Did Communism Rob Us Great Champions

[max baer]

Just wandered about anyone know any great cubans or russians etc who were great but the rest of us never heard of due to communism keeping them amateurs. I'd love to be more educated on this as I always wondered. maybe this belongs in the history section.
i once read about a guy they called the cuban ali but cant find it now.

[The D3vil]

Hell yeah, Teofilo Stevenson & Felix Savon come to mind off the top

There was this Russian dude from like the '60s/ who was supposed to be really great too.

I mean, I guarantee you that guys like The Klitschkos, Rigondeaux, Erislandy Lara, Lomachenko, Kovalev, etc. . .aren't the greatest fighters from Eastern Europe/Cuba.

There's many others who probably never got to get out in time.

[Dr. Z]

Just wandered about anyone know any great cubans or russians etc who were great but the rest of us never heard of due to communism keeping them amateurs. I'd love to be more educated on this as I always wondered. maybe this belongs in the history section.
i once read about a guy they called the cuban ali but cant find it now.

The economics of boxing where fighters come form poorer counties that don't speak english makes fighters tough to promote today. Lots of great Russian meaning the old iron curtain and Cubans could not turn pro. The history of the sport will be very different. Look at the champions today going back 25 years. They are heavy of Russians. X-Russians. Just imagine if they was no iron curtain. It's 100% true that UK fighters get the offers and American fighters if they are half way decent get their pockets stuffed. They are very easy to promote. Its like there is a " red line " of boxing...they used to call it a color line.

[Lomadeaux]

Of course it did. That's not even a question.

[max baer]

I think it is a question as being prepared for 3 rounds amateur is nothing like prize fighting for 12-15 rounds.
If eastern bloc athletes have trained only for 3 rounds they are in almost a different discipline. There was an italian super heavyweight olympic champion a few years ago and I asked a boxing guy why he doesnt turn pro and cash in and he said the italian wasnt right for pro fighting. he knows his limits.
the point about looking at it from a promoters point of view selling english speakers is gonna put bums on seats more then non english boxers. as a kid i used to wonder why brits, irish and yanks dominated pro boxing yet watch the olympics and you have so many countries competing. it must be that the amateurs are not in the same sport doing 3 rounds. but help me out if you know better. my boxing friend was not the only guy that talked about amateur and pro boxing being different sports almost.

[The D3vil]

I think it is a question as being prepared for 3 rounds amateur is nothing like prize fighting for 12-15 rounds.
If eastern bloc athletes have trained only for 3 rounds they are in almost a different discipline. There was an italian super heavyweight olympic champion a few years ago and I asked a boxing guy why he doesnt turn pro and cash in and he said the italian wasnt right for pro fighting. he knows his limits.
the point about looking at it from a promoters point of view selling english speakers is gonna put bums on seats more then non english boxers. as a kid i used to wonder why brits, irish and yanks dominated pro boxing yet watch the olympics and you have so many countries competing. it must be that the amateurs are not in the same sport doing 3 rounds. but help me out if you know better. my boxing friend was not the only guy that talked about amateur and pro boxing being different sports almost.

I mean, plenty of amateur greats became great pros too and made the adjustment

Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Evander Holyfield
Sugar Ray Leonard
Floyd Mayweather
Roy Jones Jr.
Vasily Lomachenko
Shakur Stevenson

I have no doubt a few of those Russians and Cubans could've too.

I mean Erislandy Lara & Guillermo Rigondeaux have adjusted

[lamarclark09]

Well, I think you became the great champion but showing the best results.

[mrbig1]

No doubt. Many may have been champ.

[Zaroku]

Yeah it did; and the olympics and pro sports changed forever:

Let them get their money!

I like Boxers who master their craft,

I can’t stop thinking about how we beat Russia Miracle on Ice

Or scar face telling immigration officer “you cannot do to me what Castro hasn’t already done”