Kelly Pavlik had an elite 2007 even though he was a raging alcoholic from the Midwest filled with white trash DNA. I'm allowed to say that since I am a heavy drinking Caucasian from the mid west, right??
There was a one handed Muay Thai fighter who became a world champion by the name of Baxter Humby, I think that will be hard to beat. Howard Winstone was an excellent British boxer who won a world title and fought several ATG's, he lost the tips of three fingers on his right in a factory accident before he went pro. That's a pretty big disability.
I used to live in a mobile home, have really ****ty old tattoos on both upper arms and I have 2 dui's. My parents are not related and I've never spent the grocery money on alcohol and I can't stand Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Do I qualify?
Danny Williams won a fight by KO with one arm. Although the opponent was a bum, it's still impressive. Oh, you said to "become an elite fighter". Then that rules out Danny.
Floyd got dropped on the head as a child ,which left him half re****ed and a stuttering mess, plus unable to learn how to read. He did quite well.
I'd imagine height, lack of power and a suspect chin. You got those problems then elite becomes a challenge.