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Sporting News
Top 11 Olympic boxing champions who became all-time greats as professionals
By Tom Gray,
1 day ago
As we count down the hours to the Olympic boxing finals at Paris 2024, fight fans will be hoping to catch an early glimpse of the sport's next all-time great. This has become something of a tradition, with a gold medal signaling the beginnings of an epic fistic rise.
Over the decades, across every weight class, the Olympics have turned out some of the finest and most decorated professional boxing champions in the sport's rich history. For a long time, the U.S. was dominant, although there has been a shift in recent years, with other countries establishing their supremacy in boxing.
The Sporting News now looks back at 11 Olympic gold medalists who transitioned to the professional ranks and became all-time great champions as professionals.
(in alphabetical order)
1. Muhammad Ali (USA)
Rome 1960, Light Heavyweight
Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, burst on the international scene with a brilliant display of boxing and electrifying handspeed.
A transcendent athlete with extraordinary charisma, Ali went on to win the heavyweight championship of the world three times and he's the consensus choice as The Greatest of All Time in this division. Notable wins include Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton.
Benvenuti was every bit as successful in the professional ranks as he was in the Olympics.
After winning gold at home in Rome, the popular Italian technician turned professional and won his first 65 pro fights. He reigned as undisputed champion at super welterweight and middleweight, scoring victories over Emile Griffith (twice) and Luis Rodriguez.
Professional Record: 82-7-1 (35 KOs)
3. Oscar De La Hoya (USA)
Barcelona 1992, Lightweight
"The Golden Boy" was aptly named after lighting up the Barcelona games with an infectious smile and a high-voltage left hook.
After signing a big-money professional contract, De La Hoya never looked back, capturing world titles in six weight classes, while scoring career-best wins over Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey and Fernando Vargas, among others.
Professional Record: 39-6 (30 KOs)
4. George Foreman (USA)
Mexico 1968, Heavyweight
Foreman was only 16-4 as an amateur when he ventured to Mexico in a bid to claim Olympic gold.
The colossal Texan succeeded and so began the professional career of one of the most pulverizing punchers in history. After destroying Joe Frazier and Ken Norton in title fights, Foreman was spectacularly knocked out by Muhammad Ali in 1974. Twenty years later, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion ever when he knocked out Michael Moorer.
Frazier was the heavyweight alternate in 1964, replacing injured former amateur rival Buster Mathis at heavyweight. "Smokin' Joe" made the most of the opportunity and smashed his way to a gold medal.
A devastating left hooker, Frazier is best known for his fierce rivalry with Muhammad Ali. As heavyweight champion, the Philly slugger handed "The Greatest" his first professional defeat in "The Fight of the Century" and he also holds victories over Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis, all of whom he beat twice.
Professional Record: 32-4-1 (27 KOs)
6. Sugar Ray Leonard (USA)
Montreal 1976, Light Welterweight
When fans watched Leonard perform the Ali shuffle and release near-invisible multi-punch combinations in Montreal, they knew an unforgettable pro career beckoned.
Leonard went on to become one of the greatest fighters that ever lived, posting wins over fellow legends Wilfredo Benitez, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The great Sugar Ray became a five-weight world champion and was the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world during his heyday.
Professional Record: 36-3-1 (25 KOs)
7. Lennox Lewis (Canada)
Seoul 1988, Super Heavyweight
After suffering defeat at the hands of Tyrell Biggs at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, Lewis returned in 1988 to blast out Riddick Bowe for super heavyweight gold.
As a professional, Lewis had three title reigns and he became the undisputed heavyweight champion. The hard-hitting Englishman (Lewis lived in Canada and had citizenship) proved himself the best of his era, defeating Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko, among others.
Professional Record: 41-2-1 (32 KOs)
8. Vasiliy Lomachenko (Ukraine)
Beijing 2008, Featherweight/ London 2012, Featherweight
Lomachenko is the only fighter on the list to claim double Olympic gold. And if that's not good enough, the Ukrainian wizard went 396-1 as an amateur and avenged his only loss twice.
While some might argue that Loma doesn't deserve the distinction of "all-time great," that's a matter of opinion. He's a three-weight world champion, a former pound-for-pound number one and his skills have been otherworldly. He's accomplished all of that in 21 fights and is still winning world titles to this day.
While Spinks had an easier trip to Olympic gold than most due to two walkover bouts and a bye, he still had to beat two of the best fighters in his weight class to reach the podium top spot.
Spinks achieved all-time great status at light heavyweight. "The Jinx" became undisputed champion and got the better of Yaqui Lopez, Marvin Johnson, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Dwight Muhammad Qawi in title fights. Two wins over aging heavyweight champ Larry Holmes was the icing on Spinks' cake.
His older brother, Leon, took light heavyweight gold in Montreal and would beat Muhammad Ali as a professional to win the heavyweight championship.
Professional Record: 31-1 (21 KOs)
10. Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
London 2012, Heavyweight
A dazzling amateur, Usyk frequently gave away weight in the unpaid ranks but achieved Olympic glory, nonetheless.
Turning professional as a cruiserweight, the Ukrainian southpaw owned the division by outclassing three dangerous world titleholders on enemy territory to become the undisputed champion. Usyk recently achieved that same distinction at heavyweight by outpointing Tyson Fury, which followed a pair of quality wins over Anthony Joshua.
Who's currently the best heavyweight in this era? Silly question!
Professional Record: 22-0 (14 KOs)
11. Pernell Whitaker (USA)
Los Angeles 1984, Lightweight
Whitaker captained the greatest U.S. team in Olympic boxing history, competing alongside the likes of Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor and Mark Breland.
As Olympic champion, "Sweet Pea" turned professional to great acclaim and became a four-weight world champion and one of the greatest defensive fighters ever. Signature wins came against Azumah Nelson, Jose Luis Ramirez and Buddy McGirt, while a contentious draw with Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez is remembered as one of the worst decisions in boxing history.
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