Mark Breland as an amateur: WOW! WTF happened?

[generic screen name]

I downloaded some footage as Breland as an amateur, he was a BEAST! What happened?

[Expug]

Pro game is harder . Longer fights more body punching , rougher tactics,Breland just wasnt real durable for the longer haul bouts.
For three rounds he was great but taken into deep water by established pros, he had a tougher time.
I always felt he was too thin. 6-2 welter I believe. And very skinny.

[kick asner]

Someone could probably compile a whole list of fighters who flourished as amateurs but couldn't make the transition to pro. Tyrell Biggs comes to mind, Howard Davis, Paul Gonzales. With Davis and Gonzales it was an issue with power. In the amateurs they could get by with their stick and move light hitting style. In the pros they were pretty much exposed.

Here in South Bend they have the college football hall of fame (American football) to pay homage to amateur athletes. Maybe they could do the same with amature boxing, build a hall of fame for that. You could even display a statue of Duane Bobick out front.

[generic screen name]

I mean he was KTFOing people. I can't beleive that didn't transfer to the pros ala Tommy Hearns (who wasn't a bad amateur himself).

[sockdolager]

People said that Hearns didn't have a good chin, and that his defense was't much. Compared to Breland...

You simply need more as a professional. It's a different game. Look at all of those 7'1" centers in the NCAA that don't do shit in the NBA, or all of those all-American cornerbacks in the NCAA that don't do shit in the NFL.

some people cant prepare themselvs to face off in any sport whith others that are on the same skill level or better. You are dead on here about the Center situation in the NBA. It happens in all sport.

[generic screen name]

Eh I started getting into Amateur footage lately, and I started to believe the Breland bandwagon......... about several decades too late......

[kick asner]

You're point is well taken that Breland was a bit of a dissapointment as a pro, but he still had a decent career. Was able to win a somewhat meaningful title. But like Expug said his durability was questionable. That was revealed in the first Marlon Starling fight where Breland built up a lead with some good boxing but I think his demise started when he was hit with some good hard body shots. The stronger tougher Starling just kept the pressure on and eventually Breland wilted. Now if that was a three round fight you could have chalked up a win for Breland.


It seems like a long time ago but at one Time Marvis Frazier was a highly touted Amateur. But like Breland He lacked the toughness that it takes to be a top professional.

[Nile4000]

Tony Tucker and Bernard Taylor were also highly touted amateurs that didn't turn out as planned.Sometimes, there are many different varialbes involved that aren't always controlled.

[KOJOE90]

Someone could probably compile a whole list of fighters who flourished as amateurs but couldn't make the transition to pro..

Some information on this thread.

http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6872

[evndrbsn]

I mean he was KTFOing people. I can't beleive that didn't transfer to the pros ala Tommy Hearns (who wasn't a bad amateur himself).

This is a bad comparison. Hearns got by in the amateurs with boxing ability. He had a pathetically small number of KOs in the amateurs compared to Breland. Hearns translated better to the pros because he paced himself better over the stretch of a fight.

[kick asner]

Someone could probably compile a whole list of fighters who flourished as amateurs but couldn't make the transition to pro..

Some information on this thread.

http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6872

Good thread, thanks.