why did boxers like to change there names years ago?

I don't know if its true, but I have often heard that fighters of various ethnic backgrounds changed their names during the early 20th century for political reasons. For example, I have heard that many Jewish fighters often took the names of Irish or Italians, to better their chances at getting big fights.

I have no sources to back this up though....It's basically all heresay.

 

three of the greatest of all-time changed their names, so it must have been widespread:

Sugar Ray Robinson (aka Walker Smith) filled in for some guy called Ray Robinson on a card, and then just stuck with the name.

Ali (aka Cassius Clay) changed for political/religious reasons.

Henry Armstrong (aka Melody Jackson) changed his for....whatever reason (maybe someone can enlighten me)




Also Joe Louis' family name was pronounced softly at the end (unlike the harder ending of Lewis which was formally adopted), but I expect everyone knows that one.



Also, Magoo is right in that many fighters changed their names over religion. An example is Ted "Kid" Lewis who was born Gershon Mendeloff.

 

A lot of the Italian fighters like Sammy Mandell,Johnny Dundee,Tippy Larkin,Lou Ambers,Changed there names to more American names, others because they were too young and needed somone elses ID that was older..Jewish fighters for the same reason Benny Leonard and Barney Ross for example...Ray Robinson was too young and needed an older guys ID, Archie Moore also....Marciano shortened his but it was still long...Bummy Davis 's real name was Abraham "Avroomy" Davidoff but Avoomi to Boomy to Bummy and Davis sounded more anglo

 

Sometimes "marketing" had something to do with it.

Gotta fit your name on the poster.

1 to 3 syllalbles.....check the Presidential candidates over the years.

Plus, you don't want to sound like a whimp either.

 

I think back in the day, a generic sounding name helped, so they had too do it, would make you more marketable and generally acceptable to the public. Black guys obviously did not have that option, in that context. So that obviously had something to do with it.

Also had to do with hiding their identities and past.

It's reality not the current PC world we live in

I think allot of people don't know, or want to admit is that at least through the 60 's and a good part of the 70's. Ethnicity was a factor.

 

...frank sinatra's father was, of course ,italian american, but he had few fights and used the name marty o'brien because he was mostly a club fighter and his area was largely irish-american.

 

Its not hearsay its fact,several Italian fighters took on names like Dundee,or shortened "Americanized 2versions of their real names,some boxers if they had any Jewish blood played that up big to get the huge Jewish fanbase behind them.Even trainers have done it ,eg Angelo Dundee, whose real name is MIrenda.

 

Some like Benny Leonard changed their names to stop their mums finding out they were boxing

 

Ketchel changed his name so it'd sound less ethnic and be easier to pronounce.

 

They still do..I know a few pros that go by different names..Sometimes making a name is just more catchy

 

90% of it was to make fighters more marketable.

It is a lot easier to sell Rocky Marciano than Rocco Marchigenio.

Battling Levinsky had a notably unexciting style so he picked the name "Battling" to make himself sound more exciting.

If Wladamir Klitschko had fought in the 1920s he would almost certainly have been forced to adopt an english name. He could have been Young Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes II or Fighting John Smith.

 

No, he'd be Frankenstein's Monster The Younger