The reason for the decline of American heavyweights?

[duffgun]

People who say that because loads of young guys want to do stuff like NBA NFL instead of boxing is a poor excuse are not thinking logically, say 60% of your young athletes want to take up boxing back in the 1960's a good proportion of these will turn out to be good, now if only 10% want to take it up now this will significantly reduce the talent pool available its pretty obvious. The reasons for athletes wanting to join other sports is not down to one reason alone, lack of boxing gyms, lack of free TV coverage, lack of good heavyweight fights, no more prestige in the heavyweight title. Money can also be part of the problem, The heavyweight title used to give you a disproportionate large amount of money compared to other sports, In England back in the late 50's football players earned sod all where as Floyd Patterson was earning $750,000 for his fight with Liston. This is no longer the case the risk for the rewards compared to other sports is no longer there. I think its not a Permanente slump but i don’t see the situation improving for the next 15-20 years.

[El Chicano]

This thread is still going??? Everyone needs to stop listening to the moron who started this crappy thread.

[Flawless]

This is a very interesting debate. I would have to say people who could have succeeded in the heavyweight division are in NBA AND NFL. I could see Shaq as Heavyweight champion and Kobe light heavyweight champion. Iverson Middle weight champion
Those big eastern Europeans don’t have other sports to go other than boxing. In Soccer the only position they possible could play is keeper but their movability would come into question and Basketball in Europe isn’t well paid as American or even close.
Kids these days don’t want to do boxing. They see what becomes of the heavyweight after retirement and don’t want to be like that. Competition with MMA is making a lot harder for boxing. The sport doesn’t really promote itself to kids.
The guy who sed Americans aren’t as big watch the NBA and final. That eastern Europeans have more cardio. They barley could last 12 rounds. 60 and 70 15 rounds of brutal boxing and more fights and now they have way less and you claim they are fitter. Get of it.
Lennox Lewis showed how to beat these guys and power and speed and his was pasted his prime. There are a lot of Lewis types of guys in American who could easily account for them.

[x-PeROxiDE-x]

You can say kids go for the money all you wan't, but that was always a problem, being as a boxing career in the ams can last longer than pretty much any other sport.

Also, aren't Americans still doing well in the lower divisions?

Is everyone in the NFL or the NBA the same size as a heavyweight?

Also, some people are mistaking me when I talk about cardio.

The AVERAGE NATURAL SIZE of eastern Europeans is considerably larger than in America. Obviously some Americans are going to be bigger than others, and those that are big enough to compete do not have the stamina as they have a different genetic make up to the eastern europeans.

[duffgun]

Thinking about it we might have been a bit harsh on American heavyweights, Brewster, Byrd and Rahman have all held titles in the last few years although none of them are great there solid.

[FUC_U_PAYME]

You can say kids go for the money all you wan't, but that was always a problem, being as a boxing career in the ams can last longer than pretty much any other sport.

Also, aren't Americans still doing well in the lower divisions? no

Is everyone in the NFL or the NBA the same size as a heavyweight?

Also, some people are mistaking me when I talk about cardio.

The AVERAGE NATURAL SIZE of eastern Europeans is considerably larger than in America. Obviously some Americans are going to be bigger than others, and those that are big enough to compete do not have the stamina as they have a different genetic make up to the eastern europeans.

Boxing in the Usa in a whole is going down cause Guys can make more Playing other sports

Let me ask you something how come before the USSR broke up you always did not come home with the gold if eastern europeans had size over us?

[ferocity]

The parents think its dangerous. Sure a mom probably doesn't like there kid to play football, but he fears her son getting into boxing. Most parents think boxing = brain damage which isn't always the case especially in amature boxing they stop the fights quick.

[Johnny Rebel]

coming from the guy who thinks hatton is P4P#4

let me ask you something why box and make 3 to 10 million for three fights when i can make 15 million to play upto 19 games per year or 82 plus nba and still make more the 85% of the boxer out today

Hatton is a top 10 P4P fighter.

Floyd, Hatton, DLH, and prime Tyson, Holyfield etc. make more money than any NFL and NBA player just by fighting 1-2 times a year.

99% of the people who play football or basketball will never make it to the pro's. If they had the talent and dedication to box they would. Many Americans would rather try to be a famous rapper which takes little to no talent, then dedicate themselves to any sport. This argument is as silly as Europeans saying the reason for the lack of top European fighters in the past was because they were playing football (soccer) and other sports.

[Steak]

Hatton is a top 10 P4P fighter.

Floyd, Hatton, DLH, and prime Tyson, Holyfield etc. make more money than any NFL and NBA player just by fighting 1-2 times a year.

99% of the people who play football or basketball will never make it to the pro's. If they had the talent and dedication to box they would. Many Americans would rather try to be a famous rapper which takes little to no talent, then dedicate themselves to any sport. This argument is as silly as Europeans saying the reason for the lack of top European fighters in the past was because they were playing football (soccer) and other sports.

why isnt that legit? If your country concentrates on football instead of boxing, then that country will probebly produce more skilled football players than boxers. thats the way things work

the difference is that in football you dont really need to be all that big, while American football and basketball you pretty much have to.(Depending on the position you play)

[Domain]

BRAIN DAMAGE!

Boxing is dangerous and they dont wanna talk like rid**** bowe when they retire.

Or wind up like ALI or Roach.

So they play sports like football, baseball, basketball safer and more money.