Amateur greats who turned pro too late?

Payakaroon converted far too late from his long and legendary Muay Thai career, especially as he was already seriously lacking dedication. He was so gifted that he still managed a brief period where he looked godly against the likes of old Pintor and Mesa, but most remember him as a burnt out husk being stoved in by Fenech when he was far more than that.

 

In his prime, Samart was truly an aethereal genius of combat. I would be comfortable saying he is the most creative fighter I have ever seen film of in any discipline.

 

We sure cannot put Pete Rademacher in that class, Lol.

 

Jackson was captain (or was it co-captain?) of the U.S. 1976 Olympic team. He was upset in the first round in Montreal. Decided to stay amateur and try again for gold in 1980 but lost his amateur status for fighting either an amateur fight or exhibition on a pro card (for which he was paid, I think).

So that cost him years with no payoff.

I think Stan Allen, a Nashville lawyer, managed him well trying to step him up the ladder somewhat quickly due to his age. But he reached a ceiling and I think was already post-peak by the time he was facing contenders like Frank Fletcher.

Then he retired and was coaching amateurs while working for the sheriff’s office and made the brilliant decision to kidnap a banker in his hometown in Alabama and hold him for ransom. Still in prison.

What a waste.

 

I would definitely like to find more info about that incident

 

Here’s the story on his arrest:

https://apnews.com/c887af0cd843541ea906bd0e7e1c9e34

This is the court document on his appeal, which sums up pretty well what was presented at trial:

https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/1991/593-so-2d-167-0.html

 

Great...thank you very much my man!!!

 

It didn't stop him from having a great career, but I've always found it interesting that Pascual Perez won Olympic gold in 1948, but didn't turn professional for another four years afterwards, by which time he was 26. This in an era where anything above 30 was considered practically ancient for the small men of the sport. Have never properly delved into why he decided he'd rather try and qualify again for the 1952 Games than launch a professional career after already striking gold - maybe someone here can fill me in on that.

Makes you wonder how much longer he might have reigned at 112 lb if he'd have turned professional a bit earlier.

 

Does Beterbiev count? He was 28 when he turned pro, he is 35 now and dominating at 175 lbs.

If he turned pro at 21, he could have peaked by 28 and could still have been dominating.

 

Audley harrison did pretty good in the amateurs but didn’t turn pro until he was about 30 and didn’t develop any sort of record until he about 34.

 

I was told yesterday that Clinton Jackson has been approved for parole. He’s apparently not in great shape (blind in one eye, maybe dementia) and was moved to a halfway house in anticipation of being granted his parole.

 

Nick Wells. He was like a young Tyson but spent way too long in the amateurs and by the time he turned pro he was already washed up.

 

Davey Lee Armstrong is another. He might be the best American example of staying in the amateurs too long.

Jesse Valdez was one of the greatest amateur boxers in the history of the USA and stayed in amateurs for about a decade. He never turned pro but if he had he would’ve been terrific.