Boxers who were national heroes

Folllowing your theme, Pat, one could argue the Klitschkos in Germany too, perhaps?

 

Cerdan

Johnny Ralph
Kid Gavilan
Dave Sands
Bobo Olsen

 

Adilson Rodrigues, the "Maguila", in Brazil.

 

Antonio Cervantes, Colombia's first world champion. They were used to getting close, but never making it to the top. He changed that!

The italians seemed to have taken a liking to Sumbu Kalambay.

 

Most famous boxer ever here, fun to watch and funny to hear, nowhere near a national hero though. Regular brazilians (non boxing people) always kinda mocked him...

 

He was very famous, and still kinda is. Not a hero though. He is bigger in Bahia, his state and became a politician there.
Eder, in his day, was much bigger nationwide....the only brazilian national hero in sports though is Ayrton Senna, no one else. No, not even Pelé.

Today Popó is bigger than Eder of course, basically the only people that know who Eder was are boxing fans and people that were around in the 60s and 70s. My grandmother loved Eder.

 

To me, the only real answer here seems to be Joe Louis.... Joe Louis was a national hero for that Schmeling win... it seems !

 

Azumah Nelson is still a national hero in Ghana…he still does interviews and talk show appearances

 

Good shout, he is viewed as the colombian who won. Colombians are very skilled in sports but fail when it comes time to win trophies, he was different !

 

Hows about Floyd Patterson?

 

Aren´t you american ? You tell me;

 

John The Quiet Man Ruiz

 

Popular in Ireland, too.

 

Hi Buddy.
Jimmy Cannon: " He was a credit to his race, the human race " sounds about right.
like your posts Vic, you play a nice understated hand, many could learn from, stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

Thanks Mike. I try to be balanced.