In what ways are amateur boxers superior to professionals?

[Decebal]

And why would a talented, elite amateur refuse to turn pro?

[unitas]

And why would a talented, elite amateur refuse to turn pro?

there are a lot of reasons why a top amateur dont wanna go pro:

1. style. if you have a tall standup style with little power........meaning that you want to box from the outside and not exchange short hooks, then the amateurs are the way for you. cause in amateur boxing there is no infighting.....just cliching.

2.if you dont like bodypunches, dont go pro either. in amateur boxing, bodyshots are almost NEVER counted, so most guys just aim for the head.

3. if you stammina is not that good, dont go pro. some people are excellent for 4 two minute rounds........but run out of gas after that.

4. if you cut too easily, stay amateur. the headgear protects.

[acb]

There are amateur styles and pro styles, and some fighters have styles which succeed in the ams and not the pros, and vice versa.

Some amatuer fighters are capable of throwing punches in bunches, sometimes with little power and compiling points but not hurting their opponents... this style doesnt work in the pros.

Other than that, which amatuers are you talking about that dont go pro? The only examples I can think of are fighters from Cuba.

[Decebal]

Thanks guys. Good answers. Yes, I was thinking of top Cubans who don't turn pro for reasons different than the fact that they would find it difficult/impossible. Are these Cuban "amateurs" (they are really pros, aren't they, because this is all they do?) not as good as the pros?

[unitas]

Thanks guys. Good answers. Yes, I was thinking of top Cubans who don't turn pro for reasons different than the fact that they would find it difficult/impossible. Are these Cuban "amateurs" (they are really pros, aren't they, because this is all they do?) not as good as the pros?

depends. there have been some good ones like gomez and casamayor.

but one also has to remember cases like jorge luis gonzales and so on.

i often believe that while all of them are excellent technical boxers, they sometimes lack ruggedness......

[Bigcat]

great amateurs are often extremely hungry, penniless, tactical geniusses with fabulous defencive skills....

[Decebal]

So why is the pro fight more popular than amateur? Is it because it's more "real"? Or also because the quality of the boxing is higher?

[unitas]

So why is the pro fight more popular than amateur? Is it because it's more "real"? Or also because the quality of the boxing is higher?

there is none of that stupid headgear that makes people look like robots.

and the headgear dont even work.:patsch

[The Kurgan]

One of the few plus points is that amateurs fight regularly and don't go out of their way to avoid each other. There's no "ducking" at the Olympics; you fight who you draw and don't get a bye for injuries.

[Decebal]

One of the few plus points is that amateurs fight regularly and don't go out of their way to avoid each other. There's no "ducking" at the Olympics; you fight who you draw and don't get a bye for injuries.

:good Yes, this is an important plus. Dodging is what I hate most about pro boxing.

[acb]

So why is the pro fight more popular than amateur? Is it because it's more "real"? Or also because the quality of the boxing is higher?

The fights are too short.

There isnt the face recognition needed for the public to identify with fighters because of the head gear.

And the name doesnt exaclty sell either, people think hey why watch amateurs when I can watch pros.

For me, I love going out on a Sunday and watching a full card of amateur fights.

[Decebal]

For me, I love going out on a Sunday and watching a full card of amateur fights.

Why in particular? Because they are more technical? Because the form is purer? Because there is less BS attached? :think

[acb]

Why in particular? Because they are more technical? Because the form is purer? Because there is less BS attached? :think

Less bullshit. I dont really find them more technical, although some are great fighters (I would say on a 20 fight card that there are allways about 4 good bouts). Edit: 4 great bouts, 7 or 8 good bouts

Its the vibe of a packed gym, young fighters with dreams, the way they fight putting it all out there. Every amateur fight is an education for the fighters, in the Los Angeles area I often see the same fighters a couple times a year, and you can visibly see the changes they make in their styles, the education they are getting.

The fights are less than 15 minutes, so if its a bad fight its on to the next fight soon, and if its a great fight you can be sure they will fight their assess off.

Oh, and its usually about 5 dollars to get in. :yep

[Decebal]

Less bullshit. I dont really find them more technical, although some are great fighters (I would say on a 20 fight card that there are allways about 4 good bouts). Edit: 4 great bouts, 7 or 8 good bouts

Its the vibe of a packed gym, young fighters with dreams, the way they fight putting it all out there. Every amateur fight is an education for the fighters, in the Los Angeles area I often see the same fighters a couple times a year, and you can visibly see the changes they make in their styles, the education they are getting.

The fights are less than 15 minutes, so if its a bad fight its on to the next fight soon, and if its a great fight you can be sure they will fight their assess off.

Oh, and its usually about 5 dollars to get in. :yep

Sounds great! Why are they not more popular?

[acb]

Sounds great! Why are they not more popular?

They are popular to a certain degree, usually its a packed house at the cards that I go to see, but mostly friends, fighters and family members, and some old school boxing types who are turned off by the pros of today (these guys can tell you a lot about boxing). I definently recommend you going if you havent been.

As for the popularity issue, I think its just a leftover of the lack of mainstream popularity in boxing in general. Its a shame because one thing I would love to see is a great amateur boxing program in the U.S. People often tell me it was once very different. Its the talent pool in boxing today, so it should get more support. I would like to hear from someone who watched amateur fights twenty years ago to see how it was different.

I think Brooklyn was a fighter back in the day (not sure how far back), he would probably tell us more if we could get him in the thread.

[Decebal]

Thanks for you answer, acb!

[acb]

Thanks for you answer, acb!

:good

[joeboxer]

Well, one thing that is great about the amateurs is that once you get into the quarter finals, the fights get better. Unlike in the pro's where you constantly have crooked sanctioning bodies and promoters putting on mismatches, and good fighters not getting shots because of politics and money, in the amateurs you have the best guys fighting each other for the gold. though it usually has judges that are just as bad.