Superstar Competition For Boxers

[TheOneIsHere2008]

Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon. The idea was developed by 1948 and 1952 Olympic figure skating champion Dick Button. He shopped the idea to all three television networks, when ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda, Florida in March 1973 and was won by pole vaulter Bob Seagren. The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme, featuring British athletes in August 1973 and that competition was captured by 400 metre hurdles Olympic champion David Hemery. Television broadcasts of the competitions were popular both in Europe and North America in the 1970s and 1980s.

Competitors participate in 10 different sporting events, including a 100 meter sprint, 800 meter (roughly ½ mile) run, obstacle course race, weightlifting, football (soccer), rowing, tennis, bicycle racing, gym test, and swimming. The sports used have varied somewhat over time and between the European and American competitions. Points are awarded for the position in which the competitor places in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all 10 events is declared the champion.


The Superstars was first broadcast by ABC Sports as a segment for ABC's Wide World of Sports (which aired the aforementioned Monday Night Football) in 1973. Bob Seagren, an Olympic pole vault gold medalist, was the first winner. However, it was heavyweight champion boxer Joe Frazier who nearly stole the show, almost at the cost of life and limb. In the very first event, the 50 meter swimming heats, Frazier nearly drowned, and only after he was retrieved from the pool did he admit to commentators that he didn't know how to swim. When a reporter asked him why he tried the race, Frazier replied, "How was I to know I couldn't unless I tried it?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstars

Which current or old time boxer do you think would excel in such competitiom?

[TheOneIsHere2008]

Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon. The idea was developed by 1948 and 1952 Olympic figure skating champion Dick Button. He shopped the idea to all three television networks, when ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda, Florida in March 1973 and was won by pole vaulter Bob Seagren. The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme, featuring British athletes in August 1973 and that competition was captured by 400 metre hurdles Olympic champion David Hemery. Television broadcasts of the competitions were popular both in Europe and North America in the 1970s and 1980s.

Competitors participate in 10 different sporting events, including a 100 meter sprint, 800 meter (roughly ½ mile) run, obstacle course race, weightlifting, football (soccer), rowing, tennis, bicycle racing, gym test, and swimming. The sports used have varied somewhat over time and between the European and American competitions. Points are awarded for the position in which the competitor places in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all 10 events is declared the champion.


The Superstars was first broadcast by ABC Sports as a segment for ABC's Wide World of Sports (which aired the aforementioned Monday Night Football) in 1973. Bob Seagren, an Olympic pole vault gold medalist, was the first winner. However, it was heavyweight champion boxer Joe Frazier who nearly stole the show, almost at the cost of life and limb. In the very first event, the 50 meter swimming heats, Frazier nearly drowned, and only after he was retrieved from the pool did he admit to commentators that he didn't know how to swim. When a reporter asked him why he tried the race, Frazier replied, "How was I to know I couldn't unless I tried it?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstars

Which current or old time boxer do you think would excel in such competitiom?

I like a Ray Leonard or a Floyd Mayweather because they would kick a$$ in tests of speed and agility and both have physiques conducive to being a good swimmer...They could even do well at weightlifting as they use the clean and jerk which one with good technique can do well at...

[Ezzard]

Welterweight contender Dave Boy Green won one of the UK series.

Guys like Ray Leonard, Emile Griffith, Ali seem so gifted athletically that you can imagine them being good at every sport. Then there are competitors like Monzon and Hagler who you could imagine would walk over hot coals and broken glass to win at whatever they did.

[TheOneIsHere2008]

Welterweight contender Dave Boy Green won one of the UK series.

Guys like Ray Leonard, Emile Griffith, Ali seem so gifted athletically that you can imagine them being good at every sport. Then there are competitors like Monzon and Hagler who you could imagine would walk over hot coals and broken glass to win at whatever they did.

That leads to my theory and Larry Holmes' theory why the heavyweight division is so dismal...
An athletically inclined African American kid is going to choose American football or basketball where he can get a scholarship to go to college and perhaps turn pro over choosing a career in boxing where he can get his head handed to him...

[Ezzard]

Welterweight contender Dave Boy Green won one of the UK series.

Guys like Ray Leonard, Emile Griffith, Ali seem so gifted athletically that you can imagine them being good at every sport. Then there are competitors like Monzon and Hagler who you could imagine would walk over hot coals and broken glass to win at whatever they did.

That leads to my theory and Larry Holmes' theory why the heavyweight division is so dismal...
An athletically inclined African American kid is going to choose American football or basketball where he can get a scholarship to go to college and perhaps turn pro over choosing a career in boxing where he can get his head handed to him...

...And generally work harder, train herder, and has nobody else to hide behind...

Boxers, good, bad, or however they come deserve plaudits for getting in the ring.

[Arbachakov]

Wasn't it Conteh that won one of the British versions?.

[TheOneIsHere2008]

Wasn't it Conteh that won one of the British versions?.

They should resurrect it...It was great fun...

[raylawpc]

From the distant past, I think Jeffries would have excelled. I probably write too much about him (sorry), but I think he may have been the best all-around athlete among the heavyweight champions - particuarly the early guys. He could run the 100 yard dash in just over 10 seconds, and do a standing high-jump of over 6 feet. In fact, at one time, Jeffries seriusly considered becoming a professional sprinter. (Yes, they had professional track and field competitions in those days.) Jim Corbett wrote in his autobiography that he was amazed by Jeffries' speed when Jeffries showed up at Corbett's training camp in 1897. And, of course, until those who knew him passed from the scene, he was considered by most experts as the strongest heavyweight champion of all time. Even today he is primarily remembered for his great physical strength. Someone even made mention of it the other day on this Forum.

I have always seen Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali as great all-around athletes. For some reason, my gut always told me that Ali would have made a terrific tight-end circa 1960s/70s.

[TheOneIsHere2008]

[quote="raylawpc"]From the distant past, I think Jeffries would have excelled. I probably write too much about him (sorry), but I think he may have been the best all-around athlete among the heavyweight champions - particuarly the early guys. He could run the 100 yard dash in just over 10 seconds, and do a standing high-jump of over 6 feet. In fact, at one time, Jeffries seriusly considered becoming a professional sprinter. (Yes, they had professional track and field competitions in those days.) Jim Corbett wrote in his autobiography that he was amazed by Jeffries' speed when Jeffries showed up at Corbett's training camp in 1897. And, of course, until those who knew him passed from the scene, he was considered by most experts as the strongest heavyweight champion of all time. Even today he is primarily remembered for his great physical strength. Someone even made mention of it the other day on this Forum.

I have always seen Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali as great all-around athletes. For some reason, my gut always told me that Ali would have made a terrific tight-end circa 1960s/70s.[/quote]

Maybe in the 60/70s....Now they are 6'5 -6'7 /250-280

I'm thinking left outside linebacker; the one that blitzes...He could have been Lawrence Taylor or Hugh Green at 6'3 220:

Thus, in a later era, Ali surely would have been a football player (Vince Lombardi is said to have looked at him, and seen the speed, the power, the size and the hand-to-eye coordination and to have thought immediately, "linebacker.")


http://proxy.espn.go.com/page2/s/halberstam/010815.html

[raylawpc]

That's why I wrote "circa 1960s/70s." Too small now. I don't know if Ali would have had the mind-set to play linebacker. Now Foreman or Lyle on the otherhand . . .

[TheOneIsHere2008]

That's why I wrote "circa 1960s/70s." Too small now. I don't know if Ali would have had the mind-set to play linebacker. Now Foreman or Lyle on the otherhand . . .

Don't know if Foreman was quick enough...Now , if you could put sixty to eigty pounds on Joe Frazier he had the perfect disposition for nose tackle...

[raylawpc]

He might have been quick enough in the 70s. But I was referring primarily to his mindset.

[Expug]

Alonzo Highsmith would do well in this type of comp.
Played in the NFL , then turned to boxing.
Charley Powell was another, but I would imagine Highsmith was faster as he was a back.

[scartissue]

Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon. The idea was developed by 1948 and 1952 Olympic figure skating champion Dick Button. He shopped the idea to all three television networks, when ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda, Florida in March 1973 and was won by pole vaulter Bob Seagren. The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme, featuring British athletes in August 1973 and that competition was captured by 400 metre hurdles Olympic champion David Hemery. Television broadcasts of the competitions were popular both in Europe and North America in the 1970s and 1980s.

Competitors participate in 10 different sporting events, including a 100 meter sprint, 800 meter (roughly ½ mile) run, obstacle course race, weightlifting, football (soccer), rowing, tennis, bicycle racing, gym test, and swimming. The sports used have varied somewhat over time and between the European and American competitions. Points are awarded for the position in which the competitor places in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all 10 events is declared the champion.


The Superstars was first broadcast by ABC Sports as a segment for ABC's Wide World of Sports (which aired the aforementioned Monday Night Football) in 1973. Bob Seagren, an Olympic pole vault gold medalist, was the first winner. However, it was heavyweight champion boxer Joe Frazier who nearly stole the show, almost at the cost of life and limb. In the very first event, the 50 meter swimming heats, Frazier nearly drowned, and only after he was retrieved from the pool did he admit to commentators that he didn't know how to swim. When a reporter asked him why he tried the race, Frazier replied, "How was I to know I couldn't unless I tried it?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstars

Which current or old time boxer do you think would excel in such competitiom?

I like a Ray Leonard or a Floyd Mayweather because they would kick a$$ in tests of speed and agility and both have physiques conducive to being a good swimmer...They could even do well at weightlifting as they use the clean and jerk which one with good technique can do well at...

If I recall correctly the superstars competition had many events and the athlete could choose which ones he could compete in. They even had bowling and golf as part of it, but of course they loved showing the obstacle course and weightlifting on TV which was high profile. For the most part, boxers and Hockey players never fared very well. I believe Jerry Quarry peformed about the best of any boxer ever featured on the series. Ray Leonard and Howard Davis both competed but never garnered much in points. It was always dominated by American footballers. Except for one, and I'm sure it drove ABC crazy, but I think it was about 3 years straight Kyle Rote, Jr. kept winning the competition. Rote Jr. was a soccer player for the now defunct Noth American Soccer League, was as dull as dishwater and he kept besting all the big NFL players. I'm sure they were trying to figure out how not to invite him back. It was a fun series while it lasted, I would watch to see how the fighters performed.

Scartissue

[TheOneIsHere2008]

Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon. The idea was developed by 1948 and 1952 Olympic figure skating champion Dick Button. He shopped the idea to all three television networks, when ABC bought it as a special for the winter of 1973. The first Superstars competition was held in Rotonda, Florida in March 1973 and was won by pole vaulter Bob Seagren. The BBC covered the competition and aired their own programme, featuring British athletes in August 1973 and that competition was captured by 400 metre hurdles Olympic champion David Hemery. Television broadcasts of the competitions were popular both in Europe and North America in the 1970s and 1980s.

Competitors participate in 10 different sporting events, including a 100 meter sprint, 800 meter (roughly ½ mile) run, obstacle course race, weightlifting, football (soccer), rowing, tennis, bicycle racing, gym test, and swimming. The sports used have varied somewhat over time and between the European and American competitions. Points are awarded for the position in which the competitor places in each event. The competitor with the most points at the end of all 10 events is declared the champion.


The Superstars was first broadcast by ABC Sports as a segment for ABC's Wide World of Sports (which aired the aforementioned Monday Night Football) in 1973. Bob Seagren, an Olympic pole vault gold medalist, was the first winner. However, it was heavyweight champion boxer Joe Frazier who nearly stole the show, almost at the cost of life and limb. In the very first event, the 50 meter swimming heats, Frazier nearly drowned, and only after he was retrieved from the pool did he admit to commentators that he didn't know how to swim. When a reporter asked him why he tried the race, Frazier replied, "How was I to know I couldn't unless I tried it?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstars

Which current or old time boxer do you think would excel in such competitiom?

I like a Ray Leonard or a Floyd Mayweather because they would kick a$$ in tests of speed and agility and both have physiques conducive to being a good swimmer...They could even do well at weightlifting as they use the clean and jerk which one with good technique can do well at...

If I recall correctly the superstars competition had many events and the athlete could choose which ones he could compete in. They even had bowling and golf as part of it, but of course they loved showing the obstacle course and weightlifting on TV which was high profile. For the most part, boxers and Hockey players never fared very well. I believe Jerry Quarry peformed about the best of any boxer ever featured on the series. Ray Leonard and Howard Davis both competed but never garnered much in points. It was always dominated by American footballers. Except for one, and I'm sure it drove ABC crazy, but I think it was about 3 years straight Kyle Rote, Jr. kept winning the competition. Rote Jr. was a soccer player for the now defunct Noth American Soccer League, was as dull as dishwater and he kept besting all the big NFL players. I'm sure they were trying to figure out how not to invite him back. It was a fun series while it lasted, I would watch to see how the fighters performed.

Scartissue

Intersting about Ray... It did seem most of the tests were of strength and agility...Golf and bowling took too long to be fit into the televised part of the competition...

[locoxelbox]

I think Wladimir Klitschko would do well. In the old Soviet system they had a great physical education programme in school and Wladimir is a doctor in sports science.

[yancey]

Welterweight contender Dave Boy Green won one of the UK series.

Guys like Ray Leonard, Emile Griffith, Ali seem so gifted athletically that you can imagine them being good at every sport. Then there are competitors like Monzon and Hagler who you could imagine would walk over hot coals and broken glass to win at whatever they did.

That leads to my theory and Larry Holmes' theory why the heavyweight division is so dismal...
An athletically inclined African American kid is going to choose American football or basketball where he can get a scholarship to go to college and perhaps turn pro over choosing a career in boxing where he can get his head handed to him...

That theory holds water, no doubt about it.

Another theory I've read about is that the heavyweight division needs an economic depression in order to become great again. In other words, something that cuts back the $$$ opportunities in other sports and forces more guys to reconsider boxing as an avenue to riches. Of course, that is something I've read and I certainly don't pull for it, but it does make at least a small amount of sense.

[superstars]

As a rule, boxers never performed all that well in Superstars. In many cases, they finished last and sometimes scored zero points (Vito Antufermo, Aaron Pryor). Sugar Ray Leonard competed, but did not fare well (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugo ... rdray.html). John Conteh won the British Superstars in 1974 and was probably the best Superstar boxer (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugo ... onteh.html). Evander Holyfield did well in a number of appearances, twice qualifying for the Superstars final (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugo ... field.html).

In a 1982 preliminary, Hagler, Hearns and Mike Weaver all performed reasonably well (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugo ... 82pr1.html). Marvis Frazier did much better than his father and acutally won the obstacle course in his preliminary (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugo ... arcus.html).

However, most boxers performed poorly. By the way, the website was created by me, perhaps the world's biggest Superstars fan.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

That leads to my theory and Larry Holmes' theory why the heavyweight division is so dismal...
An athletically inclined African American kid is going to choose American football or basketball

--- Larry has a peanut haid and prone to severe delusions.

99% of the relevant population you mentioned don't play pro basket/football. Unfortunately the stats show that a huge % are serving their prime years in the pen. I heard a report just the other day there was an alarming spike in murders of and by black Americans, up 50% from last year.

Americans overall are a non factor in every division with only few exceptions. It's the Latino/East European era today. 20 yrs from now it may well be the Asian era with something like 4 billion in population.

Besides, Larry knows he wasn't athletic.

In fact, I dare say the young American male much more likely to go into the MMA type events.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Kenny Norton would've been a shoo-in