Classic fans: How common is it for you to meet other

I have some friends, which are just occasionally watching boxing/UFC. One is really interested, at least in contemporary boxing. Though, I haven`t seen him for a long time.
A colleague of my father is a bit interested in classic boxing and also mobster/mafia stuff. He read "The Devil and Sonny Liston" from Nick Tosches, which is translated in German. There are not much more than 5 books about classic boxers translated in German (next to some Ali stuff).
Germany isn`t a Mecca for classic boxing fans, it`s more of a desert.

 

I think that’s what makes up a lot of this forum, people that are another level to your average fan, or love it more than average. The chances of me having a worth while convo about boxing to my friends is nil, they are pure football

 

I had to explain George Foreman was a boxer to four jock types on four different occasions in my life after they ran there mouthes about Ali i wanted to jump in... every time it was a shallow interaction. normal folk do not tend to be boxer savy enough to have a fun convo. Even with my limited knowledge in the grand scope of boxing history i appear like a historian to a casual fan.

 

I once met somevody on the bus, who overheard me and my mates talking, that swore blindly on his life that Roland LaStarza would beat George Foreman.

 

When I worked at UPS in San Francisco, that is where I met the most people who followed the sport as closely as I did. There was about 10 of us, we'd get together for every fight. Great crowd, very knowledgeable, real fans too, not just shameless fanboys for one particular fighter or another.

Those were the good old days for sure

 

Haven’t had the pleasure to meet anyone on the forum. Although pretty sure many are in NYC area. And like many of the other posters said it’s hard to hold conversations with people when the first words out of their mouths is usually Mike Tyson is the greatest of all time.

 

One of my friends is as knowledgable about boxing as I am. We always have fun trying to catch each other out on really tough questions.

 

I think I can match this. A long time ago at work,some guy who thought he knew a lot about boxing - he really knew NOTHING - insisted that Henry Cooper was the first guy to score a knockdown over Muhammad Ali. I explained that Henry was indeed the second man to accomplish that feat and that Sonny Banks was the first. I will set out the conversation that followed for you all. I will refer to my verbal opponent as 'Idiot'

Idiot - "No....no.....no. Cooper did it first. He was one punch away from becoming heavyweight champion"

Me "You're wrong on both counts. The first Cooper fight that featured the iconic knockdown was their first one which was a non-title bout"

Idiot "No. You're wrong. No such fighter as Sonny Banks anyway. You're getting mixed up with Sonny Boy Liston"

I started to get really annoyed with this dipstick ! This was back in the eighties so no internet was on hand. I had to bring a book into work the following morning to prove him wrong. Even then he did n't look that convinced. I was half expecting him to tell me that the book was wrong !

 

I've watched a bit of LaStarza lately and I'll tell you what, he's pretty underrated nowadays. The guy had some skills. I think he'd have a fair shot against old Foreman; I might even bet on that one if the odds were good. He doesn't beat young Foreman though.

 

He wouldn't, lol?

 

No, actually he has him mixed up with Sonny Bill Williams. Or maybe he has him mixed up with that old blues singer.

 

Completely agreed that he's a little underrated. He wasn't some bum like he's often made out to be, and I dread to think just how polarising he'd be if he was actually given the first Marciano fight. Old Foreman definitely isn't out of his reach, although I tend to think that George catches up with him. I'd probably put a few bets down myself if the money was good.

Their general idea was that LaStarza's chin was good enough to withstand Foreman's rush and that he could combine the success of Ali, Peralta and Young to win a clear points decision. He said that LaStarza would be able to get up and fend of Foreman's early barrage and that he'd use his abilities off the ropes and 'cute counter-punching skills' to take it to Foreman late. He sites the Marciano fights as proof of the toughness required for this.

I like the idea, and the stylistical thought behind it but it's utterly unfathomable to actually pick a man who's barely able to Rex Layne to beat George Foreman IMO.

 

Old Foreman's jab would be LaStarza's main problem, but if he could deal with that, well, he was fast and agile and had a shot at outpointing the older gent. Young Foreman is just too big and powerful for Roland, I think, and it would be an uphill climb for LaStarza to make it out of the early rounds. If they were the same size I think LaStarza might do it but they are not.

 

Lol I'm surprised a casual has even heard of Lastarza.,George.!
And even if he knew a fair bit about classic boxing, he's still talking out of his saying that!!