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Cuba did it for decades. A bunch of grown men with fake birth certificates beating up on teenagers.Comment
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How is it bullying when most of the other guys were the same sort of age? Maybe it's a generational thing but I remember a time when there was no pro- Boxing in the Eastern bloc countries and these dudes would stay Ams till they retired, simply because there was no choice. Besides Profossional boxing was frowned upon as corrupt and decadent in many of these countries and so even when the door was opened a bit (by dudes like Tszyu, Jirov and the Klitschkos, there was little hurry to follow 'em because without a professional scene there were no opportunities without emigrating... a massive risk for most guys with no guarantee of success.
The culture is slowly changing whether for better or for worse, with guys like Golovkin and Kovalev breaking through into the popular US market and guys like Lomachenko, Usyk and Gassiev following and bringing some kind of 'respectability' to the nascent pro sport in their home countries.Last edited by Citizen Koba; 10-20-2019, 02:46 PM.Comment
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The amateurs isn't just a vehicle for producing pros.
Pro boxing is a completely different thing. Prize fighting isn't for everyone.Comment
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This ^. A lot of guys seem to be under the impression that the ammys is merely some kind of stepping stone til guys get to the 'real thing', probably because that is pretty much how it's treated in the US and Mexico, but traditionally many top ams, especially from the ex-Soviet / Eastern bloc countries never had any expectation of turning pro and anyway had few if any opportunities to do so.Comment
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EU block and Cuba have prestige and Govt. backing for their guys to aim high at the Olympics and routine quota to earn medals. The ams are basically their stay busy fights as they refine their skills, and even being on the team is a goal.
Thing is though the Pros separate the dogs from the Wolves. Many pros go in with mean intentions and different grit vs a highly decorated amateur whom has to rely on the sweet science.
This is why Floyd Mayweather Jr. has excelled higher than anyone because of his family pedigree. It’s that old school family grit and knowledge that can even challenge the best of chess players in the sport. Canelo’s got a similar influence from the saturation of his brothers, and of course, a good trainer and Chololo Larios helping out in camps with the knowledge when he was a youngie.
The only real problem is that Abel Sanchez wore the same jeans in almost every media workout or gym invite video. As if he were broke. How does a trainer move fluidly wearing tight jeans to begin with?Last edited by Thuglife Nelo; 10-20-2019, 03:19 PM.Comment
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It would be much better for them to turn pro earlier. I am excited about how good Beterbiev is but he is already a boxing old man at 34 years old. Great looking middleweight Dervy is 33 years old. Beterbiev would have a better future if he was 27 years old or even 29 years old like Bivol. These guys are already past prime physically when they win the title even though they are great fighters. Loma should have turned pro about 7 years before he did.Comment
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They are paid well and well respected in their countries (which leads to sponsorships and other perks). To turn pro they would have to leave their country and then be a B side fighter for the rest of their life basically and they all are not happy to go down that route.
Germany was probably the pioneer in bringing in ex Amateur eastern bloc super fighters and turning them into superstars. The USA followed suit about a decade after them.Comment
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Another thing too, not all are after the money believe it or not and also the fact that the Amateurs is the true form of sport (unlike the pros being commonly called a business disguised as sport).
There's a reason Olympic Gold Medalists are so well respected forever.
As an Amateur you go to a tournament and you fight everybody, all in their prime.Comment
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Guys in their Mid 20's and even Early 30's in the Amateurs should NOT be allowed to compete with Teenagers and younger guys. Even worse is PROS being allowed to comeback to Amateurs and Olympics is really a F#CKING JOKE! Richard Torrez Jr situation vs
Bakhodir Jalolov caused some controversy. Jalolov is already a 6-0 Pro with 6 KO's, no clue why he is even back as a Amateur
Italy Heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle was an Amateur his entire career and he is like 40 years old now. I remember him fighting AJ in the finals in 2012 Olympics and years later he was still fighting and competing with guys like Tony Yoka and Filip Hrgovic in the Amateurs in his Mid 30's
A lot of the Cubans do it also. Currently, Erislandy Savon has to be 30 years old by now and is still competing in the AmateursLast edited by sicko; 10-20-2019, 04:41 PM.Comment
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