In this segment, I will be speaking of NFL Players who stepped into the boxing ring. Before I speak of gentlemen and players who have graced the Boxing Ring and competed in the sweet science, I just want to make clear, it is a whole different environment and scenario. It’s like comparing apples to oranges and bananas. Boxing is one on one (mano a mano). Football is a team sport.
In Football, all players at all positions wear a helmet, uniforms, and are all padded up. In Pro Boxing, other than gloves and trunks, a protective cup is worn to cover and protect your genitalia. Both wear mouthpieces.
Size and strength are important factors in Football. Boxing has weight classes ranging from 100 lbs to 200 lbs. I worked with a few at a low amateur level, and by comparison, they said boxing training was more difficult. These individuals played Jr league and high school football.
I never played competitive football but played in dozens of pickup games as a youth without any protection of any kind.
I also trained and sparred in boxing several times. Generally speaking, I would agree the boxing training at this level was more difficult. I am not or never have been a Tough Guy.
They do have similarities in that both are hard-hitting, contact sports. The participants can be seriously injured, or worst-case scenario, even killed. Both must be well-conditioned. Stamina and endurance go a long way and are essential. Lifestyle diet and nutrition are also factors. Physical well-being, mental stability, and outlook are prerequisites for both.
Talent and technique are also very important in both and it takes a certain kind of individual to have success in either sport.
Lyle Alzado
July 14, 1979 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado:
Lyle Alzado (DL), who was an amateur boxer, challenged former three-time heavyweight champ, Muhammad Ali, in a 10 round exhibition. Ali was retired and in between the Leon Spinks second fight (September 15, 1978) and the Larry Holmes fight (October 2, 1980).
Ali was overweight and out of shape. Neither man wore headgear and Ali just played with Big Lyle for 10 rounds. Ali would not fare any better on the football field.
Ed "Too Tall" Jones
Ed Too Tall Jones Dallas (Cowboys DL) is possibly the most prominent and noteworthy NFL player to fight professionally in boxing. Jones (also an amateur boxer) retired temporarily from football and fought from November 1979 – January 1980, with 6 Professional Boxing matches.
“Too Tall,” at 6 foot 9 inches, was a very imposing and towering figure. He was managed by Dave Wolf and was trained by Murphy Griffith (Emile Griifth’s Uncle). Both were with future lightweight champ Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. In Jones’s first fight, he won a 6 round decision over Yaqui Meneses and was even knocked down. He would go on to win 5 fights by knockout and end his career 6-0 (5 KOS). He then returned to the Gridiron.
The Summer of 1979 (Pompano Beach, FL)
In 1979, current NFL players fought in a tournament of 3 (2-minute) rounds with headgear and 14-ounce gloves. Below are the players that appeared:
Bob Kuchenberg (Miami OL)
Gary Jeter NYG DL
Kim Bokamper Miami LB
Jackie Slater LA Rams OL
Riley Odoms Denver TE
Ross Browner Cincinnati DE
The Notre Dame Heavyweight boxing champion (Browner) won the tournament, winning 4 bouts, and defeating Jackie Slater in the finale. Davey Pearl and Tony Perez were the referees.
Larry Csonka and former Heavyweight contender, Jerry Quarry, were the announcers. It was 1979, ladies and gentlemen, and several NFL players had the urge to box.
Charley Powell
Charley Powell is an absolutely amazing story. He did not attend college and was recruited by Notre Dame and UCLA to play football. He played semi-pro baseball briefly and was the youngest player in NFL history at 19 years of age.
Charley played with the Sab Fransisco 49ers (1952-1957) and Oakland Raiders (1960-1961). He was a defensive lineman, and in his very first game, sacked Detroit QB Bobby Layne an incredible 10 times !!!!!
This gentleman even turned down an opportunity to play with the Harlem Globetrotters. Charley pursued a pro boxing career and had a total of 39 fights, compiling a record of 25 wins (17 KOS), 11 losses, and 3 draws.
Two of the defeats were Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson, not bad company to be a part of. His biggest win was a KO8 vs. Nino Valdes of Cuba, the Number 2 contender in the world, in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 4, 1959.
This man was a phenom. Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot believe this gentleman is not more recognized or more well known. It is time to take notice and give him the recognition he deserves
Mark Gastineau
This defensive lineman played for the famous New York Jets’ “Sack Exchange” of the 1980s. He was with the Jets from 1979-1988 and BC Lions in Canada in 1990. His boxing career lasted from 1991-1996, with 18 fights, accruing 15 wins (15 KOS) and 2 losses.
Many of his opponents were rumored to have taken dives to make him look good. He was KOD by Tim Doc Anderson, and in his last fight, he was KOD in 2RDS by Alonzo Highsmith, another NFL player who I will cover next.
Alonzo Highsmith
Alonzo Highsmith was a running back, who played with the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1987-1992. His boxing career lasted from 1995-1998, putting together a great record of 30 fights, with 27 wins (23 KOS), 1 loss, and 2 draws. Alonzo took boxing very seriously, training hard and diligently.
Players of the 21st Century
Alonzo Highsmith was a running back, who played with the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1987-1992. His boxing career lasted from 1995-1998, putting together a great record of 30 fights, with 27 wins (23 KOS), 1 loss, and 2 draws. Alonzo took boxing very seriously, training hard and diligently.
I am your host Frank Reading and I am a middle-aged former boxing mega-fan from the 1980s-1990s. I have no allegiance or affiliation with any Boxing Organization Alliance or Federation.
I have a background in research and public speaking as well as boxing training and coaching. I hope you will enjoy the factual information provided on this program. My goal is to educated and inform the listener on the History of “The Sweet Science”
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It wasn’t Kim Bokamper, it was AJ Duhe in the NFL boxing tournament in 1979. I was covering the event and have many photos.
Paul, thank you for that catch. I’m going to send you an email, so we can work together to get this right.