Wrestlemania is coming up this weekend, and it is widely considered one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar. Wrestling and boxing both fall under the combat sports category, but they are very much different. It's no secret that the WWE look for celebrities and sporting stars to draw more eyes onto it's biggest event of the year. On a few occasions, boxers have dipped in to the WWE for short periods of time, and only four have been showcased on the 'Grandest Stage Of Them All.'
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Muhammad Ali – Wrestlemania 1.
When it comes to boxing, it is rare that Muhammad Ali isn't the first name that springs to mind. A true icon, and one of the most well renowned names when it comes to the sport of Boxing. So, it didn't come as much of a surprise when Ali was featured in the first ever edition of Wrestlemania.
Wrestlemania 1 took place in the famous Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1985. Ali played the role of outside referee in the match between 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and Mr T. A year before the event, Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but this did not stop him getting involved in the action.
Ali was not impressed with Piper citing help in the bout, having Ace and Hulk Hogan running in after Mr T had slammed him to the mat. Ali entered the ring and caught Piper with two swift hooks, sending the pro wrestler out the ring, as a result of this, the rest of the wrestlers escaped the ring, wisely avoiding Ali's wrath.
Mike Tyson – Wrestlemania 14
Another name that is extremely familiar with any sports fan, Mike Tyson has set foot in a Wrestlemania ring.
Tyson featured in WWE at the peak of the Attitude Era, widely regarded as WWE's most successful run as it ultimately put there main rivals WCW out of business.
In the lead up to Wrestlemania, Tyson featured on WWF Raw, which seen him get into a brawl with one of the most popular wrestlers of all time 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Tyson then joined the world champion Shawn Michaels' DX faction.
Michaels and Austin would lock horns in the main event of Wrestlemania 14, with Tyson as 'special enforcer'.
The referee got knocked out during the bout, leading to Tyson sliding into the ring to perform a fast three count in Austin's favour to crown him as the new world champ.
Post fight, Michaels began to whine at Tyson, which ends up a downfall as Tyson laid out Michaels with a worked right hand.
Butterbean – Wrestlemania 15
In the late 90's, WWE introduced the infamaous 'Brawl For All'. The Brawl For All was a legitimate, in ring, boxing tournament between pro wrestlers who hadn't quite made it to the main event scene yet.
The idea for this was to fast track new signing and real life tough guy 'Dr Death' Steve Williams to the main event scene by having him win, however, one man didn't get the memo.
Williams was knocked out and legitimately injured in second round of the tournament by Bart Gunn. Gunn went on to win the tournament but WWE had no plans for him in the main event.
Gunn was 'rewarded' with a 4 round boxing bout with Eric 'Butterbean' Esch at Wrestlemania 15. Butterbean was 42-1-1 at the time in professional boxing, and dispatched of Gunn in the first round of there fight at the Show of Shows.
Floyd Mayweather – Wrestlemania 24
Another one of the best known boxers in the world of sport, Floyd Mayweather was involved in what is regarded as one of the best celebrity match ups in Wrestlemania history.
Mayweather appeared at WWE No Way Out in 2008, when he came to the aid of Rey Mysterio who was being attacked by a returning Big Show. the 7ft tall Big Show turned his attention to Mayweather, and got on one knee to goad Mayweather to hit him, Mayweather took the oppurtunity and broke Big Show's nose with a swift combination, much to the joy of the crowd.
In the next few weeks, Mayweather morphed into the bad guy, and he played the pefect villain in the build up.
The match was no disqualification and took place just before the main event, and as the bell rang, Mayweather and his entourage headed up the ramp to attempt to stop the fight happening, but Big Show chased him down and dragged him back to the ring. Mayweather took a few of the Big Show's moves, and sold them brilliantly.
However, Mayweather got the upper hand, bludgeoning Big Show with a chair, then when Show was down to a knee, Mayweather slipped on some brass knuckles and landed a sweet shot on Big Show's chin, leading to a knockout victory for Floyd.
Oscar De La Hoya was actually approached to play a role in this fight, but declined due to training reasons.
Bitcoin poker fans
Want to know what else will unite these boxers? Love to bitcoin poker. It's no surprise to find many legendary boxers playing online bitcoin poker Some are even making a living out of it. In boxing, the strategy is to wait for the right time to attack, while online bitcoin poker players look for tells and attempt to read the intentions of their opponents. Boxing requires discipline and self-courage, while online bitcoin poker requires smart decision-making and a positive attitude. Whether you're looking to win your next tournament or want to build a reputation, online bitcoin poker can be a great choice.
Boxers who play online bitcoin poker might be unusual, but they aren't the only one. David Haye, a former world champion, plans to spend the next year training to master the art of online bitcoin poker. He will be coached by some of the most successful online bitcoin poker players in the UK, along with mathematicians, psychologists, and actors. Despite his professional status, boxers typically don't make career-changing moves until they're in their late thirties.
Both boxing and online bitcoin poker require constant physical preparation. They require constant learning and improvement. Both sports are centuries old, and their fans enjoy watching the Heavyweight Championship of the World. online bitcoin poker enthusiasts follow the World Series of online bitcoin poker Main Event, and boxing champions have huge fan bases. It's not surprising that both sports have parallels. There's plenty of strategy to consider in both sports, and the similarities between them are striking.
Some boxers have made a career of online bitcoin poker. David Haye has been reported to have considered a career in high-stakes online bitcoin poker after his recent loss to Tony Bellew. Haye even participated in a side tournament at the Grosvenor UK online bitcoin poker Tour in Blackpool. Unlike other sports, MMA and online bitcoin poker are both highly competitive. It's therefore no surprise that some boxers are also drawn to the sport.