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

[bojangles1987]

I don't buy it although I agree naturally athletes today are of a higher standered and that standard will only get better with every generation I don't think that in the space of just 20+ years I don't think that the gap between generations is that significant.

You can just look at NBA players from 30 years ago and NBA players today and see that they are generally far bigger and more athletic. Same with the NFL, and most sports. Boxing is the only anomaly there.

I'm not saying that if the NBA suddenly went out of business, these guys would walk into boxing and be great. But if even half of the great athletes in college basketball, let alone the NBA, had been brought into boxing as kids and ended up trying to go pro, it's crazy to think it wouldn't make a huge difference in the heavyweight division today.

[New England]

I'm not picking anybody what I'm saying is that other sports aren't taking our fighters. Its just that less people have the natural desire or inclination towards fighting regardless of money. That's what I'm saying. So other sports aren't taking fighters. Other sports are taking naturally coordinated athletes. That doesn't necessarily make them fighters. Understand?

you seem to think that a "fighter" is some preordained monster from birth, separate from all other athletes. they are not. sure, not everybody in the NBA is going to have the temperament of a professional boxer.

is tony thompson "a fighter"
chris arreola?

those guys dont have the dedication to show up in shape. what makes you think they've got a greater aptitude toward being a great boxer? or that they're so tough? show me how tough you are by even getting into condition for a hard fight. they dont.


you'd rather have a dozen 12 year old arreola and thompsons walk through your door because you dont think it's possible that NBA and NFL players are "fighters?"





there are two reasons to see that the lack of american presence in the division is partially due to the popularity of the NFL and NBA:

Bias. unforgivable! lol

and a lack of understanding. forgiven. go to a basketball game and you'll get an idea of the level of size and athleticism. these guys are enormous, and they're the best athletes on the planet.

it's a bit more difficult in football, because the arenas are so big, but you get an idea of how fast they are and how physically brutal the game is.

[The Hammer]

Yep, and no one gives two ****s. If amateur pedigree meant something.

It meant a lot when Ward won the gold in 2004.

[New England]

You can just look at NBA players from 30 years ago and NBA players today and see that they are generally far bigger and more athletic. Same with the NFL, and most sports. Boxing is the only anomaly there.

I'm not saying that if the NBA suddenly went out of business, these guys would walk into boxing and be great. But if even half of the great athletes in college basketball, let alone the NBA, had been brought into boxing as kids and ended up trying to go pro, it's crazy to think it wouldn't make a huge difference in the heavyweight division today.

i was not around 30 years ago, but i'm lead to believe that the level of play in the NBA today is leagues beyond what it used to be.

it was basically a niche sport until johnson, byrd, and more importantly michael jordan

[ArtThouFurious?]

USA: Population of 314.1 million - 0 Medals in Boxing

Ireland: Population of 4.6 million - 4 Medals in Boxing

It's a shame we suck bawls in 3 round glorified sparring sessions.

I hear we're pretty neato in real life boxing though.

[-Lowkey-]

You can just look at NBA players from 30 years ago and NBA players today and see that they are generally far bigger and more athletic. Same with the NFL, and most sports. Boxing is the only anomaly there.

I'm not saying that if the NBA suddenly went out of business, these guys would walk into boxing and be great. But if even half of the great athletes in college basketball, let alone the NBA, had been brought into boxing as kids and ended up trying to go pro, it's crazy to think it wouldn't make a huge difference in the heavyweight division today.

Maybe it would maybe it wouldn't maybe if Boxing was big in China or India maybe they would be dominating certain weights its all hypothetical.

I don't know much about the progression of NBA I don't watch basketball but like I said in a previous post losing potential boxers to other sports is an issue but that issue is not restricted to one nation.

[jayjames616]

Really lame excuses. Basketball is virtually a no contact sport and those guys are fighters? because people are claiming that's where the American HWs are.

Sure most football players will no make good boxers same as most basketball players Rugby players and American football players would not make good boxers.

Saying an American football player would beat a football player in a fight is irrelevant because American football players are generally much bigger and boxing has weight classes rugby players are of a more similar size.

I don't think basketball players (American) are fighters particularly, I see them as the better all around athlete. I only give soccer players the advantage in stamina. I don't think NBA players would be as good as NFL players but I do believe they can be better than most athletes in other sports around the world with some exceptions. Ruby players are good athletes and are very tough andcould make for good fighters but I think American football players are better all around athletes (speed,quickness, size, power and agility). Ruby players have those attributes but not to the level of NFL players. I am definitely not saying that all or even most NFL players would be good boxer but I truly believe having these two sports in America has lowered talent pool of boxers in America.

[ArtThouFurious?]

USA: Population of 314.1 million - 0 Medals in Boxing

Ireland: Population of 4.6 million - 4 Medals in Boxing

Ireland: 4 medals

Mexico: 0 medals

[tredh]

i was not around 30 years ago, but i'm lead to believe that the level of play in the NBA today is leagues beyond what it used to be.

it was basically a niche sport until johnson, byrd, and more importantly michael jordan

The level of play today from an athletic standpoint is levels above but not from a skills, technical and fundamental aspect. The game has actually declined in those areas because most players try to just get by on their athleticism instead of learning the skills and keeping their fundamentals sharp if they ever learned them.

Basketball was far from a niche sport until Johnson and Bird. Basketball was very popular but it went to another level with Magic and Bird just like Jordan took it to another level after them.

[SN!PER]

One country is not supposed to dominate a sport. If U.S. is considered less of a force today, it's because of natural progression of boxing into a world sport.

Why do all the other nations except U.S. suck at basketball? Again, it's the same situation, because basketball didn't evolve into a worldwide sport.