Black British Athletes

[azzman]

There seems to be a lack of young black British athletes going into boxing compared to 20 to 30 years ago.

Is this similar to the American trend of young black athletes choosing less dangerous more lucrative sports such as basketball and American football rather than boxing?

[handsofstone]

Everyones playing football it seems

[handsofstone]

Everyone's playing football it seems

[bripez]

There seems to be a lack of young black British athletes going into boxing compared to 20 to 30 years ago.

Is this similar to the American trend of young black athletes choosing less dangerous more lucrative sports such as basketball and American football rather than boxing?

You think that young black males in the UK are playing basketball and American football?

[azzman]

There seems to be a lack of young black British athletes going into boxing compared to 20 to 30 years ago.

Is this similar to the American trend of young black athletes choosing less dangerous more lucrative sports such as basketball and American football rather than boxing?

You think that young black males in the UK are playing basketball and American football?

Of course not, no one from Britain would ever dream about playing basketball or American football, particularly Luol Deng or Menelik Watson. But for clarity, is it football (soccer) attracting black British athletes rather than boxing or not as the case may be.

[magwitch]

Whenever the Boxing News publish the British Ratings, about twice a year, there's only usually 3 or 4 hundred active fighters of which the majority will not be black - because it's the UK. It wouldn't be that hard to obtain the information. You could probably submit a FOI request to the British Boxing Board of Control for 10 years ago and now, and you'd have some numbers.

[magwitch]

In fact the Boxing News would probably be able to answer the question faster and more accurately than the BBBoC.

[davie]

Is there??

Here's horses top 30


1. (1.) Kell Brook
2. (2.) Carl Frampton
3. (3.) Amir Khan
4. (4.) James DeGale
5. (5.) Scott Quigg
6. (6.) Jamie McDonnell
7. (7.) Tyson Fury
8. (8.) George Groves
9. (9.) Lee Selby
10. (10.) Andy Lee (Irish)

11. (11.) Martin Murray
12. (12.) Lee Haskins
13. (13.) Ola Afolabi
14. (14.) Ricky Burns
15. (15.) Tony Bellew
16. (16.) Billy Joe Saunders
17. (17.) Liam Walsh
18. (18.) Dereck Chisora
19. (19.) Stuart Hall
20. (20.) Paul Butler

21. (21.) Chris Eubank Jr
22. (22.) Anthony Crolla
23. (23.) Paul Smith
24. (24.) Kevin Mitchell
25. (25.) Callum Smith
26. (26.) Terry Flanagan
27. (NE.) Luke Campbell
28. (27.) Frankie Gavin
29. (28.) Derry Mathews
30. (29.) Anthony Joshua

Out - (30.) Ovill McKenzie


A fair number of coloured fighters in there. In fact I would say more than the national average.
Just checked, the stats from the 2011 census has the white population at 87%, given that I'd hardly say black fighters are under-represented.

[Nightmare Roy]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

[bripez]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

The reality is that I guess 90% of non-league footballers earn more than 90% of British boxers (and they don't have to make weight etc. or have the worry about selling tickets).

[Nightmare Roy]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

The reality is that I guess 90% of non-league footballers earn more than 90% of British boxers (and they don't have to make weight etc. or have the worry about selling tickets).

I can't remember who said it, but there was a quote that basically said " You can be the hundredth best American Footballer in the world and you'll earn more than the 2nd best Heavyweight boxer". The sad truth is only a very few boxers make the mega bucks.

[Stuarty]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

Unless you're Curtis Woodhouse

[Nightmare Roy]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

Unless you're Curtis Woodhouse

Yeah he was a one off and fair play to him, I guess you must have to really love the sport to choose it over a career in football.

[Sklar]

What percentage of poor black families have Sky Sports compared to poor white families? I know that none of you will know this, but I suspect that whites are more likely to have it.

Also, why learn to fight when you can just pull out a handgun?

[Stuarty]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

Unless you're Curtis Woodhouse

Yeah he was a one off and fair play to him, I guess you must have to really love the sport to choose it over a career in football.

True. Most of us wouldn't dream of giving up that kind of money to have a punt at the hardest/toughest sport in the world but he must have had great self belief and determination. Hats off! Didn't Leon McKenzie jack football in to try boxing? Is he not fighting John McCallum in an eliminator of sorts soon?

[Stuarty]

What percentage of poor black families have Sky Sports compared to poor white families? I know that none of you will know this, but I suspect that whites are more likely to have it.

Also, why learn to fight when you can just pull out a handgun?

I don't get your point? Why does it matter if they have Sky sports or not?

[Boxerbeetle]

What percentage of poor black families have Sky Sports compared to poor white families? I know that none of you will know this, but I suspect that whites are more likely to have it.

Also, why learn to fight when you can just pull out a handgun?

Come on, you should at least try to hide your fishing attempt.

[danconnollyeire]

There seems to be a lack of young black British athletes going into boxing compared to 20 to 30 years ago.

Is this similar to the American trend of young black athletes choosing less dangerous more lucrative sports such as basketball and American football rather than boxing?

You think that young black males in the UK are playing basketball and American football?

Of course not, no one from Britain would ever dream about playing basketball or American football, particularly Luol Deng or Menelik Watson. But for clarity, is it football (soccer) attracting black British athletes rather than boxing or not as the case may be.

I used to play foote with Luol Deng's cousin... he was called Teng Deng. What a name

[bripez]

If you had a choice between being a premier league footballer on £100k plus per week or a boxer getting paid a few grand 4 times a year, well it's not much of a choice to make.

Unless you're Curtis Woodhouse

Yeah he was a one off and fair play to him, I guess you must have to really love the sport to choose it over a career in football.

I agree - although to be fair he was in a financial position to be ale to make that decision.

After 10 years as a footballer and a couple of big money transfers etc. I guess he had plenty in the bank - it is not as if he made that decision at 18 years old.

Also, his football background helped his boxing career - his debut was on TV - and he probably wouldn't have had the opportunities that he did without the back story.

[Rexob]

Unless you're Curtis Woodhouse [/quote]
Yeah he was a one off and fair play to him, I guess you must have to really love the sport to choose it over a career in football.[/quote]

I agree - although to be fair he was in a financial position to be ale to make that decision.

After 10 years as a footballer and a couple of big money transfers etc. I guess he had plenty in the bank - it is not as if he made that decision at 18 years old.

Also, his football background helped his boxing career - his debut was on TV - and he probably wouldn't have had the opportunities that he did without the back story.[/quote]


Yes, who would have thought he would go on and become a British champion? he was diabolical to start with, just shows what great fitness and some determination can get you, ohh and some money/contacts aswell which always helps!