Impressive Debuts - Who's Got One?

[Russell]

Or a early career that was on a extremely fast track. I've always had a appreciation for fighters who were "thrown to the wolves" or merely so good that they were thrown in there with little to no filler.

Laszlo Papp fought a experienced 31-28-21 guy in his first fight. No world beate,r and Papp was a 3x gold medallist but the amateur game has been far different from the pro ranks for many.

Kosta Tzysu was a finished product the day he stepped into the ring and I think his handlers knew he had stayed a amateur for a few years too many already. He fought Juan LaPorte in his fourth pro match.

Saensak Muangsurin was a world champion by his world fight. Many Thai fighters use their kickboxing experience to jump into the pro ranks, what with the different viewpoints on boxing in Thailand on top of potential fears of being damaged goods in a sport that may be even more physically damaging then boxing.

[Russell]

Duran taking on ATG Ernesto Marcel barely two years after going pro, at the age of 20/21... Unbelievable.

Alan Minter has almost no filler on his record. He was fighting solid competition almost his entire career.

I think Lionel Butler may take the cake here, he had to face Riddick Bowe in his second pro match. :fire:fire:fire

[catasyou]

Oleg Maskaev.

[TBooze]

There was this this bloke who fought the heavyweight Champion on debut, and the #1 contender in his second fight......


But if we are talking wins, then Charlie Magri deserves a call.

He was fighting a 10 rounder on debut, won the British Title on his third fight and then was given ownership of his lonsdale bout because the BBB of C deemed no on e worthy enough to challenge him!

Rafael Marquez debuted against former WBC kingpin and still then contender Victor Rabanles, and lasted eight rounds.

Jeff Fenech was a world title holder six months after turning pro

[catasyou]

Ricardo Mayorga.

Fought decent Humberto Aranda who altough was only 3-0 and more of a rookie himself had an incredible 16 lbs on Mayorga.

Aranda went on to fight in his 40's.

[SteveO]

Oleg Maskaev.

First one that came to mind for me, as well.

[catasyou]

Incidently the russian guy Maskaev beat in his debut who was 21-0 at the time apparently comited suicide after that by ''throwing'' himself out the window.He apparently had some help throwing himself.

[SteveO]

Incidently the russian guy Maskaev beat in his debut who was 21-0 at the time apparently comited suicide after that by ''throwing'' himself out the window.He apparently had some help throwing himself.

According to Boxrec, Alexander Miroshnichenko, died about 10 years after the loss.

[catasyou]

Yeah I said after......didn't say how long after.

[SuzieQ49]

Sonny Liston fought 19-1 Michigan Heavyweight Champion Johnny Summerlin in his 5th pro bout....and took on RING MAGAZINE top 10 lightheavyweight contender Marty Marshall in his 7th pro bout.

Jeffries knocking out contender Hank Griffin in his pro debut is impressive

[catasyou]

Gogea Mitu took on George Godfrey in his pro debut.

[FromWithin]

Beibut Shumenov, fought Donnell Wiggins in his 4th fight (KO2) scheduled as a 12 rounder, beat Montell Griffin (UD12), Epifanio Mendoza (UD10), Byron Mitchell (TKO4) who came as replacement for Alejandro Berrio. He is now 8(6)-0.

[My2Sense]

Samart Payakaroon beat an ex-champ in his debut.

[Sweet Pea]

Duran taking on ATG Ernesto Marcel barely two years after going pro, at the age of 20/21... Unbelievable.

Just 19 actually.

[WhataRock]

Veeraphol Sahaprom fighting for a regional title on debut and winning his first world title in his 4th fight.

[Russell]

Just 19 actually.

My mistake. Even more impressive, Benitez/Cervantes level even considering just how good Marcel was.

[flamengo]

Perhaps the most 'outstanding' award has to go to a Mr. Devaney who tackled a veteran of 83 recorded battes in his fist recorded pro battle...

This encounter being at the Gaeity Theatre in Sydney.. around 1909.

Unfortunately, the brilliance of this battle is tarnished by the name "JOE GRIM"...

Worse still, Devaney lost over the 6 rounds..

[teeto]

There was this this bloke who fought the heavyweight Champion on debut, and the #1 contender in his second fight......




Pete Rademacher?

[TBooze]

Pete Rademacher?

LOL, yeah, I did not mention him by name because he always comes up on these threads, and is a bit cliche.;)

[Drew101]

Here's one.

Micheal Carbajal's pro debut was against Will Grigsby, who would go on to win a couple of jr. flyweight titles in his own right. Not a bad little fight, either, because while Carbajal was the clear winner, Grigsby had his moments in that contest.

[teeto]

LOL, yeah, I did not mention him by name because he always comes up on these threads, and is a bit cliche.;)
Oh alright, i'll remember for next time!

[teeto]

Here's one.

Micheal Carbajal's pro debut was against Will Grigsby, who would go on to win a couple of jr. flyweight titles in his own right. Not a bad little fight, either, because while Carbajal was the clear winner, Grigsby had his moments in that contest.
Really i never knew Grigsby was Carbajal's debut, impressive.

[TBooze]

Really i never knew Grigsby was Carbajal's debut, impressive.

It was Grisgsby second fight though....

It is like giving James Smith credit for fighting James Broad on his debut and beating a future world titlist in his second bout (Parkey).

Or Virgil Hill fighting a future challenger of his 175lbs crown in his third fight (Vedder).

Or Bowe beating Butler on his debut. Hindsight yes, it is a name, but at the time they meant little, indeed Carbajal went further back for having to fight a little on his debut.

He was lucky to a point, that, that big 1988 Olympian bill, was completely overshadowed by a huge snow storm, and this Panamanian fella's ability to turn the clock back six years!

[Drew101]

It was Grisgsby second fight though....

It is like giving James Smith credit for fighting James Broad on his debut and beating a future world titlist in his second bout (Parkey).

Or Virgil Hill fighting a future challenger of his 175lbs crown in his third fight (Vedder).

Or Bowe beating Butler on his debut. Hindsight yes, it is a name, but at the time they meant little, indeed Carbajal went further back for having to fight a little on his debut.

He was lucky to a point, that, that big 1988 Olympian bill, was completely overshadowed by a huge snow storm, and this Panamanian fella's ability to turn the clock back six years!

Actually, I remember Clancy saying that of the opponents that the Olympians were facing that Grigsby was the best of the bunch. And it was a pretty close fight for two rounds (Grigsby even kind of wobbled Carbajal in the second, if my memory serves me correctly), and even though Micheal dropped Steel to one knee and won a clear decision, you could tell even then that Grigsby had some talent and could go places himself if he just stuck to it.

[Drew101]

And, of course, let's not forget that Rafael Marquez fought and lost to Victor Rabinales, a former bantamweight titlist in his pro debut

Edit: Just saw that TBooze had mentioned this. Well, Manuel Ortiz lost to one Benny Goldberg twice, once in his pro debut, and then faced and defeated him in defence of his bantamweight title, so he certainly wasn't matched very easily either from the start.

[TBooze]

Actually, I remember Clancy saying that of the opponents that the Olympians were facing that Grigsby was the best of the bunch. And it was a pretty close fight for two rounds (Grigsby even kind of wobbled Carbajal in the second, if my memory serves me correctly), and even though Micheal dropped Steel to one knee and won a clear decision, you could tell even then that Grigsby had some talent and could go places himself if he just stuck to it.

Of course, Carbajal was matched tough. But I doubt anyone in his camp thought for a second that Grigsby would go on to do what he did.

Because if they did, it was very poor matchmaking.

[The Funny Man 7]

Duran also faced Carlos Mendoza in his debut, who would later be a very respectable conter at junior featherweight, going hard rounds with Wilfredo Gomez, at Gomez's peak.

[ThinBlack]

Ray Leonard fought Willie Rodriguez in his second pro bout, and got stunned pretty bad.

[MagnaNasakki]

Evander Holyfield took on a straight badass in Byarm.

I've never seen a fighter look as good in a debut as Pernell Whitaker. He looked like he was a world champion already. Flawless performance, and even great fighters have only a handful of those over an entire career.

[choklab]

David bey.

[Lester1583]

I've never seen a fighter look as good in a debut as Pernell Whitaker. He looked like he was a world champion already. Flawless performance, and even great fighters have only a handful of those over an entire career.

I can't think of any fighter looking better in a debut than Whitaker too.

Whitaker looked fantastic.

[boxersk]

Tommy Burns in his first pro bout fought Freddie "Thunderbolt" Thornton, it was unexpected to as Burns just went with freinds to watch, but another fighter Jack "Tiger" Cowan slipped climbing through the ropes suffered a sprained ankle. The promoter asked the crowd for a replacement and Burns' freinds edged him on to get in there cuz they knew he had been training for months. Burns ended up winning in the 5th round by KO

[lufcrazy]

I always remember holyfield saying he couldn't believe how tough he was matched on his debut.

The guy was state champion or something like that.

[SJS19]

I honestly think Kostya Tszu could of won a title belt in his first pro fight, he just seemed so, complete. Sweat Pea has a shout too, though he managed to develop from Special to supreme.

Oscar De La Hoya deserves a mention, he was not spoon fed fighters during his early career, Jeff Mayweather being one example.

[Flea Man]

Payakaroon over Vorasingh
Muangsurin over Barro

[Flea Man]

I always remember holyfield saying he couldn't believe how tough he was matched on his debut.

The guy was state champion or something like that.

I believe he asked for a tough fight after his first opponent posed no challenge.