The Strength & Athleticism of Wilt Chamberlain

[HomicideHenry]

At nearly 7'2" in height and 260 pounds in weight, the Big Dipper has been called the strongest basketball player in NBA history, never using his full abilities in the game he so domunated. Many experts say he may very well of been the greatest offensive player of all time.

However, what's most impressive was his sheer overall athleticism. He was equally dominate in volleyball, and in his college years was a force on the track and field games. His strength was virtually unlimited, as several notable and credible eyewitnesses saw Chamberlain lift as much as 650 pounds effortlessly.

Most NBA players who competed against him will tell tales of how Chamberlain was so strong that when players attempted to steal from him, he would slam dunk the ball with the player still holding onto the ball for dear life.

While these things don't necessarily translate to the ring, it does magnify Chamberlain's overall assets that he would of brought with him. He wouldn't of been the lamb led to slaughter that many would assume he would be had he competed in boxing.

[Giancarlo]

More wank fantasies?

[polecateddy]

Very belittling of actual real boxers, many of whom have been boxing since before ten years old. For an example of what happens to a good athlete without proper foundation see Seth Mitchell!

[HomicideHenry]

Very belittling of actual real boxers, many of whom have been boxing since before ten years old. For an example of what happens to a good athlete without proper foundation see Seth Mitchell!

Had Chamberlain done the Ali fight I garuntee he would of lost. However, Wilt s overall abilities as an athlete I think could of translated into boxing--- if he did as D'Amato wanted, training one full year for Ali I don't think he would of been beaten too badly. Say, going into six-eight rounds, then Ali has overcome the reach and strength and speed of Chamberlain. TKO stoppage.

Another thing people tend to forget about Wilt was his own tremendous conditioning as he averaged 48 minutes of play per game. No one today remotely comes close to that kind of cardio in the NBA. What's more amazing? Wilt played all offense when doing it.

Btw, historically men from basketball backgrounds have had far greater success in the ring than football players, wrestlers, martial artists, and other sports.

[polecateddy]

Very belittling of actual real boxers, many of whom have been boxing since before ten years old. For an example of what happens to a good athlete without proper foundation see Seth Mitchell!

Had Chamberlain done the Ali fight I garuntee he would of lost. However, Wilt s overall abilities as an athlete I think could of translated into boxing--- if he did as D'Amato wanted, training one full year for Ali I don't think he would of been beaten too badly. Say, going into six-eight rounds, then Ali has overcome the reach and strength and speed of Chamberlain. TKO stoppage.

Another thing people tend to forget about Wilt was his own tremendous conditioning as he averaged 48 minutes of play per game. No one today remotely comes close to that kind of cardio in the NBA. What's more amazing? Wilt played all offense when doing it.

Btw, historically men from basketball backgrounds have had far greater success in the ring than football players, wrestlers, martial artists, and other sports.

If it was that easy all those well conditioned mma fighters would be boxing on the side. It ain't that easy. Stop dreaming!

[HomicideHenry]

You're twisting my words. Historically basketball players who tried their hand at boxing found more success in general than football players, etc. who tried their hand at boxing. Look at the stats and records, them win/loss ratio is incredible by comparison. Never once did I say it would be easy. However basketball requires so much overall ability and timing and superb reflexes--- more a sport of grace and agility--- than a brute force sport like football or wrestling.

[polecateddy]

You're twisting my words. Historically basketball players who tried their hand at boxing found more success in general than football players, etc. who tried their hand at boxing. Look at the stats and records, them win/loss ratio is incredible by comparison. Never once did I say it would be easy. However basketball requires so much overall ability and timing and superb reflexes--- more a sport of grace and agility--- than a brute force sport like football or wrestling.

Can you enlighten us with some pro basketball players who had significant heavyweight wins please?

[Ambling Alp II]

Wilt was in my opinion the best basketball player ever. However, you don't just pick up a sport that you never participated in and compete at a world class level with a year. (Obviously Il Duce's Wes Uneld Story is BS.)

Almost all high level boxers fought as amateurs for years before becoming a pro. Then it takes almost every a minimum of three years after that to reach a high level.

So if Wilt would give up basketball completely, then trained for a couple of years, then wanted to fight 4 round, 6 round, 8 round, and finally 10 round fights, maybe he could have been really good. He still probably would not have. He was wise not to waste his time and his basketball career on such a long shot.

[witherspoon]

I'm sure that someone here will know the full story (if it is actually true) but according to what I have read, Wilt Chamberlain was completely overwhelmed by his first public meeting with Ali and immediately pulled out of any plan to meet Ali in the ring.

So for all of his physical attributes, Chamberlain would never have the physcological assets to put them to use.

I've always been intrigued by the tale of Ali putting Wilt Chamberlain to flight simply by shouting 'timberrrrrrrrr' when he entered the room. How true is this?

[n1ebf]

H Henry,

Two other 'Monsters of the Hardwood."

Nate Thurmond and Lucius Allen

Back then, most of the NBA Players feared both of those brutes more than 'Wilt the Stilt'.

And one more, was Wes Unseld, who said he would have kicked Sonny Liston's ass had they
fought. Wes sparred with Sonny once in 1968 and had no problem man-handling Sonny Boy.

It's not very difficult to imagine how that might have been the case judging by this shot...

[Goldust]

Chamberlain would have been as successful at boxing as Ed "Too Tall" Jones. It's hard enough to make the transition from one style of combat sport to another. To think that someone, no matter how athletic or dominant that they are in a completely unrelated sport could, with only a few years of training, do anything but get slaughtered by a professional boxer who may have been training since they were ten years old in laughable.

[yancey]

Don't forget Maurice Lucas. Intimidating dude. He made Daryl Dawkins reconsider his intentions in a long ago NBA final.

Walt Bellamy, who recently passed away, was also a force.

p.s.

Duce, you are right about that punch that Rudy T. took. It was damn near life threatening and put him in the hospital with multiple surgeries, iirc.

[King Carlos]

Wilt was closer to 300 lbs in his prime. He'd have been about 260 in college. In high school he was wire thin, even more than Kareem. Unbelievable physical specimen. Maybe the most impressive in sports history.

[polecateddy]

Wilt was closer to 300 lbs in his prime. He'd have been about 260 in college. In high school he was wire thin, even more than Kareem. Unbelievable physical specimen. Maybe the most impressive in sports history.

He was only a fricking Basketball player. For real athlete look up Daley Thompson!

[Bobbyptsd]

These type of posts always make me laugh.

We've all seen basketball players fight before.

[gp.]

Wilt was closer to 300 lbs in his prime. He'd have been about 260 in college. In high school he was wire thin, even more than Kareem. Unbelievable physical specimen. Maybe the most impressive in sports history.

He was only a fricking Basketball player. For real athlete look up Daley Thompson!

Several notable and credible eye witnesses once saw Daley Thompson jump over the moon, then punch a gypsy so hard that his false teeth flew right around the world and hit Thompson in the back of the head.

[Roars Like Me]

Ali wouldn't have touched him see


Serioulsy though 'Wilt' may have been appropiate if he had fought Ali or any other bonefide heavy.

[HomicideHenry]

@ polecateddy

Am on a mobile phone right now, but off the top of my head a man who was a damn good highschool and college ball player who became a world champion was Buster Douglas.

[King Carlos]

Wilt was closer to 300 lbs in his prime. He'd have been about 260 in college. In high school he was wire thin, even more than Kareem. Unbelievable physical specimen. Maybe the most impressive in sports history.

He was only a fricking Basketball player. For real athlete look up Daley Thompson!

And a high jumper. And a volleyball phenom. And a long jump and triple jump beast. Anything that required sheer athleticism he was a monster at. A 7'2 guy with a 44 inch vertical. His wingspan in high school was like 6 inches longer than Dwight Howards' is now. The only sport he ever dedicated himself to was basketball, although as stated early he dominated at volleyball for a while, seemingly for shits and giggles.

When taking into account his height, length, strength, and athletic talent, I can't think of anyone more impressive. Obviously a guy like Bo Jackson is gonna be more accomplished as a two sport athlete, but as far as having the sheer physical tools, Wilt was unparalleled.

[Ambling Alp II]

I can't stand the suspense. Can you just tell us if Chamberlain beat Ellis?

[polecateddy]

Wilt Chamberlain

In 1968, 'Wilt the Stilt' goes into a 6-Month Training Camp to take on WBA Champion - Jimmy Ellis.

Who's betting against Wilt...............

Everyone with half a brain?!

[Ezzard]

Bruce Lee would have beaten Ali and this Wilt Chamberlain chap, whoever he was, on the same night...

Then there's Gandalf. I'm pretty sure he could have summoned up something to beat Ali with. And before you all write off the white bearded wizard just remember "styles make fights".

[n1ebf]

Bruce Lee would have beaten Ali and this Wilt Chamberlain chap, whoever he was, on the same night...

Then there's Gandalf. I'm pretty sure he could have summoned up something to beat Ali with. And before you all write off the white bearded wizard just remember "styles make fights".

agree with this 100%

[Robinson]

Wilt showed where his athleticism and strengths lay... on the ball court.

I don't know what a fighter is suppose to look like or act like ?

Wilts attributes would be a factor if Wilt was a boxer. But say a Michael Grant
who worked VERY hard with such athletic gifts managed to get very
far in the sport as a boxer but alas at the upper echelons he failed.

Sure he looked the part but say he was locked inside of a cage with a
Fedor ... what good would any of that do him?

Ali proved himself as a boxer.

Wilt as a basketballer.

That is it. Only non fighters really fantasise about the what ifs.

you know the same people that rate Bruce Lee or Jet Li as a top fighter
I guess Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson would be great cops too..

[polecateddy]

Wilt Chamberlain

Was not interested in making Boxing a career. He was to prepare for one specific bout.

The book was out, that it would take 9-Months to get Wilt prepared to go the 15-Round distance,
not win, but go the full 15-Rounds.

...just shut up. Numpty!