Why Are The US Heavweights So Poor Now?

[Absolutely!]

Originally Posted by eagleskins

That is the truest thing ever spoken. It is absolutely ridiculous of this notion that all the boxers are in sports, especially the NBA which is the softest professional league in the world, over boxing. Boxing, on the elite level, pays more than any US sport.

I'd like to know who initially came up with this excuse. It's just so ridiculous. There's nothing substantial to back it up, just pure speculation and the most superficial of logic. You might as well say that all professional heavyweights are practising law or becoming paramedics for all the sense it makes.

Until an ex-NBA or NFL player becomes P4P number three like former soccer player Sergio Martinez became, then the argument holds about as much water as a weight drained JCC jr.

[m8te]

well schooled american heavyweights reared from the ground up strictly within the sport of boxing is a rarity. this is why you see old guys from the early 2000's or in some cases, the 90's, still vying for contention, or big guys who started late in the sport. LITERALLY EVERY up and coming, notable american heavyweight outside of jonathon banks started their sports careers in football or basketball, and made the transition after their campaign in their initial sport fizzled out for one reason or another.

the tradition of well schooled big guys reared in boxing from a young age iis either dying or totally dead.

[Absolutely!]

Originally Posted by m8te

well schooled american heavyweights reared from the ground up strictly within the sport of boxing is a rarity. this is why you see old guys from the early 2000's or in some cases, the 90's, still vying for contention, or big guys who started late in the sport. LITERALLY EVERY up and coming, notable american heavyweight outside of jonathon banks started their sports careers in football or basketball, and made the transition after their campaign in their initial sport fizzled out for one reason or another.

the tradition of well schooled big guys reared in boxing from a young age iis either dying or totally dead.

What's Chambers's background, do you know?

[JAB5239]

Originally Posted by eagleskins

That is the truest thing ever spoken. It is absolutely ridiculous of this notion that all the boxers are in sports, especially the NBA which is the softest professional league in the world, over boxing. Boxing, on the elite level, pays more than any US sport.

On the elite level. 99.9% never make the elite level and fight for peanuts. If you don't make it in the NFL there's always canada. If you don't make it in the NBA there is the ABA and Europe. Both Hockey and baseball have farm systems. There is a better chance of making money in these sports than in boxing, and its also a way to a free education, something boxing cannot get you.

[m8te]

Originally Posted by Absolutely!

What's Chambers's background, do you know?

eddie has been in the gym since he was a kid

[Manfred]

Originally Posted by gashalasha7

No. If the Klitschko's weren't there, the Brits would rule the HW world.

[CHEF]

IMO its the fact that the neighborhood boxing gyms are GONE NOW. Nowhere for the kids to go and start boxing... plus the US amateur program is NOT what it used to be..... no where to develop the talent anymore

[PolishPummler]

Because they all went into politics.

Obama,Condoleeza, Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson, Sharpton....etc.

[Manning]

Originally Posted by reed_man02

yea but u don't have to be fast. just big, strong and tough. i think frazier would have went to the nfl if he was around today. didn't the gym he used to train at go outta of business. it would have been extremely tough for frazier to get into boxing today.

Frazier's far, far to weak for the NFL. Maybe he could have give the pro snooker circuit a go. That pays well.

[Absolutely!]

Originally Posted by reed_man02

yea but u don't have to be fast. just big, strong and tough. i think frazier would have went to the nfl if he was around today. didn't the gym he used to train at go outta of business. it would have been extremely tough for frazier to get into boxing today.

Frazier was neither particularly big, nor strong, and he wasn't just "not fast" he was slow as a snail. He might well have gone to the NFL, but they would never have let him in.

Likelihood is, Frazier wouldn't have been doing any other sport if he wasn't boxing. He was made for it. In fact he'd probably still go into boxing today given a similar upbringing, though he wouldn't be anywhere near as good. The sport simply wouldn't develop him in the same way.

[Absolutely!]

Originally Posted by Manning

Frazier's far, far to weak for the NFL. Maybe he could have give the pro snooker circuit a go. That pays well.

I stand corrected.