World Cup champions and combat sports champions from the same countries
While they may appear to be vastly different on the surface, football and combat sports undoubtedly have plenty of things in common.
Supreme fitness, elite-level skill and aggression are amongst the elements which link the disciplines, albeit to differing degrees.
They also share a strong connection through the gambling sector, with many punters citing them as the two sports they enjoy wagering on the most.
That point is hammered home in India, where millions of people gamble regularly. FIFA World Cup betting in India is currently off the scale, while many citizens also love wagering on combat sports.
Intriguingly, several countries which have won the World Cup have also produced combat sports champions.
Read on as we look at some of the most famous examples, starting with a fighter who was famed for being an avid Manchester City fan.
Ricky Hatton – England
The summer of 2005 is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Ricky Hatton’s career and the time when he established himself as a boxing legend.
The Englishman was rated as a big underdog against Kostya Tszyu, who was considered one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world at the time.
However, he defeated the Australian in an 11-round fight on a truly memorable night at the Manchester Arena in front of 22,000 adoring fans.
Hatton’s popularity was hammered home when approximately 30,000 fans travelled to Las Vegas to watch him face Floyd Mayweather Jr. A tenth-round defeat did not damage his legacy.
Anderson Silva – Brazil
Brazilian mixed martial artist Anderson Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history at 2,457 days.
He claimed the middleweight title at UFC 64 in 2006 by knocking out Rich Franklin, and held it until he was defeated by Chris Weidman at UFC 162 in 2013.
During an iconic 16-fight win streak, he set records for the most knockouts and finishes in UFC middleweight championship history.
Silva is friends with Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo, who helped the national team lift the prestigious trophy in 1994 and 2002.
Carlos Monzon – Argentina
Argentinian boxer Carlos Monzon held the undisputed world middleweight championship for seven years and successfully defended his title 14 times against 11 different fighters.
The Ring magazine and Boxing Writers Association of America named him Fighter of the Year in 1972. BoxRec recently named him as the seventh greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time.
Monzon ended his career with a record of 87-3-9-1 with 59 knockouts. All of his defeats were early in his career and were subsequently avenged.
However, he tarnished his reputation after being found guilty of killing his second wife in 1988. He died in a January 1995 car crash while on his way back to jail after receiving a weekend furlough.
Max Schmeling – Germany
Max Schmeling was a hugely talented German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932.
His two fights with Joe Louis in 1936 and 1938 were worldwide cultural events because of the political heat between Germany and the United States.
Schmeling knocked out Louis in their first meeting, placing him as the number one contender for Jim Braddock’s title. However, Louis got the fight and defeated Braddock.
The German finally has the chance to regain the title in the rematch, but Louis won by technical knockout in the first round. The two fighters subsequently forged a strong friendship.
