Chris Algieri, 0 amateur background in boxing and now a 140 lb titleholder

People who use the word "hate" to something that doesnt even resemble "hate" are the butthurt. "OMG stop hating on my bf" - reminds me of your floyd love.

I'm completely indifferent towards this win. Algerie still punches like a girl relative to other elite boxers, and Provodnikov is limited. Nothing but facts.

 

Of course it's that simple. Doesn't change the fact that a guy who's had 300+ amateur bout would think that he SHOULD be well ahead of someone with 0 boxing background coming from another sport to win a world title. If anything it emphasizes that talent sometimes overcomes dedication.

Not saying Algerie wasn't dedicated but he started properly boxing at 23, guys who's been boxing since 5 years old and can't do what he does must realise the gap in talent.

 

He beat Provo with one eye...

 

Dwight Muhammad Qawi had no amatuer experience, and is now enshrined in the IBHOF.

 

Not sure why people bring up the no amateur background thing. Its not childhood experience with pugilism per se that helps with a pro career - its just fighting experience. Teaching your brain to think and react like a fighter during the formative years. Defensively kickboxing would be great as well, you have to watch out for feet in addition to hands. Also, having learned to watch peoples feet and lower body movement is probably why Algieri could dodge all those big punches aimed at his blind spot.

I have thought for some time that boxers could do very well to train just a little bit in other martial disciplines.

As far as his style, I have no problem with him not being a KO artist. What bores me are guys who dont do anything, or guys who think the fight is a hugging contest. Algieri fights, he moves, he is active. I think he should work on his punching power and technique a little for his own sake, but that fight was far from boring.

 

:good

 

didn't zou shiming start off with kung fu before boxing?

 

that is pretty amazing. No amatuer background. He might have been a good amatuer with his style. I hope they got that swelling down fast on his eye. Was that a thumb which caused it? It was from the first round knockdown wasn't it?

 

Wasnt a thumb, Ruslan cought him totally flush with a monster hook that sent him flying and he literally did a backroll. I honestly think 99/100 fighters would have taken a long nap from that shot. Was totally legit though, no head no thumb just front of the glove.

 

As weird as it sounds, he's lucky the punch hit him in the eye. The hook had alot behind it, enough to knock him off his feet, if that hit his jaw I can't imagine him getting up.

 

You're right, Kick boxing isn't embarassing. It takes a decent amount of athletism. Even though the talent pool isn't as deep as boxing. Striking takes more skill than wrestling. If he was a former MMA guy this would be embarassing.

Lets face it though. Ruslan was never really a world champion by way of being good at boxing. He was a world champion by the politics of boxing. The WBO gave Alvarado and Rios a chance at the belt because they were exciting and adding the title to one of their fights would build it up more. Marketable guys. JMM actually held the title when Rios fought Alvarado... They fought for the Interim title. When JMM didn't defend it, it went to the winner of that fight (Alvarado). Rios and Alvarado fighting for a world title is a joke if you ask me, Ruslan was probably never more than a top 6 in the division. But he still would get beat by a decent amount of guys lower than him with particular styles.

http://boxrec.com/title_search.php?title=WBO&division=Light Welterweight&SUBMIT=Go


Take a look at the path of the title it goes from being held by JMM to Rios and Alvarado fighting for it, and ultimately being held by Alvarado who attempted to defend it from Ruslan, but Ruslan took it. Not really a strong lineage there LOL.

 

Troy Dorsey went from kickboxing champ to (briefly) IBF featherweight champ ... and for a period of years was a top-flight contender in that division.

Randall "Tex" Cobb went from kickboxing to heavyweight contender and title challenger.

I'm pretty sure neither had an amateur boxing match.

I don't see how this diminishes boxing one iota. It's not like they went from table tennis to boxing: just adapted from one form of combat sport to another.

 

man i remember watching the dorsey/paez fights on ABC when i was a kid

 

There is your background!!

 

The kid fought a very good and brave fight, especially after the first round. Nothing bad about it at all. Actually, its a pretty good story in that it is a reminder that with hard wsork and dedication many things are possible.