Odds of Each Olympic Boxer's Title Chances in the Prize Ring

The 2012 London Games can only be viewed as a disappointment for American boxing fans. For the first time ever, excluding the boycott year of 1980, not a single male boxer from the United States won a medal. 

For fans who cut their teeth on the legendary 1976 or 1984 squads, it's all a little bit surreal. We're used to seeing our best young fighters go to the Olympics and win glory.

Of course, for people who follow the sport, it's no secret that Olympic gold isn't even on the radar anymore for a lot of top prospects. Scoring changes adopted after the 1988 games have transformed the amateur version of the sport over the last generation.

Top international tournaments like the Olympics are no longer viewed as a kind of ultimate proving ground for aspiring professional stars; instead they are seen as a distraction. 

In the August edition of The Ring, 1992 gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya was unequivocal: "Now, I would have gone pro, because of that system. Yes, I'd have definitely gone pro." 

Still, for a young fighter looking to go pro, an Olympic pedigree is never going to be a disadvantage. For promoters looking to sell tickets and garner press notice, putting a former Olympian on the card is always going to have some value. 

This squad may be the least successful of all time, but the pro game is an entirely different matter. It will be a fresh start for any who want it, and at least a few of them look to me like they could make some noise in the professional ring. 

Dominic Breazeale went one-and-done in the Olympic tournament, but just qualifying for the Games was quite an athletic accomplishment for the 6'6" Breazeale, who did not even start boxing until 2008. It took a gritty performance and a second place finish at a qualifying tournament in Brazil. 

Breazeale is a former college quarterback, having started two years at the University of Northern Colorado. He was recruited into boxing by television producer Michael King, who has set up a gym called "the Rock" in Carson, California, with the express goal of cultivating a new generation of American heavyweights. 

So in all likelihood, a professional run is the long-term goal for Breazeale. At this point, he can only be viewed as a long shot. He is very raw for 26.

A career move like this, from football to boxing, is not entirely unheard of. Former NCAA gridiron star Seth Mitchell has fought his way close to the top ten. 

But Breazeale doesn't have the athleticism of Seth Mitchell. Mitchell was a Division I, All-American linebacker destined to play on Sundays, prior to a career-ending injury that left him a step too slow for football, but unaffected as a prizefighter. 

Breazeale was a quarterback in Division II, who drew little interest from pro scouts. Still, people who make it their business to evaluate potential heavyweight talent have thought enough of his prospects to back him financially.

He has made tremendous progress so far in his short career, and has the tools to make an impact, so long as he has the desire to stay focused on what will be a very steep uphill climb into the professional ranks. 

After winning three U.S. national championships and the Olympic qualifier tournament in Brazil, Hunter had a disappointing Olympic tournament, losing in the opening round. 

Hunter is the son of 1980's and 90's contender Michael "The Bounty" Hunter, who complied a pro record of 26(8)-7(1)-2 and recorded victories over such noteworthy opponents as Pinklon Thomas and Oliver McCall. Expect to see him follow his late father's footsteps into the professional ring. 

At 24, he has put together a solid skill set. He'll bring a very quick, stiff jab with him into the pro game, one of the most important, and currently overlooked, punches in the sport. He should be a prospect worth watching in the cruiserweight division.

In their August Olympic preview, The Ring noted that Browne has been compared to Chad Dawson. The 21-year-old was viewed as among the team's top prospects, and his 13-11 first round loss to Australian Damien Hooper was something of a shocker for Team USA. 

The Staten Island native fought an uneven, at times overly-cautious fight. Chris Mannix of Sport's Illustrated quoted him after the fight as admitting "I was a little nervous."

The London setback aside, Browne has the resume and toolbox you like to see in a professional prospect. He's got range and pop in his fists. His footwork is solid and his style awkward and difficult to penetrate. 

Okay, we'll ignore for a second that the title on this linked video is prematurely ridiculous. To refer to Terrell Gausha, or just about any other amateur fighter, as the "next Floyd Mayweather" is guaranteed to earn eye-rolls and groans. 

But the 24-year-old Gausha has legitimate promise. He entered the Olympics on a roll, having won gold at the qualifying tournament in Brazil. 

He recorded the first knockout of the Games in his opening round match. He lost a close second round match to India's Vijender Singh. In a tournament filled with lousy decisions, I felt like this was one of the worst. 

Gausha is not huge for a middleweight, but he is very solid. He has good power and a demonstrated ability to put opponents away when they are in trouble. He should get every opportunity to shine in the professional ranks. 

The 22-year-old Spence made it the furthest of any American male in the Olympic tournament. After losing a blatantly incorrect decision in the second round, he was saved by an early a.m. ruling by the AIBA, that overturned his loss and kept him alive. 

The controversy will probably help Spence somewhat from a marketing perspective. He will leave London as one of the most recognizable names on the boxing roster. 

Spence is a very good athlete, with enough hand and foot speed to do well in the volume punching, amateur version of the sport. But his physical strength should translate well into the professional ranks. 

He fights at what is right now the most competitive weight class in the sport, so even with the added shine of an Olympic pedigree, he will have to build himself up steadily. 

Jamel Herring is a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, with two combat tours in Iraq. He credits his service with making him a tougher person in and out of the ring. 

In this very interesting interview with Pro Boxing Insider, he discusses his background in the sport. By his own admission, he doesn't necessarily have elite athletic talent, but has patiently built himself up with intelligent study of his craft. 

Any American boxing fan is going to want to see Herring do well. At 5'10", he has great length for his weight class, and his skill set is extremely polished. Against lower level competition, he can look very, very good. 

But his athleticism is a question mark. Whereas some of the U.S. Olympians seemed to suffer from nerves and excess caution, Herring simply looked outclassed by Daniyar Yeleussinov's hand speed. 

His current enlistment in the Marines is due to expire in a few months, and he has reportedly not yet reached a decision about re-enlistment. 

He is a bit old to be turning professional, but with his background and ring-smarts, he could continue to represent himself well in the pro game. It is also easy to envision Herring, with his stellar leadership skills, developing into a very successful trainer and coach. 

Ramirez just turned 20 during these Games. It didn't end up being the birthday celebration he had envisioned, as his opening round exit was among the biggest disappointments for Team USA this year. 

The Central California native has been boxing since he was eight, and entered the Olympic tournament with high hopes and bold predictions. The Fresno State business major has already got off to a big head start at marketing himself. His website is TheFutureChamp.Com.

His single fight in London would have to be described as lackluster. I'm personally chalking it up to nerves getting the better of a young athlete—it happens.

He has the potential to do much better in the professional ranks. 

Joseph Diaz Jr. would be my pick for MVP on the 2012 squad. I also think he is the top overall professional prospect. 

Just 19, the South El Monte, California native showed poise and intelligence beyond his years. He won his opening round fight against Pavlo Ishchenko of the Ukraine going away, 19-10.

In the next round, he faced 2011 world champion and eventual silver medalist Lazaro Alvarez of Cuba. Alvarez prevailed by a score of 21-15, but the fight looked much closer.

NBC commentator Teddy Atlas stated on Friday Night Fights that he felt Alvarez should have won. He definitely seemed to get a raw deal on the scoring in the second round. 

If the fight had been scored under the professional "10-point must" system, I would have had Diaz winning by a 30-27 shut out. 

Diaz has an excellent style for the professional game. He applies pressure in a relentless but intelligent manner and attacks the body very well. 

Rau'shee Warren made Olympic history in 2012, becoming the first American boxer ever to appear in three separate Games. Unfortunately, he once more went one-and-done. 

His opening round loss was probably the single biggest disappointment for Team USA in London. Warren was viewed as our best shot for winning a medal; some people even had him picked to win Gold. 

He lost a razor-close 19-18 decision to France's Nordine Oubaali. It was a fight that appeared to be his to win, if only he had shown just a little bit more aggression. 

Instead Warren looked to rely almost exclusively on his counter-punching. After falling behind 9-6 in the first round, Oubaali adjusted to Warren's lead hook and began to chip away at his lead.

In a weight class that struggles to find stars, Warren will get a chance to redeem himself as a professional.

He has legitimate foot and hand speed and will enter the professional game with a lot of valuable connections in place. He has often been seen in the company of fellow Cincinnati native and rising star Adrien Broner, and has trained with Floyd Mayweather.  

But to succeed in the professional ranks, he will need to add a more aggressive gear to his tool box.