Would it even be a question that the US would still dominate the HW division

[EasternEuroFan]

It's a ridiculous thing to even suggest it.

So what the guy is tall and big? he would just be the same size at the other HW champs today, so it'd still be down to whether he can box or not. There's plenty of 6'7 journeymen.

Why just consider heavyweights?

it's about as valid an argument as saying Roger Federer would be a great middleweight or Lionel Messi would be a great super featherweight, just because they're good at other sports and they might be the right size for that division.

[Robbie Barrett]

Imagine if all those soccer players were boxing. America wouldn't even be represented in the divisions below HW.

[TripleJ]

Imagine if all those soccer players were boxing. America wouldn't even be represented in the divisions below HW.

Yeah, because soccer players are known for their ability to take a good hit and fight through it

[Robbie Barrett]

Yeah, because soccer players are known for their ability to take a good hit and fight through it

are Basketball players? Soccer players are trained to dive and pretend to be hurt, to gain an advantage. Nothing to do with toughness.

Americans like to use the excuse that their athletes are in other sports. Well so are every other countries who have more popular sports.

[TripleJ]

are Basketball players? Soccer players are trained to dive and pretend to be hurt, to gain an advantage. Nothing to do with toughness.

Americans like to use the excuse that their athletes are in other sports. Well so are every other countries who have more popular sports.

I'm just busting your chops a bit, there are a few players I've wondered about. A guy like vinnie jones, if all his efforts went to the ring instead. Or Zlatan ibrahimovic, he seems pretty rangy and intense. I have very little soccer knowledge, I'm sure there's better examples. Like you said, every sport would take away from boxing and vice versa.

It's been said the worlds greatest violinist has never picked up a violin, or the greatest marathon runner is sitting on his couch. We'll never know what some people could have achieved because they never gave it a shot. But like the op also pointed out, when you see a freak athlete it makes you wonder.

[sentax]

I'm pretty sure basketball and football existed even when US dominated the heavyweights. It's more that Britain and Europe started producing good heavies and there are all the Eastern Europeans now that weren't allowed to fight professionally before under Communism. I'm sure Americans will keep using the "basketball!" argument from now until the end of time though.

I'm just saying it's probably not a coincidence that the top US Heavyweight boxer right now is someone who just happened to be not good enough to make a career out of basketball and just ended becoming the best US HW boxer instead.

If Deontay Wilder happened to be a little more skilled in bball he wouldn't even be boxing right now and he'd likely admit it.

So imagine the really skilled/athletic guys US boxing has missed out on?

Up until the mid to late 80's, the top HW boxers were indeed making more money than those in the NBA or certainly NFL. Talent always follows money.

[SN!PER]

That man is strong enough to deflate a basketball with one hand.

If he'd been raised in a boxing family from a young age, he could very well be ragdolling AJ and Wilder right about now.

[Eddy Current]

Yes obviously because for all intents and purposes they are untrained fighters.

My point is if some of these guys went into boxing in their youths.

Look how far Deontay Wilder has made it in the US HW scene and this guy wouldn't really get a second look as pro-baller despite what he says as to why he left basketball (he wouldn't have gone far).

Now imagine someone with truly great athletic gifts?

I've wondered what LeBron James would have been like as a HW if he went into boxing as a youth

[DaNeutral.]

The last thing this beautiful sport needs is more Deontay Wilders. 1 protected big mouthed poor skilled American Heavyweight is more than enough. He makes so much noise, well i say that, now Joshua is walking round with big contracts Wilders gone all quiet.

But you sort of have a point, ive seen plenty of Basketball fights and it really does resemble a field of windmills.

[Armchairhero]

Not this again... look back at some of the best heavies, who would you have classed as a freak athlete out of any of them?
Not a single one and look what a fat totally unathletic gypsy just did to the current freak athlete, he boxed his chops off after a 2 yr beer and coke binge.