Boxers who were serious HS/college athletes in other sports?

I think Chamberlain wanted to fight Ali in the 70s, but his dad was the voice of reason and talked him out of it. Him beating Ali in the ring would be like Ali beating him on the court.... Ain't gonna happen. Ali likely would've carried him though. Ali may not have been a devastating puncher against top level heavyweight pro's, but against your average Joe, he'd look devastating indeed.

Jim Jacobs, yes that Jim Jacobs, was supposed to have a fight with Archie Moore, but ended up backing out of it

 

G'day IMJL .

Yep, Cus D'Amato wanted to train his friend Jacobs to face Archie Moore which in my opinion was insane. Handball isnt boxing.

Cus was always a guy who deffo marched to the beat of his own drummer.

 

I actually read a little story somewhere about Jim Brown and Ali a while back.

During Ali's exile Brown wanted to help his friend who was cash strapped and suggested that Muhammad and himself fight.

Ali told Jim it wasnt a good idea and Brown asked Ali why.

Evidently Ali told Jim to shape up and basically ripped a few combos at the champion footballer while moving around.

Jim immediately realised that he was completely out of his depth and no more was said about it.

A great story if it is true.

 

Bill Russell would have beaten Wilt " The Stilt ", Kev

 

I believe he played high school football in Canada. He also wanted to play pro basketball.

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Interesting...I stumbled across a Sports Illustrated photo of PATTERSON & Wilt feigning a potential fight...virtually the same photo that Ali and Wilt did 5-6 years later.

 

I think Brown somewhere along the line confirmed the story. I met Brown down in Dallas, at his Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame induction about 20 years ago...Brown looked like he was cut out of steel, and could play pro football tomorrow.

 

Anyone mention Seth Mitchell or Gerald Washington, two recent heavyweights who were also successful football players of varying levels.

 

I read that Holyfield tried out for his HS football team as a freshman, but at 115 pounds, the coach told him he was too small and would get hut.

 

Jim Brown vs Abe Simon (Simon played college football)

 

Scott Ledoux was also a college football player

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