Is Boxing the Most Athletic Sport?

[Barry Halls]

You occasionally have a guy Lionel Messi's height...but the vast majority of the players on the pitch globally are much taller than he is.

maradona, wayne rooney, iniest, xavi etc.

The size of the top players are extremely varied.

[deejd]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/athleticism

Just based of that definition, I think boxing and MMA are the most athletic sports. It varies for everyone and that's what makes this a great debate topic. Boxing and MMA is a grueling 36 and 25 minutes of physical activity assuming it goes the distance, and at one point there were even 45 minute fights. A lot of pain is dished out and absorbed in that time, not just in the fight, but in the training as well. Not saying there isn't physical stress in other sports, but there are certain variables in other sports such as it being a team sport or an individual sport that doesn't involve the brutality that a combat sport does.

[deejd]

That argument hinges on boxing being a 1-on-1 sport.

If basketball was 1-on-1 a slightly faded man in his late thirties would get destroyed by the lebrons of the world. I don't think it speaks for the athleticism involved, or you would always have to favor a solosport against a teamsport.

Awesome, but it's not a one on one sport. That's the point of this thread. Boxing and MMA doesn't have substitutes.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Soccer, CYCLING, Swimming is way more demanding than any of those sports.

Look at how many fat people play in the NBA,NFL, even NHL is more demanding than NBA/NFL

That article writer is a ******, he has Badminton up there but not Swimming or Cycling? WTF?

You can take a Cyclist/Swimmer and they can play a full NBA game or full soccer game.

But if you take a NBA/NFL player they will gas quickly in Swimming/Cycling where you need real endurance.

A sport where you run for 20 seconds and have a 2min break isnt Physically challenging.

I agree with this top it off with marathon runners. I can understand the getting hit part with boxing so it can be apples to oranges debate.

[Barry Halls]

Awesome, but it's not a one on one sport. That's the point of this thread. Boxing and MMA doesn't have substitutes.

But it's like you are comparing top10 fighters (as in fighting on high level) with just being in the nba cruising. It's not a fair comparison.

[Everywhere]

You occasionally have a guy Lionel Messi's height...but the vast majority of the players on the pitch globally are much taller than he is.

Here is a list of some of the best players in the world.

"Short guys"
Messi 5'7"
Sergio Aguero 5'8"
Iniesta 5'7"
Luka Modric 5'7"
Wesley Sneijder 5'7"

Taller Guys
Cesc Fabregas 5'10"
Javier Pastore 6'2"
Cristiano Ronaldo 6'1"
Pato 5'11"
Mesut Ozil 6'
Iker Casillas 6'
Fernando Torres 6'1"
Gerard Pique 6'4"
Hulk 6'

Yeah, you're pretty much right =)

[niceyboo3]

please someone post the difference between being athletic and well conditioned.. LBVS

[Someone88]

You occasionally have a guy Lionel Messi's height...but the vast majority of the players on the pitch globally are much taller than he is.

Yep but Messi is the best player. Pacquiao is the same size as Messi, but he has a lower bodyfat percentage so he is more muscular. I'm not sure who is more athletic, they are both amazing though.

[deejd]

But it's like you are comparing top10 fighters (as in fighting on high level) with just being in the nba cruising. It's not a fair comparison.

Nobody is doing that. I compared Jason Kidd and Nate Campbell. Campbell was considered at the top of his game, at 35, when he beat a young Juan Diaz. Two years later, his athleticism faded and now he's no longer fighting at the highest level in the sport, hence he's now fighting 8 rounders on RJJ undercards overseas.

Jason Kidd on the other hand, same age as Nate Campbell, doesn't nearly possess the physical gifts he once had yet is still starting and playing solid minutes in Championship level basketball games.

If anything, you're just confirming that the two can't be compared because one does require more athleticism than the other.

[Barry Halls]

Nobody is doing that. I compared Jason Kidd and Nate Campbell. Campbell was considered at the top of his game, at 35, when he beat a young Juan Diaz. Two years later, his athleticism faded and now he's no longer fighting at the highest level in the sport, hence he's now fighting 8 rounders on RJJ undercards overseas.

Jason Kidd on the other hand, same age as Nate Campbell, doesn't nearly possess the physical gifts he once had yet is still starting and playing solid minutes in Championship level basketball games.

If anything, you're just confirming that the two can't be compared because one does require more athleticism than the other.

Would you say b-hop, vitali, Floyd etc still possess the physical gifts they once had?
You pick and choose to support your argument. We can't show such bias to support our arguments, because just comparing 2 athletes does not reflect some absolute truth.

Theres an absurd amount of players in the nba, and you could go pretty deep in the divisions in boxing to make a fair comparison as to how many are still "at a high level" in their mid30s.

I don't get how i just confirmed that one require more athleticism (I'm undecided) than the other, but what the hell do i know.