Basketball players and boxing.

[VG_Addict]

Do you think basketball players could do well at boxing? They have a combination of size and athleticism. Michael Jordan was 6'4-6'6, and 195-225 in his prime, which would be a good size for a CW-HW.

[bradlee180]

Nope.

[J_Undisputed]

It takes more than size and athleticism. you have to be just a little crazy to volunteer to get punched in the head and know that every fight could be your last. I'd sooner choose someone from a contact sport that's used to someone trying to cause them bodily harm. Hockey, football, rugby, etc.. At least three prerequisite for brutality is already filled.
Hell, hockey fights have their own code. It used to be where you dropped the gloves, removed your lid, threw down. If someone slipped before you really started throwing, you gave the man a chance to get to his feet. When someone dropped, you stopped throwing... Win or lose you took your lumps and congratulated each on a good fight. Closer to boxing in terms of the honor that's originally intended.

[greynotsoold]

Charles Barkley knows about hoops. He said that basketball players cannot fight.

[FinitoElDinamita]

Lol. Here we go again with this 10 year old thinking. Like anybody tall and muscular cAn make a good boxer.

Boxers are a different breed of athletes. They are unique individuals with a different kind of heart and mentality.

Size don't mean shit if u don't have those traits.

Like kobe for instance. He's a fuckin pussy who can't punch to save his life. One time I saww him getting clocked by a smaller player, shit was embarassing. Smh

So NO.

[Spicoli]

"Basketball" players you say..

[Max Power]

In boxing "weight" is the most important advantage. A weight advantage can make an opponent dangerous even if he is not as skilled.

Weight confers the advantages of chin/punch resistance, power, and making you harder to move thus sapping the opponents strength. It does not even matter much whether the weight is in the form of fat or muscles. Well not quite there are important differences too.

Height CAN be advantage but only if the opponent knows how to use it, in other words if he is also very skilled.

Historically 6'2"ish has been the average most successful height of a HW boxer. It is only recently that taller boxers on the order of 6'5"+ have become balanced and coordinated and skilled enough to populate/dominate the division. Previously they were all oafs who did not make full use of their height technically.

So to answer you question VAG_Dodger, Basketball athletes would be ideal for boxing ONLY if they were trained and experienced in boxing for many years like real boxers. Cross over athletes late will still get smashed!!

For all it's benefits height confers some disadvantages. For any given same weight...

- Weight is made up more of internal organs and bones therefore more fragile.
- Longer legs meaning more challenging balance.
- Thinner necks and head structure, may be knocked out more easily.
- Longer arms making punch coordination more difficult.
- Longer abdomen making power punch combinations slower
- Heart has to pump blood further to the extremeties negatively affecting stamina.

Of course height can be used effetively...

- To keep an opponent out of range, thus enabling a boxer to hit his opponent without being hit.
- To control the pace of the fight, to be in a relatively more relaxed position during the fight.
- To deliver shots with even more power at the end of their long range due to extended leverage.
- To utilise gravity by punching down on and weighing down on their opponents.

Obvviously the advantages are ones that are only prevalent in a seasoned fighter and highly trained technical boxer. A basketballer who has decided to "switch" to boxing has none of those qualities. Some of those big tall athletic guys DO do alright in boxing but be aware that it's there weight that makes them dangerous, not so much there height!!

[Maravilla2012]

Every individual is different in case you guys haven't learned that yet. There's some people that a adjust to different sports and others that don't. I used to be ranked in my city for wrestling then started boxing. Does that mean all my wrestling team mates should transition to boxing? No. Some can some can't.

[Max Power]

Every individual is different in case you guys haven't learned that yet. There's some people that a adjust to different sports and others that don't. I used to be ranked in my city for wrestling then started boxing. Does that mean all my wrestling team mates should transition to boxing? No. Some can some can't.

I'm not against late cross over athletes per se. Some champion boxers and top contenders came from that stock.

I just think the best start for any boxer is boxing from the beginning. As has been documented and is I believe true, only these "bred" boxers develop the "boxing brain" where they instinctively perform defensive/offensive strategies while under pressure, in extreme stress (like fatigue) or even only half conscious. Newcomers can be cerebral but when they exchange punches they do not function well when they are removed from "the plan".

I assume we're talking basketballers because of their height. In that case I agree that the taller career boxers are better overall IF they meet the criteria of being skilled and proficient at using their height as an advantage. Otherwise they may be no more efficient.

[Maravilla2012]

Every individual is different in case you guys haven't learned that yet. There's some people that a adjust to different sports and others that don't. I used to be ranked in my city for wrestling then started boxing. Does that mean all my wrestling team mates should transition to boxing? No. Some can some can't.

I'm not against late cross over athletes per se. Some champion boxers and top contenders came from that stock.

I just think the best start for any boxer is boxing from the beginning. As has been documented and is I believe true, only these "bred" boxers develop the "boxing brain" where they instinctively perform defensive/offensive strategies while under pressure, in extreme stress (like fatigue) or even only half conscious. Newcomers can be cerebral but when they exchange punches they do not function well when they are removed from "the plan".

I assume we're talking basketballers because of their height. In that case I agree that the taller career boxers are better overall IF they meet the criteria of being skilled and proficient at using their height as an advantage. Otherwise they may be no more efficient.

I know what you mean just saying any tall athlete can be a boxer is absurd. But my coach has had people come from soccer and basketball come train to stay conditioned at our gym. He's said soccer players are easier to teach because they already have great footwork and basketball players have great hand eye coordination so they are easier to teach then other athletes.

[TitoFan]

I'm sure there's a stat on this somewhere... but it'd be interesting to see how many athletes from other sports have tried boxing, and how many have had some kind of success. The more well-known are ex-football players, as in the NFL or college football. One of the early ones was "Too Tall" Jones, a huge lineman for the Dallas Cowboys who tried and failed miserably at boxing. Some other lineman from the New York Jets tried it also, and I believe met with the same results.

On the flip side, it seems Hershel Walker is trying to hang on in MMA.

[Max Power]

Every individual is different in case you guys haven't learned that yet. There's some people that a adjust to different sports and others that don't. I used to be ranked in my city for wrestling then started boxing. Does that mean all my wrestling team mates should transition to boxing? No. Some can some can't.

I'm not against late cross over athletes per se. Some champion boxers and top contenders came from that stock.

I just think the best start for any boxer is boxing from the beginning. As has been documented and is I believe true, only these "bred" boxers develop the "boxing brain" where they instinctively perform defensive/offensive strategies while under pressure, in extreme stress (like fatigue) or even only half conscious. Newcomers can be cerebral but when they exchange punches they do not function well when they are removed from "the plan".

I assume we're talking basketballers because of their height. In that case I agree that the taller career boxers are better overall IF they meet the criteria of being skilled and proficient at using their height as an advantage. Otherwise they may be no more efficient.

I know what you mean just saying any tall athlete can be a boxer is absurd. But my coach has had people come from soccer and basketball come train to stay conditioned at our gym. He's said soccer players are easier to teach because they already have great footwork and basketball players have great hand eye coordination so they are easier to teach then other athletes.

Yeah I guess that would make sense those sports giving some good grounding in those aspects.

[DannyV297]

A while ago max kellerman made a comment about if he had to choose a pro athlete that would make a good fighter he said Allen Iverson. I could see Iverson being a solid fighter with training