Gold medalists who were terrible pros?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Rock0052, Jun 1, 2014.


  1. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    I know there's not an exact correlation with winning Olympic gold and being a great pro, but it's usually a safe bet to assume they'll have a higher floor than the average cat off the streets.

    Not this fellow. Olympic Gold medalist in the Berlin '36 games, Herbert Runge's pro career takes that assumption, gives it a Stone Cold Stunner, pees on it, and throws it back in your face. I know getting hometown judging in the Olympics comes with the territory, but I still can't wrap my mind around someone this bad having taken the gold.

    http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=63894&cat=boxer

    I don't know if we'll be able to top this one; but what other Olympic Gold winners come to mind who were just flat out bad as pros?
     
  2. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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  3. Tonifranz

    Tonifranz Active Member Full Member

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    Audley Harrison
    Odlanier Solis
     
  4. gmurphy

    gmurphy Land of the corrupt, home of the robbery! banned Full Member

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    Odlanier solis was an incredible amateur and could have been an incredible pro if he choose to be dedicated , this guy could have made cruiser weight if he dedicated himself but was coming in at 250 instead
     
  5. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Audley Harrison. Anyone who has been taught how to throw a right hand or overhand right will knock him out whenever they choose.
     
  6. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    Wtf? :lol:

    That's got to be one of the most unusual careers I've ever heard of, even by old time standards.

    Wins 2 gold medals in the same Olympics (and only needs two fights to do it :lol:), turns pro, apparently gets stuck in suspended animation for 6 years, comes back, stops an ATG, then gets beat by practically everyone else?

    I guess the old saying is true- the difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense! I'd say maybe he was fighting under an assumed name during that gap, but that makes even less sense. Which, in Oliver Kirk's case, might make it more likely.
     
  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  8. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    Attell involved in betting shenanigans? C'mon T, this is the other Honest Abe we're talking about here!
     
  9. tommy the hat

    tommy the hat Active Member Full Member

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    Andrew Maynard was a disappointment as a pro after taking gold in Seoul in 1988.
     
  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Yeah he was. I had high hopes for him too after watching his early prospect fights with Kemper Morton and Mike Sedillo. Thought he'd squeak by Bobby Czyz too, but I was wrong. Ray Leonard was handling his career for the early part of it and I think rushed him along a bit too early. Wouldn't call Maynard a terrible pro, but like you say, he was a disappointment.
     
  11. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Henry Tillman was a disappointment as well, though I wouldn't say he was "terrible."
     
  12. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Michael Carruth wasn't terrible but also a disappointment.
     
  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    For the historic slant, Sam Berger!
     
  14. grumpy old man

    grumpy old man Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Harrison has major flaws and it is no surprise he has been stopped inside 3 rounds 3 times. Not the worst pro of all time. But a disappointment for an Olympic gold medalist.
     
  15. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    KoKo Kovacs was nothing great as a pro.