Boxing is all the time a type of sports activities that may look interesting from the surface. Its historical past alone conjures recollections of superb nights in unique places for legends like Muhammed Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.
However, for anybody who has given the game a go for actual, there’s a harsh actuality test as quickly because the coaching and onerous sparring begins, to not point out the accidents and weight-reduction plan which can be half and parcel of the game.
Despite all these obstacles for boxing newbies to navigate, there are nonetheless loads of sports activities stars from a wide range of totally different backgrounds who attempt to give pugilism a go.
Here are simply a number of the most high-profile males who’ve both tried and succeeded, or tried and failed, to change their unique athletic pursuit for that of the candy science.
Anthony Mundine – Aussie Rules
This Australian onerous man is arguably essentially the most completed boxer and certainly all-round athlete on this checklist, having carried out on the prime degree of Aussie Rules soccer earlier than happening to grow to be world champion at each tremendous middleweight and tremendous welterweight.
In a boxing profession that spanned 20 years, he stands alone as the best crossover athlete that Australia has ever produced and has confronted legends of the sport comparable to Shane Mosley and Mikkel Kessler.
For one cause or one other he was by no means universally cherished by the Australian public, however his file speaks for itself and reveals that with sufficient dedication an athlete from one other sport can attain the highest of boxing.
Like many fighters, he fought too lengthy into the twilight years of his profession, losing badly to Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa, each males he would have swept the ground with in his heyday.
Brandon Marshall – NFL
From one of many longest serving crossover athletes to an NFL star who’s within the preliminary throes of feeling out a potential profession as a pugilist. Brandon Marshall used to ply his commerce for the likes of the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks however having retired from gridiron he’s now making noises about preventing professionally, with even Deontay Wilder in his sights.
Although Marshall was nicely used to upsetting the chances makers and betting tipsters throughout his time as a large receiver, it’s uncertain whether or not too many followers would again him to beat the Bronzed Bomber.
However, having topped NFL betting odds lines and tipsters’ article columns for a few years, that is one athlete who is just not afraid of a problem. It stays to be seen if he can tempt a present professional fighter right into a money-spinning bout earlier than the 12 months is out.
Deontay Wilder – Basketball
Of course, the aforementioned Deontay Wilder didn’t start life as a boxer, first excelling as a basketball participant earlier than the noble artwork of boxing grew to become his focus.
After the beatdown he suffered by the hands of Tyson Fury it won’t be lengthy earlier than the Alabama native heads again to the parquet for good.
Many athletes make the transition from hoop to ring, with expertise such nearly as good footwork and hand-eye coordination serving to them adapt to life within the squared circle
Sonny Bill Williams – Rugby Union
Rugby Union is just not a sport for the faint hearted and so maybe that’s the reason Sonny Bill Williams was capable of commerce in his New Zealand rugby jersey for some boxing shorts.
By the time he had fought for the final time in an expert ring, his file stood at 7-0 with three of these wins coming by KO.
However, a boxing comeback is now on the playing cards with him having retired absolutely from all types of rugby to reignite his boxing career.
Freddie Flintoff – Cricket
While most males on this checklist have had some modicum of success within the ring, the identical can’t be mentioned of former England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff.
In his solely bout as a professional boxer, he was fed a journeyman who had clearly been instructed to not throw a punch in anger.
Unfortunately, Richard Dawson had not learn the script and uncorked one single shot to go away Flintoff sprawled on his bottom. Flintoff finally recovered to win on factors, however that would not masks his apparent deficiencies within the ring.