How good would they have been had they been allowed to compete? They were snakebit with the planecrash, the boycott and a lot of controversy, but here were the actual participants: 106: Robert Shannon, Edmonds, Wash. 112: Richard Sandoval, Pomona, Calif. 119: Jackie Beard, Jackson, Tenn. 125: Bernard Taylor, Charlotte, N.C. 132: Joe Manley, Army 139: Johnny Bumphus, Nashville, Tenn. 147: Donald Curry, Fort Worth, Texas 156: James Shuler, Philadelphia, Pa. 165: Charles Carter, Yakima, Wash. 178: Leroy Murphy, Chicago, Ill. +178: James Broad, Army A couple of solid pros, Murphy, Broad, Bumphus, Manley, Taylor, Beard Sandoval. Only one star in Curry. Boxers killed in the crash George Pimentel Lemuel Steeples Paul Palomino Calvin Anderson Richard Robinson Lonnie Youngs David Rodriguez Jerome Stewart Walter Harris Byron Lindsay Andrea McCoy Steeples and Palomino were supposed to be favorites from my vague recollection, anybody know more? The strangest thing is just how many of our stars did not get on the plane for some strange reason, but didn't make the team either Davey Armstrong Alex Ramos Bobby Czyz Marvis Frazier James Shuler (died in a motorcycle crash) Tony Tucker ...Almost like somebody knew what was going to happen... But anyway, how good would this group have done inthe olympics, and how good would the victims have done in the pros?
You'd have to figure Curry would have been a good candidate to win gold. Mugabi won silver that year and I think I would take Curry to beat him and Adalma. Could see Sandoval earning a medal of some sort, and based on their styles I think Bumphus, Taylor and Shuler might have been able to make it to the podium, too. That said, given the crushing expectations that were put on the U.S following their dominance in '76 (and subsequent pro success) I have a feeling that this crew might not have compared favorably with that bunch and been regarded as being disappointing on the whole. That said, I have to wonder if Leonard might have changed targets upon his return had Curry won the gold in '80 and been promoted accordingly.
Every one of those Olympic guys made it to condenter status except Charles Carter. They would have had to face the USSR and Eastern Block so it would have been tough. I doubt they would have done as well as the '76 team. I can't say how the dudes killed in the crash would have done in the pros. I assume they were international level amateurs so probably some would have been top 10 contenders. Davey Lee Armstrong should have turned pro sooner. He was on the '72 and '76 Olympic teams.
Lemuel Steeples was the only fighter on the plane that was highly rated for an olympic medal. In the final team, Curry, Beard, Taylor and Bumpus were the best amateurs, but i don't rate them higher than the Cuban team that year, Shannon went to the 1984 olympic and Even with the weak competition, the suspicious judging and the good performance he had in the olympic trials, he managed to become the only fighter in the USA team that didn't won a medal.
I had read about Steeples. I guess our amateur program had much more money 30 years ago, that they would send guys who were not considered olympians overseas.
Interesting point. A gold medal for Curry would have helped him become a much more high profile fighter than he was and a mid-80s showdown with Leonard might have actually materialised.
Sandoval, Beard, Taylor, Bumphus, Curry, and Shuler would have gold medaled. Murphy and Broad May have silvered, though Broad had a good chance of upsetting Stevenson. All had a chance of winning world pro titles. Their careers would have been better than what actually happened.
