The best amateur boxer, who had a very bad professional career

Ed Sanders has everyone mentioned thus far beat and it's not even close. He was the 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion. He turned pro in March 1954 and was killed in the ring in his ninth professional fight before the end of the year. His final record was 6-2-1, not so bad on its face, but dead is dead.

 

I wouldn't call a 57-8-3 record against some pretty tough opposition all that bad.

 

I've heard that Seales had an argument for beating Hagler in there first two fights, although sadly I don't have an opinion on it myself as I've only seen the 3rd fight.

I wish there was footage of the first two fights, and Haglers fights vs Finnegan.

 

You read my mind.

 

I always felt that they forced Breland to adopt A Hearns type style when it went against his talents.
I saw him spar Hearns and while Hearns wasn't going all out Breland was boxing beautiful with Hearns - moving,slipping shots etc.

 

Lets see:

Clint Jackson
Bernard Taylor
Myron Taylor was very hyped when he turned pro.
Johnny Bumphus
Randy Shields
Howard Davis
Tyrell Biggs
Willie Dewitt
Shawn O Sullivan

 

Met Ronnie Shields.

 

I saw that footage as well... a lot of wasted movement , burning energy, not relaxed .. imo ... But that was Breland right ??.. 6'2 , 77 inch reach ... he needed to fight EXACTLY like Hearn's to succeed with the same frames ... not like he was going to a be a strong compact banger ... he just couldn't figure it out ... Hearn's did ... Mark didnt ... basically same height, weight, reach ... right? ... not relaxed enough and gassed fast

 

Leon Spinks. After his upset victory over Muhammad Ali on Feb 15 1978, he would lose to Ali on Sept 15 1978. Spinks career began a tumble as his career progressed until he retired. Michael Spinks on the contrary had a very successful career as World Light Heavyweight Champion and IBF Heavyweight Champion with his victory over defending champion Larry Holmes on Sept 21 1985.

 

yes it was Breland. I think the reason it did not workout for Breland was he was not as physical as Tommy. Add to the tremedous expectations expected and thats hard to do.I always wonder if Breland DIDNT leave Manny would it have been different?

 

That was almost a given wasn't it? Leon who came up extremely poor wins the most prestigious boxing title in only his eighth fight and further more does it against a living legend.
I can only imagine all the new "friends" Leon got after the fight and how it must be crazy to wake up one day and have anything you ever wanted when growing up you didn't.

 

You guys are reaching too far up the ladder. There were plenty of excellent amateurs who were bottom feeder pros.

Remember Lupe Guerra, Frank Bruno's first victim? Had a great amateur career in Nebraska with a bunch of state titles. Even went 14-0 to start his career and then.....

Being from Indiana, Andrew Stokes and Kimmuel Odom were big deals. In the local papers all the time. Went nowhere as pros.

How about Earl Tripp? Tape of him fighting Cooney in the NY Golden Gloves finals. Journeyman pro. Got chucked to the curb in about a minute by a young Michael Dokes.

 

Roughhouse, do you remember a hotshot amateur out of Kankakee named Howard Stewart? A 140 pounder who was Henry Armstrong reincarnated. An absolute blue-chip prospect, who went pro after losing in the western regional Olympic Trials in '84. I predicted this kid was going to the top until some Philly group relocated him to the City of Brotherly love and completely altered his style. When I heard he was now known as 'Li'l Slick', my jaw dropped. Stewart was a bruiser and an excellent one and there was nothing slick about him and unfortunately, that new style took him down a road of mediocrity. What a shame.

 

I disagree that two fighters have to fight exactly alike because they have the same frame and dimensions.

That’s like saying every short heavyweight should fight like Tyson. Well, Frazier didn’t fight like Tyson and he did OK, and vice versa. Some similarities but no way you could say they fought EXACTLY alike. And just because a fighter has Ali’s dimensions and measurables doesn’t mean they have his chin, his will, his reflexes, etc.

Boxing is 90% mental. Hearns had a different mentality than Breland. And a different skill set. Breland would be a lot better off having been a pure boxer who had some pop than trying to be a Hearns-like destroyer who happened to have the ability to box to fall back on. (In fact, it didn’t always work out exactly for the Hit Man either … see Barkley for instance, where he might have been able to easily box his way to a decision or maybe get a late stoppage after breaking him down if he had gone out to box instead of on a seek-and-destroy mission.)

 

I think James ‘Bubba’ Busceme was a highly decorated amateur but it didn’t translate to the top levels in the pros, although he was a good fighter.