We all know the type: flashy with a lot of style and always eager to please the crowd with whatever antics at their disposal. Let’s pay tribute to them with this thread: A few to start us off: Jorge Paez: An actual circus performer, he always entertained. Crazy haircuts and ring gear, lots of playing to the crowd … but also tough and gritty and willing to go toe to toe. Muhammad Ali: In many of his lesser defenses especially, he’d put on a show for those watching to make it worth their while. Mugging, taunting, talking to his opponent and even the crowd. Hector Camacho: He was a whirling dervish early in his career at 130 with that blurring hand speed, but over time even with a less-than-exciting, always-on-the-move style, he brought lots of flash with his ring gear and general charisma. Always put on a show. Who are some others? Let’s hear it.
Midget Wolgast, apparently Young Griffo used to fight in a similar way. Corbett is a very clownish fighter as well and I have a feeling a lot of the stupid **** he does is intentional
Literally, these were the first three guys I thought of when I read the thread title. Get out of my head!
Holmes. Letting his hands down and slow walking at the other guy, roaring at them, turning around and talking to the judges, exaggerating motions with the right before committing, and the stare down before the fight begun. Max Baer. Waving to the crowd mid fight, pretending to be weak in the knees and almost falling while his opponent was right in front of him, patting the guy in the back as the bell rang, the rare kiss on the temple during a clinch, roaring, constantly laughing and talking. He was a lunatic.
There have been a few clown princes in boxing: Ray “Windmill” White, a California light heavy, and Battling Bozo, same division out of Alabama in I think the 1920s, would use all kinds of antics: behind-the-back punch, bolo with one arm and throw the other hand, Bozo would cup his glove to his ear when the other corner was shouting instructions to his opponent, etc.
Has to be Naz he understood every aspect of promotion from the extravagant ring walks, flipping over the rope, leopard print shorts to showboating and blasting out his foes You were always guaranteed a show when the Prince fought and to bring the kind of attention and money to the lower weight classes is something that was never done before
