"The US is not doing as well in boxing because they're all in the NBA & NFL" - agree?

[Band-Aid]

That's a weak excuse tbh. That's like saying so little people watch boxing in the USA because they're all tuned into NFL or NBA.

[Guamar]

When did the US ever dominate the light flyweight division in either the pros or amateurs?

[-PBP-]

Nah...The US amateur system just needs work.

[New England]

So all the potential US Olympians at light flyweight, flyweight, bantamweight, lightweight, light welterweight and welterweight are all playing basketball or football?

my post specifically states that i'm talking about heavyweights

[DeadLikeMe]

Both options are contributing factors really

[TysonBomb]

Being the heavyweight champion is not the once sought after, coveted and prestigious title that it once used to be

[The Hammer]

When did the US ever dominate the light flyweight division in either the pros or amateurs?

Never.

But wasn't it only because they were all horse racing jockeys?

[New England]

Being the heavyweight champion is not the once sought after, coveted and prestigious title that it once used to be

no, but it's still got plenty of clout. it's based in europe now, and probably will be for some time.

there's more to it than that.

if you can get a full ride to a great university to play football or basketball... you do.

it's that simple, really.

these guys are steered toward it from the time they're 12 years old and it's established that they're great athletes.

[LA_2_Vegas]

first of all, there have been and will continue to be great fighters from all over the world, it's an individual sport and everyone has their own road. but I will generalize for the thread:

They're not doing as well because they changed the damm rules 30 years ago and made it a completely different sport.

Luckily Americans have not totally abandoned their "style" even though it means sacrificing awards and medals at these world tournaments. The problem with that is while they might have a cool style for pro boxing, they aren't able to get the top experience that comes with advancing in competitions and being successful in amateur boxing. They may get 200 fights under their belt, but continually lose to those at the top who might be from another country and have mastered how to score within that system.

The "european" style has evolved, the world is a lot smaller now, some of the guys we see now grew up watching some dynamic fighters in the 80s-90s......the "stiff white dudes" who people will continue to stereotype against aren't playing around...they've added wrinkles to the whole system and have "caught up" because they've combined their top experience on how to win from the am's and added dimensions you'd expect to see from US fighters, or a Mexican fighter, or a PR fighter. Not all of it translates to the pros though so even if others have caught up, there is still pretty good parity in boxing across the board.

[Guamar]

Never.

But wasn't it only because they were all horse racing jockeys?

You're trying to suggest that a similar shift has occurred in the lightest divisions by highlighting the fact that the US hasn't won a medal in those divisions, when no such shift has occurred there. There simply aren't many 5ft4 108 pound guys walking around in the US compared to the nations that tend to dominate in those divisions. However, there are definitely many elite American professional athletes competing in the major sports with similar builds to heavyweight boxers.

That being said, suggesting that all the best potential heavyweights have taken up other sports is probably an oversimplification. I think the biggest issue is lack of mainstream exposure in general.