Professional boxers with little or no amatuer experience?

[Ochoa780]

Yes sir. It's been proven time and time again. Jesse James Leija was not allowed to box before he turned 18 after highschool. Big Jameel mccline- was learning on the job, didn't start boxing until his twenties. Most heavyweight athletes can start late as well. Kimbo Slice was a pretty old rookie back in his days. Guys maravilla Martinez made the transition from soccer to boxing. He said it was easy because conditioning was important for both sports. At a certain point to a degree it just depends on the gameplan and the conditioning. Before gifts, such as a blessed right hand, skill, technique: styles make fights. It's up to them to add on to those talents.

I believe Martinez was a cyclist too

[Mike_b]

I believe Martinez was a cyclist too

Coulda been one or the other, I'm not sure. But kudos on calling that out.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Jess Willard, a cowboy.

Started boxing age 29 and a few years later KOs JJOHNSON in an epic fight to take the heavywt crown.

[Thunderstruck]

Nice

One thing that's been on my mind recently is how true is it when people say X had little to no amateur experience especially in the HW division. I've had very little time to do any research but there is some interesting stuff. I'm not an amateurs expert, at all, I didn't even bother to follow or look at ams prior to now so this is just boxrec info with no context.


Wilder is 24-6, meant to be a low figure for a HW champion.

Marciano is 9-4

Ali, 23-1

Tyson, 10-2

Joe Louis, 24-2

Patterson, 18-2

Berbick is 0-3

Ezzard Charles 3-0

Holy 14-6

W. Klistchko 20-4

Vitali 4-2

Fury 6-3

AJ 26-2

Pov 14-2

Martin 10-5

Lewis 24-4

Frazier 7-2

L. Spinks 32-8

I don't think it matters. Wilder oddly has a lot of amateur experience compared to other HW champions. I wonder why we were told he doesn't. Fury, conversely, hardly fought as an amateur for a guy who 'grew up' fighting.

When I get time i'me going to look into all the am records on boxrec for the HW champions and ask wtf.

You left off former champ Pinklon Thomas who I believe never had an amateur fight.Joltin Jeff chandler I believe his name was a tall lanky philly featherweight champ or maybe bantamweight
That fought 2 or 3 amateur fights .

[fourtheboys96]

Pacquiao had very little amateur experience. Turned pro at 16. Became 112lbs champ at 19.

[real raw]

Ali and Vitali had a ton of armature fights. Spinks had close to 185.

[_Rexy_]

James Toney only had twenty or so amateur fights.

[BodyBagz]

Look no further than Nelo's career arc.

[dan_cov]

Nice

One thing that's been on my mind recently is how true is it when people say X had little to no amateur experience especially in the HW division. I've had very little time to do any research but there is some interesting stuff. I'm not an amateurs expert, at all, I didn't even bother to follow or look at ams prior to now so this is just boxrec info with no context.


Wilder is 24-6, meant to be a low figure for a HW champion.

Marciano is 9-4

Ali, 23-1

Tyson, 10-2

Joe Louis, 24-2

Patterson, 18-2

Berbick is 0-3

Ezzard Charles 3-0

Holy 14-6

W. Klistchko 20-4

Vitali 4-2

Fury 6-3

AJ 26-2

Pov 14-2

Martin 10-5

Lewis 24-4

Frazier 7-2

L. Spinks 32-8

I don't think it matters. Wilder oddly has a lot of amateur experience compared to other HW champions. I wonder why we were told he doesn't. Fury, conversely, hardly fought as an amateur for a guy who 'grew up' fighting.

When I get time i'me going to look into all the am records on boxrec for the HW champions and ask wtf.

These are just partial records.
Most of this list had extensive amateur careers & were olympians some of which had in excess of 300 amateur or so fights.

Wilder had the least experience of anyone listed apart from Marciano

[_Rexy_]

Nice

One thing that's been on my mind recently is how true is it when people say X had little to no amateur experience especially in the HW division. I've had very little time to do any research but there is some interesting stuff. I'm not an amateurs expert, at all, I didn't even bother to follow or look at ams prior to now so this is just boxrec info with no context.


Wilder is 24-6, meant to be a low figure for a HW champion.

Marciano is 9-4

Ali, 23-1

Tyson, 10-2

Joe Louis, 24-2

Patterson, 18-2

Berbick is 0-3

Ezzard Charles 3-0

Holy 14-6

W. Klistchko 20-4

Vitali 4-2

Fury 6-3

AJ 26-2

Pov 14-2

Martin 10-5

Lewis 24-4

Frazier 7-2

L. Spinks 32-8

I don't think it matters. Wilder oddly has a lot of amateur experience compared to other HW champions. I wonder why we were told he doesn't. Fury, conversely, hardly fought as an amateur for a guy who 'grew up' fighting.

When I get time i'me going to look into all the am records on boxrec for the HW champions and ask wtf.

There's a lot of Olympians on that list. Not saying you're wrong but it blows my mind Floyd Patterson was an olympic gold medalist with only 20 amateur fights.