Salt Lake City Middleweight Ron Amundsen, the Stormin' Mormon. it was even improved when a printer somewhere left out the second M in Mormon !
That fighter from Crete dropped his nickname when the same printer missed an all too vital A out, as well!
London Evening Post - July 15-17, 1777 (page 4) Yesterday a pitched battled was fought at Barnet, between the noted Death, and one Allen, a butcher, in Clare-market, for twenty guineas each side; when, after a contest of near fifteen minutes, victory was given in favour of the former.
Iran 'The Blade' Barkley has always been a favorite of mine. I think a nickname works anytime the nickname becomes more famous than the guy's real name. For example not many people have heard of James Smith, but even the casual of casuals knows 'Bonecrusher' Smith.