# Are there any examples of professional boxers getting into fights with regular people? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 25, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929 "2011-01-25T16:14:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![fighter1985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a6a055/32.png) [@fighter1985](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighter1985)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/141 "2012-10-27T10:43:57Z")
Former world champ zab judah got into a street fight and didnt look one bit like a world champ tho admittedly it was crowded. As I said every fight is different and are the cirumstances. It’s not like theyre laced up with gloves and a mouth piece with a ref in the ring as the bell sounds. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/142 "2012-10-27T11:30:35Z")
> [@destineal](#): > > Hell, from the fights I’ve seen, Mayweather would mostly just run around the bar backwards while his opponent flailed at him impotently. Pacquiao would be a different story. Mayweather would humiliate his opponent with his evasiveness and flashing punches and Pacman would just plant his feet and annihilate whoever stood against him. It’s not impossible for an untrained person to beat a high-level professional boxer without sucker-punching them, but the likelihood is so slim that you’d need to have more brawn than brains to even consider it. If you don’t know your opponent is as highly skilled as he is, the likelihood is you are going to seriously underestimate their violence potential and step right into a ko. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/143 "2012-10-27T11:37:44Z")
> [@fighter1985](#): > > If you had half a brain you’d realise I was giving an example of fighting on the street. This moron says real men don’t get into street fights, I gave an example as a reason as to why you could fight. Sometimes theyre impossible to avoid, unless youre going to stand there as a punching bag or watch on as a family member gets beaten. Welcome to the SDMB, **fighter1985**. Just so you know, insults and name-calling of other members isn’t allowed outside of the BBQ Pit forum, so if you have a problem with another poster, feel free to start a topic there. Don’t post like this in this forum, however. Idle Thoughts -Game Room mod ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/144 "2012-10-27T12:42:44Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > I don’t know what nerve you’re talking about (facial or trigeminal?), but hitting it isn’t what causes a knockout. No one really knows for sure, but it probably has something to do with minor damage to the brainstem caused by head rotation. I think trigeminal is what I was referring to: From [http://www.russbo.com/Health-FAQ/knockout-punch.html](http://www.russbo.com/Health-FAQ/knockout-punch.html) > [@](#): > > The physiology behind the “knockout punch”, though generally thought to be a simple concept of shutting down the brain because of a sudden impact of energy, is in reality a complicated one. > > There appear to be at least 3 different mechanisms for a knockout: > > 1. Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve, vagus nerve, or cartoid sinus causes a reflex drop in heart rate, cerebral blood vessel constriction, and peripheral blood vessel dilation: a “neurovascular knockout”. This knockout occurs because of a neural reflex drop in cerebral perfusion, either because of localized blood vessel constriction, or a drop in cardiac output because of a slower heart rate (bradycardia) or a drop in blood flow return to the heart because of a dilation of neurally induced dilation of blood vessels throughout the body. I don’t know if that site is a definitive source, and it isn’t where I originally heard it, but that pretty much echoes what a karate teacher told me almost 30 years ago as a lad. He didn’t put it so scientifically but ran his finger along his jawline where the trigeminal nerve runs and said to hit someone there if I wanted to knock them out because it will pinch a nerve between their jaw and my fist and they will just drop. Since then I probably heard the same thing a dozen times from various sources like ‘the science of boxing’ type TV shows. I think a similar explanation was given for how George Bush blacked out from a nerve in his throat being pinched by an awkwardly-swallowed pretzel and that obviously didn’t involve any brain trauma (no political jab intended) or a neck snap. > [@fighter1985](#): > > actually u dont get it he does and youre the idiot. Plain and simple. Hey, welcome to the boards fighter1985. I like the way you come out swinging. Anyone perceptive enough to call me an idiot by their second post is alright in my book. Your arguments in the thread have been completely moronic so far, but I like your style. > [@fighter1985](#): > > If mayweather were to fight a 6 ft 6 guy weighing 270 pounds, if the big guy can fight, he’d more often than not win. With that much height and weight doesnt matter if youre a world champion or not. He can grab you, wrestle you to the ground, and should be able to take a hit. Then again if mayweather lands flush on the chin { if he can reach him, punching that high he would lose some power } he could knock him out. He may not. Every fight is different as are people. Some can take punches, some can not. On one day you may get floored one punch, on another you may be able to with stand 20 punches. So… you got nothing then. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/145 "2012-10-27T13:00:46Z")
> [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I think trigeminal is what I was referring to: > > From [http://www.russbo.com/Health-FAQ/knockout-punch.html](http://www.russbo.com/Health-FAQ/knockout-punch.html) > > I don’t know if that site is a definitive source, and it isn’t where I originally heard it, but that pretty much echoes what a karate teacher told me almost 30 years ago as a lad. He didn’t put it so scientifically but ran his finger along his jawline where the trigeminal nerve runs and said to hit someone there if I wanted to knock them out because it will pinch a nerve between their jaw and my fist and they will just drop. Since then I probably heard the same thing a dozen times from various sources like ‘the science of boxing’ type TV shows. The blow that knocks a person out is most often the one that isn’t seen by the recipient. It hardly matters where on the head it lands if the receiver isn’t ready to roll with it and absorb or deflect its impact. > [@Crazyhorse](#): > > I think a similar explanation was given for how George Bush blacked out from a nerve in his throat being pinched by an awkwardly-swallowed pretzel and that obviously didn’t involve any brain trauma (no political jab intended) or a neck snap. I think George just had trouble talking, chewing and breathing at the same time and had a sensory overload. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/146 "2012-10-27T15:40:35Z")
I know a relatively large table tennis player that could beat up a small professional table tennis player, so I think the big brawler could give the small professional boxer a whipping. :rolleyes: But really, if a smaller professional basketball player was going one on one against a 7 ft. joe schmoe, the pro would easily win because he’d be stealing the ball away on the dribble most every time, unless it was half court and there was a special rule that the 7 footer could just stand there next to the basket without moving the entire time. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/147 "2012-11-08T12:25:28Z")
In 2001, German boxer and former Flyweight world champion [Regina Hallmich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Halmich) boxed in a televised fight against TV entertainer [Stefan Raab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Raab). Raab is a big and reasonably fit man whereas Hallmich is a petite woman by any standard (5 ft. 3 in., ca. 112 pounds). Hallmich who took the fight seriously wiped the floor with Raab and broke his nose. The referee thought about stopping the fight (which was intended to be a zoo-like event) because the TV guy was hurting badly. There is [footage of the fight on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKeS2nNedAk) (starting at about 3:00). ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/148 "2012-11-08T18:14:17Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > In 2001, German boxer and former Flyweight world champion [Regina Hallmich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Halmich) boxed in a televised fight against TV entertainer [Stefan Raab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Raab). Raab is a big and reasonably fit man whereas Hallmich is a petite woman by any standard (5 ft. 3 in., ca. 112 pounds). > > Hallmich who took the fight seriously wiped the floor with Raab and broke his nose. The referee thought about stopping the fight (which was intended to be a zoo-like event) because the TV guy was hurting badly. > > There is [footage of the fight on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKeS2nNedAk) (starting at about 3:00). Impossible, according to SDMB scholars a 6’2" bulky bar fighter would destroy Mayweather. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/149 "2012-11-08T19:21:51Z")
Was Raab taking it seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/150 "2012-11-08T19:46:48Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > Was Raab taking it seriously? Absolutely. His broken nose was for real. Raab hosts a show in which he himself competes in all sorts of athletic events against contenders (who can win up to 2,5 million Euros if they beat him). Raab is usually well prepared and wins most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/151 "2012-11-08T20:09:13Z")
I was more wondering if he came out hard at the beginning of the fight… ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/152 "2012-11-08T20:14:47Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > I was more wondering if he came out hard at the beginning of the fight… He would have if he could… Raab was beaten up by Hallmich from the get go. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_dre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dr\_dre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_dre)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/153 "2015-08-21T10:13:25Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > No offense, but you are out of your mind. You think that some random 6’2" untrained juicehead in a bar would beat Floyd Mayweather in a fight? Your goon would be unable to handle the quickness and technique. Ummmmm… how about Oscar De La Hoya narrowly beating Shaquille O’Neal in a boxing match. A perfect example of all the skill in the world just about making up for size. If it was a bar fight Shaq would have picked him up and eaten him. You’ll find it on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_dre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dr\_dre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_dre)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929/154 "2015-08-21T10:41:22Z")
> [@dr\_dre](#): > > Ummmmm… how about Oscar De La Hoya narrowly beating Shaquille O’Neal in a boxing match. A perfect example of all the skill in the world just about making up for size. If it was a bar fight Shaq would have picked him up and eaten him. You’ll find it on youtube. I think it’s fair to say that the big guy starts with an advantage, an advantage that can be bridged with skill. The bigger the size differential, the bigger the skill differential has to be in favour of the smaller man. By the time you reach a guy the size of Shaq, a skill level of “all time great” may not even be enough to bridge the size differential, or in De La Hoya’s case it was jussssst about enough. Size makes up for an awful lot of lack of skill. Resultant force (newton, N) = mass (kg) × acceleration (m/s2) A “fat” slow man can hit as hard as an exceptionally fast “little” man, and if the fat man has a little bit of hand speed he can hit much harder. EG. a 65kg man throws a punch at 25mph, a 130kg man could hit much harder if he can manage just 15mph. Not to mention argument around punch absorption, strength etc. And if the fight is to be a street fight with less rules etc. If the big man is competent he’ll hold his own if the size difference big enough. Even if the small man is an all time great boxer, and the big man is a basketball player… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dZHa9VffmO8/hqdefault.jpg "Shaq vs Oscar De La Hoya - Part 2 - September 8, 2009") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZHa9VffmO8) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-examples-of-professional-boxers-getting-into-fights-with-regular-people/568929.md?page=7)