Let’s get one thing straight: just because you’ve conquered the amateur ranks, draped yourself in gold medals, and been hailed as the next big thing, doesn’t mean you’re destined for professional glory. Boxing history is littered with amateur stars who failed to transition into successful pros. But why? What is it about crossing over to the professional ranks that separates the hype from the hope, the contenders from the pretenders?

Ever since Rio 2016 when professional boxers were allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time, question marks have constantly surrounded the decision.