If Mexicans didn't turn pro at 15 I think they'd rule Olympic Boxing.

[rjj tszyu]

Amateur boxing is slap fighting...I don't know of many Mexican fighters who would be great at that.

It's scoring punches with the knuckles though and many mexicans throw lots of punches per round. I think they'd be excellent in the lower weights.

[TigerFan]

I've really enjoyed watching Valdez this week. I read he was the first Mexican to ever medal at a World Championship event...hard to believe I know. If he medals I could see them paying more attention to their amateur program. They could be a force in a few years.

[Spicoli]

Not sure how well maintained-funded the program is there but has to be hard to resist the pull of the States once the amateur notice starts rolling in. They've put out some quality pros out of Olympics, then again you also had a Hbo rush job in Bajado. Hector Lopez won a silver.

Has to be a fine line when to turn pro. Doesn't the States have a team captain in his 4th Olympics?!

[TitoFan]

They're also two different sports altogether. If you look at the list of countries with the most Olympic boxing champions, versus the countries with the most professional boxing champions..... the lists are entirely different.

Mexico is 2nd in pro champions, but not in the top 20 in Olympic champions.
Japan is 3rd in pro champions, ditto on Olympic champions (not in top 20).
Puerto Rico is 6th in pro champions, ditto on Olympic champions.

Then there's Thailand, the Philippines, etc, etc, etc.

The whole argument goes out the window.

[rjj tszyu]

They're also two different sports altogether. If you look at the list of countries with the most Olympic boxing champions, versus the countries with the most professional boxing champions..... the lists are entirely different.

Mexico is 2nd in pro champions, but not in the top 20 in Olympic champions.
Japan is 3rd in pro champions, ditto on Olympic champions (not in top 20).
Puerto Rico is 6th in pro champions, ditto on Olympic champions.

Then there's Thailand, the Philippines, etc, etc, etc.

The whole argument goes out the window.

I think a lot of the above is down to funding. Plus you should really mention that the U.S. is top of both if you are to make that argument. Also the fact that cubans don't tend to become pro's has a major bearing on these facts.