The Excuse of "american heavyweights playing nfl"

[APryor]

Boxing isn't like latin, you don't need to be taught it at school, everyone knows that it exists and even if it isn't currently covered in the mainstream media, people still get into it, which is why we are all here on these boards. I just think the NFL/NBA is an easy cop out for why the US has no currently relevant HW.

That's exactly wrong.

You need a good instructor and you need good competition. What is so hard to understand about that?

Just because you have heard about boxing means nothing. If some kid hears about chess, he's going to be a great chess player despite not having an instructor and not having anyone to play against? The infrastructure no longer exists in the U.S. to support boxing as a major sport. We have some great fighters, but most of our athletes are pursuing other sports.

[APryor]

America is good at the "world series" of baseball.

maybe we should rename the F.A Cup, the "world championship"

I don't know what you guys are smoking. The U.S. does compete in international sports and does very well.

We excel in boxing, tennis, volleyball, basketball, ice hockey, track and field, soccer (compared to ****ty England anyway), baseball, MMA, etc.

The idea that rugby and cricket are major international sports and basketball is not is just preposterous. Do you know anything about sports that aren't popular on your tiny island? You guys seem hopelessly ignorant and provincial.

And stop crying about your population. Australia has 1/3 your population and outperforms you in almost every international sport. Spain also blows you clowns out of the water as far as international success is concerned. You guys simply aren't very athletic.

You have no idea how big sports are here in America. I have heard so much about how passionate European soccer fans are, but then I took a look at the attendance for some of the "major" leagues there and I was blown away to find out most of the teams play in front of half empty or tiny stadiums. The crowds in Italy and Spain are a joke. Meanwhile, in the US, amateur American football players play in front of 115K people on a regular basis.

[AndyShitHot]

That's exactly wrong.

You need a good instructor and you need good competition. What is so hard to understand about that?

Just because you have heard about boxing means nothing. If some kid hears about chess, he's going to be a great chess player despite not having an instructor and not having anyone to play against? The infrastructure no longer exists in the U.S. to support boxing as a major sport. We have some great fighters, but most of our athletes are pursuing other sports.

What country does have the right infrastructure for boxing? Is there a country in the world where boxing is the number one sport? The fact is that the US is the main location for big boxing events in the world but later on in the year a HW Unification fight will be fought in Europe between 2 Europeans because the US doesn't mean **** in HW Boxing.

[APryor]

What country does have the right infrastructure for boxing? Is there a country in the world where boxing is the number one sport? The fact is that the US is the main location for big boxing events in the world but later on in the year a HW Unification fight will be fought in Europe between 2 Europeans because the US doesn't mean **** in HW Boxing.

Cuba

But they are not allowed to go pro...

To a lesser extent, Mexico.

Let's face it, most potential boxers come from poor, urban areas. You have to be close to a good gym. There has to be good competition available for you to practise against. It helps if you know you are tough because you have engaged in many street brawls from a young age. It helps if you have very little prospects for gainful employment. Boxing is a terrible way to make a living for 99% of the people who go pro.

You bring up a good point though. Boxing is no longer a major sport, with good supporting infrastructure, in almost any country.

The U.S. has many good fighters, but as you point out, not in the HW division. Why do you think that is?

[Hotsoup]

It is a lame excuse I agree.

Who cares if the Top Heavyweight Champs are not American at the moment, it's not a big deal, we still have some guys in the top 10.

And our MMA fighters are better than yours too... so suck it.

[americanbot]

its not a lame excuse it's the truth.....

boxing = DEAD in america.

american boxers can no longer make money here in the states. (the public lost instrest about 14 years ago)

hints the heavyweight division being filled with FAT slop....

you can fight over fat sloppy titty balls all u want. but americans are GREAT for real........

[AndyShitHot]

Cuba

But they are not allowed to go pro...

To a lesser extent, Mexico.

Let's face it, most potential boxers come from poor, urban areas. You have to be close to a good gym. There has to be good competition available for you to practise against. It helps if you know you are tough because you have engaged in many street brawls from a young age. It helps if you have very little prospects for gainful employment. Boxing is a terrible way to make a living for 99% of the people who go pro.

You bring up a good point though. Boxing is no longer a major sport, with good supporting infrastructure, in almost any country.

The U.S. has many good fighters, but as you point out, not in the HW division. Why do you think that is?

I agree, the US is still a major Boxing nation as even though you don't have mainstream coverage, you still have major backing through the big cable Networks in HBO and Showtime. I think that the US will probably have great HW's come again in the future but at the present time the Klitschko's are dominating not just because they are big, but because they're physically strong and great boxers. You can't just be 6'10 and outweigh an opponent by 50-75lbs, which seems to be the logic behind these "NFL are stealing our boxers" posts

It is a lame excuse I agree.

Who cares if the Top Heavyweight Champs are not American at the moment, it's not a big deal, we still have some guys in the top 10.

And our MMA fighters are better than yours too... so suck it.

MMwhat?

[APryor]

I'm not one of those Americans who think the Klitschko's suck, so you are preaching to the choir on that point.

Back to my point about the importance of developing prospects young...

Look at Cuba. Let's say the Cuban government continued to support the identification and development of young prospects, but for some bizarre reason then allowed them to go pro.

Despite having 1/10 the population of Great Britain, Cuba would clearly have a much better and deeper crop of world class boxers. Is this because there are so many tough guy Cubans walking the streets, and they just walk into a gym at age 20 and start whipping ass? No. That never happens.

It is because they are identified as prospects at a young age, are provided with great trainers and go up against solid competition at every stage of their development. Right now, their development actually becomes a little stunted when it is time for them to go pro, because they are forced to remain amateurs. If they were allowed to go pro, they would be able to attain their true ceiling as a boxer.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Despite having 1/10 the population of Great Britain, Cuba would clearly have a much better and deeper crop of world class boxers.

Its because Cubans have *** all else. Brits are a factor in pretty much every major sport

[-The Game-]

Its because Cubans have *** all else. Brits are a factor in pretty much every major sport

Basketball.........