Amature Career-Pro Career

[Heeb]

Many great amateur boxers have done very well as professionals (Ward,Ali,Foreman,de la Hoya). However, many great amateur boxers have also had horrible pro careers (countless olympians). Does amateur skill mean anything professional boxing?

[Suckmedry]

Many top amateurs are already better skillwise than the vast majority of pros. Even thouh some top amateurs have failed to crack the elite level, they have always had pretty good careers in comparison with most pros.

An amateur background doesn't 100% guarantee professional stardom, but it definitely is a great starting point, and it counts for a lot. You won't see a top amateur getting outboxed by a tomato can.

[Suckmedry]

And before anyone says the inevitable "the amateurs are all pitty pat punching" This isn't true!!! Only clean punches with weight behind them score points.

[Southpaw Stinger]

Amateur boxing used to really help you prepare for the pros. No headguards, no dodgy point system. Was like a professional, fight only shorter.
Now Amateur boxing is a whole sport in itself which really favours only one paticular style of 'fighting' You see them now just pawing away and flicking jabs to the head only. It's now a big change to go from Olympic style to Professional.

It's still better than having no amateur background at all though.

[Pullcounter]

Many great amateur boxers have done very well as professionals (Ward,Ali,Foreman,de la Hoya). However, many great amateur boxers have also had horrible pro careers (countless olympians). Does amateur skill mean anything professional boxing?

its meaningful because promoters, coaches, trainers, journalists, etc... will be able to scout you and help you.

[Suckmedry]

Amateur boxing used to really help you prepare for the pros. No headguards, no dodgy point system. Was like a professional, fight only shorter.
Now Amateur boxing is a whole sport in itself which really favours only one paticular style of 'fighting' You see them now just pawing away and flicking jabs to the head only. It's now a big change to go from Olympic style to Professional.

It's still better than having no amateur background at all though.

You don't know what you are talking about here. Jabs are very difficult to get scored unless they have real power behind them.


Although you are right in saying it is a big change, because of the distance which requires different conditioning and the different scoring.

[Suckmedry]

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Notice how only hard shots were scoring?

And check the slow mo around the 5 min mark. See how both guys are really trying to wing in big shots? That's what scores

[AddiX]

Amateur careers are huge in boxing, just look at Mosley and Mayweather if you don't think it makes a huge difference. There amateur careers were insane.

It's not impossible to have a good pro career without the amateurs, but it's highly unlikely.

Out of toughness and conditioning you might get to the certain level, but it's rare that someone in that situation gets to the top and stays to the top.

The main reason that happens is in 3rd world countries where sparring matches are like fights, only they happen on a normal basis.

[BrooklynBomber]

Yeah, it does. I mean where else you gonna learn how to box.