Thread: If you trained/managed a top prospect?

Paint the picture. You have become the manager or trainer of a 22 yr old fighter. The kid has had 120 amateur fights with only 5 losses. He has won a world amateur title, and is lookin to turn pro.
What route do you take? Do u put him in against seasoned pros early trying to get a world title shot early like tszyu or mayweather or DLH.

Or do you bring him along slower like happned with Hatton, or even Kessler?

What would u do?

Depends on the fighter,depends on the division
I got a female fighter who tore through the semi-pros like the hand of god
Ive got a male fighter just starting amateur with real promise
Ive got another one whose a big ol ? as far as heart

Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey

Depends on the fighter,depends on the division
I got a female fighter who tore through the semi-pros like the hand of god
Ive got a male fighter just starting amateur with real promise
Ive got another one whose a big ol ? as far as heart

Well we will say this hypothetical fighter has had three fights against mediocre pro fighters and had three 1st round ko's. Next fight do you take on a opponent that is

1-5
5-5
15-5?

hmmmmmm it depends on their fighting style too!

someone like hopkins you can have him on HOLD as long as u want

someone like a TYSON who can just plow thru the ranks should get a title shot asap!

someone whos all speed and reflexes u gots get them in asap before their speed reflexes fail them etc

Originally Posted by TheBESTP4P

hmmmmmm it depends on their fighting style too!

someone like hopkins you can have him on HOLD as long as u want

someone like a TYSON who can just plow thru the ranks should get a title shot asap!

someone whos all speed and reflexes u gots get them in asap before their speed reflexes fail them etc

Good points. My theory is that they took too long with Hatton cos he may well have been at the top of his game in his first big fight against tszyu, and could be on the way down now when he should be cashing in. The opposite can apply of course, tszyu's career may have been shortened because he had too many tough fights early. Its about balance i guess.

Originally Posted by eagle

Originally Posted by TheBESTP4P

hmmmmmm it depends on their fighting style too!

someone like hopkins you can have him on HOLD as long as u want

someone like a TYSON who can just plow thru the ranks should get a title shot asap!

someone whos all speed and reflexes u gots get them in asap before their speed reflexes fail them etc

Good points. My theory is that they took too long with Hatton cos he may well have been at the top of his game in his first big fight against tszyu, and could be on the way down now when he should be cashing in. The opposite can apply of course, tszyu's career may have been shortened because he had too many tough fights early. Its about balance i guess.

yeah with hattons style of just bum rushing his opponents and just being so overly aggresive manner that will def not last as long as someone with b-hops style. i totally agree!

COOL CLICK bro!

Its judgement knowing the ability of your fighter, having a good Promoter to back you .Had one kid 16 am fights, was fighting for a world title after 18 pro fights' the others had 70 ams 90 ams 50 ams and 30 ams all boxed for world titles after twenty odd fights 4 winning. All different styles and temprament. Its all down to judgement and knowing what youre doing and having a good team around you.

Originally Posted by eagle

Paint the picture. You have become the manager or trainer of a 22 yr old fighter. The kid has had 120 amateur fights with only 5 losses. He has won a world amateur title, and is lookin to turn pro.
What route do you take? Do u put him in against seasoned pros early trying to get a world title shot early like tszyu or mayweather or DLH.

Or do you bring him along slower like happned with Hatton, or even Kessler?

What would u do?

You bring him along slowly....The first 5 or 6 are gimme fights...then you put him in with guys that are not going to beat him but give him a bit of difficulity (this lets you know on what you need to work on with your guy)....after you make adjustments you get your man a couple more gimme fights so he can add the adjustments to his repitoir....Then if you haven't already get him a southpaw to fight.....Bring him up to the next level of guys on his level to see how that works...again make adjustments if need be...by this time your guy has 12-13 fights and it is time to start facing trial horse type guys and journeyman.....
Contrary to popular belief no matter how good you guy is as an amatuer the pro's are a whole new ballgame....And I don't mean because of no headgear......or scoring system....
If your guy is going to lose you want it to happen early but again not to early...and if he does you want it to be against a guy who is a journeyman or in a close decision....by throwing a guy in with stiffs and speeding him up the rankings to a title shot is not good for a fighter.....for 2 reasons''''

1. False bravado..the fighter believes he is actually better then waht he is and has no clue on what happened...he can care less menatllly all his opp was 5-15 or was ko'd his last 4 times out all he knows and cares about is he is winning....

2. When he does finally have to face an elite fighter (and that time will come) he will not only lose but be ruined mentally and physically....I have seen it happen to a hundred fighters and will see it happen to a 100 more.....mainly with heavyweights but once that confidence is shattered the fighter might as well become a bag boy at the local supermarket because all the skill in the world won't fix his confidence....

Examples---Michael Grant---Lennox Lewis ruined him..

Jeff Lacey--no shame in losing to Calzaghe obviously but look what it has done to him...from fighting has beens and stiffs...

Kermit Cintron--He bounced back and won a title but Margarito embaressed and destroyed him...this due to the overconfidence i spoke of...

If you are a true trainer who knows his shit you know if the guy has it or not...If he doesn't you let him know and have him move on in the name of professionalism and decency..

True that Dax, I remember one of the lads, I put him in for his first Title after 7 fights agaist a 2 times world champ. He was shitting himself, but I knew he could fight, he won.

Funnily enough, I was in this position with a fighter I had named Juan Rubio. Tore through his first 5 amateur fights winning a world amateur title, but didn't get a shot at a pro till his 32nd fight after fighting bums and legends along the way. I've taken other fighters down the exact same route...unfortunately fight night round 3 won't let me take them down any other route!