are we putting too much stock into guys with 'stellar' amateur careers?

Amateur career does not mean ****. At most, it's a hint, nothing else. A gold medal guarantees nothing.

 

They only mention the gold medal for fighters who aren't having the same success in the pros.

It's like a middle aged man still wearing varsity sports patches, you don't see many doctors and CEOs doing that.

 

All these 400 amateur records are taking into account low level club tournaments and multiple preliminary bouts for Asian games and the like.

I believe The ABIA world championships is held every two year , then the Olympics are held ever 4 years.

So while the number of fights may be correct , a lot of opponents were barely amateur level.

Professional sparring would be harder than those amateur fights.

Sparring 6 or 9 minute rounds straight against a gym bully takes it toll worse than out pointing some inexperienced kid with head gear and pillows on fist

 

You are wrong simply because in some countries amateurs get paid a lot.
They get apartments, cars etc..
Top pros make more, but most are not paid that much.

 

It’s a selling point for promotional companies Ed and tv networks.

also winning an Olympic gold medal is a big accomplishment. You must be a half decent boxer to win one. however it ofcourse its not a guarantee as it’s a different game. Doesn’t mean you can’t sell a fight off the back of it.

 

Amateur records add to the marketing hype of a fighter going pro. But that's about it and shouldn't factor into anything much after.

What Lomachenko did was amazing. And Inoue's record is 75-6 w/ 48 (!) KOs! Knocking out that many people with pillows and headgear is crazy.

 

Depends, there are countries without long pro traditions like the same Ukraine.
This is not Mexico.

Records doesn't matters, medals in high level torunaments: yes.
Wilder had Oly bronze, Ward Oly gold, Ali Oly gold, Foreman Oly gold, Frazier Oly gold, W. Klistshko Oly gold, Povetkin Oly gold, Usyk Oly gold.
Plenty with expamles when managers prefer to select from boxers with high achievments in amateurs.

 

In my country if you get to the national team you get paid better than an unsuccessfull pro. I know people good enough to be pros who stayed as amateur untill they were kicked out the national team, and then they refused to be pros and started their own gym starting his career as a trainer (without even trying to be pros, and being good enough for that).

Just because there are countries where being pro is BS. It's just not worth it. I would say that in europe, in the whole europe, it's not worth it unless you are able to be an european chamipon. A national champion only would have to have a second job in most of the countries. A national team amateur can live only with this money, though.

Some fighters say "better safe than sorrow" and stick to amateurs untill they are 80. I dont blame them, tbh. (but dont pretend this is a good thing or an advantage)

 

They literally mentioned it every time for Ward lol.

 

Yes, countries does have different financing politics.

Yes, especially small countries without enough developed pro promotions.

euro medalists might be considered as Olympic hopes for national team, get more support and this also is usable for marketing when you will turn into a pro.

national ammy or pro champ? Usually yes. There are opportunities to use former ammy/ pro credentials if you will work in the gym as a coach, manager.

It depends, some guys in ammies were pretty not safe to fight with.
Nice examples might be Povetkin, Briedis, Klitschko, Huck as ammy KBer.

 

I do know some examples when turning into a pro costed too much. From more well known ppl these might be Rigo and Loma. I know some less well known lads and when they turned into a pro when were close to over hill.
One lad when he still was ammy was better, when he turned into a pro, he needed to survive vs me 1 st round in spar and then might had use his better experience. He had too much ammy fights under belt before had turned into a pro.
With his version when he was 27 y.o ammy, he was worse for me to spar with.

 

A good amateur career is almost guaranteed to be a succesful boxer these days. Sure you have guys like Canelo and not every olympic champion is going to win a title but out of the 8 Olympic champions that turned pro after the 2012 olympics, 5 won a title.

Spence Joshua, Lomachenko, Wilder, Beterbiev, Bivol, Golovkin, they all were world class amateurs and even guys like Josh Taylor, Teofimo, Naoya Inoue, the Charlos, Fury, Plant and Porter fought internationally as amateurs.

 

Campbell has hardly been bigged up based on his amateur career. He's one of the least hyped Brits I can remember.

 

Agreed! The way it us now, you have grown men fighting young men. Turn pro at 21.