Why are so many top amateurs not turning pro?

[RonnyJ]

if you have an very good talent, you around 20-25 of age, who not make potential millions boxing pro. i dont get it.

[IKSRTFO]

if you have an very good talent, you around 20-25 of age, who not make potential millions boxing pro. i dont get it.

Not a guarantee that they make millions. They'll have to make a couple thousand at first and if they're gunning for the Olympics, they can make more off endorsements and sponsorships.

[RonnyJ]

if you have an very good talent, you around 20-25 of age, who not make potential millions boxing pro. i dont get it.

Not a guarantee that they make millions. They'll have to make a couple thousand at first and if they're gunning for the Olympics, they can make more off endorsements and sponsorships.

at least there are chances of getting millions in pro boxing

[margaret thatcher]

Some of these countries pay salary + winning bonuses (like hundreds of thousands - million for Olympic medals), as well as other perks (I know some get free apartments) so the top ams end up being paid pretty well and more stable than as pros. Plus even with the growth of international opportunities, a lot of these guys would have to totally change their lives and move to foreign countries where they don't speak the language to have the pro deals


Read about that Chinese dude who is challenging Bert, he was an Olympian etc. He is alone in a basement in New Jersey while his family and daughter are all back in China. It sounds ratheer depressing. And after team cuts and taxes , pro purses really aren't that much at all unless it's the real big money.

[RonnyJ]

Some of these countries pay salary + winning bonuses (like hundreds of thousands - million for Olympic medals), as well as other perks (I know some get free apartments) so the top ams end up being paid pretty well and more stable than as pros. Plus even with the growth of international opportunities, a lot of these guys would have to totally change their lives and move to foreign countries where they don't speak the language to have the pro deals


Read about that Chinese dude who is challenging Bert, he was an Olympian etc. He is alone in a basement in New Jersey while his family and daughter are all back in China. It sounds ratheer depressing. And after team cuts and taxes , pro purses really aren't that much at all unless it's the real big money.

ok, makes more sense now.

[oogiebe]

I'd bet less ams turn pro in olympic years.

[JMac]

I'd bet less ams turn pro in olympic years.

I'm hearing several of the '20 US Olympians will turn pro instead of waiting around for next summer Olympics. US amateurs have almost always turned pro younger than Euro's. They don't make much money as top US amateurs as other countries do. In the 70's and even the 80's, amateur boxing was on TV a lot and enough that if your were a boxing fan, you got to know who top ams were. It's never on TV anymore even with so many cable sports channels.
Back in the days of Wide World of Sports on ABC, they would show once a month, USA vs the World dual matches and Howard Cosell announcing. They were always fighting the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc. Making the Olympic team was big time and winning a gold was almost a guarantee to good paydays and world pro title. Now with no TV coverage, boxers getting robbed, they figure turn pro young and try and make some money while you getting screwed.
As to the OP, making millions is harder than making the Olympic team. You can probably count on two hands if that many, how many are making that kind of money. Most pros can't even live on what they make boxing and need a second job.

[oogiebe]

I'd bet less ams turn pro in olympic years.

I'm hearing several of the '20 US Olympians will turn pro instead of waiting around for next summer Olympics. US amateurs have almost always turned pro younger than Euro's. They don't make much money as top US amateurs as other countries do. In the 70's and even the 80's, amateur boxing was on TV a lot and enough that if your were a boxing fan, you got to know who top ams were. It's never on TV anymore even with so many cable sports channels.
Back in the days of Wide World of Sports on ABC, they would show once a month, USA vs the World dual matches and Howard Cosell announcing. They were always fighting the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc. Making the Olympic team was big time and winning a gold was almost a guarantee to good paydays and world pro title. Now with no TV coverage, boxers getting robbed, they figure turn pro young and try and make some money while you getting screwed.
As to the OP, making millions is harder than making the Olympic team. You can probably count on two hands if that many, how many are making that kind of money. Most pros can't even live on what they make boxing and need a second job.

I was speaking in general, and not specific to the US. Worldwide, the Olympics (in boxing) means a lot to these fighters and their countries.

[Onetimeonly]

I'd bet less ams turn pro in olympic years.

I'm hearing several of the '20 US Olympians will turn pro instead of waiting around for next summer Olympics. US amateurs have almost always turned pro younger than Euro's. They don't make much money as top US amateurs as other countries do. In the 70's and even the 80's, amateur boxing was on TV a lot and enough that if your were a boxing fan, you got to know who top ams were. It's never on TV anymore even with so many cable sports channels.
Back in the days of Wide World of Sports on ABC, they would show once a month, USA vs the World dual matches and Howard Cosell announcing. They were always fighting the USSR, Cuba, East Germany, etc. Making the Olympic team was big time and winning a gold was almost a guarantee to good paydays and world pro title. Now with no TV coverage, boxers getting robbed, they figure turn pro young and try and make some money while you getting screwed.
As to the OP, making millions is harder than making the Olympic team. You can probably count on two hands if that many, how many are making that kind of money. Most pros can't even live on what they make boxing and need a second job.

I used to know at least 4 or 5 us amateurs in every weight class when I was 12 years old. I can't name 1 now and I haven't watched an Olympic fight in maybe 20 years. It doesn't help they're on channel 4589 at 5 am. Used to televise almost every fight. Sad

[Cent0089]

Problem is that professional boxing is very unprofessional in 70% cases. In amateur championships, olympic games, european championships, Pan am games, even in national championships and tournaments, best facing the best. You cannot tell that about pro boxing. Too bad amateur boxing isnt popular at all, it is very entertaining sport In pro boxing, there is long way to making millions

Edit: But i think many of elite amateurs turned pro in last decade

[locoxelbox]

In most top amateur countries, the boxers get a salary and some good prize money for medals. The best paid amateurs are dollar millionaires and their government pays the same money independent of weight class or gender.
Boxers can make a career in the police/military/politics, etc or remain in the system as coaches when they retire. They have free housing and food and sometimes free studies, etc. The pro business doesn´t offer the same infrastructure but of course the really good one´s who make it in the pros (specially middleweights and bigger) can make a huge difference.

[Steel City]

As soon as the next Olympics is over

Oleksandr Khyzniak (Ukraine)
Pat Mccormack (GB)
Peter McGrail (GB)

Will turn pro and immediately become the best prospects in boxing.

[Steel City]

I don't understand why Vassily Levit and Andrey Zamkovoy don't seem to have any intention to turn pro

[Steel City]

Vitaly Dunaystev -world championship gold medalist and olympic bronze medalist has retired without turning pro, and I think hes only about 27.

There just isn't as much chances/promoters/deals/money for a pro in Russia, despite them having so much talent.

Maybe he didn't wanna risk it money wise, and didn't wanna move to the USA.

[Cent0089]

As soon as the next Olympics is over

Oleksandr Khyzniak (Ukraine)
Pat Mccormack (GB)
Peter McGrail (GB)

Will turn pro and immediately become the best prospects in boxing.

Hopefully both McCormacks will turn pro Oleksandr Khyzniak is beast, wondering if he can transfer his style to pro