Basketball players and boxing.

[jehoshaphat]

Basketball players have a huge advantage in terms of height, weight, and athleticism. Manny Steward use to try to lure basketball players to boxing and stated that the best heavyweight athletes are in basketball. But its almost impossible to lure a good/great basketball player to boxing because the chances of becoming a millionaire are so much higher with basketball plus you get scholarships and a lot of perks without risking your mental health. Switching to a combat sport as an adult takes abnormally high heart but growing up doing a combat sport does not. Once you're good at something or well experienced it produces a lot more confidence and of course comfortability. But basketball players could very well do it if they switched over early enough. Deontay Wilder was a basketball player and he started boxing at 20. He wasn't even an amateur for 2 years and he became the best heavyweight boxer in the U.S. Then a year later became one of the best heavyweights in the world and won an Olympic medal.

Yeah ok the case of Deontay Wilder is important. But it is his punch power and punch speed coupled with his management that has brought him to the forefront. In terms of a skills, Deontay is a very shit boxer for world class, just like George Foreman, they can barely box but rely on their brutal power. And just like Foreman, when Wilder faces the Ali's, Youngs, Morrisons, Holyfields etc of his time he will find himself in over his head.

What I'm trying to say is that this type of "moonlighting boxer" can punch their way to the top but they can never stay there for very long. Some examples...

- Michael Grant a 3 sport mega athlete of gigantic proportions and athleticism. Failed to produce.
- Hasim Rahman- A super athlete with HUGE power, the most successful upstart pro boxer to date holding the title a couple of times but could never hold it for long.
- Seth Mitchell, great football athlete, easily dispatchedby a REAL boxer

The list goes on.

For all Wilder's pros, he may well be the best American prospect but I lean more toward Bryant Jennings personally. Considered a little guy with little power or chin, in reality he is 226lbs, that's the same size and Wilder but more solid and durable imo because he is thicker set and not a beanstalk.

And MOST importantly, Wilder knows how to BOX! He is no Foreman or Wilder! He is fast, punches in combos, moves slick and swift and well rounded fighting ability.

I didn't mention anything about Wilder's pro career. In less than 3 years he was one of the top amateurs in the world. His pro career is still being written. Who is the Ali, Young, Morrison, and Holyfield of this era? We don't know how Wilder's pro career is going to go. You're just guessing. But what do you consider doing well? That is what the thread is about not about how long you can be a the best fighter in the world. Becoming the heavyweight champion is clearly having done well. There are countless numbers of fighters who box their entire lives and never sniff at becoming a world champion. And the thread is about basketball players but Rahman knocked out one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Seth Mitchell always was crap, I stated in the Arreola thread that this was going to be brutal on poor Seth, but he started boxing in his mid 20s when he couldn't even play football anymore due to his knee surgeries. But he did beat a "real" boxer. Mitchell is strong and that is all he has. Wilder is athletic, tall, long, faster, and strong as well. Wilder's range gives him a lot of room to make up for his green boxing skill level. He can get that laser power to you before you can get to him. A 6'2" Wilder would not be heard of.