10 Athletes That Should Have Been Boxers

There was a time when the best athletes in the United States took up boxing. It was a hugely popular sport, a way to ensure a living and a proving ground for toughness - both physical and mental - and overall physical ability. Those days are long in the past; while there are many great American athletes in boxing today, from Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Roy Jones Jr., the vast majority of the best athletes in the country take up football or basketball. There are many reasons for this, including financial security, conveniences and opportunities and a culture pushing these top athletes into those directions.

Considering the size of these athletes, it is the heavyweight division that suffers the most. After all, there is not much room for a 5'8", 147 pound athlete in the NFL or NBA (the size and stature of Floyd Mayweather), but there is plenty of opportunity for a top athlete measuring at 6'3" and between 225 and 250 pounds (an ideal frame for a heavyweight champion) on the football field.

However, now is not the time to lament all of that, as I have done in other places and will surely do again. Now is the time for a boxing fan to dream a lofty dream and envision the best athletes across the major sports who "coulda been a contenda!" Sports stars who, had they picked up boxing as a child and trained in that discipline as they trained in others, would have achieved great successes in the pugilistic ranks.

Looking back in history there were some great athletes I would have loved to have seen pick up the gloves and step into the squared circle. Included amongst these are - Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, Bo Jackson, Charles Oakley, Dennis Rodman and Bob Probert (the best hockey fighter of all-time). However, this list will only contain currently active, American, professional athletes. Some of the best athletes on this list are included entirely for their outlandish athletic ability; others are on the list for certain mental attributes and qualities that they have shown in competition as well. Here are the top 10 best athletes that I wish were boxing.

10. Ben Wallace - Center, NBA

Measurements: 6'9", 240 pounds