A Good Amatuer Boxer Doesn't Always Make a Good Pro Boxer

[Poet682006]

Guess so, i have seen him knock people out in the am's but i get what u mean,

Another example of amatuer style boxing being changed to fit the pro game is lennox lewis, people seem to forget that he was more of a brawler type fighter in the beggining of his pro career, then he re-invented himself to use his height better and hide behind a jab.

Interstingly enough, the fighter who DID win gold that Olympics was Tyrell Biggs: A fighter Tyson DESTROYED in the pros. Tyson was trained from the start by D'Amato to be a pro rather than an amatuer and I think it showed in the short time he WAS in the amatuers.

Poet

[ArturoBalboa]

It's a totally different sport. Those who says otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about.

Firstly, the scoring system in amateur is utter crap. Mere touches with the white part of the glove score just as much as a knockdown.

Secondly, the gloves (Green Hill) stops 80% of the punch impact, according to tests.

Thirdly, to succeed in the amateurs, you need to rely entirely on a high punch output, as judges will score even when punches get blocked.

Have you ever tried being hit with a pro glove? Feels like being hit in the head with a brick. You can push your finger right through the glove and feel the knuckles.
In the pro's, you need to have some kind of strategy, because the other guy can and will knock you out if you don't. They know how you fight, your weaknesses, all that ****.

You can't compare the two sports, it's totally different.
The reason good amateurs become good professionals is technique and level of opposition. They constantly fight and train with the best, so they are among the best...

Good post. I agree that they are vastly different, amatuer boxing reminds me more of olympic fencing very stop start. Being a very good amatuer is obviously a good start, a good indication that you possess SOME of the tools to make it in boxing, technique, speed, reactions, but don't really tell you much about someones punching power, chin or heart.
Plus most of the fighting is done on the outside so its not really that suprising that tyson didn't do that well as an amatuer, its not really suited to someone who looks to slip punches and get inside with power shots. Most of the examples used of succesful conversions from amatuer to pro have enjoyed fighting at distance and have a handy jab.

[PunchDrunk]

Something you seem to forget in the whole "Tyson was a ****ty am" argument is that 27 fights is NOTHING in the ams. 27 fights is still a complete rookie, at an international level. So, taken into consideration that he fought Olympic Trials with 20 to 25 fights, of course he's not gonna make the team. That's like letting a pro with 5 fights get a world title shot. Who's to say Tyson wouldn't have made the next Olympics if he'd stuck around? By that time he could have had the 200 fights Oscar DLH had when he won Olympic gold. BIG difference.

[Texanballer]

David Diaz

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

"A good amateur doesnt always make a good pro" True enough BUT a guy with a shallow amateur background more often doesnt make a good pro. The list of former top amateurs who made it good in the pros is MUCH longer than those who didnt. Look at recent years... Jones, Tarver, Winky, Taylor, Shane, Forrest, Mayweather, etc etc etc etc

[Steak]

on the other hand, you look at a lot of Mexicans who had a ton of pro fights against lower tier opponents, and stepped it up and are fantastic fighters.

The amateurs are just that...they are building blocks for a fighter to gain experience and learn the basics, so they can do well in the pros. Or they want to win Olympic gold. You have to learn the craft somewhere...some want to start in the pros and make some money while fighting low rank opponents they can beat and learn from, some have amateur fights, where there is less physical damage but no pay. Its jsut what you make of it.
________
Dodge Ram Van Specifications

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

[QUOTE=tyson;2530021]Thirdly, to succeed in the amateurs, you need to rely entirely on a high punch output, as judges will score even when punches get blocked.QUOTE]

Acually, the way the amateur gameis scored THIS is not accurate.The computer only gives credit for very clean and obvious scoring blows..you have to be precise and deliberate in the amateur game..tons of misdirected punches will NOT get counted

[squealpiggy]

Remember Amir Khan on saturday? i bump this thread in honour of him.

The idea is to improve on amateur skills and develop them into skills that will help you in the pro game, i dont think he has done this yet.

He got up off the floor to knock out a guy with only one prior defeat and won the Commonwealth title in his 13th pro fight. He's not doing badly by any stretch.

Terrible, and he became the most dangerous fighter ever imo, i cant understand how anyone could beat tyson in the am's he just hits so hard and there is such an emphasis on head shots in the am's.

Terrible? Because he failed to make the Olympic boxing team? A terrible fighter would not even be in contention. The US olympic boxing team is the one with the most competition. To even have a shout of getting to the olympics was quite an achievement. Just for posterity here is Tyson's first fight against Tillman



Tyson turned pro with a 24-3 record, by no means a terrible one.

Most of the top pros have had a long and successful amateur career. It's obvious that having a successful amateur career is helpful in becoming a top contender at professional level. Not only does it give you a good skill basis and get you used to performing under the lights, a good showing as an amateur and an Olympic medal or Golden Gloves championship means you're likely to attract the attention of good managers or promoters who will be interested in building you as a product and bringing you along at a good pace rather than throwing you in with the next big thing and getting you knocked silly in your first ten fights.

I'm not sure how many of the people who are saying that amateur gloves absorb 80% of the impact have ever been punched in the face with a pair of 10ozers.

[Technical_Skill]

Your chasing thin air, i meant 'terrible' as in thats terrible to read, i was shocked about what i was told.

No Getting knocked down by feathfisted willy Limond is not good, he has also been hit clean by nobodies several times in his career, he did show a lot of heart to get up and fight back tho.

[squealpiggy]

Your chasing thin air, i meant 'terrible' as in thats terrible to read, i was shocked about what i was told.

Fair enough

No Getting knocked down by feathfisted willy Limond is not good, he has also been hit clean by nobodies several times in his career, he did show a lot of heart to get up and fight back tho.

But winning by knockout and becoming Commonwealth champ in his 13th fight is good. I'd hardly say he's a bad professional. Will he ever be a world champion? Oh he may pick up a title but I doubt he'll be anything outstanding. He's still better than awful and he's still very young. He'll probably have a world title tilt before his 20th fight and it's Frank Warren's job to get him there in one piece and keep him learning along the way. That's where his amateur career helped him, by getting him a promoter who will bring him along rather than throwing him away.