Who was the nicest person who ever boxed? I mean outside of the ring who wouldn't kill a fly? The colonel Bob Sheridan was pretty high on Chris Byrd and David Tua calling them the nicest people he's ever met. Then there is Yuri foreman, "thou shalt not hurt each other" I believe his religious background made him soft inside the ring. Not wanting to inflict physical pain onto his opponents, Miguel Cotto knocked him out albeit. And then there was Joe Louis, according to cus D'Amato "he was a gentleman in the streets but on the inside he was pure rage." Corey t rex the heavyweight who fought Tyson (in headgear) was a pretty cool guy, spending his day of the fight swimming in the hotel pool, never too old to have his playground attitude!
You mentioned Joe Louis. And everything I’ve ever heard or read about him aligns with him being a super kind and generous man outside the ring.
I wasn't trying to bad mouth him I just remember hearing that quote from cus. But it's true that cus says a lot of stuff. Sorry for making fun of one of your favorite boxers.
I actually met Chris Byrd in person. I attended a fight card where his Sister Tracy fought Belinda Laracuente and Chris was also in attendance. Was able to chat with him for a minute. Super nice guy. Kelvin Seabrooks would probably be high on the list as well.
I actually like Bob Sheridan, and he signatures himself with the profiles he provides on boxers he has had the opportunity to meet and become familiar with. Never really a bad word to say - I guess he lids any less savoury stuff that he surely must encounter from time to time. Even before Douglas fought Tyson, he more or less said Buster was lazy and lacked discipline - but in the nicest possible way - noting in balance what a highly skilled and talented fighter Buster was and could be. Before the fight, The Col. prophetically mused: “Which Buster is going to turn up tonight?” It didn’t take too long before we found out. Nicest? A few that I know of: Georges Carpentier, Louis, Patterson, Norton, Shavers, Famechon, Jerry Quarry etc. EDIT: I left out Joe Frazier, how could I forget? Shame on me. The nice ones aren’t so rare - we tend to focus on the less well behaved. Then there’s all the fighters who proactively contributed much of their own time and money to the welfare and personal development of OUR children and youth. They walked the walk. Archie Moore being a prime example for one.
On this side of the pond good old Henry Cooper was a true gentleman, Tony Sibson comes across as a very nice fella also.
Oh yeah Cec, can’t forget Henry. Ali liked Henry a LOT. Ali also couldn’t help but comment how well and good Cooper looked over the proceeding years whenever they reconnected. As we know, as an opponent of Ali, you could do a LOT worse so I imagine Coop was more than flattered by Ali’s not so easily handed out compliments.
Joe Louis, he wouldn't hurt a fly away from the ring. I've never met a pro boxer at a decent level that I didn't like although other people may have.
Former boxer and now trainer (of champions) Jimmy Tibbs is typically a well liked man within the boxing community.
Carl Thompson lives near me. He presented the trophies on our boxing club show a couple of times Very unassuming and a very decent bloke. Shout out to all the amateur trainers I met when i boxed in the 70's.The vast majority were really great blokes