World-class within a few years of picking up the sport?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Dec 11, 2017.


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  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Toney first picked up boxing when he was 10.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #16
    just another guy likes this.
  2. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    When did Louis first pick up the sport though? I assume some time in the late 1920s?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #17
  3. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Right, but he fought for 6 or 7 years before he took on any contenders like Grant or Briggs.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #18
  4. just another guy

    just another guy New Member Full Member

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    Didnt know that.

    Always thought he was a football player in his teens and started boxing somewhere around 18 or 19.
     
    just another guy, Dec 13, 2017
    just another guy, Dec 13, 2017
    #19
  5. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    My understanding is that Toney was always very good at boxing but didn't take it completely seriously until he was done playing football. I think Terry Norris had a similar situation (with respect to his baseball career).
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #20
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Sam Langford beat Joe Gans just 18 months after his first known professional fight.
     
    janitor, Dec 13, 2017
    janitor, Dec 13, 2017
    #21
  7. juppity

    juppity Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Mark Medal knocked a man in a barroom brawl with a right hand to
    temple . The man was out cold for 10 min. The bartender who
    witness the fight knew of a boxing promoter named Eddie Allen who
    he informed of a skinny kid with extraordinary punching power for
    his size and weight.
    4 years later he won the IBF 154 lb title .
     
    juppity, Dec 13, 2017
    juppity, Dec 13, 2017
    #22
    ticar, Eel87 and mrkoolkevin like this.
  8. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    But he was already an amateur champion in Boston 5 years earlier, right?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #23
  9. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Good all. First picked up boxing around 1934 and was Ring-ranked by 1937.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    mrkoolkevin, Dec 13, 2017
    #24
  10. J Jones

    J Jones Well-Known Member Full Member

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    William Joppy comes to mind. I believe it took him about 6 years to go from novice to title holder.

    Troy Dorsey’s another one although I’m sure his kickboxing background had to help his development.
     
    J Jones, Dec 13, 2017
    J Jones, Dec 13, 2017
    #25
  11. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Jeff Chandler, Tex Cobb
     
    Saad54, Dec 13, 2017
    Saad54, Dec 13, 2017
    #26
  12. JWSoats

    JWSoats Active Member Full Member

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    According to Wikipedia, he first took up boxing early in 1932. His mother had given him money to take violin lessons but he soon took to boxing at a local recreation center, boxing under the name of Joe Louis (dropping his last name Barrow, possibly to keep his mother from finding out about him boxing). His first amateur bout was a loss to future Olympian Johnny Miler, but in 1934 Louis won the international AAU championship in the light-heavyweight division. He turned pro on July 4, 1934 after compiling an amateur record of 50-4 with 43 KOs.
     
    JWSoats, Dec 13, 2017
    JWSoats, Dec 13, 2017
    #27
  13. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    George Foreman won the gold medal within a year of taking up boxing. World class as a pro within a year or so too.

    I think Pinklon Thomas had hardly any amateur fights. Same with Witherspoon.
     
    choklab, Dec 13, 2017
    choklab, Dec 13, 2017
    #28
    ticar likes this.
  14. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Fraser Scott anyone? What was he? Tennis player, polo...his book is a good read. Suddenly he realized he had God-given boxing talent and rose fairly quickly. His fights with Benvenutti, Fourie, and Monzon are hashed out in his book. Granted many say he was a 'whiney boy' but much of what he said in the book seems to be accurate. The book is available on Amazon.
     
    jowcol, Dec 14, 2017
    jowcol, Dec 14, 2017
    #29
  15. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Haha, I read that book when I was fourteen. It was one of only three or four books on boxing in my high school library.
     
    Sting like a bean, Dec 14, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Dec 14, 2017
    #30
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