Which is more difficult? Being an elite pro boxer or an elite NFL quarterback?

[Boxing_1013]

Boxer.

There are 32 starting QBs in the NFL. How many are elite?

Now think of all the weight classes in boxing. Think of how many are elite in a given weight class ... there is your answer.

Not to mention QBs can be carried by linemen, backs, receivers, and tight ends.

Boxers have to carry 100% of themselves every second of every fight

I think you guys are arguing the opposite point that you are intending to argue.

You guys are really making a strong case that it is harder to be an elite NFL QB. There are more 'elite boxers' and relatively few 'elite' NFL QBs. So by that logic, it is more difficult to be an elite NFL QB.

[Boxing_1013]

It's important to differentiate between "being" and "becoming" when we talk about which is more difficult. If we are talking about which is tougher from day to day then I would assume that being an elite boxer is more difficult for many of the reasons you stated.

If we are talking about "becoming", then I have to say elite quarterback because so many more people want to play football than box. Beyond that I think it depends on the individual. For example, there are only 254 minimum-weight (105 lb) fighters rated in boxrec. That number jumps to 729 for flyweights, 1,512 for featherweights and 2,138 for welterweights. It falls to 1,102 for light heavyweights and jumps back up to 1,308 for heavyweights. There are more weight classes of course but I figured I would just cover a broad spectrum as far as size. If we take 1% of each of those numbers, you get an approximate total of 70. That's already more than double the number of starting quarterbacks in the NFL and I only used 1/3 of the weight classes. Lastly, I also used that example to show that you can be an elite boxer at any size while elite NFL quarterbacks are usually at least six feet tall and over 200 lbs.

Well said...good post

[MasterPlan]

I think you guys are arguing the opposite point that you are intending to argue.

You guys are really making a strong case that it is harder to be an elite NFL QB. There are more 'elite boxers' and relatively few 'elite' NFL QBs. So by that logic, it is more difficult to be an elite NFL QB.

I'm saying their are other factors to being elite QB. How elite would Tom Brady be if his receivers couldn't catch or his RBs couldn't run or his linemen block? He'd be terrible because he'd have a bunch of interceptions, incomplete passes and sacks.

[Boxing_1013]

The Pressure that is on QB's especially here in America and how Popular American Football is like no other honestly. It is a reason why they get paid the most money and get talked about the most. That being said a QB is only as good as the team around him so he at least gets help from the 10 other men on the field with him

With Boxing...you have no help what so ever and it is nobody else to take blame for you when you lose

I would say Elite Boxer, plus the process is much longer and difficult in boxing. It is no Collegiate Boxing so it is no Scholarships for Boxing compared to being a QB in which you can get a Scholarship. QB's are allowed to Develop in College vs top level talent for 3 years with their School paying for them to attend that University. Then they get Drafted to the NFL and instantly make Millions $$$. In boxing, it takes a long time to make Millions and most fighters never ever make it to that level to make Millions

There are too many intangibles. To be a Tom Brady or Payton Manning, you also have to have a great supporting cast of players on your team. A solid offensive line, great receivers, a decent running back, etc. Today more than any other era, QBs are protected, unlike the previous eras of elite QBs like Marino, Montana, Elway, etc. I think it was a lot harder to be an elite level QB during a time when offensive lineman could body slam you on the turf or bring you down by your collar. Clip your knees out from under you and spear you with a helmet. It was also harder to be an elite level boxer when there were only 8 weight classes and 8 champions.

Taking that into consideration, which is harder to accomplish? Being a Tom Brady or Drew Brees today, or being a Pacquiao or Canelo today? I'd still have to side with elite level boxer. How many boxers are worth more than $100M? The level of conditioning and stamina required to remain at the top is much more demanding. A QB can call time-out, he can sit out a game or even a season and still get paid while maintaining his elite status. He has an entire team and coaching staff to help shoulder the blame if his team loses. No time-outs in boxing. Today's fighters also need to be able to market themselves without the help of an entire league or network behind them.

I will just say that imho Peyton Manning could have been on any team in the league for a 10 year stretch and they would have won at least 10 games every year and made the playoffs. He was just ahead of the game and was able to engineer an offense like I've never seen before.

He was QB, offensive coordinator and head coach all in one basically.

[New England]

physically boxing is a lot more difficult. it's regularly rated as the most difficult sport from a physical standpoint. quarterbacks probably don't even breath hard.


that said, there are probably what, 100 people playing football to every boxer? if that? there's more money, scholarships, etc in football, so that's where you'll have more competition.


difficult to say. quarterbacks also coordinate 11 guys and have to outsmart 11 guys on the other side of the ball. boxing is just you and one guy.

head trauma in both sports but you know damn well who is getting his bell rung more, particularly in 2020 where you can hardly hit a quarterback.


i'd say boxing is the more demanding sport without a doubt, but quarterback has more people gunning for your job. nobody wants to box, getting punched in teh face for your money would suck

[lparm]

If we are talking Manny and Floyd level elite then it’s boxing all day long

If we are talking wilder and Kovalev elite then it’s probably the lads in pads

That being said the nfl is hilarious how they can’t tackle properly so they just run into each out and they’re afraid to take the pads off like in rugby and play a real mans sport

[Boxing_1013]

I'm saying their are other factors to being elite QB. How elite would Tom Brady be if his receivers couldn't catch or his RBs couldn't run or his linemen block? He'd be terrible because he'd have a bunch of interceptions, incomplete passes and sacks.

Well I think Brady was largely a product of his environment (predominantly having as his coach imo the best coach in any sport I've ever seen), so I won't argue with you on that one.

And that's kind of my point...I consider only a few active NFL QBs truly 'elite' in some way right now...Lamar Jackson was elite this year, Brees still seems to be, Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Mahomes (but I think he is in a great system that aides him).

I think we agree that some QBs may look elite, or may not be given enough credit for being elite, due to the surrounding pieces either helping him or hurting him...but similarly I would argue that some boxers may look elite based on certain matchups/era/divisions, and that other boxers may not be given enough credit for being elite due to lack of promotion, bad decisions etc.

Like imo as far elite current NFL QBs - 5 max probably...I would consider about 20 boxers elite probably if I really got into it.

You only have around 32 current guys who could qualify as being an elite NFL QB...and half of the starters right now would be considered elite by no one....you have like max 10 guys who anyone could look at and say they are 'elite'

You have many more options in boxing...maybe you have 0 at certain classes...but at 147 for example you may have 3 or at least 2.

You just have more guys to choose from in boxing..it's an interesting question though and another guy pointed out that the phrasing of the question can lead to different responses.

I think a more equal question would have been 'is it harder to be an elite level QB - in college or pros - or an elite level pro boxer'....or 'is it harder to be an elite NFL QB or an elite boxer in a specific weight class'.

Personally I think you can make a good case either way that becoming an elite boxer is tougher, or vice versa for an NFL QB.

I think similarly you can make a good case either way as far as whether it is tougher to sustain excellence as a boxer or a NFL QB. I would probably say it is tougher to do so for a boxer, but a lot of them are aided too, once they become 'great' they are usually the A-side and can control more or less who they fight, which helps them maintain the veneer of excellence at least.

It's an interesting question for sure.

[BoomBapTrap]

Nick Foles, a backup QB, won a super bowl not long ago...QB’s also have offensive team, defensive team, coaches, etc.

[Squ□redCircle34]

Boxer and it’s not even close!

You have a higher rate of dying in boxing than in football!

You could die in any fight at any second even after a fight!

Trust me, if ALL boxers even at the lowest level were paid more than team sports players then you’d see a change dramatically!

[GhostofDempsey]

I will just say that imho Peyton Manning could have been on any team in the league for a 10 year stretch and they would have won at least 10 games every year and made the playoffs. He was just ahead of the game and was able to engineer an offense like I've never seen before.

He was QB, offensive coordinator and head coach all in one basically.

I agree. I would also say the same of Dan Marino. A pure passer and able to quickly read defenses and make adjustments on the line. Greatest QB who never won a title and greater than many who did.