boxing/basketball comparisons!!

[Skydog]

Lennox Lewis


Shaquille O'Neal


In the mid to late 90's, these 2 monsters stormed onto the scene. Both men became two of the physically biggest and strongest stars in the history of their sport. Lennox stood at 6'5", and weighed roughly around 250 pounds for every fight. Shag stood at 7'1" and weighed about 325 pounds. Both men were (and Shag still is) the most powerful men of their generation. Shaq was unstoppable under the basket, could rebound like a monster, and blocked nearly every shot near him. Lennox had a left jab with the force of a sledgehammer, a short, devastating uppercut, and thunderous power in his right hand that ranks among one of the best right hands in history. Both had two underrated talents: Shaq's ball handling is often left out when viewing his strengths, and Lennox, who had amazing boxing skills, is always often viewed as a puncher. Both had their weknesses, however: Shaq had no outside shot (he misses nearly every free throw he shoots) and Lennox had a fragile chin. However, when looking at these two monsters, the least someone could think is that they dominated their divison. Lennox held the title from 97 to 2003, whereas the Lakers (with Shaq) won the title for 4 (?) straight times.

[Skydog]

"Sugar" Ray Robinson


Julius "Dr. J" Erving


Dr. J and Sugar Ray Robinson were the one of a kind atheletes. To me, they are the closest thing to perfection in both boxing and basketball. When they first became big, they performed with such charisma that had never been seen in basketball/boxing at the time. Basketball had had legends in Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, while boxing had thrilling fighers such as Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey, but none of these atheletes fought with such charisma and were as exciting to watch as these 2. Technically, both were nearly unflawed: Erving could steal, shoot, handle the ball, and had unbeleivable moves to the basket. Robinson was quick on his feet, had a lightning jab, and his punches were so quick, powerful, and accurate that few fighters could stand a chance. Erving also revolutionized what is today called a "slam dunk." He would do it behind the head, windmill style, and from the free throw line. Robinson revolutionized boxing with his style, as well, for he was the fastest human being on Earth at the time. Erving played for a number of teams, most notably the Sixers and the Nets, while Robinson fought and dominated in a number of weight classes, most notably welterweight and middleweight. Both of their styles were imitated by 2 later greats: Erving's was imitated by Michael Jordan, and Robinson's style was young Cassius Clay's dream.

[blockhead]

the only boxing and basketball comparisons i can think of is a contradiction. basketball=***** boxing=not *****

[butterfly1964]

"Sugar" Ray Robinson


Julius "Dr. J" Erving


Dr. J and Sugar Ray Robinson were the one of a kind atheletes. To me, they are the closest thing to perfection in both boxing and basketball. When they first became big, they performed with such charisma that had never been seen in basketball/boxing at the time. Basketball had had legends in Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, while boxing had thrilling fighers such as Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey, but none of these atheletes fought with such charisma and were as exciting to watch as these 2. Technically, both were nearly unflawed: Erving could steal, shoot, handle the ball, and had unbeleivable moves to the basket. Robinson was quick on his feet, had a lightning jab, and his punches were so quick, powerful, and accurate that few fighters could stand a chance. Erving also revolutionized what is today called a "slam dunk." He would do it behind the head, windmill style, and from the free throw line. Robinson revolutionized boxing with his style, as well, for he was the fastest human being on Earth at the time. Erving played for a number of teams, most notably the Sixers and the Nets, while Robinson fought and dominated in a number of weight classes, most notably welterweight and middleweight. Both of their styles were imitated by 2 later greats: Erving's was imitated by Michael Jordan, and Robinson's style was young Cassius Clay's dream.

great job, i was thinking about comparing the two myself, but i guess you beat me to it, haha!

[butterfly1964]

Another one folks!

boxer: rocky "the brockton blockbuster" marciano

compared to

b-ball player: larry "legend" bird

comparison: there was something about them (besides the fact that their both white lol!). on the surface, they didn't look particularly amazing, rocky wasn't fast, or had that good of footwork, and he was kind of small for a hw with a very small reach, and larry wasn't fast, he didn't have great jumping ability, or had crossover moves like other players in the 80s. in fact he looked more like the basketball players from the 40s and 50s! however, looks can be decieving! with rocky's apparent awkward style, everyone expected him to lose when he fought a boxer with great skill and speed, and bird was expected to be schooled and crossed when taking on people like dr. j and magic. however, rocky never lost, or tied in any of his 49 fights and six defenses of the hw title in 1952-1955 in a career that spanned from 1947-1955, and bird captured three titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986, and played from 1979-1992 and he had six finals appearences! how did they do it with these "handicaps"? rocky had tremendous punching power for his size, and always applied the pressure and got good punching leverage with those short arms and strong legs. larry had a killer jumpshot, was extremely alert and in-tune to the game. in addition, both were extremely tough. rocky, always got up from a knockdown, and always kept coming at you, despite how battered his face was. and bird often played with broken fingers, noses, you name it. they both came from tough backgrounds and up-bringings. marciano came from brockton massachsetts, and bird came from french lick, indiana. there both had a remarkable work ethic. rocky devoted his whole life to training, and did probably two or three times the amount of training a regular boxer does, cause he always wanted to be prepared and never wanted to lose. bird was always the second person in the basketball gym, behind the janitor! he didn't want to have a bad game and he made sure he would always have a great game. looking at them, some wondered how they were able to accomplish so much when they didn't look that great. but those who competed against them knew that they were good. archie moore said this about fighting marciano, "After a fight with Marciano, it felt like you had been beat all over the upper body with a blackjack or hit with rocks." and magic johnson was asked if larry was really that good, "larry is so good, it's scary!" rocky always devastated his opponents with his brute strength and tremendous leverage. bird always found a way to beat you, he would just take your heart and rip it out, and throw it on the floor, stomp on it a couple of times, and love it! they also brought some racial issues into play. joe louis dominated the hw division as a black for 12 years, then two more blacks followed, ezzard charles and jersey joe watcott. when marciano won the title, whites found someone to praise, and whites and blacks often debate on how rocky ranks with the greatest hw, the most memorable one of them all was the legendary super fight with rocky and muhammad ali. bird came at a time when blacks seemed to take over basketball. larry was branded as the great white hope of basketball in the 80s. and his duels with african-american ervin johnson, or "magic" have divided many blacks and whites. they also started a little late. marciano started his pro career at the age of 24, when most fighters came in between 18-20. and bird was 23 when he came to the nba, not the usual 22. however, after they retired, they both experienced health problems. rocky was forced to retire due to health problems in 1955, just one fight shy of having a golden 50-0 record at the age of 32, and bird was also forced to retire after about only 12 seasons due to career injuries, and he now has heart problems and other health problems. but no one can forget the mark they left on their sports!

i'll have others for you later on!

[Keleneki]

What a great thread. Very interesting comparisions.

[butterfly1964]

how about some points and good karma boys? haha!

[Skydog]

I've played a round of golf with Larry Bird. He's a great guy. Bird is one of the greatest passers ever, and had one of the best outside shots ever.

Although the best outside shot I've seen in my life is J.J. Red****.

[butterfly1964]

the only boxing and basketball comparisons i can think of is a contradiction. basketball=***** boxing=not *****

why do you keep following me around from post to post, trashing my threads? everyone here has contributed well to this thread, but you seem to want to be the oddball here. what, have i done something to you?

[Da Iceman]

boxer: rocky "the brockton blockbuster" marciano

compared to

b-ball player: larry "legend" bird

comparison: there was something about them (besides the fact that their both white lol!). on the surface, they didn't look particularly amazing, rocky wasn't fast, or had that good of footwork, and he was kind of small for a hw with a very small reach, and larry wasn't fast, he didn't have great jumping ability, or had crossover moves like other players in the 80s. in fact he looked more like the basketball players from the 40s and 50s! however, looks can be decieving! with rocky's apparent awkward style, everyone expected him to lose when he fought a boxer with great skill and speed, and bird was expected to be schooled and crossed when taking on people like dr. j and magic. however, rocky never lost, or tied in any of his 49 fights and six defenses of the hw title in 1952-1955 in a career that spanned from 1947-1955, and bird captured three titles in 1981, 1984, and 1986, and played from 1979-1992 and he had six finals appearences! how did they do it with these "handicaps"? rocky had tremendous punching power for his size, and always applied the pressure and got good punching leverage with those short arms and strong legs. larry had a killer jumpshot, was extremely alert and in-tune to the game. in addition, both were extremely tough. rocky, always got up from a knockdown, and always kept coming at you, despite how battered his face was. and bird often played with broken fingers, noses, you name it. they both came from tough backgrounds and up-bringings. marciano came from brockton massachsetts, and bird came from french lick, indiana. there both had a remarkable work ethic. rocky devoted his whole life to training, and did probably two or three times the amount of training a regular boxer does, cause he always wanted to be prepared and never wanted to lose. bird was always the second person in the basketball gym, behind the janitor! he didn't want to have a bad game and he made sure he would always have a great game. looking at them, some wondered how they were able to accomplish so much when they didn't look that great. but those who competed against them knew that they were good. archie moore said this about fighting marciano, "After a fight with Marciano, it felt like you had been beat all over the upper body with a blackjack or hit with rocks." and magic johnson was asked if larry was really that good, "larry is so good, it's scary!" rocky always devastated his opponents with his brute strength and tremendous leverage. bird always found a way to beat you, he would just take your heart and rip it out, and throw it on the floor, stomp on it a couple of times, and love it! they also brought some racial issues into play. joe louis dominated the hw division as a black for 12 years, then two more blacks followed, ezzard charles and jersey joe watcott. when marciano won the title, whites found someone to praise, and whites and blacks often debate on how rocky ranks with the greatest hw, the most memorable one of them all was the legendary super fight with rocky and muhammad ali. bird came at a time when blacks seemed to take over basketball. larry was branded as the great white hope of basketball in the 80s. and his duels with african-american ervin johnson, or "magic" have divided many blacks and whites. they also started a little late. marciano started his pro career at the age of 24, when most fighters came in between 18-20. and bird was 23 when he came to the nba, not the usual 22. however, after they retired, they both experiencedhealth problems. 14 years after rocky retired in 1969, he died of a heart attack, and bird has heart problems and other health problems. but no one can forget the mark they left on their sports!

i'll have others for you later on!

great post, you finally learned somethin about the rock, but i found a error. Rocky died in a plane crash in route to his 46 birthday party, he didnt die of a heart attack