Who is the greatest person in boxing - Page 4

frankwornank · 12-08-2009, 10:46 AM

Carmen Basilio needs mentioning here. He was an excellent welter and middleweight champ. He was tough as nails and always in great shape. Probably more than any other fighter, he is responsible for The Boxing Hall of Fame coming to fruition. Just an all-around good guy.

junior-soprano · 12-08-2009, 11:27 AM

there is only one answer possible.
Ali. and the reason why is quit simple. to the general people in the world the heavyweights take the most attention. a lot of people just know who's the heavyweight champ nothing more or they just watch the heavyweights.
and there hasn't been a champ like ali not just because of his fights but everything around it. predicting in what round his opponent would go down. the flashy talks, the big mouthing, the funny interviews, everything.
i was born in 71 and i still remember how my father took me out of bed in the late 70ties to watch ali fight on tv late at night.
i think ali turned a lot of people into boxing fans who if it hadn't been for ali never would have become boxing fans.

Bummy Davis · 12-08-2009, 11:34 AM

Joe Louis, Max Schmeling,Gene Tunny and Rocky Marciano had dignity and class and inspired many...Barney Ross, Willie Pep, Camine Basilio, Al" Bummy Davis died for a friend getting held up and George Foreman is a good man

junior-soprano · 12-08-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punchy

Winston Churchill is rated the greatest briton of all time maybe we can say Abe Lincoln was the greatest American, but who do we say is the greatest person in boxing is it Ali for the work he did to further his race, Tunney for his work in the navy and general life, or Jeffries, Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson we here a lot about the assholes in this sport who are the really good guys, always faithfull to their wives, who maybe fought for their country the guys who were really courageous.

P.S. you shouldn't take those polls to seriously. in russia, when they voted for the greatest russian, joe stalin ended up in the top 3. that says something of the intelligence (or lack off it) off the people who particepate in those polls

Seamus · 12-08-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junior-soprano

P.S. you shouldn't take those polls to seriously. in russia, when they voted for the greatest russian, joe stalin ended up in the top 3. that says something of the intelligence (or lack off it) off the people who particepate in those polls

During the Yeltsin run, they had a large nationwide poll that concluded Stalin would beat Boris in an open election. Those people miss the good old days.

As far as greatest person in boxing, Jack Dempsey requires some mention, though what he accomplished had more to do with elevating boxing than society, a la Johnson and Ali.

Floyd Patterson was a hell of an individual from everything I have heard and read.

johnmaff36 · 12-08-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerPuncher

Theres only 2 answers to this thread: Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson by a landslide, they definned boxing for generations and brought it to the mainstream. Any other answer is typical of the anorak trying to be trendy fuckwittery of the Classic forum

IMO, take Tyson out of your post and you hit the nail on the head

CharlieGarbs · 12-08-2009, 02:14 PM

Their can't actually be any arguement here, the answer is simply: Ali. Pre-Ali then perhaps Joe Louis, SRR or Jack Johnson?

sweetsci · 12-08-2009, 06:50 PM

I'll throw Archie Moore's name in. From what I've read and heard he was always a gentleman and carried himself with a lot of dignity. He also was involved with a charity that helped kids, Any Boy Can.

Beeston Brawler · 12-08-2009, 06:57 PM

Evander Holyfield

rekcutnevets · 12-08-2009, 08:13 PM

My apologies, but I believe Jack Johnson should be getting mentioned a little more here.

Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion. That was no easy accomplishment. I live in a white majority, rural area. Johnson's task may be daunting here, even if it were today. I can only imagine his time.

I don't think it is a negative that he didn't just "stay in his place." Johnson shattered the myth that white people are supreme to black people. Johnson also did it with a "fuck you" attitude, and this defiance was needed to deliver the message to his immediate audience. Johnson may have set back a black person's career, or so, with his defiant attitude. Johnson empowered a minority nation with his individualism.

The only real knock I see against Johnson was a supposed abuse of women. If being racist is a forgivable sin for Sullivan and Jeffries, why is being sexist unforgivable for Johnson? Johnson was just a product of his time.

12-08-2009, 10:46 AM	#46
frankwornank Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 257 vCash: 1000	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing Carmen Basilio needs mentioning here. He was an excellent welter and middleweight champ. He was tough as nails and always in great shape. Probably more than any other fighter, he is responsible for The Boxing Hall of Fame coming to fruition. Just an all-around good guy.
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12-08-2009, 11:27 AM	#47
junior-soprano Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: the netherlands Posts: 5,464 vCash: 1000	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing there is only one answer possible. Ali. and the reason why is quit simple. to the general people in the world the heavyweights take the most attention. a lot of people just know who's the heavyweight champ nothing more or they just watch the heavyweights. and there hasn't been a champ like ali not just because of his fights but everything around it. predicting in what round his opponent would go down. the flashy talks, the big mouthing, the funny interviews, everything. i was born in 71 and i still remember how my father took me out of bed in the late 70ties to watch ali fight on tv late at night. i think ali turned a lot of people into boxing fans who if it hadn't been for ali never would have become boxing fans.
Top

12-08-2009, 11:34 AM	#48
Bummy Davis Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New York Posts: 8,186 vCash: 1000	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing Joe Louis, Max Schmeling,Gene Tunny and Rocky Marciano had dignity and class and inspired many...Barney Ross, Willie Pep, Camine Basilio, Al" Bummy Davis died for a friend getting held up and George Foreman is a good man
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12-08-2009, 02:14 PM	#52
CharlieGarbs Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Croydon Posts: 3,159 vCash: 75	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing Their can't actually be any arguement here, the answer is simply: Ali. Pre-Ali then perhaps Joe Louis, SRR or Jack Johnson?
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12-08-2009, 06:50 PM	#53
sweetsci Journeyman ESB Jr Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 136 vCash: 1000	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing I'll throw Archie Moore's name in. From what I've read and heard he was always a gentleman and carried himself with a lot of dignity. He also was involved with a charity that helped kids, Any Boy Can.
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12-08-2009, 06:57 PM	#54
Beeston Brawler Comical Ali-egedly East Side VIP Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: trying to increase my overdraft.... Posts: 35,247 vCash: 75	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing Evander Holyfield
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12-08-2009, 08:13 PM	#55
rekcutnevets Black Sash East Side Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: InYourMouth, NC Posts: 6,544 vCash: 1000	Re: Who is the greatest person in boxing My apologies, but I believe Jack Johnson should be getting mentioned a little more here. Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion. That was no easy accomplishment. I live in a white majority, rural area. Johnson's task may be daunting here, even if it were today. I can only imagine his time. I don't think it is a negative that he didn't just "stay in his place." Johnson shattered the myth that white people are supreme to black people. Johnson also did it with a "fuck you" attitude, and this defiance was needed to deliver the message to his immediate audience. Johnson may have set back a black person's career, or so, with his defiant attitude. Johnson empowered a minority nation with his individualism. The only real knock I see against Johnson was a supposed abuse of women. If being racist is a forgivable sin for Sullivan and Jeffries, why is being sexist unforgivable for Johnson? Johnson was just a product of his time.
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