Nice guys who were dirty fighters

[fists of fury]

If you mention Evander Holyfield, George Foreman and Frank Bruno, you would not think of them as dirty fighters, but each basically good man showed a darker side to their game.

George foe example, hit Ken Norton after Norton had fallen into the ropes and the ref had gotten between them.
Another incident, whilst not technically dirty, saw him hit Frazier behind the head as Joe made a break for it.
Lastly, a few of his early comeback victims complained of George throwing kidney punches.

Evander's best weapon some say was his head, which he used to great effect in some of his fights. I used to wince sometimes as Holyfield used his noggin like a battering ram. He was also not averse to throwing low blows or elbows, or punching after the bell although these were usually retaliatory in nature. But that head - wow.

Frank Bruno was perpertually fouling in the first Tyson fight, mostly by holding and hitting. Against Pierre Coetzer, Bruno transgressed the rules more often than he obeyed them, using elbows, low blows, holding and hitting and using every dirty tactic in the game to win.

Which other nice guys didn't always abide by the rules?

[Nemesis]

Rocky Marciano, what he did to Cockell, should have disqualified him

[fists of fury]

True. Old Rocky was never shy with a few illegal tactics.

[bagman]

Ricky Hatton

[silverking]

Both Brian London (no angel himself) & Jerry Quarry have been quoted as saying Floyd Patterson was the dirtiest fughter they ever met, and these two between them fought virtually every heavyweight of note from the 50's to the 70's.

[MachineGunMitch]

holy the head butt'r.......

[Minotauro]

Henry Armstrong threw a lot of low blows, headbutts and elbows but from what I've read seems like a decent guy.

[Thread Stealer]

Terry Norris
Felix Trinidad

As with lots of fighters, they were known as pretty nice guys outside the ring. Once they entered the ring, they transformed and their mean streaks came out (as they should have)

[janitor]

Don't forgett that prince among men Tony Galento.

[janitor]

Originally Posted by Erratic Behavior

As with lots of fighters, they were known as pretty nice guys outside the ring. Once they entered the ring, they transformed and their mean streaks came out (as they should have)

The fighters who are gentlemen outside the ring are often the cruelest and most remorsless inside it.

[C. M. Clay II]

Definetely Marciano. using elbows against Louis. Low blowing Cockell and hitting behind the head, also he dis that to Ezzard charles during the knockout combination. He was sloppy and real dirty at times.

[MrSmall]

B-hop.

[Duodenum]

Originally Posted by janitor

The fighters who are gentlemen outside the ring are often the cruelest and most remorsless inside it.

The Manassa Mauler is a classic example in this respect. Jack Dempsey's gravestone epitaph reads, "A GENTLE MAN AND A GENTLEMAN." (That's probably because he got rid of all his viciousness in competition.)

[janitor]

Originally Posted by Duodenum

The Manassa Mauler is a classic example in this respect. Jack Dempsey's gravestone epitaph reads, "A GENTLE MAN AND A GENTLEMAN." (That's probably because he got rid of all his viciousness in competition.)

The most dangerous fighter possible is not an out and out thug. He is doctor Jeckel outside the ring and Mr Hyde inside it. The ring is not part of the real world to him.

This type of fighter will reduce an oponent to a physical wreck as casualy as they will squash a fly.

[Duodenum]

Originally Posted by janitor

The most dangerous fighter possible is not an out and out thug. He is doctor Jeckel outside the ring and Mr Hyde inside it. The ring is not part of the real world to him.

This type of fighter will reduce an oponent to a physical wreck as casualy as they will squash a fly.

And notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy obtain those oppotunities in the first place with their charm and approachability. It's not the strange and creepy ones who are necessarily dangerous, but the ones who put a person at ease enough to let their guard down.