The best 20 year old fighters ever?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SeanK, Apr 15, 2019.


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  1. SeanK

    SeanK Member Full Member

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    Who comes to mind when you think of early blooming boxers? In a head to head tournament where all fighters are taken back to the age of 20, who’d win?

    I think Mike Tyson would be a favourite. Ali and Patterson have being fairly young champions in their favour as well.

    Who else am I missing and who do you think would be the best?
     
    SeanK, Apr 15, 2019
    SeanK, Apr 15, 2019
    #1
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  2. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    Wilfred Benitez

    First world title @ 17yrs
     
    BlackCloud, Apr 15, 2019
    BlackCloud, Apr 15, 2019
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  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Cassius Clay would win.
    Clay would rise to the occassion.
    Put the Clay who fought Moore against the Tyson who fought Berbick .... it 's closer than prime v prime, but Clay finds a way to win.
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 15, 2019
    Unforgiven, Apr 15, 2019
    #3
  4. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    This guy has to be in the running too :

    This content is protected
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 15, 2019
    Unforgiven, Apr 15, 2019
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  5. SeanK

    SeanK Member Full Member

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    I love Ali, but I think in that fight Tyson might win it. Prime vs Prime it’s always Ali
     
    SeanK, Apr 15, 2019
    SeanK, Apr 15, 2019
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  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Sam McVea is probably in the argument.

    He was being talked about as the logical title challenger when he was 19!
     
    janitor, Apr 15, 2019
    janitor, Apr 15, 2019
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  7. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali at 20 would have beat Berbick IMO.
     
    Wass1985, Apr 15, 2019
    Wass1985, Apr 15, 2019
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  8. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Jung Koo Chang. ATG talent at 19. Turned pro at 17.

    Tony Canzoneri. Fought and (unluckily) got a draw with a great champion at 19/20.

    Thw real answer, though, is Nipper Pat Daly.

    Went pro at 11, retired at 18. Was fighting at world level, and only didn't win a world title due to his scumbag of a manager/ trainer.

    I'm not making this up. There is a great book out about him, actually.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 15, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 15, 2019
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  9. BundiniBlack

    BundiniBlack Well-Known Member Full Member

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    There's guys who were good enough to be elite pros at 20 who were still fighting in the ams

    Roy Jones and Sugar Ray Leonard are obvious examples.

    Theres also guys who at 20 were fighting scrubs building there record but were already good enough to be elite pros.

    Roman Gonzalez is a great example
     
    BundiniBlack, Apr 15, 2019
    BundiniBlack, Apr 15, 2019
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  10. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Pipino Cuevas was a wrecking machine great at 20.
     
    The Morlocks, Apr 15, 2019
    The Morlocks, Apr 15, 2019
    #10
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  11. JC40

    JC40 Boxing fan since 1972 banned Full Member

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    Lionel Rose.
     
    JC40, Apr 16, 2019
    JC40, Apr 16, 2019
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  12. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Willie Pep and Mando Ramos
     
    scartissue, Apr 16, 2019
    scartissue, Apr 16, 2019
    #12
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  13. Gatekeeper

    Gatekeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Tyson has to be up there as does Floyd and a controversial pick would be Naseem Hamed.
     
    Gatekeeper, Apr 16, 2019
    Gatekeeper, Apr 16, 2019
    #13
  14. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dang; took mine (Ramos).
     
    salsanchezfan, Apr 16, 2019
    salsanchezfan, Apr 16, 2019
    #14
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  15. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Eric Crumble
     
    George Crowcroft, Apr 16, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Apr 16, 2019
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