Why is it....

[oliverfennell]

At the moment Australia is better off financially than most countries. Unemployment is below 6% while in the USA it is over 10%. Over 60% of Australians live in homes they own outright or are paying off.

Boxing thrives in hard times. Australians live in good times.

Good point, but Aus has had it's low points too, but historically it's never been a serious player in world boxing, even when poorer.

(Yes, I know you've had world champs, before anyone jumps on that; I'm sure most of you will get my point)

Conversely, South Korea is one of the world's fastest-growing economies but is going through its absolutely worst time in boxing.

So, mere population numbers and state of economy do not explain the state of boxing on their own.

[Collins2000]

At the moment Australia is better off financially than most countries. Unemployment is below 6% while in the USA it is over 10%. Over 60% of Australians live in homes they own outright or are paying off.

Boxing thrives in hard times. Australians live in good times.

Good point, but Aus has had it's low points too, but historically it's never been a serious player in world boxing, even when poorer.

I'd disagree, Ollie.

You should watch the documentary "That's Boxing" which might help you understand Australia's true place in World boxing.

[oliverfennell]

At the moment Australia is better off financially than most countries. Unemployment is below 6% while in the USA it is over 10%. Over 60% of Australians live in homes they own outright or are paying off.

Boxing thrives in hard times. Australians live in good times.

Good point, but Aus has had it's low points too, but historically it's never been a serious player in world boxing, even when poorer.

I'd disagree, Ollie.

You should watch the documentary "That's Boxing" which might help you understand Australia's true place in World boxing.

Cheers, got a link?

[keyboard warrior]

Australia are very good at most sports apart from Boxing and Football, they have never had a true boxing star or even a wordclass footballer, why do you think that is?

It actually may not be that we underperform in boxing as much as we overperform in a select group of sports that suit our lifestyle, thus giving a skewed perception.

Having said that our amateur boxing, specifically our AIS boxing program, needs a serious look into.

[keyboard warrior]

...for those who DO box, there are two factors that inhibit progress. First of all, it's money again. Secondly, it's geographical. There aren't many world class managers/promoters who carry clout outside the region, so all but the very top tier of boxers are left to train with, and fight, domestic/Pacific island/South East Asian peers.

The Pacific islanders are bull-strong and full of heart, but typically lacking in refinement. South East Asia is an established world class boxing region, but their guys are usually physically small. In Asia-Pacific, you simply don't have the consistency of quality across the weights that you would find in America or Europe, and those places are just too far away to travel to for training/fighting, or from which to import trainers or boxers, for all but the top tier of Aussie competitors.

Tend to agree that geographical isolation plays a part in making it awkward for the next steps after National honours and recognition.

[Brute]

Dave Sands beat Bobo Olsen in Chicago in 1951in the first main event that was broadcast coast to coast in the United States on television.