Who comes to mind when you think of early blooming boxers? In a head to head tournament where all fighters are taken back to the age of 20, who’d win? I think Mike Tyson would be a favourite. Ali and Patterson have being fairly young champions in their favour as well. Who else am I missing and who do you think would be the best?
Cassius Clay would win. Clay would rise to the occassion. Put the Clay who fought Moore against the Tyson who fought Berbick .... it 's closer than prime v prime, but Clay finds a way to win.
Sam McVea is probably in the argument. He was being talked about as the logical title challenger when he was 19!
Jung Koo Chang. ATG talent at 19. Turned pro at 17. Tony Canzoneri. Fought and (unluckily) got a draw with a great champion at 19/20. Thw real answer, though, is Nipper Pat Daly. Went pro at 11, retired at 18. Was fighting at world level, and only didn't win a world title due to his scumbag of a manager/ trainer. I'm not making this up. There is a great book out about him, actually.
There's guys who were good enough to be elite pros at 20 who were still fighting in the ams Roy Jones and Sugar Ray Leonard are obvious examples. Theres also guys who at 20 were fighting scrubs building there record but were already good enough to be elite pros. Roman Gonzalez is a great example
