Fighters whose skills/style you admire but whose persona you dislike, and vice-versa?

Bob Foster was similar to Monzon..I loved Foster, but he was like a killer as well..commenting on an occasion that when he knocked a guy cold, he didn't care if they EVER got up.

 

Disrespectful and needlessly unpleasant ones (e.g. Ali), or just ones with no class (e.g. Zab Judah). What is nice is that 99% of the time they get their comeuppance after retirement.

 

For all the people who hate duran and don't understand why people love him, i recommend you this sentimental little documentary, or to read "manos de piedra"... i think in his own way he was a real hero to his country, he's their hercules
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AWzmLWKFJw[/ame]

 

Good vid, never knew Dejesus died of AIDS

 

Yeah, I have this on DVD. Great little documentary. Shame about DeJesus.

 

Floyd for me too, but not because he's arrogant or anything, but because he's a boring *******. I know that sounds harsh but ****inghell, such a boring twat, i remember when he went into wrestling, I though to myself **** it I'm too old for wrestling but i'll watch this because it should be funny, he stunk the place out, I couldn't even watch it, no charisma at all. So that's not a 'dislike', but more of a 'not like' in terms of his persona.

 

Alli was funny and one of a kind you always sensed a smirk when he trash talked.. He was likeable i dont see how people would find him as unlikeable.

Floyd on the other hand sounds like anidiot when he trash talks and isnt funny.

SOme guys have that charisma to get away with it.. I dont like Vic darchinyans talk nothing likeable or funny.
Hector Camacho was likeable and a funny guy but later in his career his safety first style made for some dissapointing fights.

 

Duran usually "pussied out" when the going got tough? It's like his second fight with Leonard is the only one people watch. What about his fights with Simms, Hagler, DeJesus, first fight with Leonard, first fight with Pazienza, or the Barkley fight?

Anyways, here's a few on my list:

Robinson- beautiful style to watch but a horrible person
Mayweather- love watching him fight but it seems like he talks now more than he takes challenges. I think he'll calm down with age but lets see.

 

I deliberatley wrote "persona" in the thread title, as to not confuse it with the fighter's whole personality. Many of those who come off as ****s are probably great persons in private, and vice versa.

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr
Edwin Valero

 

Hagler. Love to watch this guy fight, but didn't care for his constant bitching about lack of respect.

 

Yeah it's a tragedy for sure.Didnt know him and Duran were buddies either. There's a whole series of these on YT. Armstrong, Ray Leonard, Benny Leonard, worth a watch IMO.

BTW I don't understand the Duran-Leonard hate stuff. It's obvious that they were both complex people and not always consistent in their behavior. Duran was a street fight picking, partying, monster in the ring.. but out of it he had a kind, charitable side as well as his loud, violent normal persona. He lent oodles and oodles of his cash out. He works in a community center now and clearly loves children. An interesting figure for sure, and I don't think a lot of people know how kind he could be.

Leonard on the other hand is a lot like Oscar De La Hoya. Smiles, looks good, says all the right things. But there's another side to him as well. Underneath all that pretty boy swag there's a killer, a guy who enjoys blood and dominating in competition, just like young Oscar. He clearly struggled with some demons in regards to drugs and abuse in his household with his wife... But what fighter doesn't have some skeletons in his closet?

What I'm trying to say is that this back and forth dialogue and character assassinating of both of these guys is usually pretty incomplete..Both guys are shades of grey, not black and white. Well, Leonard is black actually, but i digress.

 

Fascinating vid on Duran Swarmer..thanks.

 

So your saying anytime a fighter insults another fighter he deserves a punch in the face.

I don't think that, Barrera shouldn't have lashed out like that. Even if the two guys hate each other they should restrain there selves.

 

Yeah, that was why I opted for "persona" in the thread question instead of "personality", since we in most cases know very little or nothing about the fighters as private persons.