Great Fighters Who Learned To Box in the Armed Forces

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Beatle, Apr 2, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Beatle

    Beatle Sheer Analysis Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2009
    Messages:
    9,270
    Likes Received:
    269
    All I know of is:

    Gene Tunney ("The Fighting Marine")

    Rocky Marciano

    They both became heavyweight champions. Could someone give me some more names of great fighters who started boxing in the armed forces (of any country)?
     
    Beatle, Apr 2, 2013
    #1
  2. ArtOWAR

    ArtOWAR Fartdawg Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2012
    Messages:
    920
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think Carlos Palomino, not sure if he learned there but deff boxed in thee army.
     
    ArtOWAR, Apr 2, 2013
    #2
  3. Axe

    Axe Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    12,013
    Likes Received:
    3
    Kronk Gym's Leeonzer Barber boxed in the army for 3 years. Went on to win the WBO title and defend it 5 times.
     
    Axe, Apr 2, 2013
    #3
  4. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    58,334
    Likes Received:
    13,418
    I believe Kenny Norton did, but I'm not 100% sure. It's been a while since I read his auto. You could call Ken a borderline great, I feel.
     
    Boxed Ears, Apr 2, 2013
    #4
  5. Theron

    Theron Boxing Addict banned

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2012
    Messages:
    6,597
    Likes Received:
    39
    Yeah i was gonna say him i'm pretty sure he did
     
    Theron, Apr 2, 2013
    #5
  6. Leftsmash

    Leftsmash Guest

    Ray Mercer.

    Wasn't Nigel Benn also the MW champ as well as the HW In the armed forces?
     
    Leftsmash, Apr 2, 2013
    #6
  7. Vysotsky

    Vysotsky Boxing Junkie banned

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2009
    Messages:
    12,797
    Likes Received:
    11
    Pretty sure Benn was a WW in the Military.
     
    Vysotsky, Apr 2, 2013
    #7
  8. timeout

    timeout Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2010
    Messages:
    18,718
    Likes Received:
    3,533
    Nigel benn for sure.

    I loved his destruction of the jank hype job g-man..

    His greatest hour.
     
    timeout, Apr 2, 2013
    #8
  9. Champion

    Champion Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,083
    Likes Received:
    14
    Denis Lebedev
     
    Champion, Apr 2, 2013
    #9
  10. Champion

    Champion Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2011
    Messages:
    5,083
    Likes Received:
    14
    Steve Cunningham?
     
    Champion, Apr 2, 2013
    #10
  11. Vysotsky

    Vysotsky Boxing Junkie banned

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2009
    Messages:
    12,797
    Likes Received:
    11
    He was losing the fight and "won" because Gerald had a ****ing aneurysm or whatever it was and its also clear that Gerald came into the fight with these problems. So Benn was getting beat by a brain damaged guy, needed to fight dirty in the process with constant rabbit punching and would have already been stopped in not for the horse**** ref.....What a warrior :nut He also never took a drug test post fight, wouldnt be suprised if he was on roids considering his M.O.
     
    Vysotsky, Apr 2, 2013
    #11
  12. Slothrop

    Slothrop Boxing Junkie banned

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    11,540
    Likes Received:
    2
    The guys over in the classic forum could probably provide you with a list.
     
    Slothrop, Apr 2, 2013
    #12
  13. DoninLouisiana

    DoninLouisiana Boxing Guru Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2010
    Messages:
    293
    Likes Received:
    2
    Ray Mercer definitely, that guy had some power
     
    DoninLouisiana, Apr 2, 2013
    #13
  14. iceferg

    iceferg Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Messages:
    16,459
    Likes Received:
    2,418
    i thought benn was winning that 1 tbh. Gerald just didn't seem to feel any pain in that 1 though until disaster struck. I've never seen anything like it
     
    iceferg, Apr 2, 2013
    #14
  15. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2009
    Messages:
    31,348
    Likes Received:
    7,240
    Wasnt one of Ali's opponents an ex soldier who hated Ali for dodging the draft? Might have been Mac Foster but im not sure

    Wepner was in the military but im not sure if thats where he learned to box
     
    KO KIDD, Apr 2, 2013
    #15
Page 1 of 2