On Paper, Does Olympic Medal Increase Historical Status of Pros Who Never Won Title?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Italian Stallion, Oct 6, 2020.


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  1. bcr

    bcr Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I know most people don't but I do. The reason why is because plenty of fighters claim that their biggest accomplishment was winning the Olympics: Foreman, Frazier, Patterson, Dela Hoya, Casamayor, Whitaker, Leonard, Lomachenko. At the end the best fight the best at the Olympics, it's the ultimate tournament and the fighters are very skilled. A world title is harder to get but his value is not consistent while an olympic gold most of the time is won by facing tough opponents.
     
    bcr, Oct 7, 2020
    bcr, Oct 7, 2020
    #16
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  2. bcr

    bcr Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I for sure rank Leonard beating Andres Aldama a guy who actually beat world class fighters in Ronnie Shields, John Mugabi and Mike McCallum, higher than Oscar Valdez winning a title from Martin Rueda or Canelo winning a title against Rocky Fielding.
     
    bcr, Oct 7, 2020
    bcr, Oct 7, 2020
    #17
    Italian Stallion likes this.
  3. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    salsanchezfan, Oct 7, 2020
    salsanchezfan, Oct 7, 2020
    #18
  4. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The very example I was going to use Pat.
     
    LoadedGlove, Oct 7, 2020
    LoadedGlove, Oct 7, 2020
    #19
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  5. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Pete Rademacher anyone ?
     
    LoadedGlove, Oct 7, 2020
    LoadedGlove, Oct 7, 2020
    #20
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  6. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    No problem! Thank you for chiming in with your comments! As a history buff I agree -- the history of this sport is where it's at!
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #21
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  7. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    I think yes!
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #22
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  8. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Thanks! Yeah over in Europe they highly value Olympic medals, to them its often the biggest achievement, even higher than world titles, but in general in a boxing sense the WBC, IBF, WBA and WBO will aways be where it's at...in other words, those titles will be the greater accomplishment (aside from The Ring and Lineal titles of course). Yes, you hit the nail on the head, in Olympics you actually have to prove yourself and go through each round by beating your opponent fair and square without the common help o promoters or whatnot in the pro ranks. Yes also...to much marketing and too many pauses between fights in the pros!

    In your opinion, how much do the Olympic medals of Golota, Tua, and deWit help their historical standing?
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #23
  9. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Interesting!!
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #24
  10. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Yes, my point exactly, thanks for mentioning this!! I'm with you on this too!! I agree with everything you wrote. However I would just argue that sometimes a world title may be easier to get with the right promoter.
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #25
  11. sweetsci

    sweetsci Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'd say definitely. I think Sugar Ray Seales has more status, historically speaking, because of his gold medal than, say, Eugene Hart or Willie Monroe or any other tough middleweights around at the same time.

    Howard Davis probably has more status than, say, Harry Arroyo, who won a world title. Davis isn't at Alexis Arguello level, status-wise, but who is?

    Pete Rademacher is a great example who raised his status to historical levels by parlaying his gold medal into a title shot in his first fight.

    Now... is "status" the same as "respect" among boxing fans? I respect Seales, Davis, and Rademacher for winning gold medals, I respect them for being winning professional boxers. But I respect Marvin Hagler, Alexis Arguello, and Floyd Patterson far more. And Hagler, Arguello, and Patterson certainly have higher status among boxing fans.
     
    sweetsci, Oct 7, 2020
    sweetsci, Oct 7, 2020
    #26
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  12. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The Gold Medal is literally the only thing that makes Tony Yoka relevant.

    Most fighters who engage in only eight fights in their first four years as a pro, who have already been suspended for refusing to take multiple drug tests, aren't getting main events.
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2020
    Dubblechin, Oct 7, 2020
    Dubblechin, Oct 7, 2020
    #27
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  13. KeedCubano

    KeedCubano Read my posts in a Jamaican accent Full Member

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    Huh? Do you deem me an expert on medals? Do you want me to get my sprts day taking-part medals out?
     
    KeedCubano, Oct 7, 2020
    KeedCubano, Oct 7, 2020
    #28
  14. Italian Stallion

    Italian Stallion Active Member Full Member

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    Just curious how you evaluate Olympic medalists of the past who were also pros, like Andrew Golota, Robert Wangila or Laszlo Papp.
     
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    Italian Stallion, Oct 7, 2020
    #29
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