My best friend’s father actually hung out with Joe Louis. He said Louis was mean as hell and you had to be careful what you said around him. On the other hand, he said Ray Robinson was fun to be around.
Jimmy Tibbs is a legend and a nice guy but he was also a bit of a gangster back in the day in east London, the tibbs family came after the krays, I wouldn’t say he’d quite qualify for this but still a cool guy
Yes, sir, Leo is as nice as a person can be. I've met him on several occasions. I knew Eddie Cotton pretty well and he was gentle outside the ring, too. Larry Buck as well.
Carmen Basilo would beg to differ about Sugar Ray Robinson Also a young Cassius Clay after winning a Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympic games approached Robinson who spurned him.
Just relaying the first hand opinion of someone who knew both Robinson and Louis. Someone else may have had different experiences.
I've also heard differing opinions about both boxers. I heard Joe Louis was difficult during his paranoia phase and Sugar Ray Robinson could also be quite congenial with journalists.
My friend’s father was one of the head numbers guys in Detroit back in the day and somewhat of a gangster so I don’t take his word lightly. He had also met Jack Johnson.