BoxRec

Often debated why Cubans stay amateur...and that's purely down to political reasons and the face that pro boxing is banned there. But Russians have very good amateur pedigree and many of them remain amateur for along time often all their career? why is that?

is it because their style is so much more suited for the amateur game? Is amateur boxing more popular than professional boxing in Russia?

any ideas?

Maybe they will get a more secure career in and outside the ring if they stay amateur??

I think over the last couple of years we've seen quite a number of pro boxers coming through from russia, especially on SN shows. something sticks in my mind about possibly Frank Maloney trying to establish contacts there to tap into the potential market of new pros.

One of the reasons we've not seen them before is that, without trying to state the obvious, russia was a communist country and therefore its developement of amateur sports was highly financed by the state, profesionalism being seen as as a sign of western decadence. Therefore amateurism was seen as almost pure, doing it for the love of the sport and not for the sullied decadence of the professional western athletes. this was a highly coveted political statement. Doing it for the honour of the country and its people as opposed to personnal honour and riches.

if you think back to previous years and other sports, there were very few where the russians dominated at a professional level. but consider previous olympic games where the competing athletes were 'amateur', and remember how the Russians dominated everything along with the US. Much the same is being seen by China now, which is it could be argued, the worlds last surviving communist superpower, and to a lesser extent North Korea

The break up of the Sovet Union and Russia perilious financial difficulties has, i suppose, a knock on effect of the financing an infastructure of amateur sports investments. Hence we're seeing more professional Russian athletes making a mark in all sports

On one of the recent ringside programmes there was a feature on Russian boxers, how they are trying to set up more shows there.

Maybe if that kicks off well , more will start to turn pro.
As amateurs they still get apartments and other incentives to stay in that code if their sucessful.

thanks guys, i should of thought more about russia's communist history.

How many do u think there r?Ijust checked and was surprised as they all travel most of the time.

There was Ivan Drago.