Fighters you idolize [Archive]

elgigante

07-26-2005, 05:08 AM

As in the fighter that got you watching boxing. Which guy(or guys) just made you sit down one day and say "Damn, this sport is good, i think ill become a fan!?" To me it was a couple of guys

1. Pernell Whitaker- Say what you will about his problems now and his mouth back in the day, but when i saw this man fight live in Norfolk a few times, it seemed like his opponents were trying to hit shadows. His quickness and ability to bend away from punches just kind of oohed and aaahed me so much i really started to watch bouts.

2. Evander Holyfield- My earliest memory of watching him was his bout with Qawi in i believe 1986. The warrior spirit first shone through then and didnt stop for over a decade.

Also i liked the entire group of late 80's welters like Marlon Starling, Donald Curry and Mark Breland for some reason as well,

So who got you watching the pugilistic arts?

Tam-Tam

07-26-2005, 05:24 AM

Whitaker got you INTO boxing? Im shocked.

Me? Hagler, Duran and Witherspoon.

elgigante

07-26-2005, 05:30 AM

Witherspoon? What was so great about him? I never really saw his prime years, just after the King trial

Tam-Tam

07-26-2005, 06:40 AM

He was a very talented heavyweight. Excellent defensive technique, hard puncher and liked to beat people up. The very first fight I can remember watching, was Holmes-Witherspoon...and I was a fan ever since then.

An immense waste of ability though.

Kamatari

07-26-2005, 11:50 AM

Lord Prawn

07-26-2005, 12:25 PM

Evander Holyfield: Quite simply The Man. What a bad motherfucker he was.

Tommy Hearns: I used to be 6'2" and fight as a welterweight. I could punch with the right hand. So.

Muhammad Ali: In fourth grade I read a book about him. Big reason why I started boxing. BIG.

DrOctagon

07-26-2005, 12:25 PM

Julio Cesar Chavez
Lennox Lewis
Marvin Hagler
Roberto Duran
Micky Ward
Ricky Hatton
Evander Holyfield
Erik Morales
Marco Antonio Barrera
Ricardo Lopez

Mr. Liu

07-26-2005, 01:03 PM

For me it's Mr. Pryor as my favorite. The dude reminds me so much of myself it's nuts. Grew up in bad neighborhoods, had a relatively voilent upbringing (hearing him talk about his mom, you'd think he and I were brothers with the same mother because my mom was exactly like his), and no real male figures around him. He fought for a lot of the same reasons I'm going into it myself. Plus his sheer will and lack of care for being hurt just puts a smile on my face every time I see fights of his. He played the likeable villain role well, which is something I plan to do. I even plan to do his glove-pointing thing in the ring as an homage. lol

On the flipside I also adore his counter-part, Arguello. When I think of personifying the word "Champion"...that dude comes to mind.

Aside from that most of my love goes towards journeymen like Sam Reese, and old vets who still have skill and something to prove.

ramelman

07-26-2005, 01:29 PM

i was always a casual fan of boxing, but watching rjj got me excited with the things he could do in the ring, and how he was in a totally different level from his opponents. studying what he did got me interested in the science of it, and led me to appreciate ali even more.

Oliver Klosov

07-26-2005, 01:35 PM

Two guys really for me.

1. Thomas Hearns. I grew up in Michigan and he was all the rage up there, his tremendous power and whip-like jab were captivating.

2. Ray Leonard. To me he was just so smooth and confident, and his speed was amazing, also his mental ability in the ring were all tremendous.

Johnny Toetags

07-26-2005, 01:43 PM

Which guy (or guys) just made you sit down one day and say "Damn, this sport is good, i think ill become a fan!?"

Hmmm.

When I was a kid -

1- Ali (I mean, c'mon.)
2- Jake Lamota (after seeing Raging Bull I saw a bunch of his fights on tape.)
3/4- Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard. seeing some of these old classic fights on tv hade me glued.

Then as I got older-

5- Mike Tyson.
6- Evander Holyfield
7- Sugar Shane Mosley
8- Arturo Gatti
9- Naseem Hamed (couldn't wait to see him fucked up.)
10- Marco Antonio Barrera (Case in point.)

I think I got back seriously into boxing after Barrera/Hamed.

CROKICK

07-26-2005, 02:36 PM

Morales- He is a tough bastard who will fight anyone and isnt afraid to take another guys best shot. That might be a downside of him but I respect him for it.
Hamed- So confident and talented. He was entertaining as hell and could punch like few people I have ever seen in my life. He let me down after te Barrera fight but oh well.
Lewis- A guy who had all the talent and probably the best one two and uppercuts the HW division has seen for my money. His downside was his lack of motivation but for me the people I look up to have to have some flaws.
Eubank- I enjoyed his style and posing alot. He could box and brawl and had a great chin and heart. If only he had stayed at 160. Oh well.
Toney- Had a ton of talent and defensive ability. Again I like his toughness and chin although he wasnt half the fighter he could have been.
Hagler- What a fighter should be. Tough as nails, could hit, could box, and just had the fighting spirit.
Zarate and Olivares- Two bantamweights who could punch like middleweights.

Sonny Jilks

07-26-2005, 03:02 PM

Growing up:

Chris Eubank, Frank Bruno and Ali. I know Bruno wasn't up to much at all but he was the guy who was on tv when i was growing up and he used knock guys the fuck out and that was good enough for me when i was about 8 years old.

When i was slightly older Eubank was my favourite out of the Benn/Eubank pairing.I liked his apparent mercenary attitude and his style.Benn was good too but he never seemed like the sharpest pencil in the box and was involved with shady characters.Not unusual for a boxer but i found Eubank the more interesting of the two.

I doubt i need to explain my love for Ali but i will.Firstly he made me laugh.Secondly I respect what he did when he refused the draft and how he always tried to do what he wanted, not what the American people wanted him to do or to be.I always liked his quote about not wanting to travel across the world to kill other poor people.

These days:

I still love Ali and Ricky Hatton would be the other fighter I respect a lot because of how he conducts himself out of the ring as much as the way he performs in it.

Kamehameha

07-26-2005, 05:48 PM

Benitez, Gomez, Trinidad, Camacho, Rosario, Escalera, etc.

pretty much every boxing style out there is represented in some way by the great puerto rican champs. Still amazes me such a tiny island has produced some of the best fighters to ever lace 'em up and maintains a tense rivalry w/ a gigantic country that dwarfs it in population (Mexico).

even though he's hated by some from "that" fight and that all-american persona that makes some puke, Sugar Ray Leonard is one of my favorites. The first and second Duran fights were both masterful psychological mind jobs, Duran suckering Leonard in the 1st and Leonard frustrating Duran in the 2nd. His technique was almost perfect, sharp and fluid. U just don't see that kind of skill these days.

Tam-Tam

07-26-2005, 09:28 PM

Jung Koo Chang, my favourite boxer of all time.

I was a boxing fan, but never really got into it because of my predominant kick background. A family member showed me some of his fights and I was blown away. He's really the boxer that got me into this sport.

It's funny because even though Harada made the same impact, I was introduced to Gushiken prior to that and it influenced the way I saw things in the olden days.
HOLY SHIT...I love this guy.

We will wed in the near future. I'll have my guys, talk to your guys and it shall be so.

Tam-Tam

07-26-2005, 09:29 PM

All American makes you puke, but "Puerto Rico #1!!!!!!!!!111111111" (before going out and getting schooled by Hops and Winky) doesn't? Some favouritism there.

XiAoYuFOREVER

07-26-2005, 09:36 PM

arturo gatti

pacquiao

ricky hatton

Kamehameha

07-27-2005, 04:15 AM

All American makes you puke, but "Puerto Rico #1!!!!!!!!!111111111" (before going out and getting schooled by Hops and Winky) doesn't? Some favouritism there.

no fool, i meant some people who don't like Leonard don't like his all-american personal. U know, Mr. TV Hero, 7-UP commercial guy. OTHER people hate that about him.

i find it rather refreshing, instead of the usual ghetto slang black guy we see too often.

Tam-Tam

07-27-2005, 05:54 AM

Don't you call me fool. Im alot of things, some worse than that. But I am NOT a fool.

kforcer Master Of The Knightforce

07-27-2005, 06:01 AM

Stevie Johnston, Charles Brewer, Oba Carr, Tony Marshall, Troy Dorsey, Sean Powell, Tony Ridges, Bernard Hopkins and Ed Hopson are some of my favorites...I also love Joe Louis and Joe Frazier, as well as Sugar Ray Robinson...and Roberto Duran...Tyrone Trice was probably my first "favorite" as a boxer...Muhammed Ali was a favorite when I was a kid, but that didn't last to adulthood the more I learned about him. I also like Antwon Echols alot...and currently, my favorite fighter that's still active besides Bernard Hopkins is probably Corey Spinks. That kid is ALL class.

Oh yeah...and I love Chris Byrd too. Wayne McCollough and the late Jessie James Hughes as well...not to mention Jorge Paez.

What a strange mix of fighters, huh?

Dredd

07-27-2005, 06:40 AM

Gatti - heart, and a solid chin, showed that the people in this sport are some of the toughest/most determined in sports today... but on that note,

Mayweather - class act, so fast, and so good,

Tyson - motherfucker was unstoppable in his early years, all his controversy got my attention as well.

EDIT*

Rocky Balboa.

kforcer Master Of The Knightforce

07-27-2005, 07:02 AM

I should throw in Reggie Green, cause I love that guy.

Mr. Liu

07-27-2005, 01:35 PM

Rocky Balboa.

If we're going there then Clubber Lange was my favorite. Best in-ring trash talk EVAR!!!1111

"I got some mo fo ya if ya git up. Come on. I got alotta mo!!!!"

originalsheik

07-27-2005, 04:58 PM

I wouldn't say I idolize many boxers at all, because they're usually arrogant ex-criminals, or generally unpleasant people to begin with. That being said, I like Chris Byrd, Winky Wright, and Diego Corrales a lot.

You know who got be into boxing when I was like 9-10 years old? Michael Carbajal. I could count the number of flyweight fights I've seen since '96 or so on two hands, but when he was fighting I would always try to catch the bouts. I dunno if it was just because I was young, but he always seemed like a really exciting fighter to me.

Mr. Liu

07-27-2005, 06:02 PM

Carbajal was one of my favorites as well. The first ever fight I truly was interested in as a 9 year-old kid was he and Jorge Paez. I still remember like it was yesterday. I remember him being so mechanic and technical. Loved the guy.

elgigante

07-27-2005, 06:37 PM

Carbajal/Ricardo Lopez is one fight i always wished would have happened

originalsheik

07-27-2005, 07:48 PM

Now that's a fight that would have been a great one. I have a feeling that Lopez chin checks Carbajal early, but that Mike comes back and makes it competitive. Speaking of that, I know we talked about this at the other place, but I don't think Lopez was ever down in his career either.

Do y'all remember how much they used to show Carbajal on TV? Seemed like you could count on him three times a year for a while there. I believe he was on the USA network, I can't remember though.

Mr. Liu

07-28-2005, 01:42 AM

Yeah he was all over Boxing Programming back then. But I liked it because he apitomized what you think of Boxing as a youngster, guys like he and Arguello, thin and wiry, fists up, punching very technically and catching people when they leave openings, doing very well against guys who showboat.

Alf

07-28-2005, 02:11 AM

Joe Louis, SRR, Hopkins for his single-mindedness, Harry Greb, Dempsey, MAB to name a few.

Lobo

07-31-2005, 06:08 AM

Haglar - My dad's favorite fighter of all time. I only saw a few of his fights growing up but Haglar was a fuckin beast. Not too many fighters like him anymore.

Chavez - I remember all the family get togethers we had every time Chavez was fighting. Another boxer with and iron will (and iron chin too). This guy was all heart and I loved watching him tear into opponent's bodies. If his son becomes half of the boxer Chavez was he'll have a great career.

Tyson - Unstoppable. He was fuckin unstoppable when I first watched him. I loved watching him fight cuz someone was gonna get ktfo. Then the Buster Douglas beat down followed by the rape conviction and that was the end of it for Tyson.

Alf

08-03-2005, 09:32 PM

.

Tyson - Unstoppable. He was fuckin unstoppable when I first watched him. I loved watching him fight cuz someone was gonna get ktfo. Then the Buster Douglas beat down followed by the rape conviction and that was the end of it for Tyson.
yeah, unstoppable against c-class heavyweights who backed up. They were an important part of the marketing package. although I agree that he could* have been one of the greatest talents ever given his tools and natural ability, alot of people didn't know that he was just learning how to BOX when he unified the title back then. kind of makes you think

Shaolin Bushido

08-04-2005, 01:39 PM

Muhammad Ali, he put excitement, showmanship and drama in boxing while dominating with his speed of hand and foot, he had several major foes in the main portion of his career and he always overcame them unlike our contemporary heroes who often came up short in their big tests.

He was the greatest and may still be.

Hitman

08-05-2005, 08:11 AM

Jung Koo Chang, my favourite boxer of all time.

I was a boxing fan, but never really got into it because of my predominant kick background. A family member showed me some of his fights and I was blown away. He's really the boxer that got me into this sport.

It's funny because even though Harada made the same impact, I was introduced to Gushiken prior to that and it influenced the way I saw things in the olden days.

Good post. It's crazy I have followed boxing for a long long time and never really knew much about Chang until about 5 or 6 years ago. I have to admit that I didn't follow below 112 for a long time and that mostly explains the ignorance with regards to Chang. Great fighter tho.

Hitman

Hitman

08-05-2005, 08:15 AM

The guys that got me into boxing were:

Alexis Arguello, Bob Foster, Hitman Hearns, and Joe Frazier.... yea i know Frazier doesnt seem to fit in the company of tall, lanky fighters but Frazier's fights with Quarry and Ali got me into the sport.... the others fighters had the same build as me so i fashioned my fighting style after them.

Hitman

Anton Chigurh

08-05-2005, 08:37 AM

Sugar Ray Leonard. I watched his fight against Marvelous Marvin as a kid, and his late round fluries were the most amazing things I'd ever seen. The guy's heart is enormous.

Julio Ceasar Chavez. Just blew my mind that a man of such small stature could hit so damn hard. Truly a hard-nosed motherfucker.

Tyson. Anyone who was a young kid when Mike was at his peak probably loved and idolized him as much as I did. The guy was just an animal. Nowadays, we all probably look back and think "What the fuck was I thinking?" Then we crave a Pepsi, then we curse his damn subliminal commercial messages with voice dubbs.

Mr. Liu

08-05-2005, 01:38 PM

Yeah, I remember those.

"What does a 200lb Heavyweight Champion drink after a fight?"

*Deep Burly Voice with Mike moving his lips* "Diet Pepsi."

And the sad truth, had it ACTUALLY been Mike it would have gone:

"What does a 200lb Heavyweight Champion drink after a fight?"

"........Nethleeeth Quick. I...I like the thtrawberry kind cuth...cuth when you finith dwinkin' it thereth two pietheth of candy at the bottom. Thatth ludicrith I don' know how dey do dat."

Sharkey

08-11-2005, 03:59 AM

After watching his one-round blowout of Kenny Norton live on television back in the late 70's, I thought Earnie Shavers was pretty much invincable and he was the first fighter who I'd classify as a favourite of mine.

elgigante

08-11-2005, 04:20 AM

Shavers. Good damn choice Shark. Have some reps

Tam-Tam

08-11-2005, 10:03 AM

Fuck an Earnie Shavers.

Sharkey

08-11-2005, 08:00 PM

Fuck an Earnie Shavers.

While I accurately picture an eleven second knockout of Calvin Brock by Earnie Shavers, can you tell me why I'm unable to log in over at Sherdog?

I tried logging in under all three of my accounts over there, and every time I do it comes back saying that I've put in the wrong username or password...*shrugs*

Tam-Tam

08-11-2005, 08:26 PM

No idea mate. I never log out, force of habit.

I'll bring it up in the booth and see what Meat can tell me.

Tam-Tam

08-11-2005, 09:00 PM

Sharkey

08-11-2005, 09:16 PM

Ah, I see...and patient I will be.

Shaolin Bushido

08-12-2005, 01:01 PM

I couldn't log on yesterday but I assumed it was because I was attempting to from my friend's comp. I was able to, later on from my house.

Shaolin Bushido

08-12-2005, 01:02 PM

Sir Punchalot

08-12-2005, 01:31 PM

I cried that day. :(

Isn't that mainly because you happened to be an infant at the time, though?

Shaolin Bushido

08-12-2005, 02:06 PM

Isn't that mainly because you happened to be an infant at the time, though?
A 5 ft, 80 lb infant.

Shaolin Bushido

08-12-2005, 03:09 PM

Pandy, this might be a more wide spread problem. Apparently a few other guys are having issues as well. So far, its confined to boxing forum regulars though. Should be interesting to see whats (who) is at the bottom of it...
I'm gettin this shit now:

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Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.

An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Sharkey

08-12-2005, 08:27 PM

I cried that day. :(

I think I did too, Dingo, but for entirely different reasons...

My mother wouldn't let me watch it on the colour TV in the living room for whatever reason, and I think I threw a bit of a fit before being forced to watch it on the black & white TV in my parents' bedroom.