Amateur vs Professional - Does Skill in one Translate to the Other?

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 , 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 - 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

Comments (20)

Well I mean compare these two: Rigondeaux Audley Harrison Sometimes an amateur pedigree is good, but sometimes it can harm you. Amir Khan is a good example Maybe for the case of Rigondeaux, it's just his natural skill as a fighter, amateur or not Like I said in another thread, it depends on the fighter. When you try to dismiss someone as skilled as Rigo cause he's an "amateur" its dumb. The example I used was Zou Shiming, 2 time gold medalist but when you look at his "skillset" do you really think he's gonna make it in the pros? Regardless of age or not. Amir Khan too, very successful amateur but he can't use his tools for sh1t so he gets sh1tted on. I'm a fan but still, its the truth. Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

13y ago

techliam

13y ago

Nekronicle

bumping again because this was pretty much the reasoning behind my prediction for the Donaire/Rigo fight.

13y ago

Nekronicle

Bumping this thread, cause this fight is no longer Hypothetical.

13y ago

HughJass

What u also have to realize is that amateur success translating to professional success also depends in a BIG way on who u sign with and who the matchmaker is...take two kids, one an olympic gold medal winner and the other just a local kid...have them both fight and beat the same 20 guys in the EXACT same fashion. OK, well, the guy with the solid promoter is going to be ranked # 8 in the world afterwards and the other kid is going to be # 44...same opponents, same win/loss ratio, etc...one gets rewarded, the other doesnt...one gets opportunities based on it, the other does not... ray leonard>aaron pryor

13y ago

ICEMAN_JOHN_SCULLY

Thank for your post.... Hey, Angry, because of ur screen name and ur location (Hialiah) I am going to post a photo for you in a new thread in a minute...Ill send u the link...see if u can guess the guy in it...YOU'LL LIKE IT...

13y ago

ICEMAN_JOHN_SCULLY

13y ago

ICEMAN_JOHN_SCULLY

amatuer you have head gear and huge gloves and the way they score fights is just plain dumb. in the pros no head gear smaller gloves and the scoring is based on more elements of boxing then just tag the other person. So where one fighter can be great in the amateurs, he can still be very untested in the pros. It different on a case by case situation, look at taylor sucked in the amateurs compared to his olympic team counterparts but then he out performed them and thrived in the pros. It is a COMMON myth that amateur boxing is this soft and safe sport...the headgear limits CUTS, not actual equlibriem (sp??) damage so much..some of the best KO's I have ever seen have come either in amateur fights or the gym with headgear on...also. the gloves ARE NOT HUGE LOL I dont know who told someone that and they ran with it but amateurs fight in 10 or 12 ounce ounce gloves depending on the weight class, same as pro fights (Ive fought in 12's as a pro a coule times)...you should definitely not make the mistake of thinking punches in amateur boxing are soft and weak...anyone going to a gym and putting on 12 ounce amateur fight gloves will NOT wish to get hit with them, I can assure you of this.

13y ago

SplitSecond

dont think it's often an olympic champion will not do good in the pro's

13y ago

Knibbsy1

Its not an exact formula. It depends on style . Some of the am win by slapping and dancing round like a fairy. Look for the guy that's sets his feet and places his shots but still loses cos he gets slapped 3 times landing a good stiff jab or hook. The other guy doesn't want to get hit so moves around alot throwing lots of punches but with little effect on the opponent. This guy wins in the ams but the other guy will be best suited to the pros. Of course there are the exeptions that have both great am career and pro but reality is they are few and far between.

13y ago

Nekronicle

ofcourse amateur skill translates into professional skill. i mean there are obviously diffrences in the scoring so you have to change your style when you turn pro which some fighters struggle with. but that doesnt mean all the timing, accuracy, footwork, headmovement, ability to block/parry punches, punching form, sense of distance, ability to use angles, coordination etc all of a sudden becomes irrelevant. it still matters you just have to find a slightly diffrent way to apply it. but to say it doesnt have anything to do with pro boxing is just ignant. eventually you will have your heart tested too since the pro ranks are tougher than the amateur ranks. but most great amateurs are so skillful they will reach the top 10 before anyone can even test their heart, just on their amateur pedigree alone. so just bcuz you are a great amateur that doesnt mean you will be a great pro, but it certainly helps. Well put! :boxing:

13y ago

1Assassin

13y ago

puga

maidana beat mathysse in the ams 3 x ..actually this one i think is one of few examples where ams translate to pros....coz i favor el chino to beat mathysse

13y ago

puga

ams succes does'nt translate to pro success carlos pinto , abdulaev beat cotto in the ams only to get destroyed in the pros martin castillo and augie sanchez beat floyd in the ams .. nonito beating kirkland in the ams viloria beating nonito so on and so forth.. bragging about the ams is like bragging about winning a fight when you were just a lil kid

13y ago

Fighting_Pride0173

haha :boxing: i meant skill wise, it does take you to the limit

13y ago

Nekronicle

amateurs is where you hone skills and technique, pros is where you sustain it and start to develop more heart and stamina than you've ever imagined. amateurs takes you to the limit, pros breaks those limits. GOD i love boxing metaphors :boxing: haha :boxing:

13y ago

Nekronicle

do they score for not getting hit? and head gear etc etc has alot to do with it when it comes to comparing amatuers vs pros. If you dont see it then okay, you obviously are just on some bias trip. and thats you behind 50 cent correct? http://i45.tinypic.com/ksq2o.png hahah yeah thats me.

13y ago

Fighting_Pride0173

13y ago

Deeznuts

Any type of experience is good in terms of anything you do. Many Olympians with extensive amateur backgrounds become good pros. Whoever disagrees don't know shiz about boxing or life in general

13y ago

danceswithfire

because one is participated in for gain or livelihood and the other amateurs dont get compensated you moron nice one captain obvious

13y ago