The Class of 2008 - The Cursed Olympians

Saw in mentioned in a another thread, are the 2008 Olympians cursed? Will any of them every win a World title?


David Price
Division - Heavyweight
Olympics - Bronze Medal
Turned Pro - March 2009
Pro Record - 15-1
Average Fights Per Year - 4
Promoter - Hayemaker, Frank Maloney
Titles - British & Commonwealth Champion
Next Fight – v Tony Thompson, July 7th, Liverpool

After starting his career Hayemaker Promotions, Price moved over to Frank Maloney due to the Setanta Sports collapse. This meant there was a 6 month gap between his 1st & 2nd fights. Maloney fed Price a string of Latvian cab drivers and only once at 10-0 did Price finally step up. Ripping through domestic opponents Dallas, McDermott, Sexton, Harrison & Skelton in the space of a year yet only boxing a total of 9 rounds for those 5 fights. Price then made the huge step up in class to fight Tony Thompson. Grossly underestimated by Fans, Media and Team Price, and an out of shape and unmotivated Thompson was able to stop Price in the 2nd round infront of a large hometown support. A potential domestic super fight with Tyson Fury and all thoughts of Price becoming a World Champion are now on hold. He rematches his conqueror Tony Thompson in July and a another KO loss would be the end of any thoughts that Price will ever move beyond domestic level.


Tony Jeffries
Division - Super Middleweight/Light Heavyweight
Olympics - Bronze Medal
Turned Pro - February 2009
Pro Record - 9-0-1
Average Fights Per Year - 4
Promoter – Dennis Hobson, Frank Maloney
Titles – None
Next Fight – RETIRED

Originally signing with Dennis Hobson, Jeffries quickly moved over to Frank Maloney’s promotional company after Hobson failed to secure the ITV deal he had promised to Jeffries. Jeffires was a huge ticket seller, especially in his hometown of Sunderland. After an impressive pro debut with Joe Gallagher as trainer, Jeffries struggled to look good against limited opposition moving from trainer to trainer. Eventually he drew a fight with the journeyman Michael Banbula. In a fight where Jeffries injured his hands badly, he was under the impression that the fights was 6 rounds, that turned out to be an 8 rounder. This, added to a dispute over which division Jeffries should campaign at caused further friction between his team and Maloney. Jeffries moved to the US and started training out there. He only managed 2 more fights in which he got cuts and his hands were injured again, forcing him to retire without making any impact in the professional ring. In his personal life he seems to being doing well, now living in Los Angeles and running a gym.


James DeGale
Division - Super Middleweight
Olympics - Gold Medal
Turned Pro - February 2009
Pro Record - 14-1
Average Fights Per Year - 3.75
Promoter - Frank VVarren, Mick Hennesey
Titles - British, European, WBC & WBA International Titles
Next Fight – TBA (8x3), May 17th, Canada

Things maybe came a bit too easy for the star of the 2008 team. After turning pro with Frank VVarren, DeGale steam rolled his way through his first 6 opponents in impressive fashion during his first year a pro. But for everything he was doing good inside the ring, outside of it he failed to connect with the public due to his arrogant persona . Booed during his pro debut, his status as a Gold Medal winner never transcended into ticket sales and DeGale found himself out on the road. Due to his extortionately high purses (rumored to be six figures per fight) DeGale moved into title class quickly, beating domestic gate keepers Sam Horton, Carl Dilks before eventually challenging Paul Smith for the British title in Liverpool. A dominant win over the average & overweight Smith got the DeGale hype rolling, and there were rumors of a world title fight. A domestic super fight with old amateur rival and conqueror George Groves was made, and DeGales arrogance and lack of class really came to the forefront. Months of childish insults further damaged his popularity, and DeGale dropped a split decision in front of a huge crowd at the 02 Arena in a PPV fight, almost unheard of for that level. DeGale has come back well winning the European title, but split from VVarren after he signed George Groves. His performances have been ok, against decent opponents since signing with Mick Hennesey and fighting on channel 5, but with that TV deal falling through and DeGale never being able to establish himself as a ticket seller, he found his last fight cancelled and his next match up is a scheduled 8 rounder in Canada.


Billy Joe Saunders
Division - Middleweight
Olympics – Eliminated 2nd Round
Turned Pro - February 2009
Pro Record - 17-0
Average Fights Per Year - 4.25
Promoter - Frank VVarren
British & Commonwealth Titles
Next Fight – Gary O’Sullivan (WBO Eliminator), TBA

The youngest of the 2008 Olympians, Billy Joe was always classed as the best professional prospect of the bunch due to his mix of classy boxing skills with a spiteful edge. Billy Joe shocked everyone including his promoter and Welterweight opponent, when he came in at Super Middleweight for his pro debut. As his career progressed Billy Joe eventually made his way down to the Middleweight division, although fans and pundits still question whether he would be big enough to make an impact there. Despite being the most active of the Olympians to turn pro straight after the 2008 games, hand injuries have still limited his progress. Last year Billy Joe really kicked on, picking up the British & Commonwealth titles under the tutelage of Jimmy Tibbs. But many of his performances have been below par, struggling to dominate domestic gate keepers like Nick Blackwell, Bradley Pryce and Matthew Hall in the same fashion as DeGale did when he stepped up. His next fight is rumored to be a WBO Eliminator vs Irelands Gary O’Sullivan, which is a positive step forward, but you have to question whether Billy Joe would be ready to challenge WBO champion Peter Quillin without facing anybody beyond domestic level.

 

Bradley Saunders
Division - Welterweight
Olympics – Eliminated 2nd Round
Turned Pro - March 2012
Pro Record - 5-0
Average Fights Per Year - 5
Promoter - Frank VV**rren
Next Fight – Nothing Scheduled

Along with Khalid Yafai, Bradley Saunders decided not to turn pro after the 2008 games. A frustrating four years followed, legal troubles and injury’s forced him out of major international tournaments and he was not given the chance to qualify for the 2012, with Welshman Fred Evans taking his spot and claiming a Silver Medal. Saunders turned pro with Frank VVarren and made steady progress, picking up an impressive win over Peter McDonough in his 5th pro fight. Yet to fight anywhere near his hometown, further hand injuries have now limited his progress, and it doesn’t look like Saunders will fight again until the summer.


Frankie Gavin
Division – Light Welterweight, Welterweight
Olympics - Failed to make weight
Turned Pro - Feb 2009
Pro Record 15-0
Average Fights Per Year - 3.75
Promoter - Frank VV******
Titles - British, Irish, WBO International
Next Fight – v Denton Vassell (British & Commonwealth), TBA

Pre Olympics in 2008, Frankie Gavin was the poster boy of the British team and favorite to win a gold medal due to his World Championship success and the belief that he was one of the most naturally talented boxers the UK had ever produced.But a failure to make weight, rumored to be down to “Funtime” Frankies partying ways meant he never step foot in an Olympic ring. Frankie’s support always fiercely defended him from any blame in the situation and said any stories about his lack of dedication were overhyped. But being Britain’s first ever amateur World Champion still gave Frankie some pulling power and he signed a lucrative deal with Frank VVarren under the Olympians tag line. Despite stopping his first 6 opponents, there were question marks over Frankies power, but more concerning were the question marks over his commitment to the sport. Frankie gradually stepped but was hit and miss in his fights. He looks sensational against former British champion Michael Lomax, but struggled against Curtis Woodhouse. He moved from good friend and Arnie Farnell to train with Jimmy Tibbs in London, but pulled out of a fight at the weigh in due to personal issues. Frankie finally seems to have got his act together outside of the ring. He admitted to not taking the sport as seriously as he should, and his infamous “beans & diet coke” diet proved his doubters were right when they questioned his conditioning. He has returned to Birmingham to train with his former amateur coach, and put together a string of decent victories before winning the British title against former World Champion Junior Witter, a title which he has made one defense off. But Frankie’s past discretions appear to be affecting his future, unable to make Light Welterweight, where most fans feel he would make a bigger impact, due to years of poor dieting, and a lack of momentum due to previous pull out have forced him under the radar. This has meant Frankie is no longer the ticket seller he was once was, and is unable to fight as regularly due to the large minimum purse he is guaranteed by promoter Frank VVarren. It's also only fair to question whether Frankie has the mentallity to compete at the top level, and whether his personality will appeal to the average sports fan. His next fight is against Commonwealth champion Denton Vassel, which will be a real test as to whether Frankie will be able to fulfill his undoubted potential.


Joe Murray
Division - Featherweight
Olympics - Eliminated 1st Round
Turned Pro - March 2009
Pro Record - 12-0
Average Fights Per Year - 3
Promoter – Ricky Hatton, Frank VVarren
Titles – None
Next Fight – v Dai Davies (8x3), April 20th, London

Brother of then British Champion John Murray, Joe turned over with Manchester hero Ricky Hatton and training under Joe Gallagher. Murray always flew under the radar, but made steady progress picking up 7 wins in his first year as a pro. But 5 fights in 2 years followed as Murrays development and profile grinded to a halt. How much Murray’s profile had suffered in those 2 years was highlighted by the lack of demand for his signature after he split from Hatton promotions. Having been inactive for over a year, and had his dedication to the sport questioned by former trainer Joe Gallagher, he signed with his brothers promoter Frank VVarren, turning down a British title fight with Matchrooms Lee Selby in the process. Now trained by Arnie Farnell, he returns on Saturday against journeyman Dai Davies and will need to push on from there. With only 12 fights under his belt, and all the momentum from the Olympics completely behind him, it will be a tough road for Joe Murray to emulate the success of his older brother who won British, European and challenged for a world title. His failure to be able to grow a beard after 5 years is still alarming.


Khalid Yafai
Division - Super Flyweight
Olympics - Eliminated 2nd Round
Turned Pro - July 2012
Pro Record - 8-0
Average Fights Per Year - 10*
Promoter – Eddie Hearn
Titles – None
Next Fight – Injured

Like Bradley Saunders, Yafai decided to stay on board with the GB team and push for a spot at 2012. Having qualified at the World Championships, he found himself in a playoff with Welshman Andrew Selby to take the GB place in London. He lost the first of 3 fights, and then pulled out due to being unable to make the Flyweight limit. Yafai then turned pro with Matchrooms Eddie Hearn, and even the most fierce critics would have to be impressed with his displays against decent opponents for a fighter in his first year as a pro where he has been extremely active, although he is yet to fight in his hometown. A bicep injury in his last fight could derail his progress, you have to hope it doesn’t affect his pro career long term.

 

When you don't look like Shrek has met Hornswoggle, you get these things called girlfriends and wives...and you don't have to wank anymore.

Whats confusing about it?

 

You would think he would just give up and shave once a week now wouldn't you!

 

Boxing is not just about a fighters ability. Mentality, Confidence, Dedication and being given the opportunity also play huge factors. That's where I am coming from in allot of the thread.

Price is good enough to win a world title....but is he to chinny?

DeGale is good enough to win a world title....but will he have to go on the road to win one, limited his chances of victory?

Billy Joe Saunders is good enough to win a world title...but is he in the wrong division?

Frankie Gavin is good enough to win a world title....but is he to mentally fragile?

Joe Murray is good enough to win a world title....but has he lost all confidence?

Saunders & Yafai look like great prospects...but will there injury's get in the way?

 

I think in general the 2012 were of a higher calibre. If you look at results outside of the Olympics they had done more at the Worlds & European. I also think there a younger team.

The biggest thing is when you consider none of these guys outside of DeGale have moved beyond British level and you see the number of fights they have had.