Is being an Olympian worth anything anymore?

I thought he was fighting with the new system and that is why the stole it from him?

 

Roy getting ripped off was only a retaliation for the judging in LA '84, when the Americans got everything.

Mostly legitimate having seen a lot of it.......

Not nearly as bad as the joke tournament in Beijing!

 

Roy was on the old system, where the rounds were scored individually.

A guy got 20 for winning the round, and a proportionate number to the loser (usually 19).

There were five judges (sat next to each other) - rather than in different positions ala pro...... and basically you would win/lose a fight 5-0, 4-1 etc.

Roy lost 3-2, one of the judges said that he scored it for the Korean because he didn't want to see a hometown boxer lose 5-0 (WTF).

Pretty much the same thing cost Floyd Mayweather in 1996, but in reverse, though under the new system. In his semi it was like watching JMM vs Audley (best i could think of). One guy making the other miss and countering, the other throwing pitty pat shots and holding.

 

I dont think it means what it once did, but its still a great springbroad for the pros.

Problem is too many of the Olympians are pro-ams and by the time they come out they are in thier mid to late 20's and in some cases 30+ which leaves little time to really do much as pros. some of the names that come to mind are Koba Gogoladze 27 for his first pro fight, Jorge Luis gonzalez 27 when he turned pro, or just about to be 27. Mohamed Abdulaev who was 28 I think when he turned pro. I think that all those guy may have won titles and been major factors had they come out at 20 or 21. They would not have had to fast track fights and would have been able to take thier time.

 

Patterson
52 Gold
56 Title

Ali
60 Gold
64 Title

Frazier
64 Gold
68 Title

Foreman
68 Gold
73 Tilte

Lewis
88 Gold
93 Title

Wlad
96 Gold
00 Title

Four-to-five years is the traditional pattern. When they get pushed too soon, then you have problems.

Pete Rademacher
Leon Spinks
Tyrell Biggs

Am I the only one who thinks Povetkin is too green at 16-0?

 

If you look at the British fighters (for example).......

Hatton and Calzaghe are our best two fighters ATM, both were exceptional amateurs, but in an era when the ams resembled pro boxing - Hatton was less successful in part because the ams stopped rewarding body shots.

Audley was our next stand out amateur - don't need to say much more, but I feel he failed in the pros for reasons other than boxing ability. The guy can box, seriously, but he lacks the mental fortitude to succeed over more than 4 x 2. Harrison had the textbook amateur style - and still does in truth.

The next two were Froch and Haye - both with styles that could cross over, and both won plenty in the ams, and world titles as pros.

Next - Amir Khan. Brilliant amateur, turned pro too early. Still fights like an amateur/novice pro. Chin problems ruin his chances......

After that, we have the guys that went to the Olympics, Sutherland (who is the best of them), DeGale, Gavin etc...... we shall see.

 

Age maybe??? Forcing him to take fights that he would not have had to take if he were 20 thru 22 when he turned pro.

 

Hmmmm......

Not really.

Heavies generally mature later, and his statements about being able to beat Danny Williams in his fifth fight made him look silly years later.

Had he actually stepped up his comp in his first 15 fights he may have stood a chance. By knocking over bums in his first four years, then stepping up to face Williams, it may as well have been Bobby Pacquiao in with DLH last week.

 

Khan chin would of sucked if he came out when he was 24 or 28,,,he needs dump roach an get a mayweather, not the father but the uncle, an learn how not to get hit,,,he may become an impressvie fighter one day,,,maybe not p4p, but not every silver medlist got to be one. top 25 guy, not of division but of all boxers ........Sturm is pretty good,

 

imo, it does'nt seem as prestigious as it was once did.

 

I only asked due to my opinion is to keep the headgear for the amatuers and eliminate it for the olympics. Headgear does take away from some serious injuries. The sparring and the amatuer fights could further health problems for any pro in the future. Actually, I like sparring without headgear many moons ago due to the dam thing getting in your eyes.

 

Agree, if you mean merely being an Olympian. Being an Olympic champion can still jump start a pro career in a major way.