View Full Version : If Shaquille O'Neill had become a boxer?
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:08 PM
Would he be one of the great ones had he pursued a career in boxing rather than basket ball?
There's a lot of talk about the modern athletic giants, and I myself rate many of them highly h2h, but Shaq would dwarf all of them and probably equal (or perhaps better) them in terms of athletic skill. So if he had chosen to become a boxer, would he have emerged as one of the truly great HWs you think?
Funny you bring this up.
I recall, several years ago, Shaq getting in a brief courtside fight at a game. It's probably on Youtube.
He threw one of the girliest punches I've ever seen. I distinctly remember this, because I was so shocked at how pathetic it looked.
Who knows though, maybe it is something proper training could take of.
Vantage_West
10-19-2009, 06:30 PM
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well he defintly looks like a boxer. but still, tall guy who is athletic can do well but fail at the top level. above 6'5 hieght can be a disadvantage i think. he could bulldozer some people but there would be a point where lewis or holy would of got under his guard and caught him too many times.
in comparrison valuev isnt unbeatable and is a weak champion. so hieght and weight isnt always a full plus advantage. aa possible michael grant type fighter i expect
janitor
10-19-2009, 06:32 PM
Would he be one of the great ones had he pursued a career in boxing rather than basket ball?
There's a lot of talk about the modern athletic giants, and I myself rate many of them highly h2h, but Shaq would dwarf all of them and probably equal (or perhaps better) them in terms of athletic skill. So if he had chosen to become a boxer, would he have emerged as one of the truly great HWs you think?
He would have been humiliated.
There is a lot more to this sport than having the physical atributes and some athletic talent.
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:34 PM
well he defintly looks like a boxer. but still, tall guy who is athletic can do well but fail at the top level. above 6'5 hieght can be a disadvantage i think. he could bulldozer some people but there would be a point where lewis or holy would of got under his guard and caught him too many times.
valuev isnt unbeatable and is a weak champion. so hieght and weight isnt always a full plus advantage.
But isn't Shaq a fair bit more athletic than Valuev, though? Think Valuev on a basketball court.
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:35 PM
He would have been embarased.
Why? If he had started boxing at a young age and gotten thorougly schooled? If an oaf like Valuev can do decently why wouldn't he?
Maxmomer
10-19-2009, 06:36 PM
No way to know if he had the proper mentality to be a fighter.
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:37 PM
There is a lot more to this sport than having the physical atributes and some athletic talent.
Sure, but Shaq must have a great winner's mentally and probably a good tactical brain seeing how well he's done.
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:39 PM
No way to know if he had the proper mentality to be a fighter.
True. Taking punches in the face isn't quite like anything else. But pro athletes achieving the kind of success O'Neill has, have a very strong mentality. That shouldn't be doubted.
janitor
10-19-2009, 06:41 PM
Why? If he had started boxing at a young age and gotten thorougly schooled? If an oaf like Valuev can do decently why wouldn't he?
1. For every ten guys who have the talent on paper to be a world class boxer only one delivers.
2. For every ten guys who apear to be in the above group only one turns out to be a viable prospect.
3. When a 230 lb knucklehead gets in a street fight with a regional level bantemweight, the fight is short and brutal for the knucklehead.
Bokaj
10-19-2009, 06:56 PM
1. For every ten guys who have the talent on paper to be a world class boxer only one delivers.
You can probably say the same about basketball. To reach Shaq's level you have to have great intangibles. They probably don't translate exactly into boxing, but they do say something.
3. When a 230 lb knucklehead gets in a street fight with a regional level bantemweight, the fight is short and brutal for the knucklehead.
Sure, but what has that to with anything? I'm talking about if Shaq was schooled in boxing from a young age. It's hardly a reach to believe he could at the very least reach the level of the quite rudimentary Valuev in terms of skill.
ChrisPontius
10-19-2009, 08:11 PM
But isn't Shaq a fair bit more athletic than Valuev, though? Think Valuev on a basketball court.
Have you ever boxed?
mr. magoo
10-19-2009, 08:23 PM
Frankly, I am not a big advocate of athletes from other sports transcending into boxing, and basketball is usually one of the worst examples. However, I think in this case it would depend on the circumstances. Had O'neal been given the benefit of starting at an early age with good trainers and a well layed out amateur path, he might have put something together, then again he may not have. It would all depend on his mentality.. One thing is for certain, he was quick to get physical and even violent with a lot of 7 foot centers on the court, and it didn't take much to send a 7 foot, 250 lb man to the floor.. The perameters of boxing are different of course, but athleticism and the willingness to mix it up still apply.. My guess is that he probably wouldn't have acheived greatness, but certainly could have surpased the acheivements of a Valuev, or even a Carnera. Shaq grew up in the slums and brought some of his street smarts onto the court. Even without an ounce of formal boxing training, the man knew how to throw a punch....
time lost
10-19-2009, 08:35 PM
Sure, but Shaq must have a great winner's mentally and probably a good tactical brain seeing how well he's done.Like waldimir klitschko said! boxing is the easy.. if you can do it.. if any NBA;NFL player could box they would be boxing:bbb!
Xplosive
10-19-2009, 08:56 PM
No. Shaq is too soft.
bighappy
10-19-2009, 08:59 PM
he would get his ass kick
werety
10-19-2009, 09:06 PM
Athleticism is very specific to the sport. Muhammad Ali was considered to have amazing footspeed as a boxer and to be an extremely athletic boxer as well, but his 100 meter dash time would probably get beaten by my fourteen year old cousin. Shaq being a great basketball player doesnt really say much about how athletic he would appear in the ring.
If talent from one sport will translate to another is a debate topic for the ages.
Basketball probably relies on pure athletic talent more than the other big sports, as guys can play and be competitive at the NBA level right out of high school. You either have it or you don't. But it is also a sport where contact is kept to a minimum, and height is a major factor. You don't see any crossover basketball players. At least I can't think of any. They generally look ungainly and lanky in other sports, especially ones that require lighting fast movement.
On the other hand, guys have been able to do both football and baseball at a successful professional level. I would put my money on one of these guys having the best chance being able to box. In football you have to be able to take a hit, and you also have to generate that explosive kind of power. Obviously not a lineman, but perhaps a running back or linebacker.
Shaq was fighting Delahoya for a few short rounds and he looked like he would pass out from exhaustion.
Bokaj
10-20-2009, 04:43 AM
Athleticism is very specific to the sport. Muhammad Ali was considered to have amazing footspeed as a boxer and to be an extremely athletic boxer as well, but his 100 meter dash time would probably get beaten by my fourteen year old cousin. Shaq being a great basketball player doesnt really say much about how athletic he would appear in the ring.
I'm not too sure about that. In both basketball and football (and in most sports) you need balance, reflexes, coordination, speed etc as well as pshychological intangibles. Sure, there are differences (espicially concerning the mental aspect), but don't know if they're that huge.
Bokaj
10-20-2009, 04:45 AM
Like waldimir klitschko said! boxing is the easy.. if you can do it.. if any NBA;NFL player could box they would be boxing:bbb!
Why, when they earn more money at the sports they've chosen?
anarci
10-20-2009, 05:13 AM
Athleticism is very specific to the sport. Muhammad Ali was considered to have amazing footspeed as a boxer and to be an extremely athletic boxer as well, but his 100 meter dash time would probably get beaten by my fourteen year old cousin. Shaq being a great basketball player doesnt really say much about how athletic he would appear in the ring.
:thumbsup I agree.Also someone mentioned Shaq know how to throw a punch:nono:nono Ive seen shaq throw a punch at Barkley and he threw it like a drunk baroom brawler,Barkley ducked it easily and took shaq down. Oscar sure took it easy on him. But in all honesty if he started young hed probably would have been ok against clubfighters and journeyman but hed lose to top guys. I agree that Shaq is probably soft compared to most fighters. Boxings mental makeup is totally diffrent than Basketball. Being a great athlete does not automatically transform to being a great fighter. Tyson had an unmatched combination of speed and power but i saw him shoot baskets once and it was comical,he looked like the most unathletic guy it was :rofl:rofl
PowerPuncher
10-20-2009, 07:24 AM
If he'd been boxing from 8-9 and been practising punches, movement and defense day on day, year on year and trained by a great trainer. I think he could be pretty damn good. Although I'd hope hes better at punching than free throws :lol:
You never know to be honest but with boxing if your dedicated enough you can make it. Right now he'd get owned by anyone half decent because he hasnt been learning how to fight all his life like a world class boxer should. Hasnt Shaq been practising MMA for a few years? And dont they have a show where he trys to compete with different sports personalities? Isnt he also a cop? I think he is, great attitude for life Shaq, especially playing cop when he doesnt need to :lol:
lefthook31
10-20-2009, 09:04 AM
He would have been humiliated.
There is a lot more to this sport than having the physical atributes and some athletic talent.
Ill tell you though I was quite impressed watching him spar with Oliver Mcall. Oliver took it to him and Shaq took his lumps but he landed a couple impressive shots. If Mike Grant could get as far as he did, Shaq could too. He was big strong and atheletic, in the late 90's that would have been good enough if he had any heart in the ring.
Rubber Warrior
10-20-2009, 02:08 PM
Would he be one of the great ones had he pursued a career in boxing rather than basket ball?
There's a lot of talk about the modern athletic giants, and I myself rate many of them highly h2h, but Shaq would dwarf all of them and probably equal (or perhaps better) them in terms of athletic skill. So if he had chosen to become a boxer, would he have emerged as one of the truly great HWs you think?
I once asked myself what he'd have accomplished had he began pursuing boxing as a child and later turned pro. He's a very big, athletic guy. It would come down to his ability to absorb punishment, reflexes and of course timing and fluidity.
Not sure, but me thinks right off the cuff he'd fare no worse than Tye Fields.
:good
lefthook31
10-20-2009, 02:45 PM
I once asked myself what he'd have accomplished had he began pursuing boxing as a child and later turned pro. He's a very big, athletic guy. It would come down to his ability to absorb punishment, reflexes and of course timing and fluidity.
Not sure, but me thinks right off the cuff he'd fare no worse than Tye Fields.
:good
Or Mount Whitaker
Rubber Warrior
10-20-2009, 03:18 PM
Or Mount Whitaker
But the question in that regard would be, would Shaq ever have a great night the way Whitaker did with Maskaev. On that one occasion, Mount looked almost as devastating as a young Foreman, and it goes to show how illusory boxing can be at a given moment in time.
lefthook31
10-20-2009, 03:25 PM
But the question in that regard would be, would Shaq ever have a great night the way Whitaker did with Maskaev. On that one occasion, Mount looked almost as devastating as a young Foreman, and it goes to show how illusory boxing can be at a given moment in time.
Watch this start about the 1:50 mark sparring Mcall
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junior-soprano
10-20-2009, 03:26 PM
if ? if ? if my aunt had balls she would be my uncle
IntentionalButt
10-20-2009, 03:29 PM
Unknowable.
Rubber Warrior
10-20-2009, 03:35 PM
Watch this start about the 1:50 mark sparring Mcall
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Wow! Never saw that before.
Thank you! :good
lefthook31
10-20-2009, 03:38 PM
Wow! Never saw that before.
Thank you! :good
He comes back with the hook. Impressive!
janitor
10-20-2009, 04:08 PM
You can probably say the same about basketball. To reach Shaq's level you have to have great intangibles. They probably don't translate exactly into boxing, but they do say something.
Sure, but what has that to with anything? I'm talking about if Shaq was schooled in boxing from a young age. It's hardly a reach to believe he could at the very least reach the level of the quite rudimentary Valuev in terms of skill.
When you put it to me in those terms I will say that he would probably have been something, but I don't know exactly what that something would have been or whether it would have been a world class boxer.
kinski
10-20-2009, 04:11 PM
Shaq couldn't hack it!!!
Bokaj
10-20-2009, 04:36 PM
When you put it to me in those terms I will say that he would probably have been something, but I don't know exactly what that something would have been or whether it would have been a world class boxer.
You thought I asked how he would fare if he stepped into the ring today?:scaredas: Have I come off as stupid as that?
mcvey
10-20-2009, 06:33 PM
Would he be one of the great ones had he pursued a career in boxing rather than basket ball?
There's a lot of talk about the modern athletic giants, and I myself rate many of them highly h2h, but Shaq would dwarf all of them and probably equal (or perhaps better) them in terms of athletic skill. So if he had chosen to become a boxer, would he have emerged as one of the truly great HWs you think?
Shaquille O'Neill ? Who is he?
janitor
10-20-2009, 06:38 PM
You thought I asked how he would fare if he stepped into the ring today?:scaredas: Have I come off as stupid as that?
You never come across as stupid but your post implied that you were asking if he would have been great.
Perhaps my poor interpretation.
Bokaj
10-21-2009, 12:27 PM
You never come across as stupid but your post implied that you were asking if he would have been great.
Perhaps my poor interpretation.
I was perhaps a bit unclear. Embarassing.
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