BoxRec

But went on to be Good pro fighters? the only one i can think of is johnny nelson, just started reading his book, so thought i would see if there was any other fighters who didnt do much as a amateur but were good pro's?

A lot of Mexicans have little amateur experience as they turn pro so young, I'm thinking Chavez and Barrera specifically. Tex Cobb and Bonecrusher Smith had virtually no amateur experience either.

Duke McKenzie, surprisingly given that he was a bit of a craftsman as a pro.

Decent and great are different things. He made an ABA semi, but on his own admission for most of his amateur career he was a bit of a journeyman. Perhaps I took the 'great' too literally, but I was thinking in terms of Olympians etc.

Chris Eubank wasn't a great amateur. I have some of his amateur fights on DVD in New York, he just brawled with straight punches but had some sort of Golden Gloves success.

From what I've read, Mike Tyson wasn't a great amateur. Overlooked for the olympics, beaten by the likes Tyrell Biggs and others. The absolute opposite of Audley Harrison in fact.

In relative terms, Hamed didn't do much as an amateur as well at a senior level, that's obviously in part because he turned pro so young, but his style would never have won favours in the ams...

mercman wrote:I thought Duke McKenzie had a decent amateur career. I seem to remember he was a Junior ABA finalist back in the day. Perhaps my memory is playing tricks.

Pete Gabbitus stopped Duke with body punches; am sure it was in the 1979 final.

Now you see it, now you don't lol

Matt Skelton??

Deserter wrote:In relative terms, Hamed didn't do much as an amateur as well at a senior level, that's obviously in part because he turned pro so young, but his style would never have won favours in the ams...

Captained Young England, that's not too shoddy. But you're right, turned too young to make an impact as an amateur.

Barrera actually had a decent amateur career; I think that at fourteen (???!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?????!?!) he won the Senior Mexican Golden Gloves, a year before he turned pro.

From the untrustworthy encyclopedia, just for kicks:-

As an amateur, Barrera had a record of 104-4 and was a five-time Mexican national champion. His Winning streak was 56-0 before losing his first amateur contest.

johnny nelson did pretty good also...

Honeyghan never won an ABA title. He boxed for England but Gunther Roomes and Joey Frost beat him in the ABAs.

Intersting that Haye never won an ABA title. Obviously he boxed for England and won a world silver but never an ABA.

His younger brother, won a Junior ABA title and by all acounts was a very talented amateur.

Rocky Marciano

dbf wrote:Intersting that Haye never won an ABA title. Obviously he boxed for England and won a world silver but never an ABA.

His younger brother, won a Junior ABA title and by all acounts was a very talented amateur.

I've heard from more than one person that his brother actually looked the better fighter but had no dedication. Not seen him in action myself, anybody seen him here?

Carl the cat thompson,
I don't think he had any amateur fights but was a champion thai boxer I think before turning to pro boxing ?

Duke McKenzie unbelievably lost 17 consecutive fights in the amateurs, then one day it clicked. Just shows what you can achieve if you stick with it (dont get any ideas Audley!)

Also I only see James Haye once in the amateurs once and was outpointed by Tony Conquest, a southpaw from what I remember, he had some talent but a lazy syle and couldn't fight when backed up.

Ross Hale weren't that good and amateur but did very well as a pro

During the HBO broadcast of his bout with Yusaf Mack, it was stated that Librado Andrade had an amateur record of 2-14. Someone else mentioned him, but Marciano's amateur record was only 8-4 I believe.

I've heard from more than one person that his brother actually looked the better fighter but had no dedication. Not seen him in action myself, anybody seen him here?

Every footballer/fighter/ rugby player [insert here[ has a brother who was better but was too lazy/got injured/went on the beer [insert here].

Olympic medallist and Euro champ Paddy Barns lost his first 15 amateur fights. He could make a good pro yet...

Ashley Theophane hasn't done badly considering he didn't win a fight for more than 2 years before turning pro.

JamesH wrote:Ashley Theophane hasn't done badly considering he didn't win a fight for more than 2 years before turning pro.

Crikey, I didn't know that. Genuinely fascinating.

Deserter wrote:

JamesH wrote:Ashley Theophane hasn't done badly considering he didn't win a fight for more than 2 years before turning pro.

Crikey, I didn't know that. Genuinely fascinating.

To be honest it actually goes a little further than that... at his original club he couldn't even get a fight! He used to say that the travellers at the club would be favoured and always get the nod ahead of him. He left and joined another club just so he could fight, and then returned a couple of years later at which point he was given the opportunity to fight at his original club. He always said he had too much of a pro style for the am game. Can't say I agree with him, but he's certainly doing much better as a pro. I'd probably put it down to the sparring he's since had in the States rather than being naturally better suited to the pro game.