Good point! Besides most fighters from the countries of the former soviet union have no clue about pro boxing and the showbusiness world of the usa or western europe.They dont know how to sell themselves to a wider audience.Furthermore most of them neither speak english nor german or any other western european language.
Good thread. Recently we were discussing about whether Beterbiev has enough time to cement himself as an ATG at LHW and how him turning pro at 28 didn't maximize his chances
Turning pro late is definitely great for the body though. Beterbiev is 37 and still looked great in his last fight.
For a heavyweight his best years are when he's 30. A little bit later than the lower weight classes. Same scenario: play other sports or have a misspent few years like Jameel mccline or Seth Mitchell, or even Vitali Klitschko as a kick boxer. So turn pro around 25, mess around with smart matchmaking for 5 years and gain experience and fight their ass off and then at 30 try to cash out before someone derails them off the track. Kirk Johnson and Jameel mccline were both around 30 when they were both considered the best of the young heavyweights. Guys at that weight are equally concussive to their opponents as to being scared themselves of getting hit by a big punch. See Michael grant, a cash out before he was 35. Most guys at hw already have the stamina and conditioning of an Elite athlete, as well as the punching power. The only thing they lack after crossing over to boxing is skills, they learn by the minute and also learn on the job.
The amusing thing is there are many detractors out there who think or pretend the likes of Loma, Usyk, Beterbiev and the rest of these highly talented elite and highly decorated amateurs who've gone on to achieve great things in the pros and risen to the top of the P4P rankings, or have at least earned a place in the top 10, after turning pro late or a lot later than many of their peers did wouldn't have achieved so much more had they turned pro much earlier or in their teens Loma turned pro four months before his 26th birthday Usyk turned pro four months before his 27th birthday Beterbiev turned pro five months after his 28th birthday Loma became a three weight champ and P4P#1 within 12 fights Usyk became undisputed CW champ, three belt unified HW champ, and P4P#1 in 19 fights Beterbiev became the three belt unified LHW champ in 18 fights and up until recently was ranked in the P4P top 10 And they've all had year or near year long spells of inactivity due to injury or other issues numerous times too, especially Beterbiev whose career has been blighted by inactivity How many more weight classes would Loma have won titles in had he turned pro in his teens? Six bare minimum Usyk didn't take up the sport until he was 15 but he could've achieved so much more had he turned pro one Olympic cycle earlier Beterbiev was an absolute wrecking machine in the amateurs in his early 20s and had he turned pro then he would've been wreaking havoc on the LHW division in the pros just like he has been since turning over late
It all depends on their background and how much experience they have before, sure Pac-Man and Canelo turned pro early with limited experience but they are not the norm, pretty much everyone else turn to a journey man without experience. Early 20’s is probably the best time for most with the right backing, actually, the right backing is the most important for a successful career, regardless of age.
Professional boxing requires more power, physical and mental toughness, badassery, stamina, and intestinal fortitude than amateur boxing does. A fighter like Usyk or Beterbiev translate very well to pro boxing because they have these attributes in excess. Whereas a man who relies on technique and struggles with in-ring intestinal fortitude is not as well optimized for pro boxing. Amatuer boxing asks far fewer questions of the combatants. You find out about a fighter's soul and heart in pro boxing.
Maxim Babanin turned pro aged 33 (beat Fury in the amateurs) Magomedrasul Majidov turned pro aged 32 (beat Joshua in the amateurs) Evgeny Romanov turned pro aged 31 (KO'd Wilder in the amateurs) Far too late.
Have to agree with this thread. It feels like these guys go pro one year and are over the hill two years later.
Oh what could have been with Beterbiev, especially. If he turns pro early, he is a living legend by now.
He's slower and stiffer now. I suspect Beterbiev 7 years ago would have finished Browne in about 2 rounds.