Why did Antonio Tarver turn professional so late?

I think it was because he dreamed of winning the Olympics.

 

Cool read.

Paradoxically is that currently there are many boxers that are turning pro older than 28

 

I wish Tarver had turned pro earlier so he could have had more fights in his prime. He made for a good scrap when he was young, such as against Eric Harding.

 

Chasing the olympic dream is the main cause... Would be interesting once boxing gets excluded as an olympic sport.

 

I don’t get why guys turn pro in their late 20d/ early 30s. They’re just wasting professional development and earning potential.

 

Tarver was old enough to turn pro in the 80s

 

Luis Ortiz turned pro when he was 48.

Anything is possible.

 

He wanted a gold medal. Even at his older age though he had some high profile fights, made rocky balboa and even did some commentary for showtime. He had a pretty succesful career and is HOF bound imo.

 

Drugs.

 

He squeezed in an ATG am career basically between 92 and 96. He was smoking crack and being a dumbass before that. If he skipped the Olympics, he could've turned pro a couple of years earlier but he still wouldn't have been especially young.

 

has nothing to do with olympics, he was slinging coke in orlando and then realized that life wasn't for him at like 26, decided to get back into boxing and give it his best shot

 

Mainly yeah. There are 2 main reasons: 1. some countries are paying not bad premiums for medals ( Oly, World Championships ).
Additionally: the likes of Beterbiev for sure had decent $ from sponsors and funding when they were in am ranks.
2. pro boxing promoters and managers will treat you better even if you will have just bronze medal not alone silver or Gold.
It does matter. You might get decent sign up bonuses when you will turn a pro. Better handling by manager and your promoter.
Ofc there are cons: if you didn't get such medals and had stayed in ams too long, accumulated too long mileage in ams under belt it will be not good.
Best example of success: Oscar DLH get Olympic Gold medal when he was youngster, low mileage under belt. Turned into a pro pretty young. He get everything: boxer's dream Olympic Gold and next boxer's dream: to turn into a pro when you still are really young WITH very decent am credentials under belt.