Kone?

The NBA isn't loaded with 7 footers either. For instance right now there are 5 teams that dont have a 7 footer on the roster. There are 43 players in the NBA that are at least 7 feet tall but how many of them would have the ability to box at a world class level? Maybe a couple?

 

Yeah but those guys are so athletic that they dominate basketball so why bother putting your life at risk in such a difficult and brutal sport like boxing? I think we'll see another Mike Tyson before we see a 7 foot great HW.

 

Totally agree.

 

But that's why he didn't make the NBA.

 

well, technically he did, but didn't last. But ya, you're pretty much right.

Rashad McCants was actually a tough dude, but he's 6'3 tops.

 

43/2800 is an insane chance to make the NBA especially when the 2800 has women included. There are probably another 50-100 playing pro ball somewhere. Boxing is dependent on upbringing. Many could at least be top 30 heavyweights if raised as boxers, but the payoff is so much less tha n the NBA unless you're the champ.

 

I think it will happen, not because 7 foot is the ideal height for hw boxing but because people are getting taller and chances are some 7 foot freak that has the mobility and technique to deal with all comers will show up.

 

Thats the very point many of us are making. There are plenty of 7 footers with the Mobility and would have the technique if trained but they're playing basketball.

 

This. Most college and pro basketball players that I’ve known over 6’6” couldn’t fight and I knew and played against a lot of them. Especially the 7 footers. Back when I was with the Lakers Summer League team some short Jamaican player about 6’0”, but built like a tank beat the tar out of Andrew Bynum, who was reckless with his elbows.

Anthony Peeler made Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone backdown despite being much smaller.

Sam Miller was 6’7” or 6’8” and found out the hard way that size doesn’t stop you from catching a beat down from a smaller guy. I bet he won’t slap a guy in jail ever again.

This content is protected

 

I never bought the basketball theory myself. Was trotted out here for years on end as an excuse when the Klits dominated. Now we've got a fat 6'2" guy as #1 hw which sinks the theory again. This fact probably speaks to why they don't go in boxing gyms, basketball is a much easier game and easier money.

 

Out of the big four, Ruiz is the only one who would be hopeless on a basketball court.

 

Stephen Jackson was legit. He 6'8" and he would go with anyone back in the day.

 

Why are the HW boxers today bigger and taller than the ones in the past?

 

I don’t think they really are, since there were plenty of heavyweights over 6’4”and over 230 lbs even going as far back as the 30’s. However, the competition in the heavyweight division isn’t as deep as it used to be, so more tall guys are managing to make it to the top 10.

Big heavyweights used to have to deal with fighting both big heavyweights and small quick heavyweights (who were in top condition) regularly, but with the addition of the cruiserweight division, which effectively split the heavyweight division’s talent pool a big guy can make it to the top 10 without ever facing a smaller tricky fighter or a small well conditioned guy with a deceptively hard punch.

 

Boxing is easier and more simple then basketball