If a lot of the HW boxing "prospects" went to the NFL/NBA during the last 20 years, why did those sports get so soft doing the same time period?
Athletically, NBA/NFL players today are astonishing, but people have to admit they don't show the grit of their predecessors. The same grit that boxers need.
My take is, a lot of American kids who could become great HWs Let the tool speak for them, instead of their hands. Instead of shooting each other, they should shoot the fifth.
Practice makes perfect gentleman.
We aren't losing good heavyweights to pro football and pro basketball in my opinion. No heavyweight champ in history would have made a good pro football or basketball player. Name one. No pro ball player has ever switched to boxing and became a champion. Name one. Being AJ's size or bigger doesn't mean a guy can fight like AJ or punch or take a punch like AJ. Every sport is very different and because you are the best at one sport doesn't mean you are worth a damn at a different sport. AJ make 25 million or more every fight and I doubt many pro ball players make that much in a year. Wilder is said to have made over 15 million for the first Fury fight and will make an estimated 25 million for the rematch. That's enough money to tempt any big strong guy to try boxing if he thinks he can become the champion or even a contender like Miller who will make 7 million for his fight with AJ.
Evander Holyfield was a monster football player until he accidentally came across the local boxing gym at his YMCA.
Lennox Lewis, James Toney, Roy Jones Jr., etc. all of these guys could've gone pro. but you don't even have to go pro, there are only a limited amount of spots and most guys just flame out, living ordinary lives.
Bryant Jennings literally went from a local YMCA kind of guy to winning heavyweight titles and going the distance with Klitschko giving him a very difficult time. That gives you an idea of what type of talent in out there.
Jumping isn't fighting.
If you can propel 285lbs through the air like that, that means you have explosive power in your legs and that can easily generate a KO punch. It also means you're not stiff or robotic like a Valuev for example.
NFL/NBA players have a ton of foot workout drills, many of which are much more difficult than boxing's. When you're quick on your feet it can translate into power, defense, etc.
Look at Wilder, he can cover the ring in like 1-2 steps and get to his opponent in a fraction of a second.
EXACTLY! AJ might be something the UK is not use to seeing but in America we got Teenagers BIGGER than AJ already...
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7K-Gu_NX3ZA/maxresdefault.jpg
Zion Williamson, 18 years old, 6'7 285 lbs and can do stuff like this...
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlFgfNuWajY/XDJJK81c_6I/AAAAAAAAbe0/_27m3eZKBHUih-DPEuObSSL0ya9NsXragCLcBGAs/s1600/Zion%2BWilliamson%2B360%2Bdunk.gif
:lol1: :dunno:Jumping isn't fighting.
We aren't losing good heavyweights to pro football and pro basketball in my opinion. No heavyweight champ in history would have made a good pro football or basketball player. Name one. No pro ball player has ever switched to boxing and became a champion. Name one. Being AJ's size or bigger doesn't mean a guy can fight like AJ or punch or take a punch like AJ. Every sport is very different and because you are the best at one sport doesn't mean you are worth a damn at a different sport. AJ make 25 million or more every fight and I doubt many pro ball players make that much in a year. Wilder is said to have made over 15 million for the first Fury fight and will make an estimated 25 million for the rematch. That's enough money to tempt any big strong guy to try boxing if he thinks he can become the champion or even a contender like Miller who will make 7 million for his fight with AJ.
there are literally hundreds of AJs playing in the NFL
in the early 90s when tyson, holyfield, bowe were around making 100 mil....the top nfl player was making like 2 mil a year
now the nfl has hundred of guys worth 8 figures that are AJs size....and wilder was scraping to make 2-3 mil a fight pre fury
EXACTLY! AJ might be something the UK is not use to seeing but in America we got Teenagers BIGGER than AJ already...
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7K-Gu_NX3ZA/maxresdefault.jpg
Zion Williamson, 18 years old, 6'7 285 lbs and can do stuff like this...
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlFgfNuWajY/XDJJK81c_6I/AAAAAAAAbe0/_27m3eZKBHUih-DPEuObSSL0ya9NsXragCLcBGAs/s1600/Zion%2BWilliamson%2B360%2Bdunk.gif
:lol1: :dunno:
you're crazy. AJ is about to sell out on record time. Americans know who AJ is. and the amount of of new subscribers DAZN will get along with the ratings will prove jt
you are right ...talent does follow the money...thats why when the NFL started to become hugely popular the US HWs started to disappear.....NFL salaries increased and you saw more guys going for football...more roster spots and salaries increasing.......the NFL began to take off in the mid to late 90s and become massive......thats about when the US HW talent pool started to dip
and you are wrong...wilder is physically gifted for a boxer....in fact hes praised as one of the most athletic, p4p, in the sport right now.....hes kind of a freak genetically actually......i dont think he could cut it in the NFL at all....but as a boxer hes the most physically gifted int eh HW by a long shot
For a boxer yes but my point was that if he had the ability he would have pursued an NBA career if he could have.
Dude is built more like a Small Forward than a Boxer.
Talent always follows the money.
Tyson and to a lesser extent Holyfield were the last truly genetically gifted HW amrican boxers.
Wilder btw would struggle to make a community college basketball team.
you are right ...talent does follow the money...thats why when the NFL started to become hugely popular the US HWs started to disappear.....NFL salaries increased and you saw more guys going for football...more roster spots and salaries increasing.......the NFL began to take off in the mid to late 90s and become massive......thats about when the US HW talent pool started to dip
and you are wrong...wilder is physically gifted for a boxer....in fact hes praised as one of the most athletic, p4p, in the sport right now.....hes kind of a freak genetically actually......i dont think he could cut it in the NFL at all....but as a boxer hes the most physically gifted int eh HW by a long shot
there are literally hundreds of AJs playing in the NFL
in the early 90s when tyson, holyfield, bowe were around making 100 mil....the top nfl player was making like 2 mil a year
now the nfl has hundred of guys worth 8 figures that are AJs size....and wilder was scraping to make 2-3 mil a fight pre fury
Talent always follows the money.
Tyson and to a lesser extent Holyfield were the last truly genetically gifted HW american boxers.
Wilder btw would struggle to make a community college basketball team.
If they saw him walking down the street
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/05/06/01/33E1FA8900000578-3576174-image-m-10_1462492819438.jpg
there are literally hundreds of AJs playing in the NFL
in the early 90s when tyson, holyfield, bowe were around making 100 mil....the top nfl player was making like 2 mil a year
now the nfl has hundred of guys worth 8 figures that are AJs size....and wilder was scraping to make 2-3 mil a fight pre fury