How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

The Hungarian was a 3-time olympic gold-medallist, how good would he have been had he been allowed to go pro?

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

What you mean by "if he had been allowed to go pro"? He fought as a pro for 7 years. Haven't faced a single ranked opponent though, so his induction into IBHOF is the weirdest thing there is.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

But he was 30 during his last olympics right?

If I'm not getting my facts mixed up he tried to go pro at 22 and 26, but was denied.

Surely his professional career would've been distinctly different had he gone professional earlier - Going professional at age 30 I guess he opted to stick to the European circuit.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

Don't you think his amateur/olympic accomplishments qualify him to the IBHOF?

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

You´re a hater.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

That´s because he wasn´t allowed to go compete abroad just when he was suppose to fight for the world title.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

Laszlo Papp was still undefeated at age 38, when the Hungarian Communist authorities decreed he was too old to continue boxing. Naturally, he was never allowed to compete professionally outside of continental Europe, but did become the first major boxing hero in the professional ranks to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain.

SRR was touring Europe around the same time Papp retired Tiger Jones, but a matchup between Robby and Papp was never arranged. With a record three Olympic boxing gold medals to his credit, Papp obviously had an impeccable amateur resume. It's entirely possible he would have become a world MW champion if given a chance, rather then merely the EBU MW titlist.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

I think Papp had the tools to beat Joey G. who was champ at the time.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

papp was forced to retire as the unbeaten european champ and number one contender for the title. poor guy.

i think he could have taken giardello.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

The "coulda/woulda" kind of stuff is not a merit to get included into IBHOF. If they start including great amateurs who didn't achieve anything significant as a pro, the Hall would turn into much-much worse mess than it has become now, with guys like Johannson or Norton in it.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

Johansson was undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, why wouldn´t he deserve a place in IBHOF?

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

Regrettably Senya, I fear the die has already been cast, so far as the IBHOF is concerned. I have an opportunity to visit there next week, riding along with some family members, and I may take a pass on that to stay home. (How much of a mecca could Canastota be, if posters to this forum like myself are so apathetic to the chance to go?) It hasn't the hallowed feel to it that Cooperstown does. (Yes, I've been to both places in the past.)

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

is the hall of fame just for pros???

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

Because there are tens of more deserving candidates, but who, alas, didn't have the luck of fighting at heavyweight.

Re: How good was Laslzo Papp?
 

By the way there is a very good documentary on Papp.
Its Hungarian with English subtitles.