Every fighter is different and it really depends on his amateur background...Protect a fighter too long and they become a protected fighter that in their first loss can't cope and end up from a shining prospect to wasted talent....

Trow him in too soon the same as mentioned above could happen but also as was the case with Vargas...He swims in the deep water withy the best but takes too muchg abuse because he is too young and cock strong...

By a real fighter with any hope of a future in the sport by time he has 15 or so bouts you should be seeking a minor title even a stepping stone belt like NABF, NAMA, NABO etc....

By his 25th bout he should most certainly have a world title shot and this is assuming they are not a 2 fight a year fighter but one that fights 4 or so times at minimum the first couple of years....

I don't believe in protecting fighters it just ends up bad in the end no matter what they end up doing...I do believe in grooming a fighter after giving him 8 or so fairly easy bouts in the start to grown confidence then after that each bout is a slight step up....

I mean realize that this is a sport for young men...at 35-40 when the avverage fighter today retires he still has a long life to lead....No reason to have him end up a former punching bag...if he is going to fail find out by time they hit 25-30 so they can at least pursue something that will help them in the real world