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Cuban Amateurs: What Could Have Been

Posted: 19 Dec 2013, 13:14
by knurak
How good could the Cuban Olympians have been professionally? I’m interested to know how much potential people think they had, how they would have fared against the greatest professionals of their eras. For this hypothetical, please assume that each Olympian would have turned professional after winning their first medal. Here are some guys in particular that I’m curious about:

Roberto Balado
Felix Savon
Teofilo Stevenson
Ariel Hernandez
Rolando Garbey
Juan Hernandez Sierra
Hector Vinent
(not BOTP, but) Roniel Iglesias
Mario Kindelan
Angel Herrera

Furthermore, I am generally interested in the greatest boxers never to fight professionally, so feel free to mention some non-Cubans, or even non-Olympians.

Re: Cuban Amateurs: What Could Have Been

Posted: 19 Dec 2013, 16:07
by Controversial
Its almost impossible to say. Many good amateurs who were tipped for stardom flopped as pros, Ricardo Williams Jnr, Yan Barthelemy (Cuban) and Ramon Garbey (Cuban) to name a few. Amateur and pro boxing is chalk and cheese.

Re: Cuban Amateurs: What Could Have Been

Posted: 19 Dec 2013, 16:17
by dempseyfire
Indeed, the list of star AM boxers who emigrated off the island and were huge underachievers in the professional ranks is a long one.

Re: Cuban Amateurs: What Could Have Been

Posted: 19 Dec 2013, 16:55
by tommo100
I think felix savon could have made it as a pro,he had the physical attributes,it`s a shame there was a super heavy category in the Sydney Olympics,we most likely denied savon beating audley to nationwide embarrasment