Fighters You Can't Imagine The World Without..?

Ali
Fabulous 4
Pep
SRR
... enough for now, other members should be given a chance to write something

 

Oscar De La Hoya................He changed the game as far as the boxer to promoter pipeline. That has affected damn near every boxer's life and career.

 

Roberto Duran
Alexis Arguello
Julio Cesar Chavez
Mike Tyson
Felix Trinidad
Manny Pacquiao

Honestly, there's so many fighters that have helped make boxing a great and popular sport.

 

Too many to name. My personal universe of boxing?

George Foreman
Sandy Saddler
Archie Moore
Primo Carnera
Nicolino Locche
Jersey Joe Walcott
Ken Norton
Marvin Hagler
Jose Napoles
Ron Lyle

.. with an occasional supernova of greatness illuminating the pages of history just when I thought I know **** about boxing.

 

Johnson (first African-American HW champion)
Dempsey
Louis
Marciano
Liston
Ali
Frazier
Foreman
Fab 4
Tyson
Holyfield
Chavez
Mayweather (atleast in the modern age where boxing is at an all-time low)
Pacquiao (same reasons as Floyd)

 

When they’re alive, in your time, there are many Great fighters whose eventual passing will of course, one day happen but it’s still hard to imagine nonetheless.

Marvin Hagler’s passing was one of the more shocking and surreal, especially when you contrast his sudden death to the powerful, perfectly conditioned fighter he was in the ring.

He appeared to have the type of constitution and will to gone on forever…figuratively speaking.

Since Marv was relatively out of the limelight for some years prior to his passing - that fact seems to lend itself to sometimes, almost “forgetting” that he is no longer with us.

George Chuvalo is ailing with dementia, though still pushing forward, now aged 86 - despite understanding the inevitable, it will still be shocking to hear of George’s departure - especially since he was guy who essentially couldn’t be hurt in the ring and who lived for many years post career in excellent shape and perfectly cognisant - seemingly totally unaffected despite the heavy punishment he took.

Im historical terms, as to imagining the sport of boxing NEVER having certain ATG fighters, again, there are many to choose from.. The sport simply wouldn’t have progressed as it did without their contributions and influence. In that regard, Jack Johnson is one of the true standouts for me.

 

I can't imagine the Heavyweight scene from the mid-80s to early 90s without Tyson. He cleaned out the division, brought a lot of excitement that was lacking around that time, and was easily the sport's biggest attraction. Remove Tyson from the 1985-92 Heavyweight picture, and there's an enormous void that nobody else could really fill. The guy truly had that "it" factor going for him in addition to being a damn good fighter. Maybe I'm overlooking somebody, but I don't recall any fighter since who's received anywhere near as much media attention in and out of the ring (the whole Robin Givens situation, among other things) as Mike. He's easily the best example since I've been following the sport.

 

Butterbean.

He showed the world that you don't need extensive amateur experience. You don't need a management team carefully picking each opponent. There is a lucrative niche for a boxer who entertains in the ring, and usually wins, even though you know he's never going near any kind of title.

Jarell Miller should have done the same thing, but decided to dope himself to the eyeballs and take his chances.

 

Joe Louis.
Besides being either the best or second best HW of all time, he was a truly humble man, almost shy in a way, it couldn't have been easy to be the first prominent heavyweight since Jack Johnson, as it turned he was the antithesis of the flamboyant and antagonising champ, the way he would walk over to his fallen opponent, and help his corner men lift him to his feet, no shouting, no showboating, no insults, he didn't need or want all that nonsense, he was a titan amongst the heavyweight champs before and after, as was said of by Jimmy Cannon " he is a credit to his race, the human race " sounds about right.
stay safe guys.

 

Joe Louis…is probably the most important Black Athlete in history….there is no Jackie Robinson without him ….there is no Michael Jordan …No Muhammad Ali

 

John The Quiet Man Ruiz.

 

I want them all back! Our Heroes! Our Warriors! Our Knights! I sincerely hope to see them all again one great day!

 

There should be a law against liking Johnny Ruiz. And his manager.