John L Sullivan today

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Jun 24, 2011.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Lets assume that he was champion.

    We will say that he dosn't draw the colour line today influenced by public opinion.

    How would he have fared with the media?
     
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    #1
  2. Armstrong!

    Armstrong! Active Member Full Member

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    Badly, seeing as he would of been beaten by every top 20 contender out there today.
     
    Armstrong!, Jun 24, 2011
    Armstrong!, Jun 24, 2011
    #2
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I am interested in how he would have been received as a fighter, by the public/media today.

    That requires the asumption that his sucess in his own era is matched.

    So he is destroying every contender in sight.

    He offers a million dollars to any fighter who can lst four rounds with him.

    It is finaly won by John Ruiz by going down 50 times without being hit.

    He is fan friendly but he gets wasted and smashes up nightclubs.

    He falls off trains drunk.
     
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    #3
    Journeyman92 likes this.
  4. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    ****ing hell janitor, bit of a hard question to answer.
     
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    #4
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    How so?
     
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    janitor, Jun 24, 2011
    #5
  6. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    If he still had his mustache i reckon he'd be considered the same kind of beast he was back in the day. His alcoholism would be equally shunned and adored, Charlie Sheen style. And undoubtedly somebody would call him White Tyson.
     
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    #6
  7. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    I dunno, I just find it hard to get my head around such a old school character being in the modern world.

    Are we purely talking about his fighting record here or outside of the ring?

    I don't think his actions outside the ring would cause too much controversy, I mean look at Mike Tyson...he's still loved today.
     
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    #7
  8. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    Mike Tyson was loved, but he certainly caused controversy. "I'll **** you till you love me ******?" Biting someone's ear off? Raping some girl? Drug problems? Tyson's reputation as a lovable maniac is much better than it was back in the day. I thought he was the ****ing heavyweight boogieman growing up, even when he was losing.
     
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    #8
  9. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    He'd be so revered people would be calling him the greatest hw in history.

    Legend.
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 24, 2011
    lufcrazy, Jun 24, 2011
    #9
  10. Kalasinn

    Kalasinn ♧ OG Kally ♤ Full Member

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    Nonsense, i get the impressive he was far superior to the stylistically comparable Povetkin & Boystov.
     
    Kalasinn, Jun 24, 2011
    Kalasinn, Jun 24, 2011
    #10
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    He would be a beloved superstar, probably the biggest thing boxing ever produced.

    A hard drinking white Irish-American champion?

    If he could be kept off the sauce the sky would be the limit. Assuming he never got tagged with a ****-charge and movie-stardom somehow passed him by he'd be a shoe-in for Congress and maybe more i'd bet. The biggest sportstar ever perhaps.
     
    McGrain, Jun 24, 2011
    McGrain, Jun 24, 2011
    #11
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  12. DonBoxer

    DonBoxer The Lion! Full Member

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    Everyone would love him. Drunk Irish people are hilarious.
     
    DonBoxer, Jun 24, 2011
    DonBoxer, Jun 24, 2011
    #12
  13. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    Only if he had the moustache though, we'd have boxing fans & boxers all over copying him.

    Can you imagine?


    This content is protected
     
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    Meast, Jun 24, 2011
    #13
  14. goat15

    goat15 Active Member Full Member

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    i must say that i don't agree with the consensus. i don't think he's got the look to be popular today. plus, these days top athletes need a clean-living image to get endorsements. he wouldn't get these, and so he wouldn't be shoved down the throats of the masses. as a result, he'd never be mainstream, although he'd certainly have a niche following, myself included i'm sure.
     
    goat15, Jun 24, 2011
    goat15, Jun 24, 2011
    #14
  15. Swarmer

    Swarmer Patrick Full Member

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    Tiger Woods is the richest athlete in the world and his image isn't too hot right now.

    Michael Vick, Kobe Bryant, Mike Tyson, etc etc.
     
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    Swarmer, Jun 24, 2011
    #15
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