Elite British Prospects - Better Than America?

[JuicyJuice]

I know amateur boxing 'doesnt mean ****' on this board, and I'm not trying to start any UK vs US **** either.

But there are a bunch of Limey boxing prospects right now, from Elite backgrounds, that I'd just like to bring to your attention..

Amir Khan - 2003 International Junior Olympic gold medalist, 2004 Olympic Games silver medalist (losing only to the best lb4lb amateur of the last 10 years, and later avenging the defeat in both of their last ever amateur bouts!)

John O'Donnell - 2003 International Junior Olympic gold medalist

Kevin Mitchell - 2001 International Junior Olympic silver medalist, youngest ever winner of senior ABA title

David Haye - 2001 Senior World Championship silver medalist

Carl Froch - 2001 Senior World Championship bronze medalist (first British boxer to ever win a medal at senior world championships) - floored his Russian semi-final opponent in 30 seconds (his opponent went on to win the gold medal), knocked out Rubin Williams in 30 seconds at the England vs USA match

Roman Greenberg - 2000 Junior World Championship silver medalist, Angelo Dundee claims he has the fastest hands of any heavyweight since Muhammad Ali

Ricky Hatton - 1996 Junior World Championship bronze medalist (his semi-final loss to the Russian that went on to win the gold medal is considered to be the worst robbery in amateur boxing of the last 10 years)

Joe Calzaghe - 1990 Junior European Championship robbery and it was reported to of made Roy Jones Jr's loss to Park Si-Hun look fair by comparison (the Eastern European he was robbed against in Eastern Europe went to win the gold medal and then won the world championships the following year), won three senior ABA titles three years in a row at different weights


These cats all want to hit the States!

(I know.. Hatton and Calzaghe aren't exactly prospects, they've already had their career-defining fights, but I thought I'd throw them in anyway)

I don't want to get into any UK vs US ****, but I'm just pointing out a fact that no US amateur was rated ahead of those guys in their category in the amateurs other than one kid over Kevin Mitchell.

My personal pick as the best of the bunch is darkhorse John O'Donnell, who is over-shadowed by Amir Khan and Kevin Mitchell. O'Donnell holds his own with Carl Froch in sparring. I believe O'Donnell is the full package, a sound technical boxer who is always looking to add moves and punches to his repertoire - he only opens up when he needs to and has some real good speed of hand when needed. And I genuinely have never known or known of a more confident, assured young boxer than John O'Donnell - he actually genuinely believes he'd expose Khan and Mitchell on the same night.

[Shanus]

Very interesting, I haven't seen John fight yet, I do believe that Amir Khan has flaws, and as soon as he fights anybody worth mentioning, the light will shine on them.. I'll keep my eye out for the names you mentioned, I've seen David Haye fight.. he seems pretty nice, and his KO rating is also high I believe.

[JuicyJuice]

Khan's over-hyped. Take his handspeed away and there really isn't much left to be desired. Seems he's yet to even learn the basics - no defence, poor positional sense, and doesn't plant his feet well. So yeah, Khan is over-hyped I'd say.

Anyway,

Carl Froch - http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=66867

David Haye - http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=66519

[The Fix]

calzaghe is almost done, how is he a prospect?

[hitterwitter]

Just beacause they were good ameturs doen't mean the will win world titles.

Mitchell will get beat as soon as he moves up in class, gets hit way to much, keeps making the same mistakes, why do you think warren is putting him in with people who have no power.

His last 2 opponents: Youssef Djibaba W 14 (2 ko's) | L 9 | D 2
Mohammed Medjadji W 14 (3 ko's) | L 3 | D 0

Both of these couldn't miss mitchells head, doesn't keep his hands up, no head movement, It's a good job they have only 5 ko between them. Mitchell has had 18 fights now, its not like hes had 1 or 2. The only thing that saves mitchell is he can punch.

Roman Greenberg: overated hasn't done a lot to impress me, got fast hands, but not much power, cant see him beating skelton or williams, or any one on the world level.

Carl Froch: they need to make a move with froch now, get him in with magee, Then move him up to european level, after 2 good wins against porras & Barney, they made him fight to very average fighters in Groenewald & Westerman, no point taking these fights froch looked awful against both of them, Still not sure about froch, how good he really is will know more after the magee fight.

John O'Donnell: havn't seen that much of him, wouldn't like to say how good he is.

Haye & Khan are the best prospects, I think both of them will win world titles will be very interesting how Haye gets on at Heavyweight when he moves up.

Best British Prospects:
David Haye (Cruiserweight)
Kevin Anderson (Welterweight)
Lenny Daws (Light Welterweight)
Amir Khan (lightweight)
John Murray (super featherweight)
Nicky Cook (featherweight)
Lee Haskins (Flyweight)
Anthony Small (middleweight)

[JuicyJuice]

Lee Haskins (Flyweight)
Anthony Small (middleweight)

I've known Lee since he was 13 years old, so it's not as if I wouldn't mention him if I could. I just wouldn't put him in the bracket of the cats I mentioned. Let me tell you, Lee came straight in off the street and was a little bastard - never trained hard, always disobeyed everybody. He had his first amateur fight when he was 15, his last when he was 18. He was brash and ****y, and went long periods out of the gym but clearly had ability. Didn't take boxing seriously. I think his amateur record was 11-4. He was a very dirty fighter back then, but he did win the Western Counties senior ABA's at bantumweight.

Anthony Small was almost a laughing stock in the amateurs at times with his over-confidence, he wasn't an international and didn't even get to the senior ABA finals yet acted as if he was God's gift even if he was getting beaten up. He used to showboat his way through fights thinking he was Chris Eubank or Roy Jones. He'd actually be losing a fight and still showboat about with his hands down! A complete tosser.

[hitterwitter]

Anthony Small does sound like tosser, but he's a very good prospect, same with Haskins, both are very arrogant. both have power in both hands, throw punches from awkard angles & have good skills. Not sure about there chins.

What do you think about Mitchell

[JuicyJuice]

What do you think about Mitchell

Big disappointment so far. Kevin has yet to show his amateur form! He was supposed to be the best thing to come out of London since Nigel Benn. I don't think Mitchell will change either - he likes to take risks. Even so, there's just not the kind of snap in his work that there used to be when he was an amateur prospect. I don't know what's up.

[OptimusWolf]

Tried to give you good K Juy Juy but it wouldn't let me.

Good post, I'm always interested in modern amateur stuff.

Any idea of the US prospects for comparison?

On khan, I think he's got a lot going for him (I particularly like the jab, that should be the basis for his career, not these flashy punches, 100 different angles thrown per round), BUT I'm not convinced by his chin, which is kinda crucial.

On Mitchell, agreed he's been a real letdown for me so far, gets hit so often, against quite modest opposition. Still I think he'll have a few exciting fights on his way to being beaten to a pulp by an upper tier fighter.

David Haye - I really like this guy - shame he lost to Thompson, but it might have done him good in the long run. I'm not sure about his prospects at heavyweight in the age of giants, but if he can continue making cruiser I can see him being a world player.

[JuicyJuice]

Any idea of the US prospects for comparison?

Sam Peter, Jeff Lacy..