USA haven't had a male Olympic Gold medalist in boxing since 2004

[ShoulderRoll]

When was the last time Mexico had an Olympic gold medalist in boxing?

But ask them how many world champions they've turned out.

[Art-illery]

USA Boxing wasn't funded or properly led like it used to be is a big part of it. I'm sure the popularity of MMA & MMA gyms has stolen from the boxing talent pool in the US. Other countries have gotten much stronger in the last decade or two. Its not one thing, there's been a few things that helped led to USA Boxing's subpar showings.

I mean when you think about the late 80's & 90's amateur boxing time there were only a handful of countries that were major players. Now there are a bunch of players in amateur boxing. Cuba used to murder sh^t. From 1992 to 2000 (3 Olympics) they won 10 gold medals. From 2004-2016 (4 Olympics) they won 5 gold medals. The game done changed for everyone & USA boxing is further down on the talent totem pole than Cuba is.

Cuba is still a top boxing country in the amateur ranks. They never were low on the totem pole. Last year, they got three gold medals with one medalist becoming a two time Olympic champion in two weight divisions (Robeisy Ramirez). The only country that was ahead of Cuban boxing was Uzbekistan, and even they were given a lot of gift decisions.

[NEETzsche]

What is the average age for champions though, Americans are normally one olympics and done before the age of 22? Then youre fighting career amatuers. Dont think its something to get completely worried about.

Yeah, for example Erickson Lubin would've been a strong medal hope for the USA if he'd stayed amateur for Rio as originally planned, but the money in American pro boxing means they have more incentive to turn over than in countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, etc., where there's no pro scene to speak of

USA is still top, there's just more competition now

[therealpugilist]

you can see the decline in US boxing over the past decade with the lack of medals over the past 4 Olympics

Andre Ward was the last male gold medalist.

What is the main catalyst for the decline in US boxing?

amatuers and pros arent the same bruh.....also we dont have a bunch of guys in their mid to late 20s and 30s fighting teenagers for medals in our country...in the usa, elite amatuers turn pro between 18-22 while other countries have guys defect or turn pro at 25-28...grown azz men lol

Cuba, Europe has a lot of grown azz men fighting kids 21 and younger bro

[therealpugilist]

When was the last time Mexico had an Olympic gold medalist in boxing?

But ask them how many world champions they've turned out.

^^^exactly...pro and ams are two different stories and styles

[Prince Madison]

europe is taking over...

[NEETzsche]

europe is taking over...

If we're talking about amateur boxing, Asia is taking over

[Eff Pandas]

Cuba is still a top boxing country in the amateur ranks. They never were low on the totem pole.

I didn't say they were. I said its more competitive now & that being the case even the people higher up, like Cuba, are feeling the effects cuz they had near total domination in some previous Olympics or were 1st by a mile.

Last year, they got three gold medals with one medalist becoming a two time Olympic champion in two weight divisions (Robeisy Ramirez). The only country that was ahead of Cuban boxing was Uzbekistan, and even they were given a lot of gift decisions.

And 2016 was there best year since 2000. I didn't say Cuba sucks. I'm saying the landscape got more competitive & even Cuba who's a f#cking monster in amateur boxing is feeling the effects so of course a lesser team like the US feels it.

[Eff Pandas]

When was the last time Mexico had an Olympic gold medalist in boxing?

But ask them how many world champions they've turned out.

When has Mexico had a strong amateur program?

Mexico is a perfect example of how little you can accomplish in the amateur game, even with a lot of talent, if you don't support a countries amateur boxing program.

Mexico would be doing well in the lower weight divisions & competing every Olympics for medals if they weren't letting anyone post-puberty turn pro.

[bigdunny1]

2 things going on a lot of other countries sending all their top fighters to olympics and keeping them for a long time where they are in their mid to late 20's competing in multiple rounds of Olypmics against kids. While Americans, Mexicans, ect are turning pro young as a teenager or early 20's to make money. You lucky if you get 1 Olympics out of them and many if the Olympics doesn't fall in the right year they are not delaying their pro debut a year or 2 for the the Olympics.

But outside that the larger issue is the talent pool in America boxing is shrinking. UFC, other major sports are taking potential fighters away from boxing.