Pro Fighters that you have met multiple times

What was Joe Frazier like?

 

Joe is one of he friendliest, funniest, most engaging guys you will ever meet!

My girlfriend and I had gone to see Larry Holmes last fight against Butterbean. Larry invited us back to the after fight private party at the hotel. After Larry retired for the evening I turned around to see where my girlfriend was. She comes over to me and says, "hey, there is someone I want you to meet". She was sitting on the couch talking with Joe for the last 20 minutes. Anyway, I sit down and chat from 2:30 am till 5:30am with Smokin Joe Frazier!!!! At times we had cabbies come over and ask for an autograph, Marvis came down as did Jacqie Frazier. We talked about everything from his childhood in Beaufort to training, his fights with Ali and Foreman, relationships....you name it! It is a moment that I will NEVER forget and I would not have been able to enjoy it so much if not for the girl I was dating at the time and the friendliness that Joe extended to us. He is quite a remarkable man!

 

How were Cobb, Nunn and Hunter?

 

When I talked to him, on a few occasions, he was quiet and polite. Came across as kind of reserved actually.

 

Cobb is exactly the way you see him on screen. He can be silly and funny but he is actually a very bright man and can speak knowingly on many different subjects. Pretty imposing fellow when you first meet him.

Mike Hunter was very cordial and happy to talk with anyone who recognized him. His manner was such that you would never think he was a professional boxer.

Same could be said about Michael Nunn. He was always very outgoing and fun to be around. He seemed to find humor in nearly everything. He was always helpful to younger fighters if they had any questions. Good guy really. Too bad he lost his edge by partying too much.

 

Thanks, spion.

Were any of the boxers you met arseholes, or all pretty decent people?

 

Fighters I've met:

Barry McGuigan
Nigel Benn
Lennox Lewis (once)
Wayne McCullough
Tommy Hearns (once)
Steve Collins

 

How was Hearns?

 

Good stuff, Spion.

 

ellyas pical-indonesian superfly from late 80's...

 

I remember him. Fought Galaxy, didn't he?

 

Not as scary as he was in pre-fight staredowns.

Tommy came across as a very down to earth, dignified, approachable and funny guy away from the ring. It was an absolute pleasure meeting him as he'd always been one of my boxing idols ever since I grew up loving the sport from an early age. :good

 

Was he "punch drunk" like some mention him to be?

 

None of the guys I met had a bad attitude or tried to look tough. Very respectful and a lot of fun to talk to. Watching their workouts was different with some of them. Larry Holmes was all business even in sparring as was Gerry Cooney. The sparring partners definitely earned their money!

 

Fighters I have met.

Ken Buchanan
Barry McGuigan
Michael Gomez
Chris Eubank
Mickey Vann (referee and judge)