Rivals > Friends

In 1891 Sullivan said that he would rather whip Mitchell than any other man in the world.

If they later reconciled, then I am not aware of it!

They died within two months of each other.

 

This article from the Eagle in 1927 implies that they reconciled, but does not say it explicitly:

https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/58333454/?terms=sullivan+mitchell

 

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...y+mitchell+sullivan+Charley+mitchell+sullivan

This claims they became friends after thier battle in Chantilly. Goes a bit against what I've heard about it.

 

Yeah I'm sure Ward and Gatti became very good friends. Ward was very upset about his death and believed people were involved saying the Gatti he knew would never quit.

 

I wouldn't bother saying it is under the surface, Rob. And rightly not. Eubank is so massively dislikeable and irritating. Only Hamed, out of recent Brits, can match him for being a c0ckwomble.

 

Ready? He sent an intermediary & Frazier told the dude to send Ali in person if he wanted to apologize. Instead, Ali sent a message like tell Joe Frazier he is still ugly.

After all the vicious personal attacks, that even had Frazier's kids attacked in schools, & taking advantage of terrible anti-black sterotypes against Frazier-when Frazier was far more blue color & of the streets-
It would have been nice if Frazier forgave, but Ali never publicly or privately atoned.
He had decades to do so, including before he may have been too addled to do so.
Frazier was intermittently friendly & hostile.
Ali was in denial saying it was all about promotion; at the very least he did not CARE if his malice to Frazier was hurtful & socially irresponsible.

While Fraizer interceded at the highest levels (Nixon) to try & get Ali licensed again.
And readily gave (lent I believe) Ali money when the exile had him in hard times.

What Ali did for years was nothing less than a personal betrayal.

 

Chris Byrd and Jameel McCline.

 

Hong Soo hwan and Hector Corrasquilla fought in one of the most memorable 3 round wars ever and true mutual respect years later.

 

Weren't they brothers-in-law?

 

I don't think so, I think Byrd and Lamon Brewster are second cousins.

 

Foreman and Holmes were around the same age but never fought either during the 70s or when both were geriatrics but I always got the feeling that they didn’t like each other. Could have been a great rivalry.

 

One of the most touching stories in boxing ever was when Roberto Duran visited his trilogy rival Esteban DeJesus on his deathbed.

DeJesus was dying of complications from AIDS. At a time when very little was known about the disease and there were very real fears that it could be easily spread through contact (not sure what the medical community knew but the public fear of such things was common), Duran hugged his old rival and kissed him, and had his daughter do the same.

An animal in the ring, Duran had a heart. And his actions showed the ultimate respect.

 

I guess after you retire, you find out it is all over, the rivalry is all finished, you realise you had more in common than you first thought.

 

Gene Fullmer stated: "Carmen (Basilio) and I were pretty rough on each other in the ring in our 2 fights, but both of us hated Robinson".

 

Wonder how the Z-Boys feel about each other....and if the Dad & Manager ever made amends after duking it out "post-fight".