Who are your favorite role models in boxing, not particularly your favorite boxers?

I'm not sure about role models, but from what I've read about Barney Ross, he seemed like a decent person and a man I'd admire.

Unlike a lot of famous boxers, who took ceremonial roles during WWII, he insisted on being on the front line like the other soldiers, or specifically in his case, the other marines.

Apparently one night, he and 3 other marines, all wounded, were under fire from a dozen Japanese soldiers. He was the only 1 well enough to fight and held the enemy off all night. In the morning only one of his comrades, who outweighed Ross by c.90 lbs, had survived. Ross carried the man to safety and was awarded the Silver star.

He ended up addicted to the pain killers he was given for his injuries and managed to beat that addiction, post war too.

Having the discipline necessary to achieve a boxing legacy sufficient that he can reasonably be ranked as a top 15 ATG, some 85 years after he retired, isn't bad going either.

 

Great summation on Ross and he was definitely a man to admire. It's difficult to imagine anything more courageous than Ross' actions in the war scenario you described - and as you said, he quite likely could've easily side stepped being in the thick of the action.

 

Michael Watson for me he's a inspirational man.

 

Oddly a fighter I don’t like. Larry Holmes. Guy stay married to the same woman. Invested his money right. Doesn’t bother anyone or do crazy things for attention.

And of course Floyd Patterson….how can anyone not like him.

 

Floyd Patterson is a good shout for most likeable high profile boxer.

Not as high profile and more current, but Anthony Crolla is also a thoroughly nice bloke.

 

Muhammad Ali
Lennox Lewis
Floyd Patterson

 

From what I know so far, I think someone could do worse than have Oleksandr Usyk as a role model. Among active fighters, I would suggest Oleksandr.

 

Not really a role model and I'm not about to excuse any of the bad things he's done but I do think Mike Tyson is an example of how someone can grow as a person as they age, he doesn't even seem like the same guy. I really respect guys like Hopkins and Lyle who did hard time and still had the determination to make something of their lives. I'm not overly proud of the younger version of my self, so I get inspiration seeing people who have matured.

 

as a person, I don't like Tyson, but on the same hand it is nice to see a sort of 'redemption' of a fighter... we don't get that all too often unfortunately.

 

Gotta be Archie Moore for me.

Dedicated his life after boxing (actually starting when he was active I’m pretty sure) to working with wayward youth and started his ABC (Any Boy Can) charity/boys club outreach in the San Diego area.

I don’t think there’s anything about Archie to not like and the kind of person anyone should want to emulate.

 

Joe Louis.

It turns out that he was a deeply flawed individual, but that is not the point.

He came along at a time when America desperately needed a black heavyweight, who was a positive rope model, and he took up that mantle.

On top of that, his conduct as champion, was consistent with that image.

That made a big difference!

 

I have gotten to see and know a lot more about Joe Frazier since the advent of YouTube. In terms of due attention being afforded to Joe's opinions and values, he always had to play second fiddle to you know who.

Given all the varied clips I've now been availed of, including pressers, interviews, what have you - I came to appreciate just how solid a guy Joe Frazier really was. 100% confident yes, and why not?

He simply wasn't bombastic or necessarily crying for attention. Joe kept it real and consistently so and he was no dummy. If I had to nominate a boxer I would more likely trust than most, or even the rest, it would be Frazier.

 

If you have Ali as a role model you belong on a list.

 

Everything I read about Charley Burley makes me think he belongs.