If you were the promoter of a good prospect....

I think Berto is a different case though, having been effectively gifted a belt.

I had him to lose against Forbes, and will definitely pick Collazo to beat him. Berto seems to clunky to me it is unbelievable how highly Sky are rating him ATM.

 

Well...

First 8 fights or so against journeymen and no-hopers. Work on technique and things learnt in sparring, get the feel of the pro ranks and so on. Set them up and knock them down in quick order, a month at most between fights, to keep your fighter in fighting shape and also avoid pissing off the public & media with a long and slow procession of mis-matches.

Then step up a bit for the next 5 or so. Better domestic opposition, and a couple of experienced but past-it world veterans for valuable experience.

Next, on to the British title. Beat a contender then the champ, make a point of defending it a few times too. More experience, get the feel of the bigger stage as a champ, Lonsdale belt, good PR as well. Aim for the Commonwealth belt if available, not essential but nice.

Then on to the Euro level. A tune-up against a lower but capable Euro fighter, then a contender, then the champ. Defend it a couple times against Euro fighters, perhaps a domestic rival if one is big enough for a big all-British clash for two/three belts.

By this point, all being well, your prospect is up to around 25-0 and with a lot of experience. All set to aim at the World Title level.

Probably how I'd do it, seems a decent base.

 

That's the way - but no fighters with losing records after the first five fights i.e. Billy Smith, Robin Deakin and Delroy Spencer

 

Yup, by the time you're on to "stage two" you're looking for those guys with several wins and few losses, the 17-4 kinda guys. The capable, if not exactly world beaters.

There's really got to be a learning progression. If you're beating on a journeyman in your 35th fight then you've gone wrong somewhere.