It’s no secret that many elite athletes have tried to transition to professional boxing. We saw this years ago when Conor McGregor left Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr., but the Irishman isn’t the only one to make this shift. In fact, more and more high-level athletes are venturing into the demanding discipline of boxing.

From the NFL or NBA to the ring

In the United States, several NBA and NFL legends have shown interest in the art of boxing, though few have reached the top at a professional level. This is where Amir Tyson, son of the legendary boxer Mike Tyson, comes in, claiming that many athletes from America’s major sports leagues could have been title contenders had they chosen a different path in their careers.

Amir commented on the topic after a video surfaced showing NBA star Shaquille O’Neal training with former world heavyweight champion Oliver McCall.

“So many NFL and NBA players could have been title contenders if they had chosen this profession,” Tyson Jr. wrote on his Instagram stories.

Freddie Roach, a legendary boxing trainer, oversaw this sparring session, where the NBA giant even managed to corner the veteran against the ropes. Ultimately, McCall’s experience prevailed, and he emerged unscathed from the exchange. What was clear, however, is that Shaq possesses a high level of competitiveness in the ring, just as he did on the basketball court.

Competing at the highest level in the NFL or NBA positions you as an athlete with unique qualities. Physical preparation, explosiveness, and a competitive mindset are factors that work in favor of these athletes, who likely wouldn’t struggle to adapt to boxing training.

Shaquille O’Neal, for example, has dabbled in various combat sports, including boxing. In 2009, he took part in an exhibition fight against Oscar De La Hoya on the show “Shaq vs.”, and the following year, he faced “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Although he lost both bouts, he made it clear he wanted to compete at the highest level, even outside his comfort zone.

It’s true that for some, the allure may have been fame or money. However, in Shaq’s case, his motivation seems to go beyond that:

“To be the best, you have to learn from the best,” he said, reflecting a mindset of constant self-improvement.