Olympic Boxing 2012: 3 Fighters Who Will Compete for Professional Title
The Olympics used to be the launching pad for future world champions, but the trend has fallen a bit over the last decade. That is especially the case with the United States.
There has only been one American gold medalist in any weight class since 1992, and that was Andre Ward in 2004.
Many of the boxers who have won gold medals recently have gone on to nondescript professional careers, or never made the jump to the pro ranks.
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This trend is likely to continue after the London games, but there are three fighters that have a good to great shot at being solid professionals.
Lazaro Alvarez - Cuba - Bantamweight
Alvarez is the best prospect at the Olympics in my opinion. He has long arms, great feet and very good lateral movement. He won the 2011 World Championships and a gold medal at the Pan-American Games.
Take a look at the video below:
Alvarez is a southpaw that will bang the body and he has solid hand speed. He's only 21 years old, so he has some room for improvement, but he is the one to watch.
Anthony Joshua - Great Britain - Super Heavyweight
The heavyweight division in professional boxing needs a fresh face, maybe Joshua can become that in a few years.
He stands 6'6" and has a solid jab and good power. He shows the ability to counter effectively and his size is intriguing.
The Klitschkos may be gone by the time Joshua is ready to turn pro, but he could be in the mix with the next era of heavyweights.
Rau'shee Warren - USA - Flyweight
Warren will become the United States first-ever three-time Olympian in boxing this year. He has failed to capture a medal in his first two attempts, but he is one of the favorites to medal this year.
Warren has the lowest ceiling of the three fighters, but he is a grinder with tons of heart. He has showed the perseverance to chase his Olympic dream for eight years.
He's a sharp defensive fighter with excellent head and foot movement. He is difficult to solve for many opponents because of his southpaw stance and sharp reflexes.
He will be starting his pro career a bit late (he's 25 years old), but he has great amateur experience to fall back on.
I don't believe he'll win flyweight gold, but he will medal and have a decent professional career.
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