There’s always a twist when an amateur turns pro, especially an outstanding amateur. The decision between becoming a professional or going for the gold medal is a decision that can affect an entire career.
If a fighter is living a comfortable life, does that mean he will spend more time as an amateur and attempt to make the Olympics? If a fighter is struggling financially, does he turn pro earlier to try to make a buck? It depends on a fighter’s hopes, dreams and needs.
There have been many Olympic medalists who have had extremely successful professional careers: 1960 light-heavy-weight Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay); 1976 junior-welterweight Sugar Ray Leonard; 1992 lightweight Oscar De La Hoya; 1996 featherweight Floyd Mayweather Jr., and others. Then there were Olympic medalists who never quite made it to the big stage such as 1996 middleweight Rhoshii Wells and 2000 bantamweight Clarence Vinson.
At Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City (left) last Saturday, 2004 USA Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward faced England’s Carl Froch in the Super Six Tournament Finale. I thought Ward nearly pitched a shutout but it seemed the scoring was a bit off with two judges having it 115-113 (7-5 in rounds) and the third coming in at 118-110 (10-2 in rounds). Boxing writer Bernard Fernandez, of the Philadelphia Daily News, was on target with a score of 118-111 (9-2 in rounds with one even). In my opinion Ward won 10 out of 12 rounds.
Ward is an athletic fighter who looked great. He may be the best super-middleweight around now. He out-schooled Froch by using his jab from the outside and by landing tight crisp shots on the inside.
Froch should have been a little rougher on the inside to throw Ward off his game plan. Instead, he let Ward get inside and gain control the fight from every angle. It looks like former Super-Six Tournament contender Andre Dirrell’s brother, Anthony Dirrell, is now the mandatory challenger for Ward. My money is on Ward.
I remember watching the Ward-Froch fight and wondering why it was not a bigger event in the United States. Ward does not have that Mike Tyson and Mayweather, Jr., cocky attitude. Instead, he has more of an De La Hoya and Leonard persona. Ward has very strong religious ties though and is very public about them and his nickname is “Son of God”, yet he does not attract viewers.
Ward is the last USA fighter to bring the gold medal home and he is a marketable and likeable person. Yet the announced crowd was less than 6,000 and many in attendance received free tickets.
It is something that will never make sense to me. Why would so many, who claim they would never miss a mega fight, have no idea what else is going on in boxing. It is like watching the Super Bowl every year and having no idea what the teams went through to get there.
Why did the undercard consist of so many out-of-town fighters instead of local talent? If the undercard had been packed with local fighters, the promoter could have sold at least another 1,000 tickets.
Boxing is still a very lively sport, but over the years it has changed. If a sport, team, or athlete is not marketed correctly, the public loses interest. However, that should not take away from their achievements.
The author is a senior at Temple University who is now a part of Peltz Boxing. Follow us on twitter @Peltzboxing and our intern @bamonboxing
Warriors Congratulates Badou Jack for win over Adam “Atom Bomb” Collins
Warriors Boxing President Leon Margules wishes to congratulate former Swedish Olympian turned red-hot super middleweight prospect Badou Jack “The Ripper” (9-0, 8 KO’s) for his devastating TKO 1 over Adam “Atom Bomb” Collins of Ohio last Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Fighting in front of a huge crowd of dignitaries, Jack began the carnage by dropping Collins with a digging body shot before moving upstairs with power to score two more knockdowns before referee Robert Byrd had seen enough at 2:28.
Badou was sensational tonight,” said Warriors Boxing President, Leon Margules. “He’s moved his operations to North America because he’s deadly serious about becoming a world champion. Tonight the fans got to see the kind of power he has at his disposal. First he smashed Collins to the ribs and then when he had him afraid of the body shots, he brought it upstairs and put him away.”
Margules says he’s impressed by the improvement the hard-working Jack has shown since moving to Las Vegas.
“You can see him getting rid of his amateur style and really sitting down on his shots. It’s a beautiful thing to watch a young fighter turn into a championship contender fight-by-fight.”
Jack is scheduled back in the ring in February in Las Vegas.
For more information, visit www.warriorsboxing.com.
Michael Maguire: Christmas Canceled, Faces Najah Ali On 13th January
Super Flyweight sensation Michael Maguire’s much anticipated return to the ring earlier this month failed to materialize, following opponent Najah Ali’s having to withdraw the day before they were due to face each other on the undercard of the Lee Selby-John Simpson British and Commonwealth title clash.
Earlier today Francis and George Warren announced that the match up, between the former Junior European Champion Maguire and 2004 Olympian Ali, will now take place on the undercard of Maguire’s TRAD TKO team mate Leon ‘Solid’ Williams British Cruiserweight title defense, against Southern Area Champ Tony ‘The Conqueror’ Conquest, at York Hall in London on Friday 13th January 2012.
Following a full on sparring session with Super Featherweight George Jupp, who is also on the card on the 13th, former World under-nineteen #1 Maguire said, “Najah had the flu so obviously couldn’t fight me then, so we’ll fight on January 13th instead.
He’ll be fitter, he’ll be training hard to try and beat me, which he wont because I’m going all the way to the top.
I’ve started training hard so I’m ready for the new date. I’ve been sparring George Jupp, I really rate him, he’s really good. He’s two or three weights above me and I can stand and trade with him, which is good
Also been sparring with Martin (Power), he’s all right, you know what I mean, he’s strong on the inside but too easy to pick off.
I’m 22, I’ve always cheated myself in life yet still won my fights, now I’m doing everything right so I come back better and better.
It’s hard being away from my family over Christmas but I just have to knuckle down and do all the stuff that I hadn’t done before and it’ll pay off so it’s worth it. I’m taking this return serious, no messing I’m going all out to beat Najah on the 13th.”
Michael Maguire versus Najah Ali features on the undercard of Leon ‘Solid’ Williams British Cruiserweight title defense against Tony ‘Conqueror’ Conquest which headlines Francis and George Warren’s Queensberry Promotions first event of the New Year, which takes place at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London, on Friday 13th January 2012 and broadcast live on BoxNation (Sky platform Channel 456 & Virgin 546)
Tickets, Standard Seated £40 and Ringside SOLD OUT for Williams vs. Conquest are available now on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com. Tickets are also available direct from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.