Does Wilder prove the argument all the great American HW's went to other sports?

[sentax]

The idea that the reason that the American dominance over the Heavyweight division has dissipated the last 20 years is often argued and dismissed by others that all the talent now goes to the NFL and NBA.

If things had gone to plan for Deontay he would have been a pro-basketball player, but it didn't and instead he took up boxing relatively late in life and became the heavyweight champ.

If some of these others football and basketball players had instead followed Deyontay's path we'd probably see American fighters even better than Wilder.

[DeanoFlash]

I think he's the perfect example. So is that woman abuser cat from the Cowboys. He's doing major damage in MMA.

Wilder is very athletic, fast twitch muscle fibers, but he's incredibly uncoordinated as an athlete. There are at least 50 Wilder's in American pro sports right now

[Ray*]

Who knows, Seth Mitchell, Bryan Jennings, Michael Grant, Breazeale, Mccline all come to mind. We have New Zealanders who can box and play rugby. But most choose to go the rugby route. To be honest a lot of them (NFL or NBA) players would not be good enough to make it, it took 11 years for Wilder to actually step up.... And he said those words himself, so maybe those names would have need the same sort of time and level of opponents before they get to the point where they are then not protected anymore.

[sentax]

Who knows, Seth Mitchell, Bryan Jennings, Michael Grant, Breazeale, Mccline all come to mind. We have New Zealanders who can box and play rugby. But most choose to go the rugby route. To be honest a lot of them (NFL or NBA) players would not be good enough to make it, it took 11 years for Wilder to actually step up.... And he said those words himself, so maybe those names would have need the same sort of time and level of opponents before they get to the point where they are then not protected anymore.

But that kind of leads to my point, I actually don't think Wilder is particularly athletic or impressive compared to some actual NBA players, but despite it all and him starting boxing late in life he got to the top of boxing.


Imagine a young LeBron James going into heavyweight? 6'8", 250 lbs he makes Wilder actually look small and slow.

[Curt Henning]

But that kind of leads to my point, I actually don't think Wilder is particularly athletic or impressive compared to some actual NBA players, but despite it all and him starting boxing late in life he got to the top of boxing.


Imagine a young LeBron James going into heavyweight? 6'8", 250 lbs he makes Wilder actually look small and slow.

theres probably at least 100 guys in the nfl, playing TE, DE, OLB, ILB, OL that could be a HW champ right now if they had chosen to take the boxing path

30 years ago top nfl guys were making 1-2 mil a year while bowe, holyfield and tyson were making money hand over fist.....now guys are worth 20-50 mil on their first contract in the NFL and wilder was scrounging for 2-3 mil a fight for awhile

[Zaryu]

I think he helps bring credibility to the argument. However, I think the argument is misinterpreted to mean that our current NBA and NFL players would be top fighters today, when that's not really the case. The problem is the vast majority of our big athletes aim to become basketball or football players. There's a difference. If Wilder would've grown up boxing, instead of trying to play basketball professionally, he would've been an even better fighter.

However, this doesn't sit well with other people because many times this is sold as an exclusive American tragic story, but it also happens in other countries.

[QballLobo]

Kobe would have been an incredible boxer.

[Eff Pandas]

I don't think any one guy could prove it. And randomly Breazeale is an argument for it as well cuz even if he's come up short in his two biggest fights he was still a failed football player & getting to a title fight is still a solid accomplishment in this sport.

Wilder & Breazeale certainly prove the argument is a valid one.

[Eff Pandas]

However, this doesn't sit well with other people because many times this is sold as an exclusive American tragic story, but it also happens in other countries.

Thats legit.

The whole argument does have the sound of "if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle" logic to it.

Things are as they are. And they are as they are elsewhere. And things shake out to the realities & present we find ourselves in based on how things are. There are things being pushed & pulled everywhere that have impact into the future.

[Ray*]

But that kind of leads to my point, I actually don't think Wilder is particularly athletic or impressive compared to some actual NBA players, but despite it all and him starting boxing late in life he got to the top of boxing.


Imagine a young LeBron James going into heavyweight? 6'8", 250 lbs he makes Wilder actually look small and slow.

Joe Hanks look better than Lebron and he got KTFO by a fat Andy Ruiz. Boxing isn’t just about the looks. Maybe if Lebron started boxing at a young age then yeah, if not they would need to do like a bum/dishwashers tour for 10 years whilst he learn more about boxing.

Even now Wilder still gets criticise for not knowing the basics about boxing (I kinda disagree), i hope you get my point. Am just saying you can’t really tell or say those guys in the NFL would create more HW boxers if they go the boxing route.