According to all experts, Roberto Balado was the best superheavyweight amateur fighter ever (since the division has existed from 1984). He won the Olympic gold in '92 and the outstanding boxer of those games and also a three-time world champion. What is your take of him? Are all amateurs frauds, is he another Ibeabuchi who is only remembered because his career was cut short or could he have made some noise at pros too, had he taken Jorge Luis Gonzalez' road? Here are couple of clips of him against familiar opponents <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mkX7j_lCNCE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jOwYYemtzNc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I remember he was the top-ranked Cuban amateur before he died in a car or motorcycle accident. Like any of those factory-produced top Cuban boxers, he would have made some noise, but whether he would have made it to the top---I dunno, the pro game is very different from the amateur game.
Why is that? I think his footwork looks excellent and he is pretty quick too, plus he punched hard. Of course his defense did not get tested very much but I'd say the tools are there.
He's got great timing and speed. But it didn't seem to me like he could only maintain distance comfortably by running around & can't do anything within punching range except throw a volley of big, committed (admittedly accurate and effective) shots and get out of range again. Besides the technical limitations of that against more skilled/versatile fighters I doubt somebody could fight that way over a full 36 minute fight.
