Boxers who fought a veteran / champion very early in their pro career

Pete Rademacher debut was in 1957 against....the Heavyweight Champion of the World, Floyd Patterson.

 

I know many have been using number of fights as a measure. Let me use a different lens.

Tyson debuted in 1985 and had won a world title by 1986 at 20 years of age in the Heavyweight division. I know he had plenty of fights but that was how quickly he rose to the top. As an 18 year old he was fighting grow men.

Wilfred Benitez was just 17 and still in high school when he won his first world title bout against Antonio Cervantes (memory being tested). That is just insane in my opinion.

It also highlights just how short their respective primes were.

 

Yes I think it is insane that Benitez won at that age, and agai St a excellent champion who went on to regain the title.

Also going from another thread did Alan Minter box Emile Griffith, not sure if it was too early though

 

Has anyone mentioned Loma-Salido yet?

SRR had had quite a few fights when he faced Zivic, but he hadn't been pro for that long.

And Johnson seems to have been very green when he faced Choynski.

 

I think Vasyl Lomachenko is perfect for this thread.

Lomachenko fought Salido in his 2nd pro fight

Lomachenko fought Martinez in his 7th pro fight

Roy Jones fought Jorge Castro early in his career who had like 70+ fights.

Jeff Fenech fought Carlos Zarate, Daniel Zaragoza, after not many fights.

Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams, Marvis Frazier, all fought Holmes after only a handful of fights.

 

Can we include a young Ali beating Moore?

 

Saensak Muangsurin vs:

Lion Furuyama (31-7-3) in his second fight, and again in his fifth.
Perico Fernandez (champion and 34-3-9) in his third and tenth fights.
Miguel Velasquez (64-3-3) in his sixth and seventh fights.
Monroe Brooks (35-2-2) in his eighth fight.

 

absolutely IMO.

Welcome back........been a naughty lounge boy mate?

 

Kostya Tszyu moved up fast in this way.

 

SRL fought Randy Shields in his 15th fight.

Hearns fought Harold Weston in his 19th and i'd personally probably call Weston a veteran.

Jimmy young fought Shavers, who did have a lot of fights behind him even if he was still finding his mark in his 11th fight.

Ocasio fought Young in his 12 and 13th pro fights, Dokes fought him in his 15th and Page in his 19th. Heck add Tubbs in his 15th as well.

 

Lol yes mate, I've had my ass smacked tho!

 

Evander Holyfield beat Dwight Muhammad Qawi over 15 rounds for the WBA cruiser title in his 12th fight.

it’s the best fight I’ve ever seen live.

 

In 1941, still in his first year as a pro, Sugar Ray Robinson beat Sammy Angott with both fighters only 1.5 pounds above the lightweight limit while Angott was still World Lightweight Champion. For context, Angott was ranked number 16 in @McGrain ’s 50 greatest lightweights of all time.

 

Oleg Maskaev vs Oliver McCall