debut over 8 rounds.

[Controversial]

Henry Armstrong was knocked out on his debut, in fact he went 1-4 after his first five fights.

[polecateddy]

Arguably Britain's best ever cruiserweight, Johnny Nelson, lost his first 3 fights.

[oogiebe]

Henry Armstrong was knocked out on his debut, in fact he went 1-4 after his first five fights.

Nice one!

[Duran1970]

Future heavyweight champ Mike Weaver KO'd by Howard Smith in 3.

[Duran1970]

Future champs to lose their pro debut:

Billy Conn
Gorilla Jones
Jae-do Yuh
Ted 'kid" Lewis
Joe Dundee
Angel Espada
Bruno Arcari
Benny Leonard
Joe Brown
Carlos teo Cruz
Rigoberto fiasco
Harry Forbes
Manuel Ortiz
Chuchu Castillo

[sweetsci]

Roberto Duran turned pro against Carlos Mendoza in 1968. It was Mendoza's second fight.

Nearly twelve years later, on the Holmes-Shavers II card, Mendoza fought Wilfredo Gomez for Gomez' super-bantamweight title. Duran fought Zeferino Gonzalez on the same card.

[keithmoonhangover]

Roberto Duran turned pro against Carlos Mendoza in 1968. It was Mendoza's second fight.

Nearly twelve years later, on the Holmes-Shavers II card, Mendoza fought Wilfredo Gomez for Gomez' super-bantamweight title. Duran fought Zeferino Gonzalez on the same card.

Very good sir.

[orbtastic]

Still think Rafa Marquez' debut against former WBC champ Victor Rabanales was probably most confident or reckless pieces of matchmaking out there. Apparently he thought it was an exhibition and didn't think it would go on his record. KO'd in the 8th which also seems odd, as it had to be at least an 8 rounder which is highly unusual for a debut.

[orbtastic]

Does anyone know off the top of their head which boxer fought the most debutants?

I know that when Torres first exploded onto the scene his record looked like it was padded with debutants but now their records have been fleshed out a little, it's obvious that only of them were debutants.

Big punching Jaime Garza fought six debutants in his first 15 fights.

I would guess maybe the likes of Sean O'Grady or Lamar Clark have a lot listed but I suspect that is down to both incomplete records and matchmaking i.e. made up names/fighters etc.

How about fighters who fought a debutant late in their career? Leon Spinks lost in a round to a novice in one of his last fights although clearly way past his best.

George Chuvalo turned pro into some sort of heavy tourney (which he won) meaning he had four bouts in the same evening and won them all.

[chrisjs1985]

Still think Rafa Marquez' debut against former WBC champ Victor Rabanales was probably most confident or reckless pieces of matchmaking out there. Apparently he thought it was an exhibition and didn't think it would go on his record. KO'd in the 8th which also seems odd, as it had to be at least an 8 rounder which is highly unusual for a debut.

What's weird about that is that they had the same manager and trainer. From what I heard Rafael Marquez say about it, he absolutely was under the impression it was an exhibition. I believe that but not sure Rabanales did, because he scored a KO which surely he wouldn't have gone for had it just been an exhibition with a youngster from the same camp.

[gilgamesh]

Does anyone know off the top of their head which boxer fought the most debutants?

I know that when Torres first exploded onto the scene his record looked like it was padded with debutants but now their records have been fleshed out a little, it's obvious that only of them were debutants.

Big punching Jaime Garza fought six debutants in his first 15 fights.

I would guess maybe the likes of Sean O'Grady or Lamar Clark have a lot listed but I suspect that is down to both incomplete records and matchmaking i.e. made up names/fighters etc.

How about fighters who fought a debutant late in their career? Leon Spinks lost in a round to a novice in one of his last fights although clearly way past his best.

George Chuvalo turned pro into some sort of heavy tourney (which he won) meaning he had four bouts in the same evening and won them all.

I don't know if this is the most, but it's certainly a lot. Ricardo Moreno...a big punching Mexican Featherweight in the 50's and 60's with a gawdy KO record of 59 KO's in his 60 victories.

17 of those bouts were against opponents making their debut.

His record was heavily padded.

[orbtastic]

Damn, that’s a lot. That’s why I thought of O’Grady but I know some of the records are incomplete. He could actually box and punch though.

[writehooks]

Southpaw Canadian light heavyweight Jean-Claude Roy, who retired with a record of 9-10, make his pro debut with a split decision over 88-23-2 Yvon Durelle, "The Fighting Fisherman" who dropped the great Archie Moore four times ...

[keithmoonhangover]

Southpaw Canadian light heavyweight Jean-Claude Roy, who retired with a record of 9-10, make his pro debut with a split decision over 88-23-2 Yvon Durelle, "The Fighting Fisherman" who dropped the great Archie Moore four times ...

Another great shout.