Most elite ATGs were scouted early on, we’re invested heavily in, and had top class staff to help them on their rise to stardom. Examples include Louis, Tyson, and Ali. Who were some elite ATGs that did not experience these benefits?
You could make a large list with just the extremely toughly matched "Murderers Row" of African american fighters from any number of generations. Sam Langford comes to mind first and foremost. Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore didn't have it quite as hard on their way up as the turn of the century fighters but their achievements in their era are astounding all the same.
I don't know if he is an ATG, but Saad Muhammad came from very difficult circumstances. Being dumped on the Street like a stray dog is a pretty tough start. He did find boxing at age 16 in Nick Belfiore's a gym but was not treated as a prodigy and protected.
Of course Saad Muhammed is an ATG! In what sense or interpretation of the word can anyone argue that Saad doesn't deserve that label? I remember in one of the build ups/introductions before Saad's fight, it was said that he was discovered in the streets as a very young child, who after being rescued was recurrently mumbling something that sounded like "Matthew", hence his original name. A sad story if boxing world has ever seen one, his life is the stuff movies are made out of. What he accomplished with nothing behind him, no foundation or family to speak of, is in my eyes quite frankly even more incredible, circumstances being considered.
