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

[Mick Gill]

Willie Limond played soccer as a striker for Albion Rovers. Eight games, no goals!

[LeedsLad]

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

He was a bloody good player too.

[TerribleTerry]

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.

Foggerty was the name that came to my mind when I read the title of this thread.

[hurlock]

paul bonson was a rugby player right??

[batch]

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.

Seems strange that he's listed as a cruiserweight. Paladino was big, all opponents were heavyweights, he never fought at less than 219lbs, and often weighed a fair bit more.

Hadnt noticed that actually. Now you mention it i do remember reading that he was indeed a heavyweight.

[Scottrf]

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.

Seems strange that he's listed as a cruiserweight. Paladino was big, all opponents were heavyweights, he never fought at less than 219lbs, and often weighed a fair bit more.

Hadnt noticed that actually. Now you mention it i do remember reading that he was indeed a heavyweight.

Yeah I'll put it in the corrections forum.

[bennie]

Dublin's Terry Christle combined a pro boxing career with a day job as a surgeon in Boston. Middleweight Terry retired after dropping an eight-round decision to Dave Tiberi in Atlantic City in 1987.

[Old bones Ian]

Johnny Douglas was a Gold medal winner at the 1908 Olympic games at Middleweight. Johnny was also a first class cricketer, playing in 23 tests and being captain of England in 18 of them. That included a 4-1 series win in Australia in 1911. He would of won many more caps, but WW1 meant that play was suspended.
He did win Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1915, and took 1800 wickets in first class cricket.

[Old bones Ian]

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!

I've got a signed copy of Eagan's biography called 'Fighting for fun' , very good read.
One part is about his spar with world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, in that round Eddie thought he was doing ok, and landed a hard right to the champions jaw here's what Eddie said happened next.
"He [Dempsey] hummed the tune 'Everybody Two-Step,' keeping time with his whole body. . . . Then something fell on my head! It felt like a rafter from the roof. . . ."
Dempsey hand landed his own right hand.

Also have a look at this article about the winning bob sledge team , lets just say sportsmen are not like this nowadays, the 4 consisted of a boxing gold medalist, a future war hero, a jocky/playboy and a actor/songwriter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... ng-machine

[Crazyboy]

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 ;;-)

he shoudn't have to apologise, WWF is acting not fighting ;;-)

[Scottrf]

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

Apology accepted ;;-)

he shoudn't have to apologise, WWF is acting not fighting ;;-)

To be fair to me, I said "If [it] is a sport".

[mickey1975]

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.

Foggerty was the name that came to my mind when I read the title of this thread.

I was at his debut in 1989. He was with Terry Lawless at the time and was o.k. I think his dad was a Rugby League star too. He has been in allsorts now, even the Churchill ads! He was out of order for threatening Jack Duckworth, though!

[RJP]

I can think of lots of rugby league players/boxers:

Solomon Haumono
Monty Betham Jr
John Hopoate
Lance Thompson
Anthony Mundine Jr

All these guys switched to boxing down under after quitting rugby league.

In this country Brian McDermott the current Leeds coach actually boxed professionally before playing rugby.

[RJP]

I think someone has already mentioned that Gary Mason played some games for London after quitting the ring.

[Scrap]

One that springs to mind, Dick Richardson. Wanted by Swansea, was a very good Footballer, had to make a choice and chose Boxing then, more money DD

[Scrap]

Another one was Graham Shaw Sheffield Utd and England Played cricket for Yorkshire, won a Junior ABA title had to make a choice chose Football DD

[JamesH]

I've got a signed copy of Eagan's biography called 'Fighting for fun' , very good read.
One part is about his spar with world heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, in that round Eddie thought he was doing ok, and landed a hard right to the champions jaw here's what Eddie said happened next.
"He [Dempsey] hummed the tune 'Everybody Two-Step,' keeping time with his whole body. . . . Then something fell on my head! It felt like a rafter from the roof. . . ."
Dempsey hand landed his own right hand.

Also have a look at this article about the winning bob sledge team , lets just say sportsmen are not like this nowadays, the 4 consisted of a boxing gold medalist, a future war hero, a jocky/playboy and a actor/songwriter.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... ng-machine

Thanks for that Ian, took me a little while to get around to reading it properly but it was well worth it, fascinating. You're quite right, there aren't many sportsmen like them around now. Can just see Audley winning gold in Archery or something, it's his destiny

[ArtOfWar]

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

Ken Norton Jnr was a top linebacker in the NFL, so he passed the genes on.

[Gazmac81]

The reason i looked up Wikipideia is becasue i had it in my head that Ken Norton was an ex American football player although i see he was in marines , must have been tough as hell

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

Ken Norton Jnr was a top linebacker in the NFL, so he passed the genes on.

[Chambers2]

Mickey Rourke was a wrestler for a while (a BIG man gymnast)

[mickey1975]

I can think of lots of rugby league players/boxers:

Solomon Haumono
Monty Betham Jr
John Hopoate
Lance Thompson
Anthony Mundine Jr

All these guys switched to boxing down under after quitting rugby league.

In this country Brian McDermott the current Leeds coach actually boxed professionally before playing rugby.

McDermott was being trained in Ripon by Henry Wharton last year for a charity bout with Paul Sculthorpe. A bit unfair on Scully to be honest if Brian has fought pro.

[oliverfennell]

Mickey Rourke was a wrestler for a while (a BIG man gymnast)

I don't think he's ever had any involvement in wrestling outside of the wrestling movie he did.

[Wake up call]

Brian McDermott had one fight before he signed full-time RL papers with Bradford Bulls.

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

[Darcy Delaney]

Kimbo Slice MMA now pro boxer

[TJ77]

Sergio martinez was an endurance cyclist (boxing.monthly)