87 wins (31 inside the distance) 18 losses (2 inside the distance with both coming by way of injury/cut due to accidental headbutt) Started participating in the AMs (fighting in tourneys) at the age of 17. Had 25 fights (18 wins) at minimumweight (105 lbs), 44 fights (38 wins) at flyweight (112 lbs) and 36 fights (31 wins) at featherweight (126 lbs).
Maybe he had some more fights before at some national youth competitions.I should ask him the next time I can get in touch with him/his promotion...
You should. It would be very interesting if he indeed started so late. I know Savon started at 16, however, Savon is a heavyweight and they tend to start later.
In Cuba it works like this (whatever weight you are): You start boxing at a local club (there are hundreds of them) and once (if I remember correct) a year they (the clubs) compete against eachother. The winners and boys (11/12 years old) that are spotted being very good/talented are asked if they want to live and train in the/a provincial acadamy*. Now there is a difference between biological age and grown(?) age. Savon started at 15/16 but his body was still like a 12/13 year old. So the age that you have at sometimes is only number and doesn't have to mean much. *Note.:sometimes the club boxers get chances to fight against guys already in the provincial team. That often heats up a lot as the club boxers do everything to beat the guys in the provincial team (they are most of the time considered way better due to a very strict training regime)
that's to be expected in the amateurs. shorter distances and a guy like him was generally boxing in good class.
Interesting that his amateur record doesnt look anything special in comparison to some other cubans and even other olympians yet he seems to be a great prospect at pro's.
