floyd role model???:rofl role models are guys like pacquiao and morales. Pac/morales is in and out of the ring a good role model, these people help the poor in return. They are both rags to riches story and is a great inspiration to everyone. Theres also Juan Diaz, now he is the guy thats best..he still is into school despite of all the popularity and achievement he had in boxing, and he used to be fat and has a bit of fat currently and its just so inspiring for fat people. Tszyu, another good example..theres also shane mosley, evander holyfield
Mostly, no, simply because people who need role models won't necessarily differenciate between the person, the fighter and the salesman. The trash-talking in particular stands out a mile.
With all due respect, this is bull****. You are stereo typing the sport of boxing instead of looking at individual fighters. There have been and are plenty of fighters who would make fine role models. I understand where you are coming from because there are plenty of rotten apples in this sport, but that does not encompass everyone. Every sport, every pofession for that matter is going to have bad seeds.
Of course, there's no such thing as all good and all bad. While boxing is a sport of great discipline and respect, the current environment created by commercialization is not ideal for picking a role model, simply because most of the boxers appear to be worse people than they really are. Selling the fight, creating hype, etc..., doesn't usually involve behaving in the best way.
Of course they can be. Let's just look at the two, most talked about fighters on here during the past few weeks....JC and BH. Calzaghe is a decent, quiet bloke who comes from a depressed welsh valley town and has become a world champion,etc. etc. etc. Hopkins turned to crime, went to prison but managed to turn his life around and become one of the greatest fighters of the past 20 years, and also be a two-weight world champion. What is there not to get inspired about these two people? They are both clean-living, healthy people who's only vice is trash-talking before each impending fight.
This may be true, but can't the same be said of the NBA, NFL and MLB? Look closely enough and its all the same. I do see where you are coming from though. I think it has a lot to do with boxing not being regulated or getting as much mainstream exposuer. A lot of how people percieve fighter to be would change if the actually saw them more regularly.