Why has no Heavyweight champ's sons ever followed in their fathers footsteps?

There's far more than genetics involved, as you suggested. The odds of anyone making it as far as the championship are incalcuable. Also, sons of champs usually have more options than their now-rich fathers had.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons son boxed for a while but never reached the heights his Father did.

http://boxrec.com/boxer/31742

 

Because heavyweight champion of the world isn't a hereditary title.

 

Partly because many of them haven't had to. One of George Foreman's son's was a beast, 6'5, bigger and stronger than his father. He boxed as a hobby and racked up a huge win streak, got to something like 20 and 0 almost all kos. Then he realized he was only a couple fights away from a title shot and retired. He was a rich entrepreneur, and he never wanted to make boxing a big part of his life, so he just walked away. There's some interesting articles about him, and he's on boxrec of course, look him up.

In general, I think there were probably alot of hw champs sons who could have been good contenders or better. But boxers, more than almost any other sport, usually come from certain socioeconomic backgrounds. It's why there are so many Eastern European, poor African American, Traveler, and poor immigrant boxers. It's a cultural thing and a way to escape disadvantaged background. There are plenty of people who had the talent to succeed, like George Foreman VI(or whatever his number was), but it wasn't a life style that appealed to them.

 

There's so few champions that the odds are really heavy against it.

In other sports like baseball and football, there are a lot of father and son players, but it would be more like reaching Hall-of-Fame level at least. I can't think of a Hall-of-Fame father son combo in any sport. Brothers being outstanding has happened more often. In boxing the Klitschkos. In baseball the Waners.

As has been mentioned, in boxing you also need to be hungry.

*just a related point. Max Baer, Jr. said in an interview that he brought up with his father wanting to go into boxing once when in his late teens. His dad took him to the backyard, put on the gloves with him, and proceeded to cream him. After it was over, Max Sr. told his son in effect, "You have so many better things you can do with your life than getting beat up and beating up other fellows." Max Jr. went into acting and became famous as Jethro on The Beverly Hillbillies.

 

Bucephelus Hart boxed the smoker circuit in Kentucky and Tennessee and was said to be a real comer but retired undefeated to his hubcap farm.

 

Let's see how far Trey "Lippe" Morrison goes, great athlete and has definitely inherited his old mans power..

 

It is hard to be as great as the father. We have had great fighters who had fathers who were fighters but not great. or great fighter fathers, who had fighters as sons. But rarely a great father makes a great son fighter. Who knows why? In a way the discipline might not be there with a son who has more money than his dad did growing up. The father was more motivated to get out of poverty. And no kid will have the same skills as the dads or body type. JCC Jr, was so much bigger than his father and lacked his dad's heart and over all skill set. Hearns son was taller than Tommy, but his reach was 73 inches. Tommy's was 78 1/2..

 

I saw some of Trey fighting. He looks like his dad, but his body is not as built as his father. I don't think he looks strong enough to matchup with the big heavyweights now..

 

That would be great. Vitali has a couple son's from his marriage and his wife is a tall, near Olympic level athlete. Would be cool if they became boxers and the Lewis Klitschko fight could be carried on to the next generation.

 

Not champs but honorable mention to Tom and Peter McNeeley.

 

I believe the great Dave Jaco had a son or two follow in his illustrious footsteps.

 

Humans aren't bred to be fighters......

Marvis Frazier didn't do all too bad especially since he was not a chip off the old block.