Which boxers were close friends but had to fight each other in the ring?

Brown-Blocker

 

Kusuo Eguchi and Katsuaki Eguchi were literally brothers, yet they were both willing to beat the crap out of each other for the Japanese title. There wasn't any animosity between them either, with Kusuo crying after winning. But look at the fight without any context and you'd swear there was some vendetta there. Absolutely mental.

 

I don’t know if it qualifies but it seems Dempsey and Miske were on good terms and Jack’s granting of a title shot might’ve been an act of charity in terms of the money Billy got paid.

It also seems that Dempsey didn’t want to protract Miske’s suffering and put him out as soon as it was possible.

 

I don’t think Larry Holmes and Scott LeDoux were friends, but the story around LeDoux’s title shot apparently is that his wife was battling cancer and they had a child on seizure medication. The purse enabled her to have, iirc, two operations that extender her life.

Larry and Gerry Cooney weren’t friends when they fought, but out of that battle came a lifelong friendship. They do a lot of charity events together and always call the other one when they are invited to do one. Their bond seems very real and mutual.

 

Chavez - Ramirez.

 

That’s an excellent, alternate perspective to come in on the subject.

I didn’t know that about LeDoux’s wife and child - some people get dealt awful hands - including Scott - it really settles you up when griping about your own, more trivial matters.

It’s an interesting phenom that some of the strongest, tightest friendships being borne out of initial conflict and animosity. I’ve seen that go down a lot in real day to day life.

 

Brewster-Meehan from recent times.

 

Muhammad Ali - Jimmy Ellis
Albert Davila - Alberto Sandoval
Oscar DeLaHoya - Fernando Vargas (just kidding with that one)

 

Can’t recall exact details but I’m pretty sure Daniel Jacobs and Peter Quillin were friends or their kids were friends.

 

Of course, Ali v Ellis. Excellent shout. Lol at ODH vs Vargas. Good one.

 

It seems Jack Johnson was pretty good mates with both Al Kaufman and Stanley Ketchel but it didn’t stop Jack busting them up pretty bad in his fights against them.

Jack also claimed to have had a friendship with Joe since their first fight - but then Jack apparently wasn’t friendly enough to give Joe at shot at his title.

Shortly into the video linked below you will see a rare, less often seen, full length version of Jacks famous war bond rally spar with Joe Jeanette.

[url]https://sep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-13159482790260_2272_5955545[/url]

 

Winky Wright and Ike Quartey. They were training partners in Europe for years and Winky more or less starting fighting like Ike and having success after starting his career as more of a mover. Winky became a star and got Ike one final payday on his way out.

 

Chris Byrd vs Jameel McCline

 

I don't know about close friends but ODLH knew Shane Mosley since they were kids, I think they knew each others families aswell growing up in LA together. They always seemed pretty friendly towards eachother.