Roberto Cammarelle

Hard to know. Safe to say he would be a top contender though. I recall @IntentionalButt saying he thought that Cammarelle could make a successful pro debut against someone like Thompson (this was when Tony was still a relevant contender) I'm not sure I disagree. That certainly could have been interesting to see.

 

Just re-watched Roberto do a number on David Price at the 2008 Olympics. He was impressive that day.
I would have been interested in seeing Cammarelle go pro back around 2009 or so after his second world gold. He was a good puncher with fast hands and a southpaw as well.

Either Klitschko might have been too good, though Roberto would have had the puncher's chance against Wlad.

It's very possible that Cammarelle would have been a contender and fast-tracked to some sort of title shot. Could he have beaten Haye? Maybe. He might have beaten Arreola or Stiverne for the WBC belt if he'd gone that route once Vitali retired.

 

I had him beating AJ in 2012

Close contest though

 

He lost to Povetkin 4 times in the ams, so It's fair to say he'd have been a notch below him. Around Pulev's level, solid top10, borderline top5.

 

He always reminded me a bit of Corrie Sanders. Body type, attributes and fighting style. Very, very good amateur with a lot of power and proven ability. Looked like he could take a solid shot too.

Always difficult to say how even the best amateurs do at pro, but he'd have been in with a really good shot of a title IMO.

 

People forget that Haye was a very amateur himself winning silver at the worlds as a 21 year old.

 

Povetkin was an ace in the amateurs. Also think RC found his wings fully a bit later on his amateur career. You might be right but it could also be a bit more nuanced than that. I don't think we'll ever know what his ceiling TRULY was as a pro
I do think it is reasonable as most of us have suggested to assume that he would at least be a solid contender. Unlike other amateurs that went bust I see no warning signs for him had he gone pro.

 

David was a good young amateur back in 2001 and turned pro so we got to see how he panned out.

The intrigue is with Cammarelle winning two world golds and the Olympics (and making two straight finals, following up '08 gold with a silver in '12) and never turning pro.

It would have been interesting to see how Roberto might have done.

 

I hear that and was just pointing out Haye had a very good amateur pedigree himself considering the age he turned pro. I'd imagine with his style he could have prob sniped himself to a fair few medals had he kept the vest on and that him Vs Cammarelle is a an especially intriguing match up.

 

Haye was better younger in the ams than Cammarelle and turned pro young, Roberto stuck around for the major championships like the Olympics, Worlds, Euro's etc and became a career amateur basically, as I believe he was a policeman combining those duties with the sport, iirc.

It would have been fascinating to see Cammarelle as a pro!

 

Yeah. Good U.S or British amateur stars who do well in the Olympics generally go pro almost as a matter of routine.

I've read that the Italian boxing scene for a pro doesn't seem as strong as it once was and Cammarelle seemed to be happy enough having success at the major amateur champs. It might be linked to his lifestyle as a top amateur being well looked after in Italy apparently and maybe going pro was a risk therefore. When he started winning golds, he was already 27, 28, so perhaps Roberto just decided to continue as he was.

 

He also had a great chin, only dropped once in his amateur career. Yes, I can see why he reminds you of Sanders, probably a bit more polished, but he had a similar style and could have given Wladimir troubles.
From what I've heard he also really liked being a policeman, so he didn't turn pro in the end.