How did Wilder get the only medal for USA in '08?

[Cutthroat]

The only guy to get a medal in the 2008 Olympics for the USA was Deontay Wilder.
How did a newbie to boxing like him succeed when guys that have been boxing the majority of their lives fail?

Wilder wanted to play either basketball or football for the University of Alabama but was unable to due to his daughter's spinal condition and grade issues he was forced to attend community college.

He stepped into the ring for the 1st time ever in 2005 at age 20, had just 5 fights total from 05-07. His first set of fights in 07 started on April 30th, which was for a golden gloves tournament which he won and upset the favorites.

In 07-08 he had something like 17 fights, qualified for the Olympics with 21 fights, went on to win bronze.


Also can someone please explain to me how Seth Mitchell is the 13th ranked HW in the world and 3rd in the USA? (according to boxrec, most places have him lower)

Like Wilder he was forced to quit playing sports, this was due to injuries though. Wanted to play in the NFL but couldn't and instead made a switch to boxing.

Stepped into the ring for the 1st time in his life at age 24, had just 10 amateur fights going 9-1 and is currently koing everybody they put in front of him and is usually considered America's best prospect.

[Earl-Hickey]

Not sure since they both suck donkey balls

[ShoulderRoll]

His height, and his athleticism from basketball/football, proved to be enough to get him a bronze medal.

Imagine how much more accomplished he would be had he been training in boxing since he was little.

[LeG00N]

I could probably knock out Wilder to be honest and I'm a short unathletic Mexican

[jayjames616]

America's best hw play other sports. I truly believe there is probably 40 NFL players and about 20 NBA players that would beat the hell out of Chris Areola given just two years of boxing training and a few fights.

[ShoulderRoll]

2 years might not be enough time.

But if those NFLers and NBAers had been channelled into boxing when they were children then some fearsome heavyweight talent would have been produced, no doubt about it.

[Alx.]

mitchell has more solid opposition to be fair

[jayjames616]

2 years might not be enough time.

But if those NFLers and NBAers had been channelled into boxing when they were children then some fearsome heavyweight talent would have been produced, no doubt about it.

Two years might not be enough time. To me heavyweight takes the least amount of technical skills to be successful. At heavyweight you can succeed with physical attributes more so than the other weight classes. Don't get me wrong you definitely NEED the skill and the best are usually the more skilled fighters but at heavyweight power equals things out more than the other weights. I do agree if they were boxing from childhood instead of playing football or basketball there would be killer heavyweights in the US.

I can just picture someone like Adrien Peterson being a great heavyweight boxer.

[Alx.]

Not sure since they both suck donkey balls

lmao......