BoxRec

Flip the other thread on his head. Name some average amateurs that made great pros.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi had NO amateur fights, he didn't turn pro until he was 25

Larry Holmes had a unremarkable amateur career with a 19-3 record, losing to Bobick in the 1972 Olympics trials.

I dont believe Marciano or Archie Moore had many fights as amateurs either.

Henry Armstrong didnt have a remarkable amateur career as far as i know.
Pete Sandstoel is another guy who comes to mind

No one can beat Harry Jeffra's record. As a pro he was a world champion when it counted, but being a slow starter as an amateur his record was 1-25.

Bob Foster lost his first 7 amateur fights.

Henry Armstrong actually was undefeated as an amateur from what I hear.

Pernel Whitaker started out losing several fights then dominated in the amateurs.

Kenny Keene started out 0-13 and was almost not allowed to continue as an amateur then took off.

There are several guys like Genaro Hernandez who was 2-1 was an amateur.

Michael Moorer was something like 35-12 as an amateur (very pro style even then).

Controversial wrote:Flip the other thread on his head. Name some average amateurs that made great pros.

Dwight Muhammad Qawi had NO amateur fights, he didn't turn pro until he was 25

Larry Holmes had a unremarkable amateur career with a 19-3 record, losing to Bobick in the 1972 Olympics trials.

I dont believe Marciano or Archie Moore had many fights as amateurs either.

Marciano I think had 16-20 amateur bouts. Ironic that had he not busted his hand in that last amateur bout, despite being so inexperienced, he could have made the Olympics.

Randall 'Tex' Cobb I believe had two amateur bouts, both losses. He later made a joke that since he wasnt getting anywhere in the amateurs he might as well turn pro. Being a former kickboxing champion, Cobb didn't do that bad as a pro, he did beat Shavers, drew Leon Spinks, and gave Michael Dokes hard fights, and of course got a title shot even though it was just about the widest HW title fight decision in history.

Flump wrote:Bob Foster lost his first 7 amateur fights.

But he won his next 94. Not exactly a crap amateur.

EriqS wrote:

Flump wrote:Bob Foster lost his first 7 amateur fights.

But he won his next 94. Not exactly a crap amateur.

That's amazing. That's like Willie Mays going hitless in his first twelve at bats.

Hasim Rahman was 7-3 as an amateur.

Don't put too much credence into what boxers say their amateur record was. Most amateurs fight often and even the top ones lose often. The ones who claim they were undefeated or had only a few losses are probably not telling the truth. If they are winning a lot and fighting at the top levels of amateur boxing they are either winning every tournament they enter or they are losing fights.

Can't remember any boxer winning every tournament...I am familiar with a guy who is ranked in the top 3 in the U.S. as an amateur. He probably wins about 75% of his amateur fights.

Both Duke McKenzie and Johnny Nelson, both had statically very poor amatuer records. Both proved to be good fighters and win a few titles throught their respective careers