Every so often we see this archetype: The boxer who grew up doing the sport and still does it because it’s lucrative, but doesn’t enjoy it at all. Or maybe enjoyed it early in his career but grew to dearest it later. Can anyone think of fighters of whom this is true. Couple examples: I feel like I remember reading that Jess Willard really hated hurting people and didn’t enjoy boxing much. I remember Mike Tyson by the end of his career saying he just didn’t enjoy boxing anymore.
When Tyson was at the end of his career he hated everything, the guy was having lots of issues. Earlier in his career you could see him doing commentary on Julio Cesar Chavez fights and talking about Gerald McClellan and Julian Jackson. He also had admiration for fighters like Duran, Dempsey, Leonard, Ali, Johnson, Patterson, etc...and recently you can see him ringside watching fights.
Emile Griffith hated his profession, especially after the Benny Paret tragedy. He didn't like it so much even before then...he was coaxed into being a fighter by Howie Albert and Gil Clancy. This goes a long way to explain EG's rather tepid, detached decision winning ways post Paret.
Even though Marciano was such a dedicated and disciplined boxer, I heard that he said he didnt like boxing.
"...who grew up doing the sport and still does it because it’s lucrative, but doesn’t enjoy it at all." None other than Ray Robinson said exactly that in an interview once. If anyone doesn't believe me I'll see if I can dig it up.
Oh I believe it...I've read this before, including in Ray's autobiography....and I think it's incredible...like Vladimir Horowitz hating the piano or something.
I would say 99% of guys don’t actually enjoy the fighting unless it’s a dream night and totally goes their way, which doesn’t happen much at championship level. Most fighters until they fall out of love with the sport, love the training, the overall lifestyle, the self confidence and belief it brings and of course once you climb the tree the celebritity that comes with it. I think it’s the challenge the fight presents that most guys love. The fight is more like a heavy duty test your not gonna enjoy, but gotta do and you want and need to do to test yourself, your’re elated once you’ve done it, but love the act? I’m not so sure. I think it’s a very small % who actually ENJOY a tough fight while they are in one.
Leo Randolph. 1976 gold medalist and briefly WBA SBW champion. In interviews back then, he said he didn't like fighting, so it was no surprise that he retired so young.