Via Ken Hisner: Amateur failures have been reversed many times, and what immediately reminds me is when Henry Tillman twice beat Mike Tyson in a make-up match in 1984 by split decision and first time in trial by decision. . In 1990, Tyson knocked out Tillman, 20-4, in the first round in Las Vegas, NV.
There are big fights coming up and rematches can happen from amateur to professional. For example, when looking at Ryan Garcia’s amateur record, he had the following fights: He beat Brandun Lee, who is now 27-0 and is an ultralightweight boxer. He beat Vergil Ortiz, Jr., 19-0, and is now welterweight. He lost 1-2 to Devin Haney, 29-0, and is now the undisputed lightweight champion. He lost to Shakur Stevenson, 19-0, the former super featherweight world champion now lightweight.
“Smokin” Joe Frazier lost to Buster Mathis twice in the 1964 Olympic competitions. In 1968, he stopped Mathis, 23-0, for the vacant NY State Athletic Commission title in New York City, NY.
Muhammad Ali then Cassius Clay split into two fights with Jimmy Ellis in the amateur weight division. In 1971, Ali defeated Ellis, 30-6, in an NABF title match in Houston, TX.
WBO heavyweight champion Francesco Damiani twice lost to Tyrell Biggs in the amateur weight category, including once at the 1984 Olympics. He defeated Biggs, 15-1, in 1988 in Milan, Italy.
Tony “TNT” Tubbs lost to Greg Page in the amateurs twice in 1978. At the pro, he defeated Page, 24-3, in 1985 in his WBA world title defense by decision. located in Buffalo, NY.
Marvis Frazier lost to James Broad in the 1980 Olympic Trials in his final amateur bout. In April 1983, he defeated Broad, 12-0, in Atlantic City, NJ.
“Sugar” Ray Leonard lost to Randy Shields in the 1973 amateurs. He beat Shields, 31-4-1, in 1978 in Baltimore, MD.
Willie De Witt split two matches against Henry Tillman in 1984, losing the second at the 1984 Olympics. In his final match in 1988, he defeated Tillman, 17-3, in Edmonton, CAN.
Nate Miller lost to Orlin Norris in 1986 in the amateurs. In 1985, he defeated Norris, 43-3, in London, United Kingdom. In 1998, he lost to Norris, 48-5, in Marksville to win the IBA Cruiser title.
Hope others add to this list!
