Which Non-Boxing Athlete Could Come Best To Boxing Cold

[DeeMoney]

Lot of specific answers are men who would be heavyweights, and we think of them as being successful because they were big strong, athletic guys. The thing is, boxing is far more of an endurance sport than most of what these guys came from. Thats not to say they don't have the endurance, just that they most likely developed athletically in a different way than would be required for boxing. For example Usain Bolt is one heck of a runner, but I bet he wouldnt finish anywhere near the medal podium in the olympic marathon- its a different type of running.

Boxing is a marathon sport, most other sports are sprint sports. For a greater insight into this, I'd recommend read 'The Sports Gene' by David Epstein.

Focusing on position specifics, related to transition to boxing, football d-linemen train a lot with using their hands in hand fighting, and fending off hands coming at them. To that point I could see an Aaron Donald being a good boxer, and that guy seems like superman, so I'd never bet against him. Although any linemen would be in there against heavyweights, so that would be rough- and I'm sure we all saw Manute Bol beat up Fridge Perry. Wide receivers should be athletic enough, and twitchy enough that they could do some damage in a ring, but once again many of them, even when down to a fighting weight, would be lt heavy and above- so theyd have to take a good punch.

Basketball players are amazing overall athletes, but once again most of them would end up as heavyweights, and thats a rough punch to take. I could see Gary Payton trimming down to Lt Heavy back in the day, and being a problem with his hand speed....but who knows if he could take a punch. Kareem with his martial arts background maybe could've been something.

Lots of baseball players have good core muscles due to the nature of the sport, as well as solid legs to drive through the core and deliver a punch. But baseball requires little stamina (in a traditionally measured form), so who knows if they could be taken out to deeper waters.

[Ivich]

If you answered him, lad, you are the right guy. He will latch to you like an abalone. I have assigned him an experienced mentor (Bilbo), however, and await the first signs of change.

Yes I'm beginning to realise, it's not debate he's seeking its limpet like bonding.The penalty for being a newbie,

[QueensburyRules]

He sparred with Ali in London prior to the second Cooper fight.We have no way of knowing how he would have done as a boxer.I just threw his name into the hat as a possible candidate. TBH I have no particular interest in this so if you are looking for yet another argument you've picked the wrong guy.

- - Interesting to see U bleeding buckets like Sir 'enery wif every paper cut.

Brownie never threw out a legit challenge to Ali, and in fact orchestrated one of the post Cosell Wilt/Ali signings that generated the rather juvenile "Timber" story Ali is supposed to have uttered when Wilt came into the signing room that caused an about face exit. Brownie say it never happened like that. Why not mention moi?

I'd have been happy to fight Ali for 1/4th the purse of Tubby Lar who was still skinny then though back then I was still skinny and would have to bulk up that would be no problem given the minimum hvy weight back then was 175 that Sir 'enery made by wearing weights in his shorts.

'pologies in order. 'til now I never subscribed to shooting fish in a barrel at car shows. I seen them exhibitions that was making a good return on the exhibitor investment.

[Ivich]

- - Interesting to see U bleeding buckets like Sir 'enery wif every paper cut.

Brownie never threw out a legit challenge to Ali, and in fact orchestrated one of the post Cosell Wilt/Ali signings that generated the rather juvenile "Timber" story Ali is supposed to have uttered when Wilt came into the signing room that caused an about face exit. Brownie say it never happened like that. Why not mention moi?

I'd have been happy to fight Ali for 1/4th the purse of Tubby Lar who was still skinny then though back then I was still skinny and would have to bulk up that would be no problem given the minimum hvy weight back then was 175 that Sir 'enery made by wearing weights in his shorts.

'pologies in order. 'til now I never subscribed to shooting fish in a barrel at car shows. I seen them exhibitions that was making a good return on the exhibitor investment.

Wrong guy as stated. Old Left Hook has you right doesn't he limpet.lol

[QueensburyRules]

Lot of specific answers are men who would be heavyweights, and we think of them as being successful because they were big strong, athletic guys. The thing is, boxing is far more of an endurance sport than most of what these guys came from. Thats not to say they don't have the endurance, just that they most likely developed athletically in a different way than would be required for boxing. For example Usain Bolt is one heck of a runner, but I bet he wouldnt finish anywhere near the medal podium in the olympic marathon- its a different type of running.

Boxing is a marathon sport, most other sports are sprint sports. For a greater insight into this, I'd recommend read 'The Sports Gene' by David Epstein.

- - Boxing is actually a hybrid of sorts between marathon and sprints that can also be contested like a Walk in the Park.

Marathon records have been dominated by Kenyans for some time now approaching the 2 hr mark. Boxing ain't dominated by Kenyans. I recommend moi for greater insight into boxing

[DeeMoney]

- - Boxing is actually a hybrid of sorts between marathon and sprints that can also be contested like a Walk in the Park.

Marathon records have been dominated by Kenyans for some time now approaching the 2 hr mark. Boxing ain't dominated by Kenyans. I recommend moi for greater insight into boxing

When I write marathon, that is just short hand for aerobic sport, or one that utilizes a greater amount of slow twitch muscles than fast twitch. As was noted, boxing utilizes both; but as I was alluding to boxing is far more aerobic than the other sports- ergo the point I was making. Compared to baseball and football, Boxing clearly relies on aerobic training in a far greater capacity- those two are series of sprint sports. In fact I have worked with a handful of NFL athletes and coaches and most of their conditioning type training is 'a series of sprints.'

Basketball can be more aerobic than the others, and tends to be more on par with boxing, but even that sport allows for far more breaks of a substantial period for an individual. Thus my statement that boxing is more of a marathon type sport (see aerobic) than the others mentioned. Not that it is directly a marathon, rather in comparison to the others mentioned it leans that way.

Its funny you bring up Kenya, it is referenced in the book I cited. It should be noted that nearly all of Kenya's top marathon runners come from the Kalenjin or Nandis people; these are just a small group of people who make up a tiny percentage of the overall Kenyan population. They are traditionally a people who come from the Great Rift Valley, a place thats elevation hits right in that peak zone of 2,000-2,500 meters. Not-so-coincidentally that is roughly the same elevation as Big Bear, California; where many boxers go to train due to its elevation. Now, as to why there is a dearth of Kenyan fighters compared to runners- the reasons are evident: different body type, cultural influence, etc. But the aerobic training aspect between the Rift Valley and Big Bear is interesting.

[Anthony342]

How about kickboxers? Could any of them cross over to boxing? Maybe a Don The Dragon Wilson or Dennis Alexio perhaps. Benny The Jet.

[QueensburyRules]

How about kickboxers? Could any of them cross over to boxing? Maybe a Don The Dragon Wilson or Dennis Alexio perhaps. Benny The Jet.

- - K Bros. What else U need to know?

[Willow The Wisp]

How about kickboxers? Could any of them cross over to boxing? Maybe a Don The Dragon Wilson or Dennis Alexio perhaps. Benny The Jet.

Most of them did. You've gotta eat. Training choices will alter you/prepare you for different rules, but fighers are pretty much all cut from the same cloth:

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/162624

https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/138410

Somewhere I have an old compiled list containing about 90 who did cross over which included some 40+ Muay Thai stadium fighters of note (Most Thais have long trained for what they refer to as "International style"). But as a Kickboxer or MMA fighter you're spening half your time training boxing anyway, so that's really a similar but different question from playground athletes.

[Willow The Wisp]

On the Kickboxers converting, The Thais did the best by far. Stadium champions becoming boxing contenders, Boxing champs with deep Muay Thai roots, many who acheived national title status in both styles, and on occasion, duel world champions. This dates back generations. Thai gyms, to their everlasting credit don't view these as competing sports. They see it as switching gears whilst doing one thing. Modern Muay Thai is a modern derivative of Muay Boran and "International style" boxing. As far as North American/European kickboxing goes, Troy Dorcey was a duel champion who crossed over rather nicely. There are plenty of other. Kubrat Pulev, Dillian Whyte and Big Baby Miller are among those. But then.....let me not highjack this. We were talking Too Tall & Wilt.