Don't forget Breland, not great as a pro and didn't achieve what was expected but still had a decent career if you ignore the expectations.
Howard Davis Jr. though he did come close. He was a GREAT amateur boxer. I would say that it was a toss up between he and Leonard for most outstanding boxer at the '76 Games.
Because he didn't win at the Olympic qualifiers. Didn't advance far enough at World's or either of the Americas qualifiers, so he doesn't have a spot. Same with Michael Hunter.
84 was the most celebrated , but in all honesty 78 was clearly the one everyone remembers as the real best team.. I think the class was so solid.. I liked a lot of the 84 team though.. Mel Taylor , Swee'pea whittacker, Biggs, Holyfield, Breland, Tillman.
It wasn't the 84' which I heard was w/o the solviet & cuban teams ... alot of experts don't give the medalist that much credit given that those countries didn't participate in those olympics.
Not really... 1. US 48 gold, 23 silver, 38 bronze medals, 109 medals overall 2. Cuba 33 gold, 16 silver, 9 bronze medals, 58 medals overall 3. Soviet Union/Russia 20 gold, 23 silver, 27 bronze medals, 70 medals overall But that's mainly due to the fact the the US had a huge headstart and won medals since boxing was an Olympic sport in 1904. Cuba didn't become a force in amateur boxing until the late 60's, they won their first Olympic medal in 1968 I think.
Shane? He lost in the Olympic Trials, I think. I have some video of him in the Trials against Steve Johnson I think.
He didn't. I think if he was at 139 he was eliminated by Vernon Forrest, because that's who went for the USA at 139; and obviously De La Hoya at 132.
I feel the '84 team had a little more success as pro's, but for what they did as amateurs I'd give it to the '76 team. Without question the top 2. As amateurs the '84 team's best were Whitaker and Breland, and the 70's were Leonard and Davis. The absence of the Cuban and Soviet Union fighters really hurts the '84 team. As pro's Whitaker and Leonard are on the same level, Holyfield's a little above Spinks, and the '84 team is overall better as pro's with Taylor, Hill, Breland being the other top guys as proffessionals. The '76 team achieved a little more in the amateurs, so I'll vote for them.