Why did Antonio Tarver turn professional so late?

I think for some like Joyce it's because they took up boxing so late, he was 22 before he ever stepped into a boxing gym.

For others it can make more financial sense to stay amateur. If you're in a country that has a well funded amateur system that pays you a decent salary that allows you to train full time which compared to being some no name pro working a full time job while getting paid poorly for the first few years while you pad out your record, it just makes more sense to remain amateur.

Also the introduction of WSB which allowed the top amateurs to earn a bigger salary probably kept many in the amateur ranks for longer while they chased Olympic gold even after failing in their first attempt or perhaps convincing some to try for more than one Olympic title.

 

Because the pro game is a joke to a top amateur.

It's a cash-out, nothing more.

 

Yeah, this is here what it is.
There even is no conversation about " just record padding " with previous intent from beginning.

One lad had worked and yeah, was also tickets seller in local show. Actually he had get for his pro debut fight lesser than he might get with casual job in one month. Really casual job.
This might sound like: ohh, this is some random bum. Later he get World Title belts from 3 boxing orgs.
Again, initially he sold tickets, his friends sold tickets and he had get peanuts from his first fights. Until one from his next opponents had asked real! market price for fight with this guy. Then someone get that "maybe" there is worth to invest something, maybe guy is not bad.
Until this: he sold tickets and KOed ppl and get peanuts for this. Real reason why he had good career was first his supposed opponent who had asked real price for this risk and guy's real level.

Amateurs support is different: some are in country with well funded am system and there even might be sponsors, because clubs and sport business needs customers: ppl who are buying their stuff and will go to their club, if they have accomplishments, why not to have continental level medalist in student's list? Then maybe is worth not to charge him for training cos this might bring a lot new clients: ams, hobbyists for the same club?

Support level in ams is different.
I know cases like double edged sword:
One lad had parents - business ppl and rich sponsor, he for ams get training camps like dream for top 75-200 ranked pro.
$ here and a lot $.
Another: U do have enough ranking to be allowed for continental championship. if you have $ buy tickets to travel aboard and compete then let's go.
Guy had amazing gas tank. He just turned into local level pro, then get fight aboard and then this covid had appeared.
He just had been f***** ed with stuff that he had full pre fight camp done and paid off and there this covid.
Nothing deadly, he does have job, maybe will have some degree with a time. It was a bit painful, lad with gas tank even with 0 doubts enough for 15 rounder ( not only 12 rounds ) quit boxing.

 

My comment was directed more towards fighters within the western Anglo-sphere who have lucrative potential in the pro game. I should’ve specified that in my comment. I know that fighters from some EE countries find that they’re better off staying in their amateur system and potentially never turning pro. A guy like Joyce that you mentioned who is based out of a large English speaking boxing market has wasted much of his athletic and earning potential in the ams. Had he turned pro in his early 20s he’d would’ve competed for world titles by now and made millions. Now he’s in the last few years of his career trying to get his first title shot and big pay day. Had he turned pro earlier he would’ve had the time to work out the kinks in his style. At 35 he doesn’t have time to improve his skills.

 

Of course and there is reason: they usually are considered as usually usable stepping stones for big promotions prospects.
While there are xxxxxxx ways to earn money for a living besides prize fights.

Actually if to talk realistic: in EE to be a prize fighter is not road out of poverty at all.
You need some support from someone and there should be reason why. Otherwise: you might pick up casual job, even unskilled and get friends, get some credentials, learn something and do skilled job and some small business, later larger business.
It is very hard to get out of poverty being a prize fighter in EE unless you are not world class am star or superstar.
It is not like they are so cheap like ppl in US or UK might think, still, it is not like US in 1930 ies when better was to do pro fight in local venue than to be a laborer.
Cos now first questions will be the same as in UK small hall shows: do you have backup, $ is there? how much tickets you are able to sell and your circle? LOL. How will work google search with your name?
Someone promotes you? You have investor here?
Otherwise sorry, you maybe better will be just tickets broker.

Of course everyone is happy with watchable fights, sadly there are things like MMA and KB, where holy 0 is not so important, pro boxing:
LOL.

If boxer's promoter and manager are asking to deliver next bum and with this boxer is possible to sell tickets?
It will be delivered and event's promoter is not so powerful as ppl think if boxer brings in money fore event.
And then we might had get boxer with manager who dreams to feed his client to likes aka Beterbiev while I have no clue how this boxer might last 4 rounds with Burton not alone 3 rounds with Bolotniks.
While EE might have also boxers with maybe not so funny looking records and therefore might look suspicious.
A draw with 5-0-0 boxer in pro debut fight is one good example. A draw with 19-5 pro when he was few pro fights novice etc beauties.

More than this: if boxer is from former block from passport, commentators sometimes automatically are applying cliche mark: he is EE style boxer.
I a bit had laugh when this had been used for boxer who de facto was british gym's product just cos his origin ( read passport ) or another case with former KBer.
He as pro boxer was western euro and 2 U.S gym's product and still there were comments: yeah, it is EE style.
Funny thing.

Boxers origin matters a lot I see and there nothing much to change here.