Boxers whom have been pros in another (non-fighting) sport

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 11 Jul 2011, 07:42

Curtis Woodhouse had me thinking about this and I wondered how many other boxers enjoyed a professional career in another non-fighting sport either before or after the took up boxing.

The only other I can think of right now is Anthony Mundine who played over 100 games in professional rugby league. He's possible the most high profile case being a two time WBA champion at Super Middleweight, a title he successfully defended four times and one he didn't lose in the ring the second time around.

Can anybody else think of any other cases, particularly any high profile ones? I am guessing there have been a few pro American footballers whom have turned to boxing after suffering injuries or not being able to continue to make the grade.

SWALSH · Post by **SWALSH** » 11 Jul 2011, 07:45

Sonny Bill Williams. All Balck, Super 15 Finalist and Sometimes Heavyweight Boxer.

Adamj1987 · Post by **Adamj1987** » 11 Jul 2011, 07:48

johnswan1 wrote:Curtis Woodhouse had me thinking about this and I wondered how many other boxers enjoyed a professional career in another non-fighting sport either before or after the took up boxing.

The only other I can think of right now is Anthony Mundine who played over 100 games in professional rugby league. He's possible the most high profile case being a two time WBA champion at Super Middleweight, a title he successfully defended four times and one he didn't lose in the ring the second time around.

Can anybody else think of any other cases, particularly any high profile ones? I am guessing there have been a few pro American footballers whom have turned to boxing after suffering injuries or not being able to continue to make the grade.

Gastineau

Scottrf · Post by **Scottrf** » 11 Jul 2011, 07:52

Tommy Zbikowski

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:06

Here's another, Tom Zbikowski of the Baltimore Ravens is 4-0 as a pro.

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

(Edit: was a bit late hitting the submit button on that one).

johnswan1 · Post by **johnswan1** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:15

Not a pro boxer and not a pro footballer, in fact not even a man, but Irelands best hope of a gold medal in boxing at next years Olympics is Katie Taylor, whom also plays for the Ireland Women's Senior football team.

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

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:31

Roy Jones Jr played in one pro game in the USBL basketball league in 1990.

The best one I know of (though not pro) is probably Eddie Eagan, he won gold as light heavy in 1920, and won gold in 1932 as part of a four-man bobsleigh team. That's some achievement. He also became chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, then a lawyer, and also served in the army as a colonel during World War II. Not one for the quiet life then!

dbf · Post by **dbf** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:33

Its been well documentated recently that Sergio Martinez was a pro footballer and cyclist before turning to boxing in his 20's.

dbf · Post by **dbf** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:34

Also Corrie Sanders was/is a semi pro golfer I believe.

dbf · Post by **dbf** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:41

Tye Fields played semi pro basket ball I think.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » 11 Jul 2011, 08:58

If we're talking semi-pro, then Nathan Graham played football before giving up to focus on boxing.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » 11 Jul 2011, 09:00

mercman wrote:Joe Bugner was a talented track and field athlete in his youth and he was junior AAA discuss champion as a schoolboy. However, athletics was a purely amateur sport back in the 1960s so Bugner went into boxing. In fact there were far fewer sports from which you could earn a living back then. Being from a single-parent immigrant family, money must have been a significant motivating factor drawing Bugner towards the fight game. Nowadays there would be other lots of other options.

Good post, good point.

johnty1888 · Post by **johnty1888** » 11 Jul 2011, 09:27

JamesH wrote:Roy Jones Jr played in one pro game in the USBL basketball league in 1990.

The best one I know of (though not pro) is probably Eddie Eagan, he won gold as light heavy in 1920, and won gold in 1932 as part of a four-man bobsleigh team. That's some achievement. He also became chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, then a lawyer, and also served in the army as a colonel during World War II. Not one for the quiet life then!

Think it was 1996 when Roy Jones played basketball on the afternoon and boxed Eric Lucas on the same night

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » 11 Jul 2011, 09:32

johnty1888 wrote:
JamesH wrote:Roy Jones Jr played in one pro game in the USBL basketball league in 1990.

The best one I know of (though not pro) is probably Eddie Eagan, he won gold as light heavy in 1920, and won gold in 1932 as part of a four-man bobsleigh team. That's some achievement. He also became chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, then a lawyer, and also served in the army as a colonel during World War II. Not one for the quiet life then!

Think it was 1996 when Roy Jones played basketball on the afternoon and boxed Eric Lucas on the same night

Right you are!

Andypittcov · Post by **Andypittcov** » 11 Jul 2011, 09:36

Wasn't Michael grant a pro basketball player...

MacTavish · Post by **MacTavish** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:07

Mike Tyson - didn't he become a Pro-wrestler in the WWF?!

Scottrf · Post by **Scottrf** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:08

If WWF is a sport it's surely a fighting one?

Otherwise you have Mayweather too.

Gazmac81 · Post by **Gazmac81** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:17

Ken Norton was apparently a tremendous allround athlete in school
they brought in a "Ken Norton" rule according to Wikipidiea when he finished 1st in all of the events he was in so the rule was intrduced so you could only neter 3 events at time

must have been a Daley Thompson type character

JamesH wrote:
mercman wrote:Joe Bugner was a talented track and field athlete in his youth and he was junior AAA discuss champion as a schoolboy. However, athletics was a purely amateur sport back in the 1960s so Bugner went into boxing. In fact there were far fewer sports from which you could earn a living back then. Being from a single-parent immigrant family, money must have been a significant motivating factor drawing Bugner towards the fight game. Nowadays there would be other lots of other options.
Good post, good point.

oliverfennell · Post by **oliverfennell** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:25

Alonzo Highsmith - NFL

Gary Mason - rugby and arm-wrestling (if you don't class the latter as fighting)

Julius Long - basketball

MacTavish · Post by **MacTavish** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:28

Scottrf wrote:If WWF is a sport it's surely a fighting one?

Otherwise you have Mayweather too.

Sorry - didn not read the title of the thread propery!

Scottrf · Post by **Scottrf** » 11 Jul 2011, 10:43

MacTavish wrote:
Scottrf wrote:If WWF is a sport it's surely a fighting one?

Otherwise you have Mayweather too.
Sorry - didn not read the title of the thread propery!

Apology accepted ;;-)

bripez · Post by **bripez** » 11 Jul 2011, 14:07

I think that Tony Booth was a professional rugby league player.

As was Adam Foggerty who won about 18 of 20 heavyweight fights in the 90's and played for the likes of St Helens and Warrington - before turning to acting in Coronation Street and Snatch.

batch · Post by **batch** » 11 Jul 2011, 14:59

Joey Paladino.

Played for various high level non-league clubs - Runcorn, Altrincham etc - and made 7 appearances in goal for my club, Wigan Athletic, in the 90/91 season.

Had a 3-10 record as a cruiser in 13 fights between 93 and 96.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

To be fair he fought some decent lads looking at his record.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 11 Jul 2011, 15:34

Anthony Mundine played rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos before turning pro boxer

tear up · Post by **tear up** » 11 Jul 2011, 15:36

michael hunter bare arse boxer

Boxers whom have been pros in another (non-fighting) sport

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