Is Europe not dominating the lower weight classes because...

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012.


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  1. WarpedDesign

    WarpedDesign Well-Known Member Full Member

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    ...all the best athletes are playing football (soccer)?

    Someone made this point in another thread but I think it's worthy of it's own one. I hadn't really thought about it before but, now that I do, there may be something in it.

    Outside of Britain, where there is Rugby, there is no sport in Europe for big men to play (basketball is more like a specialist hobby and not professional in probably all countries in Europe) so the result is heavyweight domination in boxing.

    In the lower weight classes Europe doesn't really boss a division like the Heavyweight scene. Is it because all their best athletes are playing soccer? Could Beckham have been the next Sugar Ray Robinson or Messi the new Floyd Mayweather?
     
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    #1
  2. cesare-borgia

    cesare-borgia Übermensch in fieri Full Member

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    Its because they are all tall, except for some countries where you have a point, if not for football it would be xavi tko donaire in 8
     
    cesare-borgia, Mar 18, 2012
    cesare-borgia, Mar 18, 2012
    #2
  3. Ncc84

    Ncc84 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    its because other countries have a larger population of smaller people, football isnt full of 5'3 bantamweights.
    most footballers are super middleweight to cruiserweight sized
     
    Ncc84, Mar 18, 2012
    Ncc84, Mar 18, 2012
    #3
  4. WarpedDesign

    WarpedDesign Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I meant probably from cruserweight and down, not just midget weight classes.
     
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    #4
  5. DrMo

    DrMo Team GB Full Member

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    All the best British flyweights are jockeys :conf
     
    DrMo, Mar 18, 2012
    DrMo, Mar 18, 2012
    #5
  6. BZA

    BZA Hall of Painer Full Member

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    I'm pretty sure Spain's basketball league is second only to the NBA and Greece's and Serbia's are pretty good too. And Italy.
     
    BZA, Mar 18, 2012
    BZA, Mar 18, 2012
    #6
  7. WarpedDesign

    WarpedDesign Well-Known Member Full Member

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    And before anybody tries to get smart, I'm not saying Europe isn't successful outside of the heavyweights, but I am saying there is not same level of total dominance.
     
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    WarpedDesign, Mar 18, 2012
    #7
  8. Absolutely!

    Absolutely! Fabulous, darling! Full Member

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    Yes. Very probably. It all comes down to a numbers game. Soccer is the most popular ball sport in the world bar none, and the number one high paying ball sport in practically every country in the EU, not to mention South America and Mexico, Africa, and large swathes of Asia. If soccer ceased to exist tomorrow (wouldn't really mind honestly, lol) and even a tenth of the athletes started competing seriously in boxing the whole sport gets turned over.

    Martinez and his insane speed, stamina are a taste of what we'd have.
     
    Absolutely!, Mar 18, 2012
    Absolutely!, Mar 18, 2012
    #8
  9. SugarShane_24

    SugarShane_24 ESB good-looking member Full Member

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    Same with the other thread, American heavyweights stopped dominating once Eastern Europe opened it's doors to pro boxing and the result is a tremendous quality of opposition.

    European lighter weight fighters will have a hard time competing as there are competition from continents with a lot of physically smaller opposition, In asia alone you have Filipinos, Thais, Indon, Jap, Koreans. Africa has a lot too and the the bulk of talent in latin America would be overwhelming as well.
     
    SugarShane_24, Mar 18, 2012
    SugarShane_24, Mar 18, 2012
    #9
  10. reed_man02

    reed_man02 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Of course not. Mexico dominates the lower weight classes even though boxing isn't the number one sport there.
     
    reed_man02, Mar 18, 2012
    reed_man02, Mar 18, 2012
    #10
  11. smokey_b_rare

    smokey_b_rare Guest

    Mesi is Argentinian you ****ing fuk!
     
    smokey_b_rare, Mar 18, 2012
    smokey_b_rare, Mar 18, 2012
    #11
  12. haworths623

    haworths623 Guest


    I've always thought about starting a poll who's the most gifted athlete at what they do: Anderson Silva, Lionel Messi or Floyd Mayweather
     
    haworths623, Mar 18, 2012
    haworths623, Mar 18, 2012
    #12
  13. Vidic

    Vidic Rest in Peace Manny Full Member

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    :lol::deal
     
    Vidic, Mar 18, 2012
    Vidic, Mar 18, 2012
    #13
  14. MrMagic

    MrMagic Loyal Member Full Member

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    We are not midgets, and those who are, are dominating other sports.
     
    MrMagic, Mar 18, 2012
    MrMagic, Mar 18, 2012
    #14
  15. Bubby

    Bubby Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    White people on average are larger than most other races. In many European countries men average over 6'0". How many 6'4" 135 pounders do you see around?
     
    Bubby, Mar 18, 2012
    Bubby, Mar 18, 2012
    #15
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