By Mohammed Abulkhair: There was once a time when the U.S Olympic Boxing team was a force to be reckoned with. The 80s and the early 90s were standout years for the U.S Boxing Olympic teams.
The 1984 Olympic team was the “Dream team” of boxing; the team won nine gold medals at the games that were hosted in Los Angeles. To be exact the U.S won Gold in nine of the twelve weight classes (Light Flyweight, Flyweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Heavyweight, and Super Heavyweight).
At these games we witnessed stars rise with names such as Meldrick Taylor, and Pernell Whitaker. Henry Tillman was also a name which many had high expectations for, and who won Gold in the Heavyweight division. He was a very well rounded boxer who defeated Mike Tyson twice in the amateurs. However, his professional career at Cruiserweight was not as successful as his amateur career due to Tillman’s weak chin. The U.S. Olympic Boxing teams of 88, 92, and 96 also had won many medals including five Gold ones. In these Olympics big stars rose with names such as Roy Jones Jnr, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya, Ray Mercer, Kennedy McKinney, Riddick Bowe, and Antonio Tarver. However, I believe both Mayweather and Roy Jones were robbed big time in the Olympics, and if it was not for those awful decisions they both would have won Gold. The referee even raised Mayweather’s arm before announcing the decision in which Serafim Todorov won.
The U.S. Olympic team was alongside Cuba in bringing in highly talented amateur boxers.
However, the times have changed now and it seems to be that Cuba, Kazakhstan, and Russia have taken over the Olympics and bringing back the medals to their countries. Since 1996 the U.S. Boxing Olympic team has only won two gold medals; David Reid in 96, and Andre Ward in 2004. Ray Mercer a former Gold medalist and WBO titlist quoted on Fighthype saying “it’s just a different breed of fighters now, and I think back in the day, there was a better breed of people that enjoyed the fights. Not very many enjoy them now. They are good with the little guys, but everyone knows that the Heavyweights are where it’s at and the Heavyweight division right now in the United States is not looking good.
I don’t know what changed, man. It’s like a new era in boxing. I just don’t know what’s wrong”. I very much agree with Mercer, watching these games I came to wonder where are all the viewers in the background, these places look empty. I can remember when ODLH won Gold, and Ray Leonard won Gold the venues were packed with crowds cheering and roaring.
It is true that in professional boxing if you want to make it big you have to fight in the U.S. The U.S. has also produced the greatest champions, in many of the boxing websites and magazines the top 10 of all time are usually all U.S. bred. However, I believe if the promoters and many of the endorsers put some emphasis on the amateur scene we could be seeing many more medals.
Thank you, please comment as I would like to read all points of views.
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