Most fast tracked Brit ever

[bigped]

Lee Mcgregor , title fight in 4th fight then
Commonwealth champion after 5 bouts and British after 8

[Ruthless-RKO]

Lee Mcgregor , title fight in 4th fight then
Commonwealth champion after 5 bouts and British after 8

Now just gotta see when he challenges for a Euro then World.. if he gets there.

[coghaugen11]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

[Kit]

Lawrence Okolie, was watching Anthony Joshua at the 2012 Olympics while working at McDonalds.

Joined a gym of the back of it to lose weight and qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics loosing to the Cuban, who many thought also beat Joshua.

After 3 years and 14 fights as a pro won British, Commonwealth and European titles. He is fighting for a world title against Glowacki next. He probably would have a world title fight under his belt if it wasn't for the pandemic.

[margaret thatcher]

Lawrence Okolie, was watching Anthony Joshua at the 2012 Olympics while working at McDonalds.

Joined a gym of the back of it to lose weight and qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics loosing to the Cuban, who many thought also beat Joshua.

After 3 years and 14 fights as a pro won British, Commonwealth and European titles. He is fighting for a world title against Glowacki next. He probably would have a world title fight under his belt if it wasn't for the pandemic.

[stujones]

Lawrence Okolie, was watching Anthony Joshua at the 2012 Olympics while working at McDonalds.

Joined a gym of the back of it to lose weight and qualified for 2016 Rio Olympics loosing to the Cuban, who many thought also beat Joshua.

After 3 years and 14 fights as a pro won British, Commonwealth and European titles. He is fighting for a world title against Glowacki next. He probably would have a world title fight under his belt if it wasn't for the pandemic.

You are right, but at the same time - it is funny how the sport has evolved. It used to be considered the "norm" - for a fighter to get / fight for a world title within an Olympic cycle (if you were an Olympic level boxer). Now its considered fast for some fighters.... but then obviously you have the likes of Lomachenko and Shiming who were fast tracked to world titles - way quicker than even "old school" norm.

[Fray Bentos]

He wasn't 'fast tracked' but Michael Watson taking on Don Lee and beating him, he was billed as an 'Islington taxi driver' and he beat - Lee - who was a world class fighter, stopped him on a cut lip.

Before then, he was beating domestic opposition (albeit good domestic opposition...) but Lee was world ranked and a proper dangerman, I don't know how many times such a step up in class has actually happened. Lee stopped Tony Sibson in a proper war.

[coghaugen11]

Yep Lee was world number one to Hagler but never got the shot, a tall rangey switch hitting southpaw with highlight reel KOs with both hands. He was bashing up next big thing Olajide (front page Sports Illustrated as the Michael Jackson of boxing) before premature stoppage. Watson was 22 and a substitute!

[coghaugen11]

Shockingly Lee was paid by Steward what he'd of made vs Hagler to be Tommy's main sparring partner for Hagler, with a promise of first defence if Tommy won.

Watson had already been sparring Mugabi in 1987 though and easily handling him


Duff etc knew how good Watson was!

[coghaugen11]

Lee, like Lindell Holmes, was frozen out the title picture. Holmes was WBC 160 #1 for years. Things don't change much in boxing (Whyte)

[coghaugen11]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

[mickey1975]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

Still got robbed blind against Eubank.

[PredatorHayds]

Joe Joyce had the 12-3 Lewison first fight.

Commonwealth champion in 4th fight and 7 months after debut.

[littlepug]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

He won the ABA title

[Londonirish]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

He won the ABA title

Anyone know how Many he had?
John McDermott holds the Record for winning the ABA’s in the less number of fights which I’m sure was 12.

[coghaugen11]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

He won the ABA title

That's only a few fights. Rod picked for Comms

[coghaugen11]

And Ian was supposed to test Benn! He was a good fighter.

Benn really had a great natural grasp for offence.

[coghaugen11]

Benn won a world title in America after three years as a pro, legitimised it with the first defence (first round Barkley, first punch nearly took him) in Vegas. That's insane thinking back. 14 early KO's in his first 12 months, including Yank contenders Reggie Miller and Tim Williams to drive him into WBC top ten after 12 or so months of first turning pro!

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

Still got robbed blind against Eubank.

Eh? He didn't fight Eubank until 1990, and I believe Steele was absolutely right to jump in.

[coghaugen11]

And Benn had very little amateur experience, two or three fights for West Ham before facing Rod Douglas, then beat him a year later. He never even sparred, and had a trainer who had never fought or trained anyone else.

Crazy.

He won the ABA title

Anyone know how Many he had?
John McDermott holds the Record for winning the ABA’s in the less number of fights which I’m sure was 12.

He fought a very low level in the army (very dominant apparently), which surely don't count. So probably less than 10. Certainly less than 10 ABA fights.

I think he beat Johnny Melfah in Gloucester in a West Ham vs South West thing. He beat Mark Edwards on points at the London ABA's.

[Onetimeonly]

Lee, like Lindell Holmes, was frozen out the title picture. Holmes was WBC 160 #1 for years. Things don't change much in boxing (Whyte)

I don't recall Holmes doing much at middle. He may have been #1 contender briefly, undeserving but not for years.

[coghaugen11]

Lee, like Lindell Holmes, was frozen out the title picture. Holmes was WBC 160 #1 for years. Things don't change much in boxing (Whyte)

I don't recall Holmes doing much at middle. He may have been #1 contender briefly, undeserving but not for years.

He was for quite a few years. Poorly managed.

Beat Drayton, robbed against Kalule and only guy to ever stop Sanderline, beat Andre Cooper far more impressively than Tinley, and legend has it he hit Steve Darnell with a left uppercut that lifted him off his feet and flat on his back. Hugely avoided. Beat Micheal Spinks in 75.

[Fightnight Scores]

My first thoughts on this were generally the Olympians who do relatively well.

They are thrust into headline events from their debut by the promotors milking all the cash they can get out of them.

Audley Harrison, Amir Khan were the early ones before BBC and ITV ditched the sport and since then with more successful Olympians we've had the likes of Joshua and Degale seemingly fast tracked, at least on the domestic scene. Given that they were put in the spotlight from day 1 promoters can't keep feeding them fodder after 10 straight, easy wins. Which can be doen for those prospects who come up on undercards and none televised events.

I guess Taylor is somewhat an exception to the rule in that he only really had Commonwealth games success, but has blitzed his way through the pro ranks, and notably he isn't/wasn't promoted by Warren or Hearn.

Not really sure how it was pre-2000 though, before the big Sky domestic ppv events, national TV coverage and such.
They made a big deal of Harrison's Olympic win since we hadn't had much Olympic boxing success until that point. Why was that the case?

[Onetimeonly]

Lee, like Lindell Holmes, was frozen out the title picture. Holmes was WBC 160 #1 for years. Things don't change much in boxing (Whyte)

I don't recall Holmes doing much at middle. He may have been #1 contender briefly, undeserving but not for years.

He was for quite a few years. Poorly managed.

Beat Drayton, robbed against Kalule and only guy to ever stop Sanderline, beat Andre Cooper far more impressively than Tinley, and legend has it he hit Steve Darnell with a left uppercut that lifted him off his feet and flat on his back. Hugely avoided. Beat Micheal Spinks in 75.

I'll take that bet. He got stopped by Davison.

[coghaugen11]

I don't recall Holmes doing much at middle. He may have been #1 contender briefly, undeserving but not for years.

He was for quite a few years. Poorly managed.

Beat Drayton, robbed against Kalule and only guy to ever stop Sanderline, beat Andre Cooper far more impressively than Tinley, and legend has it he hit Steve Darnell with a left uppercut that lifted him off his feet and flat on his back. Hugely avoided. Beat Micheal Spinks in 75.

I'll take that bet. He got stopped by Davison.

You're going to bet against facts? Uhh.

BS stoppage in a fight he was winning comfortably.

[coghaugen11]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.latime ... f_amp=true


At 5ft7/8 he was never a super-middle. And they robbed him in Korea way before Jones Jr. The middles stayed clear.