Which boxers were great for boxing because of their character and why?

[Luigi1985]

For example James J. Corbett, he was the creator of the modern hook, Max Baer gave boxing an aura of glamor, George Carpentier, etc.

[janitor]

Joe Louis was the right man at the right time to dismantle the colour bar.

[ripcity]

For example James J. Corbett, he was the creator of the modern hook, Max Baer gave boxing an aura of glamor, George Carpentier, etc.



Boxers like Hector Camacho and Naseem Hamed came to mind after reading your post . They were both aragant and cockey. I'm a fan of neather but I guess someone has to be the bad guy or the guy we love to hate.

Also Arturo Gatti despite wining world tittles in two devisions , but he devloped his fan base by being a "blod and guts" fighter

[salsanchezfan]

Arguello, of course.


Also Barry McGuigan. Besides being a seemingly very nice guy, he had a real galvanizing effect on his country when he fought. His fights seemed to mean more even across the pond here, we knew what he was doing was transcending the sport. I remember watching his title fight with Pedroza here in the states, where it was aired during very late afternoon, heading right into the evening news, a very unusual time slot for the day. The fight was also reported on by ABC's World News Tonight, which was rare as well.

[jonesjrp4p1]

i think a real obvious one is mike tyson

[Mendoza]

Mickey Ward.

[janitor]

Greatest ever missed oportunity is Peter Jackson.

He might just have given us a Joe Louis back in the 19th century.

[janitor]

The USA imo wasn´t ready for that in 19th century.


If any man could have made it ready for that it was Peter Jackson.

He was gracious, inteligent. Somtimes a person from an imposible background can be a symbol of virtue amongst those who are predudiced against them.

Look at Saladin for example. After the crusades he was held up as an example of civalry in the texts of British knights. We Britts even had a Saladin tank in the post war era.

[Stonehands89]

Look at Saladin for example. After the crusades he was held up as an example of civalry in the texts of British knights. We Britts even had a Saladin tank in the post war era.

Good analogy. Saladin was lionized during the crusades. Richard the Lionheart and he had a mutual admiration society although both were fierce enemies. During an ambush that Saladin engineered against Richard outside of Tyre I believe, he was impressed with the fighting prowess of Richard who was killing Saladin's elite fighters (they were probably janissaries) right and left before he even got his armor on. Richard's was forced off his horse and Saladin had a servant bring one down to him out of respect.

My favorite of your kings is the Lionheart -who may have been the greatest British warrior this side of Boudicca. In fact, "Lionheart" is often used to describe American boxers today. Leonard said it about Davey Moore and Holyfield epitomized it.

[Stonehands89]

Anyway, I would say that the great Mexican boxers throughout history have rallied their nation and others due to their character and willingness to go through hell to wave that flag in victory.

We all owe Chavez, Morales, & Barrera much because they have rallied a whole ethnicity and kept boxing afloat during what otherwise may be hard times.

[janitor]

btw. i watched "The Fight Episode 2" some hours ago and there was said that Jack Johnson was advising the Schmeliing camp before Schmeling-Louis I. Never heard or read that before. Is there anymore info on that?

I have never heard any convincing evidence of that.

However Jack Johnson certainly offered to help Jimmy Braddock fight Louis in his title defence.

Initialy they were friends and Johnson hoped he might get to train Louis but Louis's managers were having none of it. Whats more they made no secret of the fact that they were making Louis the anti-Johnson.

After that Johnson was verry bitter.

[Duodenum]

Anyway, I would say that the great Mexican boxers throughout history have rallied their nation and others due to their character and willingness to go through hell to wave that flag in victory.

We all owe Chavez, Morales, & Barrera much because they have rallied a whole ethnicity and kept boxing afloat during what otherwise may be hard times.Do you suppose Napoles should get a mention by virtue of having adopted Mexico as his country after leaving Cuba? We did not choose where we were born, but Napoles did chose where he lived later.

I consider Peter Jackson to have been at least a co-world titlist. He was recognized as champion over far more of the globe as British Empire and Commonwealth Champion, than Sullivan was as merely the United States Champion. (The Union Jack flew over a quarter of the planet when Jackson dethroned Paddy Slavin.)

[Stonehands89]

Do you suppose Napoles should get a mention by virtue of having adopted Mexico as his country after leaving Cuba? We did not choose where we were born, but Napoles did chose where he lived later.

I consider Peter Jackson to have been at least a co-world titlist. He was recognized as champion over far more of the globe as British Empire and Commonwealth Champion, than Sullivan was as merely the United States Champion. (The Union Jack flew over a quarter of the planet when Jackson dethroned Paddy Slavin.)

Napoles fought at a time that boxing was still a major force in the public imagination, I mentioned the later three because they came along when boxing had more black eyes than 19th century battle royals... and I think that they did much to carry the sport by exporting the enthusiasm of Mexico to Mexican-Americans (and illegals) and thus to more Americans than would otherwise notice -especially on the west coast. God bless Mexico. Seriously.

As for Peter Jackson, I'd consider him not as a co-world titlist, but as a victim of racism and bad luck. Had he come along just a little later he may have been Jack Johnson's foil if he wasn't avoided by Johnson too -but the fact that he was not American excluded him. John L. wasn't going to give him a shot either, and if that's a fact, shame on him.

As it is, I avoid conjecture that gives too much leeway to imagination -Jackson didn't rally an empire or a nation like others did and I can't say that he was allowed to make a difference and therefore be "great for boxing." Dems da breaks.



I

[mightyd40]

john l. hasnt been mentioned yet and his personality started the boxing phenomenon.

[ripcity]

Yeah i know, in Germany a guy named Lessing wrote a book about 220 years ago called "Nathan der Weise - Nathan the wise man", it´s about the rivalry/similarities beween muslims, christians and jewish. Saladin was described as a very noble man. Great book :good
I don´t think it was the right time than. I don´t think that someone like Joe Louis, who was that accepted by the whole community, was possible without Jack Johnson´s reign, the Schmeling-rivalry and the Nazi regime.

btw. i watched "The Fight Episode 2" some hours ago and there was said that Jack Johnson was advising the Schmeliing camp before Schmeling-Louis I. Never heard or read that before. Is there anymore info on that?

I have heard that Jack Johnson had some adamosity toward Joe Louis but I don't know more than that.

[mcvey]

For example James J. Corbett, he was the creator of the modern hook, Max Baer gave boxing an aura of glamor, George Carpentier, etc.
By all accounts Corbett wasnt really too nice a guy in reality,he was one of the first titleholders to physque out his opponents and used a variety of tactics to gain an edge.If you mean by character ,a boxer being a nice guy ,and carrying himself accordingly,I think you would have to go a long way to beat Louis ,he was schooled never to gloat,and as he grew into his title his shyness gave way to some wry quips,and observations,another Champion ,Im sure you will appreciate L,is Rocky, Marciano never denigrated an opponent was allways generous in victory,and compassionate ,after he,d bludgeoned half the life out of some poor opponent.

[Duodenum]

Napoles fought at a time that boxing was still a major force in the public imagination, I mentioned the later three because they came along when boxing had more black eyes than 19th century battle royals... and I think that they did much to carry the sport by exporting the enthusiasm of Mexico to Mexican-Americans (and illegals) and thus to more Americans than would otherwise notice -especially on the west coast. God bless Mexico. Seriously.

As for Peter Jackson, I'd consider him not as a co-world titlist, but as a victim of racism and bad luck. Had he come along just a little later he may have been Jack Johnson's foil if he wasn't avoided by Johnson too -but the fact that he was not American excluded him. John L. wasn't going to give him a shot either, and if that's a fact, shame on him.

As it is, I avoid conjecture that gives too much leeway to imagination -Jackson didn't rally an empire or a nation like others did and I can't say that he was allowed to make a difference and therefore be "great for boxing." Dems da breaks.



IGood enough. I'm not qualified to venture any kind of informed strong opinion on those points. I was simply curious about your views on the matter, and was seeking additional clarification.

[Minotauro]

Alexis Arguello was great for boxing not only because he showed a lot of class but the fact he opposed the Sandaneston (not sure of the spelling) government made him extremely popular with Cubans living in America.

[Titan1]

Alexis Arguello-Nice, kind man. Unfortunately, he was murdered(?)
Ray Mancini-the whole, I-want-to-win-title-for-my-father thing was cool.
Ray Leonard-the skill, the charisma, unfortunately, later, the arrogance.
Thomas Hearns-the class and power.
Roberto Duran-The flatout machismo.

[Drew101]

Carmen Basilio. Had a tendency to turn boxing matches into his kind of fight, and did it as much throgh sheer force of will as anything else.

[booradley]

Well -- since I rarely miss an opportunity to post this highlight video -- here ya go!
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[la-califa]

Fighters who were larger than life & drew a crowd everywhere they went.:
Max Baer, Maxie Rosenbloom, Jack Johnson, Henry Armstrong, Ray Robinson, Jack Dempsey, Willie Pep, Rocky Marciano, Roberto Duran, Muhammed Ali, Joe Louis, Mike Tyson, Julio C. Chavez, Carlos Monzon, Lennox Lewis & Ray Leonard.

[MAG1965]

For example James J. Corbett, he was the creator of the modern hook, Max Baer gave boxing an aura of glamor, George Carpentier, etc.most great fighters had something great about their character of never quitting.

[mattdonnellon]

Surely I missed someone mentioning Floyd Patterson?

[EireFightFan]

Jim Braddock deserves a mention. Gave joy and hope to millions during the depression. He won the greatest prize in sports through a combination of good fortune, guts and determination.

Joe Frazier is another who in stark contrast to Ali went about his business in a modest and dignified fashion. This is amplified by the unfair labels of 'Uncle Tom' and 'White Man's Champion' which were given to him.

[bodhi]

Wilfred Sauerland as a promoter, Henry Maske as a boxer and RTL as a TV station took boxing out of the gutter in Germany where it was controlled by pimps and the like. Boxing know is the sport with the highest TV ratings after futbol and on par with Formula 1 - the Klitschkos do something between 14 and 18 millions, Abraham around 12 millions, Sturm like 8-10 millions and even Sylvester does around 6 millions. When you have around 50 million housholds that´s huge.

Schmeling was the best person in boxing. Ross probably the greatest and Patterson the nicest.