Boxing matches between a human and a kangaroo have been featured in cartoons, and there are also stories of people engaging in these matches for either entertainment or to save the life of a pet. However, it’s unwise to attempt to fight any wild animal, and kangaroo boxing is a form of fighting behavior that can be very dangerous, even for two kangaroos. Yet, what would happen if a human was foolish enough to take on a kangaroo? Keep reading to find out.
Comparing a Human and a Kangaroo
| Human | Kangaroo | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight: 150-200 pounds Height: 5 feet 9 inches on average for males in the U.S. | Weight: 100-200 pounds Height: 4.9-6.6 feet |
| Speed and Movement | 6-8mph during normal running; top speeds of 12-27mph | 12mph during regular locomotion; 35-44mph maximum speed |
| Defenses | Intelligence to avoid dangerous situations; endurance; ability to recognize ways to seek shelter and safety; intimidating size compared to some animals | Intimidating size; speed allows them to escape; thick skin on stomachs to protect against attacks, muscular |
| Offensive Capabilities | Limited without tools; can punch, strike, kick, and grapple | Forelegs with claws to grasp, strike, and cut predators |
| Predatory Behavior | Pursue and weaken prey with the aid of tools; can trap and capture some prey | Kangaroos are herbivorous, so they lack predatory instincts; males compete for dominance; will fight back when cornered |
What Are the Key Factors in a Fight Between a Human and a Kangaroo?
Kangaroos might seem like they are harmless herbivores, but they can deliver devastating attacks.
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Since humans are not going into the fight armed, we need to look at matters beyond intelligence and tool use. This is a battle between animals, so we must examine size, speed, defenses, offensive capabilities, and predatory behavior to figure out which one will win.
Size
The average human and the average kangaroo are actually very similar in size. The average height for human females in the U.S. is over 5.3 feet, while the average height of a human male in the U.S. is 5.9 feet. When it comes to weight, the average female weight is 171.8, while men average 199.0 pounds. However, these are just the averages.
The red kangaroo is considered the largest of the four kangaroo species. They can reach 200 pounds and over 6 feet in height. Females are considerably smaller, only reaching 86 pounds and 4.6 feet in height. However, the average red kangaroo male is closer to 5 feet in height and up to 120 pounds, which is smaller and lighter than the average human female. Yet, the CDC notes that a human this size is overweight, and kangaroos are far more muscular. So the winner would depend on sex, fitness, and also species in the case of the kangaroo.
Speed and Movement
Kangaroos can reach over 40mph for short distances.
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Kangaroos are much faster than human beings. The average human running speed is between 6-8mph. The top speed of the average human is between 12mph and 20mph. The world record holder for the fastest human is Usain Bolt, who attained a speed 27mph. However, such speeds are not sustainable.
Kangaroos can move at 12mph during regular hopping. They can reach speeds of 35-44mph for short distances of around a mile, which is much further than most humans could run at top speed.
Defenses
Humans have a number of defenses, especially intellectual abilities. Without tools, humans rely on intelligence to avoid situations, endurance and aerobic performance for running long distances, ingenuity to find shelter, and possibly size to ward off some attacks through intimidation.
Overall, humans have better defenses than kangaroos stemming from their intellect, but kangaroos have better physical defenses. Kangaroos are as tall as humans, and they are quicker, stronger, and have thick skin on their stomachs to protect them from attacks.
Offensive Capabilities
Kangaroos try to grip one another in their strong forepaws.
©Ed Goodacre/Shutterstock.com
When it comes to power and strength, kangaroos most likely have the advantage over humans. However, humans can use their feet, hands, and body weight to attack. In this particular case, we are prohibiting weapons to highlight human weaknesses. However, humans are also adaptable. So, if offense is not the answer, humans can fall back on superior defense.
Kangaroos can deliver a deadly attack using their legs, but they don’t typically kick other animals to death. They rip them open with the long middle claw on their hind legs. Kangaroos will grip threats with their muscular forepaws, then balance on their tail to deliver a fatal blow. Kangaroos are also good swimmers and have been known to drown animals they view as threats by using their strong arms to hold them underwater. Researchers have found that a kangaroo’s skeletal muscle mass is around 50% of its body mass. However, it is only around 40% in humans, depending on sex, age, and fitness level.
Predatory Behavior
Humans have more advantageous predatory behaviors. Humans know how to trap and kill animals. Aside from rudimentary ambushes without tools, humans are also known for their cursorial hunting abilities. This means they can use their endurance abilities to track and attack prey once it is too weak to carry on. However, humans typically require tools to hunt effectively.
Kangaroos are not predators by nature, since they are herbivores. They typically only fight when they feel threatened and they can be aggressive towards humans and other animals. Kangaroos do have fighting instincts, as male kangaroos compete with one another for dominance and breeding rights. Young male kangaroos also play fight to practice their skills.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Human and a Kangaroo?
Kangaroos are very strong and can be aggressive toward humans.
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A kangaroo would win a dominance fight against a human being who had no weapons. A human might have a weight or even a height advantage in some cases, but a kangaroo is very strong and has deadly biological tools in the form of its claws, which can easily kill humans.
Do not be fooled by videos of humans successfully fending off a kangaroo. As mentioned above, in the wild, a kangaroo will try to grasp its opponent and then tear into it with the claws on its feet. This can inflict devastating wounds on a human, or even disembowel them. Without weapons and armor, humans are fragile compared to these wild animals. A human’s best chance to escape unscathed is to avoid the situation altogether or find a place to hide.
Have Humans Ever Boxed Kangaroos for Sport?
In the late 1800s, kangaroos were trained to box in the ring.
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Boxing kangaroos have become a symbol of Australia. These muscular creatures have fought humans in the ring, but the sport didn’t last long. In the spring of 1891, kangaroo boxing became popular in Australia and the U.S. almost simultaneously. Australia’s star was Jack, who sparred daily with a man named Professor Linderman at the Melbourne Waxworks. Meanwhile, in the U.S., John L., a resident of the Philadelphia Zoo, sparred with his trainer after showing aptitude for the sport. It was said of both kangaroo boxers that they took to the sport easily, even “asking” for the training required, which included wearing boxing gloves.
Kangaroo boxing became a trend for a few years, often featured at carnivals and exhibitions around the world. A kangaroo called “Big Frank” faced a boxer named Tom Tully at Madison Square Garden in June, 1893. The Germans even made a silent film about kangaroo boxing. The public grew tired of the “sport” by the early 1900s, although the idea persisted.
Fighting kangaroos have been depicted in countless animated shows and movies from The Flintstones to The Simpsons to Sailor Moon. Images of boxing kangaroos wearing gloves were painted on Australian planes and ships during World War II, and the Australian Olympic Team still uses a boxing kangaroo as their mascot.
