Amatuer to Pro - Best and worst transitions

Bit of an obvious one, but Floyd Mayweather looked like a seasoned pro from his very first fight. Evander Holyfield also made the transition pretty well imo.

Look out for Kal Yafai, SJS. He's with Eddie Hearn and is being brought along quite quickly (might be fighting Jason Booth in Nottingham on the Froch vs Mack card). He's had 4 fights i think and looked very, very impressive. He was a decent amateur but has always had a professional style and he goes to the body with serious intent. Like all prospects, questions will remain about his chin, heart and stamina untill he's faced adversity, but he's made the transition aswell as he possibly could have and i think he could be something special.

 

Also, Ekundayo last night won Prizefighter despite having had just two professional fights before the night started.

On a much bigger scale - and what i imagine you're looking for - Wilfred Benitez won a world title little at the age of 17, little after 2 years after turning pro.

 

I've made two posts on this thread already, and forgot to mention Aaron Pryor and Fernando Vargas. Poor form. Oscar De La Hoya settled in very well aswell.

Henry Tillman ('84 Olympic Gold Medallist who defeated Tyson a couple of times in the amateurs) never really made the transition to pro imo. Francisco Bojado was supposed to be the next big thing when he turned pro but never lived up to the hype either. James DeGale has struggled at times badly aswell. In fact, i was at 3 of his first 4 pro fights and he was bood heavily in almost every single one, especially his debut in Birmingham. He has a very amateur style and sometimes 'slaps' ala Calzaghe. He's looked good in certain fights (Smiith fight, and in bursts in the Groves fight) but hasn't done anywhere near as planned. Frankie Gavin has obviously had an absolute shocker aswell, arguably losing to Curtis Woodhouse.

 

Good shouts :good

Who had the best Amateur to Pro careers? Ali, Whitaker would probably be my top 2. Lennox, Oscar, Floyd other good examples.

Shame Holyfield got DQ'd :-(

 

You already know who the greatest was!
Sugar Ray Seales and Howard Davis are two examples on the other side,and Breland didn't do his amateur credentials justice in the unvested ranks.

 

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This guy aint done too good,

and that tattoo, my days...

 

i hope thats not a real tatt

 

Johnny Nelson had a poor amateur record yet went on to win a world title.

 

British champ inside 9 fights, closely followed by a European title isn't so bad...

 

And people complain and joke about Khan fighting like an amateur...

 

Harrison, De gale and Khan have all struggled as pro's

 

Very Good Shout