Anthony Ogogo Torn Over Whether To Turn Pr...
Glax0r
04 Oct 2012
Anthony Ogogo torn over whether to turn professional
British Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo says he may have to deny his "massive desire" to go to Rio 2016 in favour of turning professional.
The 23-year-old from Lowestoft is considering offers from promoters.
"It's a lovely position to be in. I just need to take my time and make the right decision for my future, myself and family," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.
British Olympians turned pro
Ogogo produced one of many memorable moments for Great Britain at London 2012, beating Ukraine's world number one and world champion Ievgen Khytrov on his way to a middleweight bronze medal.
That performance, after nine months of shoulder rehabilatation, has attracted attention from promoters from around the world.
And, while the lure of big-money payouts for professional fights is a strong one for the Suffolk fighter, he has refused to rule out the possibility of competing at next year's world championships and even in Rio in four years' time.
"There's a massive desire there. I'll go to the world championships with a bye now because of my Olympic medal," he explained.
"It will be nice to build on the success, go to the worlds and medal and then go to Rio as one of the favourites.
"I have a burning desire to do that. But on the other hand I've got the option of turning professional.
"I'm 23 now. So the next four years of my life I'm going to develop - get a house, kids - and it's hard to do that on the shoestring budget I live on.
"It's a tough one. Do I stay amateur and go for Rio? My build-up to London wasn't easy. If there was a guarantee of going to Rio I may stay amateur. But the qualifying is tough.
"It's a nice position to be in. I've got some big promoters from around the world who would like to sign me.
"And amateur boxing want to keep me as well because they want to build on my success."
Anthony Ogogo was talking to BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin
Also related to this story
British Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo says he may have to deny his "massive desire" to go to Rio 2016 in favour of turning professional.
The 23-year-old from Lowestoft is considering offers from promoters.
"It's a lovely position to be in. I just need to take my time and make the right decision for my future, myself and family," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.
British Olympians turned pro
- Lennox Lewis: Gold at 1988 Games (representing Canada). Pro record - 41 wins, one draw, two losses.
- Amir Khan: Silver at 2004 Games. Pro record - 26 wins, three losses
- Audley Harrison: Gold at 2000 Games. Pro record - 28 wins, five losses.
- James DeGale: Gold at 2008 Games. Pro record - 12 wins, one loss.
- David Price: Bronze at 2008 Games. Pro record - 13 wins, no losses.
Ogogo produced one of many memorable moments for Great Britain at London 2012, beating Ukraine's world number one and world champion Ievgen Khytrov on his way to a middleweight bronze medal.
That performance, after nine months of shoulder rehabilatation, has attracted attention from promoters from around the world.
And, while the lure of big-money payouts for professional fights is a strong one for the Suffolk fighter, he has refused to rule out the possibility of competing at next year's world championships and even in Rio in four years' time.
"There's a massive desire there. I'll go to the world championships with a bye now because of my Olympic medal," he explained.
"It will be nice to build on the success, go to the worlds and medal and then go to Rio as one of the favourites.
"I have a burning desire to do that. But on the other hand I've got the option of turning professional.
"I'm 23 now. So the next four years of my life I'm going to develop - get a house, kids - and it's hard to do that on the shoestring budget I live on.
"It's a tough one. Do I stay amateur and go for Rio? My build-up to London wasn't easy. If there was a guarantee of going to Rio I may stay amateur. But the qualifying is tough.
"It's a nice position to be in. I've got some big promoters from around the world who would like to sign me.
"And amateur boxing want to keep me as well because they want to build on my success."
Anthony Ogogo was talking to BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin
Also related to this story
- Fatigue 'cost Ogogo final place' 13 Aug 2012 Olympics
- Boxer Ogogo secures stunning win 02 Aug 2012 Olympics
- Ogogo begins 2012 injury comeback 24 Feb 2012 Boxing
- Shoulder operation hits Ogogo bid 11 Nov 2011 Olympics
- Olympics before titles for Ogogo 19 Oct 2010 Boxing
BoxingFan
04 Oct 2012
Glax0r, on 04 October 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:
"People don't realise there's no money in amateur boxing at all. You do it for the glory and the prestige."
Do they not? The clue is in the title.
DG.
04 Oct 2012
Some amateurs will get paid bette than most pros due to lottery fundng.
He might as well go Pro, I don;t think he wil improve on his Olympis medal. Not sure how he goes as a pro, but the signing on fee will get him a good deposit for a house.
He might as well go Pro, I don;t think he wil improve on his Olympis medal. Not sure how he goes as a pro, but the signing on fee will get him a good deposit for a house.
hitman_hatton1
04 Oct 2012
he should go pro.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
BoxingFan
04 Oct 2012
hitman_hatton1, on 04 October 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:
he should go pro.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
You're a big fan already, aren't you?
watson748
04 Oct 2012
Isn't there something afoot where there trying to pay amateurs for certain competitions so that they don't feel that they have to turn over to the pro ranks. I think it was some tourney that they could compete in that allowed them to earn a decent wage.
BoxingFan
04 Oct 2012
watson748, on 04 October 2012 - 10:18 AM, said:
Isn't there something afoot where there trying to pay amateurs for certain competitions so that they don't feel that they have to turn over to the pro ranks. I think it was some tourney that they could compete in that allowed them to earn a decent wage.
Don't worry, we weren't expecting you to be more specific.
watson748
04 Oct 2012
BoxingFan, on 04 October 2012 - 10:23 AM, said:
Don't worry, we weren't expecting you to be more specific.
BoxingFan
04 Oct 2012
watson748, on 04 October 2012 - 10:27 AM, said:
That answer was the best I could manage. Its been a long day with the patent lawyers and my brain is like goo.
Was that the excuse the day you thought Scotland beat the All Blacks?
hitman_hatton1
04 Oct 2012
BoxingFan, on 04 October 2012 - 10:16 AM, said:
You're a big fan already, aren't you?
agogo's alright.
he comes to fight.
better than eubank jr anyway.
watson748
04 Oct 2012
BoxingFan, on 04 October 2012 - 10:29 AM, said:
Was that the excuse the day you thought Scotland beat the All Blacks?
DG.
04 Oct 2012
hitman_hatton1, on 04 October 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:
he should go pro.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
he's not quite good enough to beat the best guys around.
sign with warren and get fed a load of duds.
