Thanks for all that...but, before this gets into a debate, why not keep the good vibe going and give your favorite heavyweight. Thanks
Ali for me. An Ali fight was such an event for my Dad and me that that's a slam-dunk. But a couple of more that I always enjoyed watching and following was Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry. Guilty pleasures.
JLP...well said...this thread is about YOUR favourite..and why.. Not crabbing other peoples choices....
Unfortunately, it had to be said. I hope he is cool with that. I loved your piece on Tyrell Biggs. Good stuff.
I have to appologize. I did not realize that you had given you personal favorites. Thank for that. No hard feelings. I am sure you see where I am coming from.
I gave him Jack Dempsey, a draft dodger, and a champ who didn't defend against his number one contender Harry Wills . Difference being I'm not on here saying he was something he wasn't. My glasses are varifocal ,not rose coloured.
Not crabbing his choice ,I watched Frazier come up from the Olympics a terrific fighter loved to watch him. I'm saying some of the superlatives that were linked to him in that thread are highly suspect, not to say inaccurate. Everybody is entitled to their own choice, and Frazier is as valid as any.:good If there is any thing in my post that is untrue, I trust one of the Frazier supporters will point it out?
Smokin" Joe. I was 12 in 1971 when FOTC happened and I was just getting into boxing at the time. That fight put me over the top and I have been a huge boxing fan ever since. Joe was the man!
Joe Louis would be my favorite heavyweight among the greats. Among those who weren't that great--Bob Satterfield is always fun to watch on film. Okay, I admit I like punchers over the jab and grab specialists.
Mine too. It also helps that I was a fairly young dude when he was prime so maybe its also a generational thing. But he always showed up to fight. Wasn't big on theatrics or rhetoric. He was always in shape, didn't say much, and when the bell rang he was all business.
As a fighter, Holyfield would be my worst nightmare :good Unknockoutable and you know hes going to be there in your face all night long.
Although ive already put my number 1 on...i am gonna give a mention for Henry Cooper.The first sports book i remember reading as a kid was his autobiography...a modest man who invested his earnings in a greengrocers shop ! A real gent who fought regularly as is an interesting lesson for modern day fighters in that it wasnt all about unbeaten records,Henry fought often with wins and defeats but his competetive spirit kept his popularity even after defeats. I believe he was an excellent British and European level fighter who came up short at world level...yet cuts aside gave Ali plenty of problems..in fact during Ali's first reign did anybody else trouble him as much as Cooper ? In later life he was still in great shape but lost his wife and his health and spirits failed and he soon followed. Seemed a great bloke.
Haha, I can't remember if it was FOTC or Manilla when the commentator said "Oh my, Frazier lands a huge right hand on Ali. I thought that wasn't even possible. It seems like Joe can't even tie his shoe with right hand." Joe was the man :good