Would the americans have been as dominant...
Had the soviet's been allowed to turn pro? Just a few e.g's:
-Vladimir Nikolaevich:
An olympic champion, three time european champion, and three time champion of the USSR, he was honoured with the prestigious Soviet title "Master of Sport" (equivalent to induction into Hall of Fame) in 1956.
-Igor Vysotsky:
The man who had Teofilo Stevenson’s number! 185 fights, 161 victories, half of which ended early. Not only did he beat stevenson twice he defeated a host of great americans like
tony tubbs, mitch green, greg page etc
-Nikolai Korolev:
The Champ Who Couldn’t Fight Joe Louis! 4 time Absolute Soviet Champion, 9 time Champion of the USSR, Champion of the Socialist Olympics in Antwerp.
-Gennadi Ivanovich:
217 bouts. 203 victories. Gold Medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games. European Champion twice, Champion of the USSR 3 times.
-Alexander “Miron” Miroshnichenko:
Alex won a bronze at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea, captured the world title twice, was European champ twice, and finally was champion of the USSR three times. He stopped lennox lewis and beat riddick bowe too (arguably beat him twice!)
-Igor Ruzhnikov:
“I had much tougher opponents than Roy Jones”. 185 bouts, 163 victories, World Champion 1989, European Champion 1989, Champion of the USSR 1989, Silver Medal USSR Championships, 3 time Bronze Medal winner USSR Championships, Winner of the GoodWill Games in Moscow 1986 in which he defeated roy jones.
-Vyacheslav Lemeshev:
Olympic champion of the 1972 Munich games. Beat the great laszlo papp. In the USSR-USA Match Meet, Vycheslav beat American Micheal Spinks too.
Check em all out.
