What happened to the great American Heavyweight?

They are playing at the NBA and NFL

 

I have heard various people give this reply to the same question.

 

Boxing represents too much risk in comparison to the reward for the available talent pool. You could devote years and years of your life to it and go nowhere, make no money and get beat to top it off.

 

true!

 

Give me a break.

 

Both of those leagues have been around forever and it is only a factor now? That is a pitiful excuse.

 

Though the whole, "They're playing in the NFL or NBA" answer seems pat...there is actually a lot of truth to it. About a decade ago, while at college, I was looking for a real boxing gym to work out in. I couldn't find one...and I was in Boston. Fact is, boxing gyms have been closing in America for decades now as people prefer less agressive activities or watered down versions of boxing, like box-aerobics. Why is MMA gaining in popularity then? Well, MMA is based primarily on a sport that actually has some support, wrestling. They still teach wrestling in most high schools, and as far as I know, most of the MMA fighters started out as wrestlers. They certainly didn' begin as boxer.

 

do u have a better explanation??

 

How about this: boxing's amateur system has been neglected for about three decades now. Why this is a fact is a much larger issue. Perhaps it is because boxing is losing out to other sports and perhaps for another reason entirely. But if you don't have an opinion of your own, why **** one somebody elses? I just don't get that. Either have the guts to provide your own point of view, or keep quiet!

 

this is a good point. a lot of kids start out in pop warner ball at a young age. they play football their whole life. they get into university to play football. it just has more national appeal than boxing. a lot of boxers come from boxing families, or from families who have a deep interest in the sport.

 

Thats not exactly any different to over here in Europe though. There isnt any boxing taught in schools or any push to become a boxer.

 

:good

Err... in other countries, football/soccer is by far the most popular sport, I guess the best welters, lightweights, cruisers etc, etc are there, and a few of the best heavies too. Pitiful excuse indeed.

 

There are a number of contemporary examples that contradition your non-argument. How about two the highest rated American heavies of the past decade (or thereabouts): Michael Grant and Haseem Rahman. Both were guys who took up boxing in their 20's after they had failed at other sports. And I'm sure folks can name dozens more. I believe both Kevin Johnson and Tony Thomspson also came to the sport late after they had failed in other sports. That's 4 American heavyweight who were all one time contenders who all didn't start boxing til their twenties. Sorry, but this is not a considence. :-(

 

Err...In other countries futbol and rugby and cricket players are not paid what athletes in the NBA and NFL are paid. Use you head! There's a reason players come to America. Why is David Beckham now in the States? Because he likes California girls?