ESPN.com: Page 2 - Sport Skills Difficulty Rankings (2024)

Boxing.

The Sweet Science.

That's the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it. It's harder than football, harder than baseball, harder than basketball, harder than hockey or soccer or cycling or skiing or fishing or billiards or any other of the 60 sports we rated.

In Page 2's Ultimate Degree of Difficulty Grid, boxing scores higher than them all.

SPORTSNATION: DO YOU AGREE?
Vote: What's the toughest sport of all? Debate sports' degree of difficulty with Page 2's writers and experts in The Show Think boxing's not tough? Go toe-to-toe with former heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman in the SportsNation chat room.

SPORTSNATION: DO YOU AGREE?

Vote: What's the toughest sport of all?

Debate sports' degree of difficulty with Page 2's writers and experts in The Show

Think boxing's not tough? Go toe-to-toe with former heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman in the SportsNation chat room.

But don't take our word for it. Take the word of our panel of experts, a group made up of sports scientists from the United States Olympic Committee, of academicians who study the science of muscles and movement, of a star two-sport athlete, and of journalists who spend their professional lives watching athletes succeed and fail.

They're the ones who told us that boxing is the most demanding sport -- and that fishing is the least demanding sport.

We identified 10 categories, or skills, that go into athleticism, and then asked our eight panelists to assign a number from 1 to 10 to the demands each sport makes of each of those 10 skills. By totalling and averaging their responses, we arrived at a degree-of-difficulty number for each sport on a 1 to 100 scale. That number places the difficulty of performing each sport in context with the other sports we rated.

On the grid below, click on each sortable category to find out how our 60 sports rank in each skill. A glossary key is included at the bottom of the grid that explains each category.

So put on the gloves, get in the ring and let the roundhouse hooks begin.

Degree of Difficulty: Sport Rankings
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Boxing	8.63	8.13	8.63	6.38	6.25	4.38	8.88	8.50	7.00	5.63	72.375	1
Ice Hockey	7.25	7.13	7.88	7.75	7.63	4.88	6.00	8.25	7.50	7.50	71.750	2
Football	5.38	8.63	8.13	7.13	6.38	4.38	7.25	8.50	5.50	7.13	68.375	3
Basketball	7.38	6.25	6.50	7.25	8.13	5.63	4.13	7.75	7.50	7.38	67.875	4
Wrestling	6.63	8.38	7.13	5.13	6.38	7.50	5.00	6.75	4.25	6.38	63.500	5
Martial Arts	5.00	5.88	7.75	6.38	6.00	7.00	6.63	5.88	6.00	6.88	63.375	6
Tennis	7.25	5.13	7.13	6.75	7.75	5.63	3.00	5.00	8.38	6.75	62.750	7
Gymnastics	5.38	6.13	6.63	5.00	6.38	10.00	7.50	6.88	4.50	4.13	62.500	8
Baseball/Softball	4.63	5.75	7.63	6.50	6.75	4.75	5.13	5.63	9.25	6.25	62.250	9
Soccer	7.75	4.50	5.13	7.25	8.25	4.75	3.63	6.25	6.50	7.50	61.500	10
Skiing: Alpine	5.13	5.25	6.00	7.38	6.13	5.63	8.38	6.00	5.13	5.63	60.625	11
Water Polo	7.88	6.63	6.88	5.38	6.38	5.00	4.25	6.38	6.25	5.63	60.625	11
Rugby	6.75	7.00	6.38	5.88	6.00	4.13	6.50	7.88	4.38	5.63	60.500	13
Lacrosse	6.63	5.13	5.75	7.00	6.63	4.75	4.38	6.13	7.13	6.88	60.375	14
Rodeo: Steer Wrestling	4.00	7.00	7.88	3.88	4.88	5.00	7.88	6.88	5.13	4.00	56.500	15
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Track and Field: Pole Vault	3.38	6.88	7.25	6.13	5.38	7.00	6.63	4.25	5.25	3.75	55.875	16
Field Hockey	6.75	4.50	5.38	6.00	5.75	4.63	3.75	5.00	6.63	6.50	54.875	17
Speed Skating	7.63	7.25	7.38	8.88	4.00	4.25	4.50	4.63	2.88	3.50	54.875	17
Figure Skating	6.38	5.25	6.63	5.13	6.88	8.25	4.88	4.00	3.13	4.25	54.750	19
Cycling: Distance	9.63	6.38	6.25	5.13	3.75	2.63	5.88	6.88	3.00	4.88	54.375	20
Volleyball	5.13	4.88	6.63	5.00	7.00	5.13	2.88	4.63	7.25	5.88	54.375	20
Racquetball/Squash	6.13	3.75	5.00	5.50	7.25	5.88	2.38	2.88	8.38	6.50	53.625	22
Surfing	4.63	5.00	4.13	4.25	6.63	5.50	8.25	5.50	4.38	4.88	53.125	23
Fencing	4.63	3.75	4.25	5.13	6.13	5.63	4.88	4.25	7.25	6.88	52.750	24
Skiing: Freestyle	4.13	5.13	4.88	5.13	6.63	6.88	6.63	5.13	4.13	3.88	52.500	25
Team Handball	4.88	3.88	5.38	5.50	6.00	4.50	3.00	3.88	7.88	5.88	50.750	26
Cycling: Sprints	4.25	6.13	7.88	7.50	4.00	2.88	4.75	4.50	3.63	4.50	50.000	27
Bobsledding/Luge	3.50	5.50	6.50	6.75	4.13	3.25	7.75	3.50	4.13	4.25	49.250	28
Ski Jumping	3.50	4.50	5.75	4.63	4.00	5.00	9.00	4.63	4.38	3.50	48.875	29
Badminton	5.25	3.25	4.00	5.63	7.38	5.25	1.25	2.63	7.25	6.13	48.000	30
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Skiing: Nordic	9.00	5.75	4.38	5.13	4.00	4.00	2.75	5.50	3.63	3.88	48.000	30
Auto Racing	5.88	3.50	2.63	1.63	2.75	1.75	9.88	4.38	8.00	7.50	47.875	32
Track and Field: High Jump	3.00	6.00	7.00	6.13	5.63	6.63	3.50	3.50	3.50	2.88	47.750	33
Track and Field: Long, Triple jumps	4.00	5.63	7.13	6.75	5.00	5.75	2.75	3.25	4.00	3.13	47.375	34
Diving	2.88	5.13	4.63	3.00	3.50	8.50	8.38	5.00	3.00	3.00	47.000	35
Swimming (all strokes): Distance	9.25	5.25	4.63	5.50	3.63	5.50	2.63	4.63	2.88	3.00	46.875	36
Skateboarding	4.13	3.75	3.75	4.13	6.13	5.13	6.50	5.25	4.88	3.13	46.750	37
Track and Field: Sprints	3.50	5.13	7.25	9.88	4.63	5.13	2.00	4.13	2.63	2.38	46.625	38
Rowing	8.13	7.75	7.13	4.00	2.50	4.00	1.75	4.38	2.88	3.63	46.125	39
Rodeo: Calf Roping	3.13	5.38	5.00	4.25	5.63	3.88	4.88	3.75	6.38	3.75	46.000	40
Track and Field: Distance	9.63	5.25	3.75	6.00	3.25	4.38	2.00	5.75	1.88	4.13	46.000	40
Rodeo: Bull/Bareback/Bronc Riding	3.25	5.38	4.00	1.75	3.63	4.25	9.50	7.38	3.63	3.13	45.875	42
Track and Field: Middle Distance	6.00	5.13	5.13	7.75	4.00	4.88	2.00	4.75	2.13	3.75	45.500	43
Weight-Lifting	4.13	9.25	9.75	2.63	2.50	3.38	4.00	4.75	2.25	2.38	45.000	44
Swimming (all strokes): Sprints	4.13	5.25	6.25	7.88	3.63	5.50	2.50	3.25	2.75	3.00	44.125	45
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Water Skiing	4.63	5.00	4.50	3.00	4.25	4.75	5.88	4.63	4.13	3.25	44.000	46
Table Tennis	3.50	2.50	4.63	4.13	5.88	4.25	1.38	1.88	8.88	6.00	43.000	47
Track and Field: Weights	3.25	7.88	9.13	3.00	3.13	3.00	2.25	3.63	4.00	2.88	42.125	48
Canoe/Kayak	6.75	5.25	5.63	3.50	2.75	3.88	3.63	3.25	3.13	4.25	42.000	49
Horse Racing	4.00	3.88	2.88	1.38	2.88	3.75	8.00	4.50	3.88	6.50	41.625	50
Golf	3.25	3.88	6.13	1.63	1.75	4.00	2.50	2.38	6.00	6.38	37.875	51
Cheerleading	3.63	3.63	3.38	2.25	4.13	7.50	3.63	3.38	2.50	2.25	36.250	52
Roller Skating	4.75	3.38	4.00	5.13	4.00	3.50	2.63	3.38	2.88	2.63	36.250	52
Equestrian	3.38	3.25	1.75	1.25	2.50	2.88	6.00	2.75	2.88	5.13	31.750	54
Archery	2.88	4.50	3.13	1.13	1.63	2.63	2.75	2.13	6.63	3.25	30.625	55
Curling	2.25	2.63	2.50	1.50	2.25	2.63	1.75	1.50	4.88	5.63	27.500	56
Bowling	2.25	2.75	3.38	1.00	1.88	2.38	1.63	1.25	4.75	4.13	25.375	57
Shooting	2.25	2.50	1.38	0.88	1.13	1.75	2.38	1.88	6.75	4.00	24.875	58
Billiards	1.00	1.00	1.75	0.75	1.00	2.63	1.63	0.75	5.25	5.75	21.500	59
Fishing	1.38	1.63	1.25	0.63	1.50	1.13	0.88	0.88	2.38	2.88	14.500	60

Key
ENDURANCE: The ability to continue to perform a skill or action for long periods of time. Example: Lance Armstrong STRENGTH: The ability to produce force. Example: NFL linebackers. POWER: The ability to produce strength in the shortest possible time. Example: Barry Bonds. SPEED: The ability to move quickly. Example: Marion Jones, Maurice Green. AGILITY: The ability to change direction quickly. Example: Derek Jeter, Mia Hamm. FLEXIBILITY: The ability to stretch the joints across a large range of motion. Example: Gymnasts, divers. NERVE: The ability to overcome fear. Example: High-board divers, race-car drivers, ski jumpers. DURABILITY: The ability to withstand physical punishment over a long period of time. Example: NBA/NHL players. HAND-EYE COORDINATION: The ability to react quickly to sensory perception. Example: A hitter reacting to a breaking pitch; a drag racer timing acceleration to the green light. ANALYTIC APTITUDE: The ability to evaluate and react appropriately to strategic situations. Example: Joe Montana reading a defense; basketball point guard on a fast break.

Key

ENDURANCE: The ability to continue to perform a skill or action for long periods of time. Example: Lance Armstrong
STRENGTH: The ability to produce force. Example: NFL linebackers.
POWER: The ability to produce strength in the shortest possible time. Example: Barry Bonds.
SPEED: The ability to move quickly. Example: Marion Jones, Maurice Green.
AGILITY: The ability to change direction quickly. Example: Derek Jeter, Mia Hamm.
FLEXIBILITY: The ability to stretch the joints across a large range of motion. Example: Gymnasts, divers.
NERVE: The ability to overcome fear. Example: High-board divers, race-car drivers, ski jumpers.
DURABILITY: The ability to withstand physical punishment over a long period of time. Example: NBA/NHL players.
HAND-EYE COORDINATION: The ability to react quickly to sensory perception. Example: A hitter reacting to a breaking pitch; a drag racer timing acceleration to the green light.
ANALYTIC APTITUDE: The ability to evaluate and react appropriately to strategic situations. Example: Joe Montana reading a defense; basketball point guard on a fast break.

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ESPN.com: Page 2 - Sport Skills Difficulty Rankings (2024)

FAQs

What is the hardest sport to play skill wise? ›

Degree of Difficulty: Sport Rankings
SPORT	END	RANK
Boxing	8.63	1
Ice Hockey	7.25	2
Football	5.38	3

33 more rows

Which sport is the toughest ESPN? ›

The top spot overall? Boxing. “That's the sport that demands the most from the athletes who compete in it,” reads the ranking. “It's harder than football, harder than baseball, harder than basketball, harder than hockey or soccer or cycling or skiing or fishing or billiards or any other of the 60 sports we rated.”

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What is the hardest sport to go pro in? ›

Soccer/Football – Soccer is the world's most popular sport, and the competition to become a professional is intense due to the vast number of players worldwide competing for limited spots in top leagues.

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What is the hardest sport for a girl? ›

Gymnastics is known as the hardest sport in the world. Many people don't understand why it's so difficult, but at Virginia Elite Gymnastics Academy, we know all too well!

What sport requires the most mental strength? ›

Chess – Chess is often considered one of the most mentally challenging sports, as players must think multiple moves ahead, anticipate their opponent's strategies, and maintain concentration over long games.

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What is the hardest sport on earth? ›

To last a whole boxing match is to be able to manage 12 rounds of 3 minute HIIT sessions. And the intensity of those sessions is why boxing is often considered the world's hardest sport.

What are the three hardest sports to play? ›

Based on their rankings, the top 10 hardest sports in the world are as follows: boxing (hardest), ice hockey, football, basketball, wrestling, mixed martial arts, tennis, gymnastics, baseball/softball, and soccer.

Read On ›

What's the hardest thing to do in all of sports? ›

Statistically, the hardest thing to do in any sport is to stay healthy. Abstractly speaking, the hardest things are: to play happily, to be able to retire confidently, and to remember that you are a person who plays a sport, not just an athlete. Those things are difficult and valuable.

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What is the hardest sport to coach? ›

On yesterday's program I raised the question of which sport is the most difficult to coach. The agreement yesterday was that baseball was the most complex of the sports, and thus the most difficult to coach.

What is the least demanding sport? ›

Chess, golf, bowling, archery, and snooker epitomize the idea that success can be achieved through skill, precision, mental prowess, and technique. These sports transcend physical limitations, offering a stage where individuals can excel and find enjoyment irrespective of their athletic prowess.

What sport has the most athletic players? ›

No sport requires as much work and skill to master at the professional/ elite level like boxing. Some years ago, ESPN did a survey to rank sports based on various criterion like endurance, speed, power, nerve, agility, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, etc., and boxing came out on top.

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Which sport has more skills? ›

Boxing requires strength, power, endurance and the ability to withstand huge hits over and over from the opponent. The skills to be able to dance around a ring, pick your punches and defend your body all convey why boxing is one the most skilful sports there is.

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Which sport is hard to understand? ›

Football. The American version, at least. It could be because I have never played it, as baseball and basketball are my favorite sports, but all I understand is that you run with a ball from one side of the field to the other, trying not to get tackled, getting as far as possible.

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