The #1 Argument i've read here and elsewhere in defense of Donaire , in a hypothetical Donaire vs Rigo match , is that Rigo has not 'proven' himself and his professional resume is lacking..and his amateur skill should not be taken into account. To act as if amateur status should not be considered when rating a fighter is pure ignorance.
Now, Rigondeaux is the FIRST Cuban to win Two gold medals AND turn pro...There is only one other, László Papp, who won THREE gold medals in the Olympics, and was able to Turn pro, and the only thing stopping him was a Communist regime. He was undefeated as a Professional, and i believe would have been named along with the GREATS if he was able to fight without restriction.
I believe Amateur status doesnt necessarily mean you will succeed as a professional, but to completely disregard the extremely talented amateur fighters skill, and act as if a resume like Donaires outweights Rigo's proven skill as a boxer in the amateurs is pure ignorance.
I listed some of the BIGGEST names in Boxing, all of whom had excellent Amateur records and skill. Though this is not ultimate proof, and there are several fighters who won Gold (though not even on the same level of Rigos skill), who failed as a Pro [Nate Brooks, Steve McCroy, Ricardo Delgado, Andrew Maynard, etc], I believe this list is just additional evidence that Amateur skill should not be tossed aside.
NOTE: The poll is poorly woorded and doesnt really reflect what im trying to discuss, but polls seem to be popular recently
Now, Rigondeaux is the FIRST Cuban to win Two gold medals AND turn pro...There is only one other, László Papp, who won THREE gold medals in the Olympics, and was able to Turn pro, and the only thing stopping him was a Communist regime. He was undefeated as a Professional, and i believe would have been named along with the GREATS if he was able to fight without restriction.
I believe Amateur status doesnt necessarily mean you will succeed as a professional, but to completely disregard the extremely talented amateur fighters skill, and act as if a resume like Donaires outweights Rigo's proven skill as a boxer in the amateurs is pure ignorance.
I listed some of the BIGGEST names in Boxing, all of whom had excellent Amateur records and skill. Though this is not ultimate proof, and there are several fighters who won Gold (though not even on the same level of Rigos skill), who failed as a Pro [Nate Brooks, Steve McCroy, Ricardo Delgado, Andrew Maynard, etc], I believe this list is just additional evidence that Amateur skill should not be tossed aside.
Frankie Genaro - 1920 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned pro - Won American Flyweight Titleand beat notible victories over Pancho Villa, Charley Rosenberg - Hall of Famer - 96 Victories (19 KO) - 26 Losses - 8 draws - 4 no Decisions
Fidel LaBarbara - 1924 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned pro - Won American Flyweight title defeating Frankie Genarao - Notible victor of Kid Chocolate - 72 Victories (15 KO) - 15 Losses - 7 Draws
Terry Spinks - 1956 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won British Featherweight Title - Record 45 Victories (13 KO) - 3 Losses - 1 Draw
Leo Randolph - 1976 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won WBA Super Bantamweight Title defeating Ricardo Cardona - Lost next fight and retired
Yuriorkis Gamboa - 2004 Olympic Flyweight Gold - Tunred Pro --Friggin Gamboa...
Kennedy McKinney - 1988 Bantamweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won IBF Super Bantamweight Championship - 36 Victories (19KO) 6 Losses 1 Draw
Joel Casamayor - 1996 Bantamweight Gold [Among other accolades] - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Casamayor
Guillermo Rigondeaux - 2000 AND 2004 Bantamweight Gold - Turned Pro - To disregard his amateur skill is a travesty.
Ronnie Harris - 1968 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Undefeated for 7 years, 35 Victories (14 KO) Lost 2
Pernell Whitaker - 1984 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Sweet Pea
Oscar De La Hoya - 1992 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know ODLH
Sugar Ray Seales - 1972 Light Welterweight Gold - Turned Pro - Though he didnt fair well as a pro, he was a top Contender at the time..drawing with Hagler
Sugar Ray Leonard - 1976 Light Welterweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Sugar Ray Leonard
Floyd Patterson - 1952 Middlweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Floyd Patterson
Michael Spinks - 1976 Middleweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Michael Spinks
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) - 1960 Light Heavyweight Gold - .......
Leon Spinks - 1976 Light Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Leon Spinks
Andre Ward - 2004 Light Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know SOG
Joe Frazier - 1964 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - FRAIZER
George Foreman - 1968 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - The Heywood Giant
Ray Mercer - 1988 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Merciless
Fidel LaBarbara - 1924 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned pro - Won American Flyweight title defeating Frankie Genarao - Notible victor of Kid Chocolate - 72 Victories (15 KO) - 15 Losses - 7 Draws
Terry Spinks - 1956 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won British Featherweight Title - Record 45 Victories (13 KO) - 3 Losses - 1 Draw
Leo Randolph - 1976 - Olympic Flyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won WBA Super Bantamweight Title defeating Ricardo Cardona - Lost next fight and retired
Yuriorkis Gamboa - 2004 Olympic Flyweight Gold - Tunred Pro --Friggin Gamboa...
Kennedy McKinney - 1988 Bantamweight Gold - Turned Pro - Won IBF Super Bantamweight Championship - 36 Victories (19KO) 6 Losses 1 Draw
Joel Casamayor - 1996 Bantamweight Gold [Among other accolades] - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Casamayor
Guillermo Rigondeaux - 2000 AND 2004 Bantamweight Gold - Turned Pro - To disregard his amateur skill is a travesty.
Ronnie Harris - 1968 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Undefeated for 7 years, 35 Victories (14 KO) Lost 2
Pernell Whitaker - 1984 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Sweet Pea
Oscar De La Hoya - 1992 Lightweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know ODLH
Sugar Ray Seales - 1972 Light Welterweight Gold - Turned Pro - Though he didnt fair well as a pro, he was a top Contender at the time..drawing with Hagler
Sugar Ray Leonard - 1976 Light Welterweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Sugar Ray Leonard
Floyd Patterson - 1952 Middlweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Floyd Patterson
Michael Spinks - 1976 Middleweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Michael Spinks
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) - 1960 Light Heavyweight Gold - .......
Leon Spinks - 1976 Light Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know Leon Spinks
Andre Ward - 2004 Light Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Ya'll know SOG
Joe Frazier - 1964 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - FRAIZER
George Foreman - 1968 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - The Heywood Giant
Ray Mercer - 1988 Heavyweight Gold - Turned Pro - Merciless
NOTE: The poll is poorly woorded and doesnt really reflect what im trying to discuss, but polls seem to be popular recently
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