Why have modern fighters not evolved to be better than SRR

[JAB5239]

I also found this...so where are we at?

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/47259-olympic-boxing-how-much-does-it-really-matter.amp.html

[ShoulderRoll]

Mexico rarely wins any Olympic medals yet they have consistently produced great pros and world champions.

Pacquiao wasn't an Olympian.

The pro game is just a different beast from the amateurs.

[Bundana]

Mexico rarely wins any Olympic medals yet they have consistently produced great pros and world champions.

Pacquiao wasn't an Olympian.

The pro game is just a different beast from the amateurs.

An Olympic medal is obviously not a prerequicite for embarking on a successful pro career. Just as Olympic gold is no guarantee for future pro "greatness". As we all know, most world champs never fought in the Olympics.

Yes, the pro game is very different from the amateurs. But if someone had an extensive amateur career (say 200 fights), which culminated in an Olympic gold medal - I'm pretty sure he must have learned something along the way, that would stand him in good stead, once he turned pro.

[Hooded Terror]

This is a very good topic. I think Robinson and the fighters you mentioned fought more often against consistently better competition because to make money before tv came into play your schedule had to be full. Each of the fighters you mentioned was a physical marvel with Robinson being the most well rounded. The next Era to come close to these fellows was the 70's and early eighties as far as pure talent and sizzle but those fighters lacked the activity of the one's you mentioned.

Excellent observations..

"The next Era to come close to these fellows was the 70's and early eighties as far as pure talent and sizzle but those fighters lacked the activity of the one's you mentioned"

Incredibly, the 70's and 80's were a whirlwind of activity relative to the last 5 years or more. Today its pathetic.

[ShoulderRoll]

An Olympic medal is obviously not a prerequicite for embarking on a successful pro career. Just as Olympic gold is no guarantee for future pro "greatness". As we all know, most world champs never fought in the Olympics.

Yes, the pro game is very different from the amateurs. But if someone had an extensive amateur career (say 200 fights), which culminated in an Olympic gold medal - I'm pretty sure he must have learned something along the way, that would stand him in good stead, once he turned pro.

If the criteria is just that they learned "something" along the way...well, who can argue with that?

Audley Harrison learned something from his amateur career I'm sure.

[The D3vil]

So what's your answer to the question: Do you think, today's boxers would be better, if they had 200 pro fights?

Generally, yeah.

You don't get better at something by not doing it.

It's just like any other sport.

LeBron is a better NBA player playing 82 games per year than he would be if he just played 10 every year.

[Bundana]

If the criteria is just that they learned "something" along the way...well, who can argue with that?

Audley Harrison learned something from his amateur career I'm sure.

You don't agree, that long-time top amateurs like Loma, Usyk, Rigondeaux, Beterbiev, benefitted so much from their extensive amateur experience - that they were ready to more or less immediately (within a dozen of so fights) go for a world title, once they turned pro?

[Bundana]

Generally, yeah.

You don't get better at something by not doing it.

It's just like any other sport.

LeBron is a better NBA player playing 82 games per year than he would be if he just played 10 every year.

So if 200 pro fights makes you a better boxer (presumably because of more experience) - why have so few throughout history reached this milestone?

BoxRec lists 123 boxers with at least 200 pro fights. From the dawn of gloved boxing until today, there have been hundreds of thousands pro boxers... so isn't 123 a shockingly low number? What do you think, could be the reason for this?

[Willow The Wisp]

So if 200 pro fights makes you a better boxer (presumably because of more experience) - why have so few throughout history reached this milestone?

BoxRec lists 123 boxers with at least 200 pro fights. From the dawn of gloved boxing until today, there have been hundreds of thousands pro boxers... so isn't 123 a shockingly low number? What do you think, could be the reason for this?

All good points fellas. The Bleacherreport link too.
It's obvious that real, full contact rounds of experience gives a fighter something important to top off all that can be learned in the gym, be it 100 or more amateur 3 rounders or 30 or more pro fights of increasing scheduled distance fights.
There are never guarantees in boxing. Injury, opponent performance and limits in talent assures this.
An Olympic medal likewise brings no guarantees, but often brings promotional deals, contracts, marketability and the traning facilities that go with all that. That sure helps.
Countries such as Mexico, The Philippines host large breading grounds for disadvantaged youth in need of ASAP MONEY, hence a lower appreciation for trophies and medals. Wealthier nations and countries with strong state funded sponsorship are the major exporters to the Amateurs. But we all knew this stuff. We just like to discuss it.

[Bundana]

All good points fellas. The Bleacherreport link too.
It's obvious that real, full contact rounds of experience gives a fighter something important to top off all that can be learned in the gym, be it 100 or more amateur 3 rounders or 30 or more pro fights of increasing scheduled distance fights.
There are never guarantees in boxing. Injury, opponent performance and limits in talent assures this.
An Olympic medal likewise brings no guarantees, but often brings promotional deals, contracts, marketability and the traning facilities that go with all that. That sure helps.
Countries such as Mexico, The Philippines host large breading grounds for disadvantaged youth in need of ASAP MONEY, hence a lower appreciation for trophies and medals. Wealthier nations and countries with strong state funded sponsorship are the major exporters to the Amateurs. But we all knew this stuff. We just like to discuss it.

You're right, that's why we have all found our way to a place like this... to discuss the history of the one sport, that has caught our interest like no other.

I'm not one of the most prolific posters here - but every once in a while a subject comes up, where I can't resist jumping in! Like when a recent poster in this thread tries to argue, that nothing picked up in a long distinguished amateur career, can (sometimes) form the foundation for a fast ascent to the top as a pro.

Or when someone has this idea, that if only today's boxers had 200 pro fights - the general standard would improve!

It's very hard for me to just shut up, and not comment on stuff like that - if no one else will!