Boxers you have met.

Since i met or knew most of the great 'n near great since the early '40s, if there's anyone in particular you're interesting in, perhaps there's a nugget I recall.

Leaving now. Will be back this evening.

 

In no particular order

JMM - Very polite cordial, an absolute diamond
Morales - Seemed like an ******* but there was obviously a language barrier
Judah - See Morales without the language barrier
Lennox - Very nice bloke who asked me and the lads where we were from
Duran - I was almost in tears with happiness and he gave me a hug, couldn't stop smiling
Hearns - Seemed a bit spaced out and just wanted a beer. Still it's The Hitman
Hatton - Was a year after Pacquiao and he was pissed. Seemed happier to get a photo with my mrs than he did with me
Leonard - Friendly and looked like he fought Hagler last week
Calzaghe - As much as I can't stand him as a fighter, we chatted for 15 minutes and he was very pleasant. Bigged himself up severely.
Berto - Cool as ice. Asking all about the UK.
Rocky Juarez - Asked me who I thought won his first fight with Barrera and we bought each other a beer or two
Muhammad Ali - Met him in 1994. Didn't get much comeback but top three in the best days of my life.
Joe Frazier - Legend. Interviewed him that day also but only had him for 5 mins
Ricky Burns - Dynamite guy, dynamite fighter and one of the most diligent trainers you will ever meet.
Tim Witherspoon - Lovely guy with so much knowledge on the sport, it's frightening. Should be an analyst.

Interviewed Hopkins and Tarver via telephone but never met them

 

If you ever met Arguello i'd love to hear about it.

 

JMM/Rafa
JCC/JR
Montiel
Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Castillo
Mares
Canelo
Canizales
Manuel Gomez
Mijares.

 

What did you tell him??

 

Mike Tyson
Kenny Norton
Michael Buffer
Freddie Roach
Vanes Martirosyan
Gennaro Hernandez
Rich Marrata
Hector Camacho
Vinny Paz
Roy Jones
Al Bernstein
Antonio Tarver
Ray Mancini
Harry Arroyo
Kelly Pavlik
Omar Henry
Shawn Porter
Dannie Williams
Austin Trout
Ernie Jesus Gonzalez
Arturo Gatti
Anthony Henshaw
Mike Lee
Jose Benevidez Jr.
Buster Douglas
Bob Arum
And a lot that I can't recall...

 

Sergio Martinez- Super nice and polite. Signed for tons of fans.

Mickey Ward- Talked for a minute about his career. Very humble.

Chris Arreola- Took a pic with him, but he didn't say much.

Freddie Roach- Talked boxing for almost 15 minutes when I visited Wild Card.

Tim Bradley- Long story, but in short I talked to his trainer Diaz for a few before the Nate Campbell fight and I told him I would like to get a pic and autograph. He spotted me after and took me up to the suite where Bradley and his family were and I got pics of me and the belt. It was way beyond anything I would expect anyone to do for a fan.

Joe Mesi- We discussed what a bad break his injury was and I couldn't feel more sorry for the guy.

Burt Sugar- Hit on my wife,lol.

Devon Alexander- Seemed a bit arrogant, but who knows.

John David Jackson- That guy will talk boxing for hours. Really knowledgable.

Kermit Cintron- His brother Jason was on the card I met him at so we mostly talked about him.

Lots of Detroit fighters and trainers...Hearns, Steward, etc.

 

Changed my avatar to the Bradley pic I was talking about.

 

Mike tyson when he came to the uk, was realy humble and cool!

 

i ran into tyson at the buffet at the Bellagio, i was walking to the bathroom when i spotted him and made eye contact, i gave him a wave and he actually waved me over. he was awesome, talked a little bit about chicago, his upcoming HOF induction and got a great pic with him, extremely friendly, i was in awe the whole time

 

he seems that way, always thought he'd be a fun dude to hang around.

 

Marlon Starling asked me who I thought won b/w him and Curry in the first fight. I just told him I never scored it.

 

I posted this a short while back. Every other fighter I have met was nice but it all seemed like part of the job. Diaz came across as a genuinely decent individual and not putting on an act.

 

When I met Paul Williams he was very nice and fan-friendly.