Professional boxers in the Olympics?

When Harrison won he was about 28, when good boxers have won the heavyweight olympic gold before they were young, harrison was in his prime so it is conceivable that harrison could be as good at amateur as much better prospects due to his experience and the fact that he is in his prime

 

BS decision if it happens

 

Leave the olympics to amateurs.

 

That's part of my point.
Most amature boxers on the olypics were pretty young, with an exeption for the communist countries who let grown men beat up young kids (and it didn't even always work out that way). Now communism has fallen in most parts of the world and Cubans are defecting all over the place it's time to give Olympic boxing another face. Harrison was an exeption to become pro that late in his career, but he wouldn't have had a chance to win that gold if there were those big, mature Cubans and Soviets in the amature leagues.

 

you say harrison won because the olympics boxing wasnt what it was, but klitscko won the time before and povetkin the following olympics

 

So because Klitschko won in '96 and Povetkin dominated the amatures from the start of the century until '04 makes you think it isn't? And don't forget Wlad is still a product of the Soviet boxing system.
Of course talented boxers will do very good in the amatures, but the question you should ask yourself is; "Would they have won it if the best and most talented fully matured Russians and Cubans had still competed?"

 

The russian super heavyweight in the olympics audley won was Alexei Lezin, 27, european amateur champion, with amateur victories over vitali, valuev and wlad.

The cuban competitor was Alexis Rubalcaba, 28, and had previously knocked out the Alexei Lezin

So do i think that Audley would have won if fully matured russians and cubans entered? Yes I do, because he did.

Samuel Peter and Calvin Brock were also in the games that Audley won.

 

That's quite impressive... didn't know that. Still amazed he won it.

 

Audley harrison was a good boxer at 28, by the time he had gained enough experience and adapted to the pros, he was past it. Had he turned pro at 21, he may have been able to win a world title, or at least be a serious contender.

 

Audley was a very good amateur, don't let his professional career blind you.

 

Its always been that way, there have been guys who have done well after winning medals and guys who have floundered.

the UK had Audley Harrison
The USA had Tyrell Biggs
S. Korea would have had Park Si Hun had he turned pro and he would have gotten his ass kicked.

Winning olympic gold doesn't mean **** about how that person will perform at the pro game.

 

Yep, but that was for an entirely different reason as beïng such an outstanding amature. He got his ass kicked at the Olympics also (twice as I remember correctly!), and still won. :yep

 

All the athletes in the athletics part are professional, so why shouldn't it be the same for all sports. If it's not the best v the best, it's not going to be as interesting

 

Tyrell briggs won an olympics that was boycotted by countries including the soviet union, east germany, poland, and cuba.
The only amateur of any note was probably an 18 year old Lennox Lewis.

 

I'm sure guys like Hopkins wouldn't mind picking up a gold medal.