Thread: Whatever happened to Thomas Daamgaard ?

I remember 5 years ago Arturo Gatti fought him at weltwerweight and beat him but I never saw or heard about him after that.

He was never anything special but I figure he could have made a good fight with Alfonzo Gomez or Jesse Feliciano or Delvin Rodriguez or those type of fighters.

Anyone know?

Gatti was well over the hill at that time, and was never world class anyway, god rest his sole, so for Daamgaard, that was probably a right kick in the teeth, knowing he couldn't beat anyone better..... Psychologically that probably really hurts I'd say.....

Originally Posted by themacmagician

Gatti was well over the hill at that time, and was never world class anyway, god rest his sole, so for Daamgaard, that was probably a right kick in the teeth, knowing he couldn't beat anyone better..... Psychologically that probably really hurts I'd say.....

True.

I believe Daamgaard was undefeated or close to it when he faced Gatti.

Damgaard was kept away from anyone with a pulse his whole career. Then his promoter cashed him like a human cheque against Gatti when T.D. started to show signs of old age. Not Damgaard's fault really, that's just how boxing works in Denmark.

If I am correct, he retired, took one more fight after the Gatti against a nobody to end up his career on a victory and called it a day.

Originally Posted by Dadi Astthorsson

Damgaard was kept away from anyone with a pulse his whole career. Then his promoter cashed him like a human cheque against Gatti when T.D. started to show signs of old age. Not Damgaard's fault really, that's just how boxing works in Denmark.

That's actually quite pathetic!

I remember this name from back when i first really (i mean really) started to get into boxing. It's funny how names just drop out of your head over time but I defo remember thinking this guy was a serious contender.

In Denmark, one promoter pretty much had hegemony and had a steady TV deal for years. All he had to do was fill a fight card regularly and money would keep streaming in. From the promoter's point of view there was no point in looking elsewhere. This is changing now as the promoter is very old and that TV deal - I think - has dried out.

A lot of these guys were actually quite good, but were never developed to their full potential. Mads Larsen, for example, was a much better talent than Mikkel Kessler, but had problems with that same promoter and his career was pretty much ruined. Compared to him, Kessler is just a really tough guy with a great work ethic. The promoter put in Kessler to replace Larsen against Manny Siaca when Larsen pulled out with an injury. This cost Larsen his title shot and obviously didn't make him very happy.

Originally Posted by Hulk

Originally Posted by themacmagician

Gatti was well over the hill at that time, and was never world class anyway, god rest his sole, so for Daamgaard, that was probably a right kick in the teeth, knowing he couldn't beat anyone better..... Psychologically that probably really hurts I'd say.....

True.

I believe Daamgaard was undefeated or close to it when he faced Gatti.

Yeah he was undefeated...something like 40-0 or close to it....I remember when the fight was signed thinking "Who the hell is this guy and why have I not seem him fight?" I mean with a record like that you would expect to at least to have seen him on ESPN!!!!!

Now I use him as an example on how padded and deceiving an undefeated record can be...If you ever seen his resume his opp is horrible

Who cares

Damgaard was a popular fighter here in DK due to his style and his heart. I guess, he is one of the closest things to a (poor man's) version of Gatti (!) to come out of Denmark.

I know that he has gotten a lot of crap for being ranked so high (The Ring had him no. 4-7 for years) and for having such a padded record, but, as Dadi mentioned here, few people 'in the know' thought of him as more than he was: A good, watchable European-level fighter.

It should also be mentioned that he had a decent (not great) amateur career and turned professional quite late (age 27). Compared to the expectations at the time, his pro career was actually a surprise achievement. He won the European belt the same year he turned pro (199, then defended against Khalid Rahilou which was certainly a solid - and surprising - win. Rahilou was less than six months away from being alphabet champ at the time. Given the circumstances, I think most Danish boxing fans would rank this win among the top 20 moments in Danish boxing during the past 20 years (I know, this might say more about Danish boxing than about the fight).

Unfortunately, beating Rahilou in his 12th pro fight was arguably the finest moment of Damgaard's career too. However, you got to give a certain amount of respect to a guy who turns pro at 27, without too much of an amateur pedigree, and without too much boxing talent either, yet manages to beat Rahilou, Greg Haugen and Alessandro Duran (and 18 others) and win EBU titles in 2 weight classes in less than 32 months after turning pro.

Sure, he was exposed against Gatti - he was in well over his head. However, for me, it was just a great fighter (as in: One of those good guys who make the sport worth following, not as in a great talent) getting his major pay day. I find the comparisons with the Bredahl brothers strange, as they were much better fighters to begin with, while Jimmie Bredahl actually did get the shot with De La Hoya that Damgaard is critized for dreaming of (along with every single other boxer in history).

Oh, and as for the question that started this thread? Damgaard is now retired, and works as TV-announcer during Danish boxing events. Unfortunately, he has very clearly been hit too many times to actually be good at this.