The best American amateur fighter?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bronze Tiger, Jan 22, 2019.



  1. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I can’t decide between Roy Jones and Evander Holyfield. But I wanna hear your thoughts
     
  2. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I would think most would suggest the Lone Star Cobra.
     
  3. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 KOs, 40 in the first round

    America has tons of amateurs that win the Olympics like Mayweather, Leonard, Ali, Patterson, Frazier, Foreman, etc.

    Frazier had a record of 38-1 with 37 KOs iirc, the only loss being to Buster Mathis (avenged in real boxing)

    Ezzard Charles was 42-0 and won a bunch of minor events like diamond belts and golden gloves
     
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  4. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    What about Mark Breland?
     
  5. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Out of the ones you’ve watched,who impressed you the most?
     
  6. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Curry was around 400-4. The closest I guess to that impressiveness was Breland (around 110-1).
     
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  7. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Breland was great. But Evander Holyfield showed up to olympics fighting like a pro
     
  8. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Have you seen any of Roy Jones’ amateur fights
     
  9. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Which ones impressed you?
     
  10. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes, the 88 Olympics. An excellent amateur, but in comparison to a Curry, Breland, Whitaker, De La Hoya, or Leonard, not at the top.
     
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  11. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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  12. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Heavyweight, there was no sub 200lbs weight class back then

    The man he faced was a Russian, 6'2" 215lbs (98kg), you'd know that if you clicked the link
     
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Heavyweight Gold Medalist 1964.
     
  14. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    There was a thread about this about 6 months ago and I found it interesting that none of the guys listed had what appeared to be an open and shut case. Robinson, Holyfield, Breland, and Roy Jones all have a case. So does Oscar, and throw in SRL and Rocky Juarez (an Olympic silver medal and an amateur world championship, and I think a Gold from the Pans).

    How heavily do you rate an Olympic medal compared to a World Championship? What about a silver or bronze compared to a gold? Because at the top level of competition the gap surrounding the guys on the podium is so small that on any given day the guy who gets the silver or bronze could beat the gold medals (consider Amir Khan and Kindalen [sp?]).

    I guess my point is that America places a much higher premium on the professional ranks than the amateurs. As far as I'm aware, not many outstanding trainers are specifically grooming guys to rack up Golden Gloves titles and medals in international competition year after year after year. It mostly seems like the aim is to get a Golden Gloves national title, maybe do 1 Olympic team, and then its off to the paid ranks.

    So we've never had a lot of guys stick around like Lennox Lewis or Lazlo Papp and do successive Olympics'. Well, we had Rau'Shee Warren, but it doesn't count for much if you consistently lose in the opening round of the tournament.

    Since Ray Mercer was already relatively old for a guy turning pro, I've wondered what would have happened if he'd stuck around and just tried to be the greatest American amateur ever. I think he could have won another gold medal.
     
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  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Look you're wrong ,can you not just admit it and accept it? Buster Mathis injured his hand and Frazier substituted for him.
    Everyone and his granny knows Frazier won the gold medal!
     
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