Mark Breland's Early Career Injuries

[Russell]

Extreme hand problems (Broken), a serious knee issue... Got sick quite a bit too.

Comes along with cutting down to 147 when he was even taller than Thomas Hearn's.

Those things coupled with one of the most extensive amateur careers around and a great 147 talent pool regardless spelled doom for him as far as I'm concerned.

He did amazing things in the amateurs, and destroyed more than one very good and underrated fighters in the first and second rounds as a pro...

Shame, all things considered.

[Russell]

No thoughts on this?!

Anyone follow his career as these things were happening?

[GazOC]

He didn't really have to 'cut' to make 147, I just don't think the longer distance suited his style. In the Ams he could go for the KO or box for 3 rounds (as it was then) if the KO wasn't on the cards. In the pros he found 10 tough rounds hard if the opponent got past the early going. He maybe had too long a amateur career looking back?

[laxpdx]

I remember him as the black recruit who was harrassed by a group of elite racist students in the military drama "The Lords of Discipline".