Most improved fighters?

Who are the guys past and present who have gone from just average fighters early in their career to go on and be champions or top contenders?

Some names i can think of are

Antonio Margarito: Had 3 losses to no names in his first 12 fights.
Humberto Soto: Started his career 14-4-2, now 43-5-2.
Jhonny Gonzalez was 14-4-0, now 34-6-0
Jonny Nelson was 25-12-1, finished 45-12-2

I know i will have forgotten some obvious names. Who else has gone from a not so good beginning to a great fighter within their careers?

o my o my how anyone could EVER forgot Johnny 'the entertainer :o' nelson! that has to be the most ironic nickname EVER!!!!!

This may not apply, and my knowledge isn't as broad as most on here, but Jorge Linares sure has improved, at least in competition. From fighting alot of lower class guys in Korea and Japan, to really stepping up and abusing Larios. Am I off base on this?

By record:
Rafael 21-3 to 37-4 / One loss in 7 years.
Mijares 11-3-1 to 33-3 / Hasn't lost in 5 years.
Arce 20-3-1 to 47-4-1 / One loss in 8 years.
Cazares 9-3-1 to 25-4-1 / One loss in 7 years.


By style (New):
Cotto by a mile
Mundine
Cintron


By style (Older):
Hopkins
Pac
PBF

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Originally Posted by LEGION

This may not apply, and my knowledge isn't as broad as most on here, but Jorge Linares sure has improved, at least in competition. From fighting alot of lower class guys in Korea and Japan, to really stepping up and abusing Larios. Am I off base on this?

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Not at all, but if you watch some of his early fights he always had the crack in his shots, he has definately refined his swing. Really sharp fighter, maybe the best in that division.

Sam Soliman he was 12-7 after 19 fights.

Oleg Mascaev???/

Won his last 12 fights and improved from a record of 22-5-0 to 34-5-0.

Quite good!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by leftylee

Sam Soliman he was 12-7 after 19 fights.

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And he still fights like an amateur.

Fearless Freddie Pendleton i think was 14-13-2 and went on to be world champ , and even before he was IBF champ he SMOKED fighters like Sammy Fuentes and Roger Mayweather , now thats wot u call improving :)[

i think hard hitter darnell wilson improve on skill alot also alfonso gomez

jose luis castillio 40-4 against not real good competiton when he challenged for his first belt

Our most recent rags-to-riches story Carlos Baldomir should get a mention.

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php...7612&cat=boxer

From 28-9-4 and losing to a man who lost two bouts either side of beating Baldomir before retireing to going on a 7 year winning streak, beating four undefeated fighters including Joshua Clottey before taking the linear welterwweight championship of the world by beating Zab Judah and cementing his posistion by TKOing living legend Arturo Gatti. Before losing to Mayweather Baldomir stood at 43-9-6 a 17 fight winning streak.

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Originally Posted by James

Our most recent rags-to-riches story Carlos Baldomir should get a mention.

http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php...7612&cat=boxer

From 28-9-4 and losing to a man who lost two bouts either side of beating Baldomir before retireing to going on a 7 year winning streak, beating four undefeated fighters including Joshua Clottey before taking the linear welterwweight championship of the world by beating Zab Judah and cementing his posistion by TKOing living legend Arturo Gatti. Before losing to Mayweather Baldomir stood at 43-9-6 a 17 fight winning streak.

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Great shout there pal!

Miguel Cotto and Junior Witter

I'm gonna go with Cotto.

He used to get rocked a lot and looked pretty one dimensional at times

He seems to get better every fight, and against Mosley he looked as close to unbeatable as possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Starr

Miguel Cotto and Junior Witter

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Nice call Starr, Witter is a total idiot but has proved like it or not (and i dont) that he is world class
hate watching or listening to him tho :(