What if guys like Lebron James, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Garnett hit the boxing gym..

[Liar]

That is an opinion. One fact though is that last year a semi pro American Football team played with an amature Rugby League team (both teams American) in a half and half challenge (see below). The first half was played under American Football rules and the second half under Rugby League rules. Overall the Rugby League team won, they were able to score a TD in the American Football half and kept the gridiron players scoreless in the Rugby League half.

I have no doubt in my mind that there are many Rugby players that are stronger and or faster than many American Football players. Case in point the many times Worlds Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski also played Rugby Union before switching to MMA. However it would be very rare to see a professional rugby player carring as much fat/excess baggage as some of the guys in American Football.


The Axemen (Rugby League) dressed in American Football gear


The Axemen (rugby league) defensive line


Most 2nd half tackles seen the Knights (American Football) players on their backs to allow the Axemen (Rugby League) lots of time


I can see many more rugby (especially rugby league) players switching to boxing. The rugby salary cap, cross sport training and the growing exposure of boxing in Australia/Pacific Islands will only increase this.

The fastest rugby player is South African. Habana and he does 10.2 in 100m. While there are many NFL guys who can do 10.2 Also Habana was outsprinted by an American in the rugby world cup.

[The Dreamer]

I think it's all up to chance and circumstance really. They'd just be another person trying to make it in boxing. How many guys do you think there are right now in the boxing gyms that started young that have the physique/stature/abilities of those basketball players named? How many of them will actually succeed and make it? Probably not a lot.

Being optimistic, if you took 100 basketball players and started them in boxing when they were young you'd probably get a handful that would turn out good.

Being optimistic, out of 100 people in the boxing gyms right now that started training when they were young you probably get a handful that will turn out good.

The real weird thing to think about is that there are probably unknown guys in boxing gyms around the world right now that could beat current top boxers, that will never even get a chance to fight them, or even get a glimpse at the top because of circumstance.

[monaroCountry]

The fastest rugby player is South African. Habana and he does 10.2 in 100m. While there are many NFL guys who can do 10.2 Also Habana was outsprinted by an American in the rugby world cup.

No the fastest guy isnt Habana, the problem is that there are two rugby codes both of which do not have a standard testing method. Also you have to watch out for the difference between the quickest and the fastest.

Habana versus Ngwenya, well what can I say. Habana was on the last line of defence and so ws facing the opposition goal posts, he was simply wrong footed and also had to turn and chase which is a major disadvantage in any football codes. They make a big deal out of that simply because America is a minnow country and usually dont score too many points and dont have too much highlight reel against Southern hemisphere countries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWtBTvCDjX4

Dwain Chambers, former Olympic level sprinter tried out for the Tigers (who are not very good esp compared with a soutehrn hemisphere team). In a foot race Dwain came last.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIED5tuquU

One Rugby League player who has gone on from rugby and made an immediate impact is Anthony Mundine, who is currently champ in several weight division and who first fought for the IBF supermiddleweight after only 10 professional fights.

Mundine in Boxing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFI4NdNFjKQ


Another South Sydney Rugby League product might make waves in boxing. At the moment he is unpolished, technique not proper but has a great chin and heart. Still only has 8 pro fights but has recently won against a former Olympian to get the Australian Contender prize. Watch out for Garth Wood in the future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhHj81ZqoZQ

[Boxingwizard]

They probably of done well as boxers, but you can say that about many athtelets.

[[ DUBBZZ ]]

Instead of the basketball courts at a young age, and were groomed to be boxers from a young age. How would the heavyweight division look.

Artest > Both Klitschkos

[ThePunchingBag]

basketball is a ***** sport, all of the players are soft and can't fight for ****.

You Americans keep getting softer and Eastern Europeans keep getting stronger.

Eastern European heavyweights are superior and will continue dominating for a very long time. Get used to it.

Emanuel Steward: "The Soviet Union fighters are hungrier than the American fighters."

No ****! They're ***ing communist.

The Soviet fighters are ***ing starving to death. Meanwhile Americans are fat as hell.

I think Steward meant that literally.

[monaroCountry]

Artest > Both Klitschkos

Very much doubt it, muscles and height isnt everything. What most here are forgetting is the most important thing in boxing, that is the ability to take a hit and hit back, heart and determination. Basketball isnt the best sport for a switch, something rougher like rugby is perfect where wrestling is mandatory and taking huge hits whether it be through a tackle, a sneaky punch in a scrum, or a stomp to the head on a ruck.

Having that mongrel about you is something very important, sadly ive seen very little of this in the NBL.

[monaroCountry]

As ive said previously, to be a good boxer and MMA fighter you need to have heart. Former Rugby League player showed this for his win against Kariz Kariuki for the final of Australian Contender.

You can have all the muscles and the meanest looking mug, but if you dont have the heart to fight through pain/adversity then youll never be a good boxer.

Wood wins with broken hand

* By Josh Massoud

Garth Wood, boxing

Painful success...Garth Wood scored his Contender victory with a broken right hand. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph

MIDNIGHT refuses to toll on Garth Wood's Cinderella story, which took a quantum fairytale leap after doctors confirmed he won The Contender final with a broken right hand.

X-rays yesterday proved Monday night's shock victory over Kenyan giant Kariz Kariuki drew on more guts and determination than were initially evident from Wood's blood-soaked shorts.

The 31-year-old has revealed he felt his right hand "go crack" after landing a trademark overhead bomb on Kariuki's dial.

Incredibly, the mishap occurred during just the second round of a fight the injured Wood dominated from start to finish.

"I knew exactly when it happened, I felt it go crack and it started to hurt," he said.

"But what could I do? There was no way I was going to stop, because I'd come so far and was really dominating him early.

"I didn't even bother telling my trainer. There was nothing anyone could've done. It wasn't like they could unwrap my gloves and ice my hand during the fight.


"All I could do was get on with it and try to ignore the pain."

Wood conceded that he "backed off" in the third round because of the pain, but nevertheless finished a clear winner.

"Kariz is pretty lucky I reckon because during the first two rounds I reckon I was on track to knock him out," the former Rabbitohs and Tigers utility continued.

"That was my aim and I reckon it would have happened had I not broken my hand."

Although his hand had swollen to "the size of a football" later, Wood's adrenalin masked the pain for the next 36 hours.

"Straight after the fight I had to see a lot of mates at the after-party and I was on such a high that I sort of forgot about it," he said.

"Then (on Tuesday) I had a heap of media commitments and television, so I didn't get to really ice it. By (yesterday) morning I was in agony. I couldn't even drive to the doctor to get X-rays."

The scans immediately confirmed two breaks at the base of Wood's right index finger, and he was ordered to Prince of Wales Hospital to see a specialist last night.

Wood will now have surgery as soon as possible in a bid to quickly resume boxing and prepare for his reward - a prize fight against Anthony Mundine.

"After so long in the wilderness, I've realised this is what I want to do with my life," Wood said. "I've only had eight fights and I've won The Contender

"I reckon I've got a lot more improvement left. I believe I can go a long way."

[Liar]

No the fastest guy isnt Habana, the problem is that there are two rugby codes both of which do not have a standard testing method. Also you have to watch out for the difference between the quickest and the fastest.

Habana versus Ngwenya, well what can I say. Habana was on the last line of defence and so ws facing the opposition goal posts, he was simply wrong footed and also had to turn and chase which is a major disadvantage in any football codes. They make a big deal out of that simply because America is a minnow country and usually dont score too many points and dont have too much highlight reel against Southern hemisphere countries.

[

Please name me one rugby player faster than Habana.

[monaroCountry]

Please name me one rugby player faster than Habana.

Name me a rugby player having a sprint competition with a AF player?

Also please explain how being able to run faster = a better boxer.