The Hype with Saul Alverez (apologies if spelt incorrectly!)

[marbleheadmaui]

Even if the current amateur system is flawed it surely can't be detrimental to pro fighters?

How many "great" pros had no amateur success? I am not sure about this, but would be shocked if there were many great fighters with limited amateur experience. I Know about guys like Moore and Chavez with next to nothing amateur careers. But they ended up with a million pro fights.

Having a quick look at todays P4P top ten, only Pongsaklek Wonjongkam has no amateur record (i can find), but has reached 82 pro bouts. Everyone else was a successful amateur. Even guys like Pac and Marquez that turned pro as teenagers.

So.. amateur experience surely plays a major role in the progress of pro fighters? Still even today...

For starters every great fighter pre say 1920 had no real amateur background. But we may be mixing two different concepts up. If you're saying almost all great fighters started young in the gym? I completely agree. If you are saying amateur success or vast amateur experience is critical? I can cite lots of examples where it wasn't. JCC, Dick Tiger, Archie Moore, Roberto Duran had I think 15 amateur fights, Jimmy McClarnin was a pro at 15 how much could he have done in the ams? Want crazy though? How about Jimmy Wilde being entirely self taught?

I also think it is fair to say that the ams over since 1988 have been as problematic as they have been helpful.