So who's the next "great American hope" in boxing?

[TitoFan]

You'd hope that someone would come through. As I said... it's kind of a chain reaction of sorts. The presence of a new superstar in U.S. boxing would bring the casual fans back to the sport. Two things would help: 1) preferably in a "major" weight division, such as welterweight, middleweight, or heavyweight. And 2) although it has nothing to do with boxing, it would help if the fighter was a least a bit humble, and could stay out of jail as much as possible. You might add not being caught with PEDs, and not having recurring weight issues.

[DavilaJones]

Garry Russel Jr is pretty damn good. I like the guy and he is pretty talented.
Andre Ward is charming and all he really needs to make it big is a big PR push because in terms of legibility, he has it.

Asides those two I don't see anyone else and the reason really is America's piss poor amateur system. Compared to college football/baseball/basketball amateur boxing in US is shit. So when you hear a guy is a golden glove champion it doesn't mean as much as it used to way back in the day. So when an Eastern European boxer takes him to school no one should be shocked. Same thing can of course be said of Cuban boxers and their very deep amateur talent pool.

Long story short if America really wants to have big named boxers rather than being the best platform for boxing it needs to invest into its amateur program.

[TitoFan]

Good points all. But consider the following: A country like Mexico does not have a world-class amateur program, but is very successful in the pro ranks. Over here in Puerto Rico, we go through the same cycle every Olympics. We have several, very young, excellent prospects. But because they're young and comparatively inexperienced, we rarely medal. Then, for the next Games... these fighters have already turned pro... and we're back to a new crop of young, inexperienced prospects. Puerto Rico also has a great history in the pro ranks.

By contrast, you have some European countries who excel in the amateurs, and rake up the Olympic medals. Why? Because their boxers stay amateur into their 30's. And they become experts at the Olympic style of boxing, which rewards contact frequency rather than punch effectiveness. But these same countries then have few world champions in the pro ranks.

Apparently you can't have your cake and eat it too. I think it's a bit more complicated than just overhauling the amateur program.

Although on the other hand, and in favor of the point you make..... if you invest heavily in the amateur program.... just by the sheer increase in numbers (of boxers).... the probability of "the next great hope" emerging would certainly go up.

[DavilaJones]

Good points all. But consider the following: A country like Mexico does not have a world-class amateur program, but is very successful in the pro ranks. Over here in Puerto Rico, we go through the same cycle every Olympics. We have several, very young, excellent prospects. But because they're young and comparatively inexperienced, we rarely medal. Then, for the next Games... these fighters have already turned pro... and we're back to a new crop of young, inexperienced prospects. Puerto Rico also has a great history in the pro ranks.

By contrast, you have some European countries who excel in the amateurs, and rake up the Olympic medals. Why? Because their boxers stay amateur into their 30's. And they become experts at the Olympic style of boxing, which rewards contact frequency rather than punch effectiveness. But these same countries then have few world champions in the pro ranks.

Apparently you can't have your cake and eat it too. I think it's a bit more complicated than just overhauling the amateur program.

Although on the other hand, and in favor of the point you make..... if you invest heavily in the amateur program.... just by the sheer increase in numbers (of boxers).... the probability of "the next great hope" emerging would certainly go up.

I agree with you on the fact that an 'Olympic style' of boxing rewards high arm punch output rather than effective punching and also that most European medalists are in their late 20's - early 30's. There's one thing though, in terms of pure technique and angle you'd have to agree that a deep background in the amateurs helps.

You make another good point in regards to mexico. As far as I understand it, there's quite a few boxing gym rivalries and also most boxers don't come from middle class or upper class backgrounds. It is not a sport that a son of a doctor or a lawyer would have a tendency to gravitate towards. That being the case and the GDP/head of Mexicans is lower than Americans.

More people perhaps seeing success in boxing as a way to move up the social ladder? This I don't honestly know but I would guess is the reason why.