mario klindelan [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrVABAuYl3g[/ame] arguably one of the best matched fights in amatuer boxing
Off-hand, I could think of Mark Breland, Howard Davis jr, Ray Leonard, Greg Page, Bernard Taylor, Johnny Bumphus, Jackie Beard, and Clint Jackson, who won both welterweight GG and AAU's three straight years.
No brainer, Kostya Tszyu, something like 250 odd fights for a handful of losses, including Euro and World championsps, Lennox also gets a mention.
A guy i know fought Breland a year or 2 before he turned pro. Said he never seen anything like him. Hit him everywhere bar the soles of his feet
To put Breland in perspective, you'd have to understand the terror his name engendered in N.Y. amateur boxing circles in the '70s. He left opponents for dead in seconds. Anyone who didnt bail looked like a cadaver entering the ring. Think Joe Louiss opponents in his prime. With that as BG, I had an amateur on my team, Michael De La Rue, face him at smoker in Staten Island. Michael was a fireplug, impossible to discourage and winged left hooks from bell to bell. He fought face first, and everyone cringed at the thought of what Mark would do to him. Mark did drop Michael in the first round with that feared right, but to everyones surprise, he weathered it 'n tore back in to Breland; and no matter how many times Mark landed flush with the right, Michael answered with hooks that made Mark give ground. Mark got the nod, but it was close, and Michael was the only one that had gone the distance with him at that time, and the crowd showed him their appreciation. Michael had a brief run as a pro, and engaged in some exciting TV fights. I was pleasantly surprised to read in an interview with Breland years later, he said Michael was his toughest amateur opponent. Im sure most shook their heads, wondering who the hell Michael was.
Top post, we now know the full story behind his reasoning. Being so aggressive and determined would have made the difference between Michael and most Breland opponents. From your account he took Breland well out of his usual comfort zone and hence the great showing.
Not having really followed Breland's career, why didn't his pro career (though still very good) pan out like his amazing amateur career JG? Was it a style, chin or mental issue that prevented him from reaching lofty those amateur heights?
After Mark lit-up early amateurs, yg, his reputation spread like a fatal shootist through the boroughs. Like a preying mantis, he towered over most opponents at 147. He might just as well been announced from the River Styx, wearing a shroud 'n carrying a scythe; quivering opponents waited to be executed. Mark was impassive -- set no pace. Fought with no urgency. The terror of his right left opponents hypnotized with that, not their offense. His block-long jab was a measuring stick, and then a single sniper right would leave 'em cold on the canvas. After the amateurs, when the bouts were more than three rounds, and top pros didn't fold, firing back with bad intentions, his will was wanting. Though he won a title, he wasn't a gladiator.