What happened to the American HW's?

[Run]

youd have thought alonzo mourning could be the heavyweight champ until you saw him get in a fight with larry johnson and throw the most pathetic ***** slap of all time.

Yeah I saw that, and it was pathetic.

Oh and Zo really did fight under the Alias Lance "Mount" Whitaker. Or Lance "Goofy" Whitaker.



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[grayfist]

I think it was on the show "Duke it out" {ESPN}, that stated during one of their episodes {which I think was the "Immigrants" episode}, that after World War II, with the rise of a better economy (due to the War) Americans were no offered the chance to go to college through the G.I. Bill; plus, lots of jobs sprung up giving a person at least a decent living.

True. But, just the same, boxing was not left to rot by the improved economy. Proof is it produced several great ones among the "Baby Boomers" (Babies born in the years immediately after the end of WWII), among them: Larry Holmes (Born 1949), Joe Frazier (1944), George Foreman (1949) to mention a few in the Heavyweight Division. Ali was born at the height of hostilities (1942), but as a youth, he was already part of the population that enjoyed the so-called improved economy.

Eisenhower is credited for the Interstate Highways that enabled goods to travel faster around ConUS-- from where they are produced to where they are needed-- thus, making the economy even more vibrant. Still, there was boxing. And the champs in those years were not only household names and glamorous figures, but also, more important, role models. Kids wished fervently to be like them, not only because they were wealthy and famous but also it was "good" to be like them. Champions were, generally, "good people" in the eyes of the general population; not "badass" Boxing then came as close as it got to being a mainstream sport, if it was not already.

Then, came Clay, then, Ali who made the sport even bigger, and himself, transcend the already huge sport. There's no survey that I'm aware of that says for sure how many of the subsequent champions came to boxing because of Ali, but had there been one, it is close to certain that a vast majority were inspired by him.

In sum, it seems that improvement in economic conditions do not prevent boxing from flourishing. Though it may have some effect at times, many other factors make boxing bloom, including but not limited to, great champions who inspire kids to get into the sport, the availability of facilities and training methods, widely acceptable officiating, etc.

Note: I failed to thank you again for the Villoria-Nino updates while the fight was in progress. I finally saw a tape of the fight the following day, but you description was valuable. So, I say now, "Thanks again!"

[Peterp]

NO you cannot take a TOP 5 NFL lineman and turn him into a top Boxer in 5 years

BUT if you take a kid who could grow upto becoming a Top 5 Lineman and got into boxing before he was 10 year old, then he may have a chance of great success.

That is the point, not that top athletes from other sports can be converted to boxers as adults, that the kids with the best genetic potential are being funnelled into these sports rather than boxing at an early age.

[grayfist]

LOL Naismith was canadian and basketball was started in canada we just took the sport as our own

LOL!!! Sorry about that! I guess I subconsciously jumped on the general take spawned by decades the myth having been spread! LOL!!! I stand corrected.

Edit: Thanks! Gave you good K's for pointing out the error.

[Pantera2000]

Athletes are athletes. If you are born an with the ability to be great at football or basketball than there's a good chance you would be a great boxer. You take away NFL and NBA in the States and all these kids grow from the age of 10 boxing, what do you think would happen?
I'm not sayin that every Javon Kearse would take over boxing, but a few of the millions of high school and college players would rise above the rest and be the great boxers.
And yes... I think an Ali or Tyson would emerge from this pool of atheletes. I know a few NFL players. They ARE a different breed. They are athletes and their natural athletic abilities are in a different world than everyone else.

[Dude]

I really don't think that America produces no good HW boxers anymore. The "problem" you guys have is that, much like in Basketball, other countries have drawn level. There haven't been too many succesfull professional fighters from the Soviet Union until the 90s for obvious reasons. As boxing becomes interessting for athletes around the world the competition gets bigger. Another factor is that you don't have to fight in the USA anymore if you want to make serious money. After all I believe that a lot of former american HW champions would have never made it this far if the situation then would have been the same as it is today.

[PATO 1]

listen

James Toney
Calvin Brock
O 'Neil Bell
Chris Byrd

Could all win a title

[gandhalf]

And yes... I think an Ali or Tyson would emerge from this pool of atheletes. I know a few NFL players. They ARE a different breed. They are athletes and their natural athletic abilities are in a different world than everyone else.

Do you even realise that you can't replace these individuals?
do you realise that Ali had his own style?..the type of **** you don't teach to other boxers. and that's what made him exceptional.
You're clueless.

What natural athletic abilities?
what is that supposed to mean? is that what boxing is all about to you? "natural abilities"?
Damn! if that'd be the case, it would be a god damn predictable & ****ing boring sport. Not even worth watching because there'd be no surprises.