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Originally posted by Luilun
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When you actually do research into the topic I think you can generally conclude the following.
Boxing was a national sport in America from the 1890's-1980's. There were more pro fighters in New York in the 1920's than there are in the whole world registered today, that gave America a massive advantage over the rest of the world as their talent pool was so high. While boxing was very popular in other countries America dominated because they had such a large advantage in the number of people who took part.
There was a large amount of amateur contests that garnered big crowds (especially the Madison Square Garden shows) and high schools/army/navy and prisons were often involved in the amateur programme. Small time pro shows were also very popular and young talent was show cased on specially network TV shows. To get to the top of the amateur and pro ranks required taking on much stiffer competition than today (in America) meaning once you had gone through the US programme you were much better prepared for a title shot than modern America fighters.
Trainers were also much more knowledgeable in the past compared to modern American trainers; guys that worked the gyms for a long time or were former pro fighters would be handed down all the technical knowledge built up over many years from their old trainers.
Lots of big fights were shown live on network TV and shows that were on closed circuit TV were often shown a few weeks/month later on regular network TV. Network TV would also do many special boxing related shows, reviews of fights with experts and they would have programmes devoted to up and coming fights.
Boxing's popularity began to decline in America due to a number of different factors but mostly due to lack of TV exposure, scandals and the multiple championships which made the sport look like a joke. Also boxing's reputation for making people punch drunk probably didn't help. With all these problems in the sport the whole structure which pumped out champion after champion began to collapse around its self and participation declined rapidly. Without the structure that supported boxing in America the whole advantage they had was washed away leaving them on pretty much an even keel to the rest of the world.
So imo not only has participation dropped rapidly (not totally to do with other sports) but the training, amateur, early pro, and high level of competition has evaporated. I don't see how it will be possible for America to regain what it's lost.Comment
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"The US is not doing as well in boxing because they're all in the NBA & NFL" - agree?
Yes.
Here's a bio on this past Super Bowl's New York Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs:
Height: 6'4" Weight: 264 lbs.
"Jacobs went 35-2 as an amateur heavyweight, twice winning the state AAU championship. He loved boxing but eventually turned to football due it to its college scholarship possibilities."
Many of us have been saying this out of pure common sense from the jump - it's a financial decision on why our best specimens aren't boxing pros, but I suspect the bias of the current top dog Klits doing well has provided their fans this nice bubble that America's best ARE currently getting in the ring (laughable), when just looking at how many of our fellas stateside won't even make it a priority to get in the best shape possible for a fight has been very telling.
It's only out of pure delusion, that a person aware of U.S. boxing's HW woes wouldn't say 'yes' in response to the question.Comment
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The best athletes of other country aren't boxers too.
Look Teddy Riner in Judo : 6ft8, 280+ and only 23 years old.
I think soccer, rugby, judo... attract the bestathletes in Europe.Comment
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It's so financially lopsided in the States, there is NO incentive to box. Period.Originally posted by Daļa View Post
You can make 6 figures in the NFL for instance, and never see a down in a live game.
Where in boxing you're grinding for YEARS until you even see that kind of money through hard work.Comment
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Not to mention, based on Jacob's testimony, we're also talking a full ride, top flight, all expense paid, college education in this picture. If taken advantage of, our specimens would have options even outside of pro sports. Another - for even considering taking up boxing professionally.Comment
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Funny when you look at the NBA, alot of those smaller players that play point guard and shooting guard are still over 6'2" and weight 200+ pounds.
Little guys like Dwayne Wade and Derrick Rose are as tall as Chris Arreola and taller than Povetkin and Seth Mitchell.
Baseball players average well over 200 pounds as well as do most of those players in the NHL..Comment
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That's true but that's the point really. Boxing used to be a national sport in America where as in the whole it wasn't in other countries, the decline of boxing in America has brought things to a more even point. I think it's sad that some people seem happy that America doesn't take boxing seriously any more there happy that the sport has signification less talent than it would otherwise that just seems ******.Originally posted by Daļa View Post
How many athletes are there at heavyweight? Wlad, Haye, Price, Mitchell that's pretty much it. There were more athletes in the 100m final than there are in the whole of the heavyweight division which is ridiculous. Being athletic doesn't make you a great fighter (look at Frazier) but it's a good starting point.Comment
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