How much does a stellar Amateur record set you up for a promosing Pro Career?

[beenKOed]

I'm interested to get the views of you guys on this, as when a fighter starts out with very little amateur experience, people are quick to suggest he won't go far, but when a fighter is a top amateur turning pro, people expect that to translate into the pros.

I can think of plenty of examples of top amateurs who didn't make it as a pro, and the recent thread about Anthony Ogogo got me thinking. So my question is, how much stock do you put into a quality amateur record for a fighter turning pro?

A huge majority of the "experts"; trainers, boxing scribes, announcers, commentators, analysts, managers, boxers, fans and promoters say amateur experience is good. The longer the better.
I would say it's like every job, the more experience you have the better you will do.
All the experts are looking at the amateurs with good records just like employers look at college grads, they're looking for people with a proven record, those who stick with it. That's where they want to put their time and money.
Sometimes it doesn't work out, I'll start the list with Audley Harrison because his name seems to piss off all the UK boxing fans. Add as many as you can.

[Beanflicker]

Obviously we can fill up the thread with great amateurs who were awful pros, and awful/non-amateurs who were great pros, but I don't think anyone would argue that a wealth of amateur experience is a HUGE asset to any pro career.

Like mentioned above, it's the expectations set on them that makes their occasional failure stand out.

The reasons for the failures are often personal IMO, and not related to amateur experience not helping in the pros. A lot of times these guys get too much too soon and lose their hunger, or get thrown to the wolves too quickly.

[Master]

Having a good amateur career is helpful to have when you start your pro career but is not a guarantee that you will become world champion. Most top fighters today have had some amateur experience. Audley Harrison is the best example of someone who failed to live up to that amateur potential. A lot of Mexican fighters start young and build up their experience in the professional ranks like Julio Ceaser Chavez.