Did two ATGs ever fight when unknowns?

SSR and Willie Pep in the Amateurs

 

does dick tiger v terry downes qualify? both were young pros at the time and became world champions much later. willie pep v sugar ray roinson is said to have happened in the amatuers.

 

I won't say ATG, but definitely two top dogs of their day were Curtis Cokes and Manny Gonzalez. Fought a 4 bout series ending with a 15 rounder for a share of the welterweight title. Their 1st bout was one of their 1st in their careers.

Scartissue

 

Don't know if they are ATG's but Eddie Greggory (Mustafa Muhammad) won a SD over matthew franklin (Saad Muhammad), before either was well known.

 

How about Duran and Ernesto Marcel? Back in 1970 when both were fairly big in Panama but relatively unknown outside.

 

Also in his pro debut Duran fought Carlos Mendoza, who went onto give Wilfredo Gomez a tough challenge for the super bantamweight title.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZzs85UMsRk[/ame]

 

Future Lightweight Champion Joe Brown decisioned Future lightweight champion Jimmy Carter.
In the amateurs, Aaron Pryor decisoned Thomas Hearns in the 1976 National Golden Gloves Lightweight Final.

 

JOey Maxim-Jimmy Bivins
Donald Curry-Marlon Starling kind of known but only to the hardcore fans at the time.

 

Sandy Saddler was TKO'd by Jock Leslie in his second pro fight. Both went onto challenge Willie Pep for the title, Saddler succeeding in what Leslie could not by taking away Pep's title. Not two all-time greats, Leslie wasn't, but a worthy mention in my opinion.

 

Since people are mentioning the amatuers how about Mosley-Delahoya who fought when they were in Jr High.

 

Not greats, but Leon Spinks won his first National AAU title by defeating a 15 year old Michael Dokes in 1974.

 

Sandy Saddler-Joe Brown

Joe Brown-Jimmy Carter

 

Hm, Hopkins-Jones Jr.? Hopkins wasn´t really thought of as anything and while Jones was more widely known he still was only a prospect.