Russian and Ukrainian amateur system.

[ShoulderRoll]

Vyaceslav Lemeshev...

... From his back foot, Lemeshev stops a southpaw pressure fighter from the U.S....

That's actually a very good fight. Perfect example of the differences between the American school and the Soviet school.

Marvin Johnson was coming off a tough match against one of the Cubans yet early on still took it to Lebeshev (who he had beaten before.) But the Soviet boxer managed to absorb the punishment and eventually caught him with some good shots from long range. He ended up being the better man that day but both guys got to show their class.

[Foreign Soil]

They're hungry and like to punch. Russian style(in general) is based off technique for efficient power. The Ukrainian style(in general) is less about power and more of a balance between offense and defense.

[Spacey1991]

I think they just have a great amateur system, and just train train train, similar to the Cubans, the technique and fundamentals are drilled into them from an early age and they fight very regularly, you see Cubans and Russians/Ukranians having 3-400 amateur bouts, that mixed with the relentless training and drilling them with technique work is bound to produce results.

The difference between these countries and places like the U.S. and UK is you have more of a choice in these countries on what you do, whereas if you want to box under the Cuban/Ukrainian/Russian system you do it their way or you're ****ed off.

Similar to what the Chinese are like in diving in a way. They all train like robots.

[Spacey1991]

It's not just Ukraine and Russia, it's also Kazakhstan and the UK, both of which, if I'm not mistaken have produced more Olympic medalists recently than the Russians. But whichever country and system you want to pick, they produce top level amateurs which, more often than not, convert to top level professional fighters.

There really isn't a secret behind it beyond good funding, good coaching and good amateur competitions. The US had the exact same thing going from the 40s-80s, the longest sustained run of amateur and professional success in the sports history. Issue is now, the amateur system is underfunded, the coaches aren't as good the competitions not as competitive.

Yeah Kazakhstan produce some quality amateurs I must admit. GB also have a modest amount of success too considering we're kind of small in population and it's not our biggest sport, I think this has a lot to do with the funding they set and the facilities they provide for the GB Boxing team, the Sheffield Institute of Sport is supposed to have some of the best facilities available, that mixed with good training programs helps produce results I suppose.

[Jc8804]

Pumping out boxers like crazy. Team USA needs to step their game up

The urban style is taking over america.
Everyone wants to be slick quick and pretty. Take no damage ,win on points and be the A side ..
The mayweather phenomena. Fat kids ,lazy kids,privledged kids ,slow kids ,athletic kids ,non athletic kids..
Imo the brawler and swarmer style 7 to 8 years from now
Is gonna make a comeback. The guys who really wanna **** and fight and take the fight to some of these wanna
Be's . They are out there. And they dont post on face b oo k and iG and twi tt er . They fight in sparring . They train hard.
Then you have the eastern euro technical power houses who are gonna keep bringing it. . The urban style and american boxing is gonna die out soon..

[Monaco Slim]

I would hate to see PED use being a major component of their success. If they can't compete clean then I don't want them in the sport.

Its more likely that team usa are using peds, and they're still ****.

almost all cases in boxing of people being caught with peds, its americans 90% of the time, mexicans 10% of the time.

[Foreign Soil]

Its more likely that team usa are using peds, and they're still ****.

almost all cases in boxing of people being caught with peds, its americans 90% of the time, mexicans 10% of the time.

Yeah. Americans are the world leaders in doping and then still have to make excuses when coming up short. Insecurity and still living in bunkers thinking about the Cold War.

[soul_survivor]

Yeah Kazakhstan produce some quality amateurs I must admit. GB also have a modest amount of success too considering we're kind of small in population and it's not our biggest sport, I think this has a lot to do with the funding they set and the facilities they provide for the GB Boxing team, the Sheffield Institute of Sport is supposed to have some of the best facilities available, that mixed with good training programs helps produce results I suppose.

I'd say team GB did more than just modestly in the 2012 Olympics, with 2 golds, a bronze and a silver and with 7 male qualified boxers, with only one not getting to the quarters or beyond. That's exceptional considering just 8 years prior, in 2004, only one exceptionally talented GB amateur boxer made it to the Olympics (AMir Khan). Since then, with the spotlight on Khan and his immense initial popularity in Britain, British amateur boxing has had a lot of funding. It has grown considerably.

[soul_survivor]

I would like to add something, with all the success in europe and central asia, pro boxers coming through those amateur systems aren't all that exciting and don't have the smooth style, must watch spark or brilliance of Ali, Leonard, Tyson, Holyfield, Frazier, Whitaker, DLH etc. I miss the days of exceptional American fighters, especially the smooth, slick African Americans.

Who from europe is must watch TV? Froch was to a certain extent, possibly Hatton and Khan at stages in their careers....from Ukraine? Russia? Asia?

Kovalev is exciting but the language barrier may stop him form being a truly big star. GGG, though a very hard hitting fighter punches too correct and has the stand up straight, box behind a guard european style that isn't all out exciting or smooth. He isn't as fluid a puncher as say Tyson or Norris.

Just my two pence.

[check hook]

Khazakstan has a big focus on their amatuer program. More than this though, they aren't afraid to try new things and teach the boxers some unconventional footwork coupled with the way they throw. For example they step out to the side with a hook instead of stepping forward, and over rotate their foot and the hook whilst doing this. This means they aren't in the line of fire for a return shot. It also allows you to step back and pump the straight right into a fighter from an unconventional angle.