A lot can happen both inside of the ropes and out and I think it's hard to name another sport that is so willing to dish out second chances. Boxing is a sport where many people, perhaps in some cases undeservedly, are given a second crack at the whip. Conversely, many people can also make positive changes with the second chance that boxing can present them that, perhaps, other sports wouldn't be so willing to give them. Rightly or wrongly, the people given second chances in this sport can go on to make a lot of money and gain a lot of fame in the sport we all love. The Good: People whose live's are going nowhere see a way to make a change for the better. These people become students of the hurt game and go on to become rounded individuals and develop peace within themselves using boxing as a way to escape from whatever past they do not wish to return to. The Bad: Money-grabbing leeches and corrupt, ulterior dealings are pervasive in the sport and even if you have had brush-ins with the law in the past, boxing is still an avenue for you to make money and the 'politricks' side of the business will be all to happy to greet you with open arms. The Ugly: Convicted rapists, women beaters, murderers and cheats still make money out of the sport and are all too willing to cash in on the second chances that boxing presents them. Can you name some good examples of second chances in boxing from all different sides of the spectrum?:think
This isn't a high profile one, but it's fresh in my memory as i seen this on the front page the other day. Amir Mansour is 9-0 (7 KO's) but hasn't fought since 2001, when he was jailed for drug dealing (not for the first time). He's spent 6 years in jail learning how to fight with Calvin Davis and is making a comeback tonight. http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=24830&more=1
Tony Ayala (Ugly), Mike Tyson (Mix of all 3, but IMHO predominantly good), Chris Eubank (Good). And one that always springs to my mind for various reasons: Paul Sykes (Bad and Ugly, although he always thought of himself as the good guy)
Good- Ron Lyle (seeing as i've just ordered his book) Kassim Ouma (former child soldier for Ugandan rebels) Edison Miranda (really tough childhood) Bad- The whole hip-hop underworld which more and more young fighters are worryingly getting rapped into (no pun intended) Ugly- That scumbag Panama Lewis and the ultimate one has to be Don King who's probabily done more damage to the sport over the years then anyone. I'll need to give it more thought, this great sport is littered with feel good stories as well as unsavoury characters though. Great thread and opening post btw Losfer. :good
Where would Mayorga fit in? It's safe to say his life was probably going nowhere, but he's not really a student of the game nor is he a rounded individual.
Some great examples thus far. I expected a few of the ones mentioned so far, but I didn't want to load the thread with my own examples because then people only discuss what you have brought up. Didn't know that. He's been through the ringer good and proper then. Fair play to him. I suppose he could be put in with 'good' as well due to his tough upbringing and the success he's achieved as an adult; although his achievements may all now be seen as illegitimate successes and his record will forever be sullied after the handwrap controversy. Go where you want with it. As other posters have pointed out, some people are a mixture of two or, in some cases, all three. We don't have to get hung up in the world of semantics and nitpicking.
Maybe just an misunderstanding (on my part). I didn't mean to be nitpicky where your categories are concerned. I was just saying, Mayorga is a guy who could even find himself dead but for boxing.:good
Michael Gomez Spent his childhood in and out of adoption homes, got charged with murder, was stabbed himself and his heart stopped on the operating table and had his struggles with alcoholism. Done remarkably well to accomplish what he did in the ring.
Indeed. His story is a good example that has elements that definately fall in more than one of the categories. Outside of the ropes, Unca Rogah and 'Joy' are two criminals, but they are worshipped as masters of the art of coaching when in the corners of various fighters; definately a mixture of the good, bad and ugly right there. Any more examples? Come on, people, this is more interesting than another Haye thread:good.
'The Good: People whose live's are going nowhere see a way to make a change for the better. These people become students of the hurt game and go on to become rounded individuals and develop peace within themselves using boxing as a way to escape from whatever past they do not wish to return to. The Bad: Money-grabbing leeches and corrupt, ulterior dealings are pervasive in the sport and even if you have had brush-ins with the law in the past, boxing is still an avenue for you to make money and the 'politricks' side of the business will be all to happy to greet you with open arms. The Ugly: Convicted rapists, women beaters, murderers and cheats still make money out of the sport and are all too willing to cash in on the second chances that boxing presents them.' Mcguipa, how can you say Mike Tyson is a mix of all three when the OP's definition of 'Good' is the polar opposite of his definitions of 'Bad' and 'Ugly' .. If you think Mike Tyson represents a 'rounded individual who is at peace with himself' then you're obviously a die hard Tyson fan who wasnt around when he dragged Boxing through the dirt for a decade .. Tyson's mythological status is astounding to me, his endlessly self serving, victim mask, covers a narcissistic, ultra manipulative 'street' side and his apologists will forgive him anything .. If Tyson were to shoot a million people with an Uzi, his fans would come out with that old chestnut (that i never get tired of hearing, honest!) - 'If Cus hadnt have died and if he'd still been in touch with Kevin Rooney he would have been a saint, but instead he got mixed up with Don King, Robin Givens and Desiree Washington, these people made poor Mike the way he was, its all their faults !!' .... Boxing is great for giving people second chances, Hopkins is another great example of the positive side of the fight game .. But Tyson was given plenty of chances, and instead of learning from his mistakes, he just went right ahead and did whatever he wanted, thinking that he was untouchable, or blaming society and his upbringing for every scrape he ever got into .. Plenty of people have hard, unforgiving upbringings were just surviving each day is a triumph, but they dont turn out like Tyson .. It was such a great day when a true warrior like Holyfield finally broke Tyson .. Tyson could have been an inspiration, instead he wanted to prove he was 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' and he fell in love with that image - Thats the difference between a man like Tyson and a man like Ali ..