The coldest bit of trash-talk in boxing history came from the mouth of no fighter, nor a promoter...

IntentionalButt · Aug 16, 2023

Not even a coach (I know some of your minds may have leapt immediately to Norman "Stoney" Stone ). It was from children.

For just over two years, between the 19th of June in 1936 and 22nd of June in 1938 - bookended of course by his first & second encounters with the undisputed GOAT of Teutonic pugilists - Joe Louis dealt with the aftermath of his first professional defeat not just privately but in the form of ribbing from his own people. A sorely disappointed African-American community, that previously had put him up on a pedestal and hitched their hopes, dreams, and self-image to his wagon, now took out much of the ample "being a person of color in the 1930s" angst on their fallen hero.

Black kids in particular would run up to the Brown Bomber on the street, go up on tiptoe and hurl whispers into his ear, consisting of just three syllables: Max Schmeling. What's he going to do, smack tots in broad daylight? Even in those days, no - not for a celebrity whose hands were famously considered legally lethal weapons (whether or not that was ever strictly true and not P.R. is a matter of some debate). There was no choice but to suffer slings & arrows until he could exorcise his demons in the ring. Seethe, until the bell rings and everything can be released.

As we know, he did - and in sublimely violent fashion, with maybe the most destructive finishing combination in all of filmed heavyweight championship prizefighting. I wonder, though, do some of those brats (among whom there could well still be a few living; the youngest whelps now at least octogenarians, while Joe's older, adolescent tormentors are nonagenarians in the final stretch of the race to reach the century mark) realize what an instrumental role they played in fueling what many believe is the greatest HW victory h2h of all time?

Eddie Ezzard · Aug 16, 2023

IntentionalButt said: ↑

Not even a coach (I know some of your minds may have leapt immediately to Norman "Stoney" Stone ). It was from children.

For just over two years, between the 19th of June in 1936 and 22nd of June in 1938 - bookended of course by his first & second encounters with the undisputed GOAT of Teutonic pugilists - Joe Louis dealt with the aftermath of his first professional defeat not just privately but in the form of ribbing from his own people. A sorely disappointed African-American community, that previously had put him up on a pedestal and hitched their hopes, dreams, and self-image to his wagon, now took out much of the ample "being a person of color in the 1930s" angst on their fallen hero.

Black kids in particular would run up to the Brown Bomber on the street, go up on tiptoe and hurl whispers into his ear, consisting of just three syllables: Max Schmeling. What's he going to do, smack tots in broad daylight? Even in those days, no - not for a celebrity whose hands were famously considered legally lethal weapons (whether or not that was ever strictly true and not P.R. is a matter of some debate). There was no choice but to suffer slings & arrows until he could exorcise his demons in the ring. Seethe, until the bell rings and everything can be released.

As we know, he did - and in sublimely violent fashion, with maybe the most destructive finishing combination in all of filmed heavyweight championship prizefighting. I wonder, though, do some of those brats (among whom there could well still be a few living; the youngest whelps now at least octogenarians, while Joe's older, adolescent tormentors are nonagenarians in the final stretch of the race to reach the century mark) realize what an instrumental role they played in fueling what many believe is the greatest HW victory h2h of all time?
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Not least that you mention octogenarians, I once approached a pirate whom I suspected of being in that demographic and asked if he were, indeed, an octogenarian.

He said 'Aye, matey.'

Philly161 · Aug 16, 2023

the greatest trash talk in boxing history imo was after Iran Barkley knocked out Tommy Hearns, first thing he says in the interview is, "Tommy WAS a good fighter (my emphasis added)."

cslb · Aug 16, 2023

Ray Robinson has my vote. When asked in the investigation at the aftermath of the fight when he knew Doyle was in trouble. Robinson replied, “When he signed the contract.”

Rubber Glove Sandwich · Aug 16, 2023

"Got any excuses tonight Roy?"

Off the top of my head that's my pick for the best line of trash talk.

Loved reading that story tho, hadn't hear about it before.

janitor · Aug 16, 2023

IntentionalButt said: ↑

Not even a coach (I know some of your minds may have leapt immediately to Norman "Stoney" Stone ). It was from children.

For just over two years, between the 19th of June in 1936 and 22nd of June in 1938 - bookended of course by his first & second encounters with the undisputed GOAT of Teutonic pugilists - Joe Louis dealt with the aftermath of his first professional defeat not just privately but in the form of ribbing from his own people. A sorely disappointed African-American community, that previously had put him up on a pedestal and hitched their hopes, dreams, and self-image to his wagon, now took out much of the ample "being a person of color in the 1930s" angst on their fallen hero.

Black kids in particular would run up to the Brown Bomber on the street, go up on tiptoe and hurl whispers into his ear, consisting of just three syllables: Max Schmeling. What's he going to do, smack tots in broad daylight? Even in those days, no - not for a celebrity whose hands were famously considered legally lethal weapons (whether or not that was ever strictly true and not P.R. is a matter of some debate). There was no choice but to suffer slings & arrows until he could exorcise his demons in the ring. Seethe, until the bell rings and everything can be released.

As we know, he did - and in sublimely violent fashion, with maybe the most destructive finishing combination in all of filmed heavyweight championship prizefighting. I wonder, though, do some of those brats (among whom there could well still be a few living; the youngest whelps now at least octogenarians, while Joe's older, adolescent tormentors are nonagenarians in the final stretch of the race to reach the century mark) realize what an instrumental role they played in fueling what many believe is the greatest HW victory h2h of all time?
Click to expand...

When I was writing my masters thesis, my supervisor wrote a particularly brutal beatdown on my work so far.

At first I was distraught, but then I started to think about how I would turn it around.

I copied and pasted the comments to the top of the document that I was working on, in order to motivate myself.

When I was done he seemed to be happy with it.

Melankomas · Aug 16, 2023

Imagine being Joe Louis and you're having a great day until those annoying little shits show up and starting yelling Max Schmeling's name at you no wonder he was so desperate to get Max out of there early

Journeyman92 · Aug 16, 2023

Philly161 said: ↑

the greatest trash talk in boxing history imo was after Iran Barkley knocked out Tommy Hearns, first thing he says in the interview is, "Tommy WAS a good fighter (my emphasis added)."
Click to expand...

What was more awkward was when Tommy was picking on Iran about his sister teaching him to box… funnier then that was before the fight with Toney he threatened to quote “Stomp a hole in your chest” he was full of great lines. “Ima rob your house!”

Journeyman92 · Aug 16, 2023

Melankomas said: ↑

Imagine being Joe Louis and you're having a great day until those annoying little shits show up and starting yelling Max Schmeling's name at you no wonder he was so desperate to get Max out of there early
Click to expand...

Children can be unknowingly evil. “Hey Mum look that’s Max Baer, he killed a man” quoting Max’s wife who said it bothered him till the day he went under.

Journeyman92 · Aug 16, 2023

"after i knock you out Oscar, i look forward to drinking the warm milk from your wife's breast"- Mayorga

IntentionalButt · Aug 16, 2023

janitor said: ↑

When I was writing my masters thesis, my supervisor wrote a particularly brutal beatdown on my work so far.

At first I was distraught, but then I started to think about how I would turn it around.

I copied and pasted the comments to the top of the document that I was working on, in order to motivate myself.

When I was done he seemed to be happy with it.
Click to expand...

Not gonna lie, I'm a little drunk so at first I lost the connection to Louis/the kids/Schmeling and thought you were just saying my writing sucks.

Journeyman92 · Aug 16, 2023

cslb said: ↑

Ray Robinson has my vote. When asked in the investigation at the aftermath of the fight when he knew Doyle was in trouble. Robinson replied, “When he signed the contract.”
Click to expand...

This is the answer IMO. Honestly when I read about Robinson It takes me a second to realise just how much of a cold man he was, I always pictured him as a jovial effortless winner, he was a brutal and hard working guy.

cslb · Aug 16, 2023

Journeyman92 said: ↑

This is the answer IMO. Honestly when I read about Robinson It takes me a second to realise just how much of a cold man he was, I always pictured him as a jovial effortless winner, he was a brutal and hard working guy.
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Give Robinson credit for not wanting to fight Doyle and he bought Doyle’s mother a house after the fight.

Journeyman92 · Aug 16, 2023

cslb said: ↑

Give Robinson credit for not wanting to fight Doyle and he bought Doyle’s mother a house after the fight.
Click to expand...

Good don’t wash away the bad and bad don’t wash away the good. He was a human being he did a lot of both.

Pugguy · Aug 16, 2023

IntentionalButt said: ↑

Not even a coach (I know some of your minds may have leapt immediately to Norman "Stoney" Stone ). It was from children.

For just over two years, between the 19th of June in 1936 and 22nd of June in 1938 - bookended of course by his first & second encounters with the undisputed GOAT of Teutonic pugilists - Joe Louis dealt with the aftermath of his first professional defeat not just privately but in the form of ribbing from his own people. A sorely disappointed African-American community, that previously had put him up on a pedestal and hitched their hopes, dreams, and self-image to his wagon, now took out much of the ample "being a person of color in the 1930s" angst on their fallen hero.

Black kids in particular would run up to the Brown Bomber on the street, go up on tiptoe and hurl whispers into his ear, consisting of just three syllables: Max Schmeling. What's he going to do, smack tots in broad daylight? Even in those days, no - not for a celebrity whose hands were famously considered legally lethal weapons (whether or not that was ever strictly true and not P.R. is a matter of some debate). There was no choice but to suffer slings & arrows until he could exorcise his demons in the ring. Seethe, until the bell rings and everything can be released.

As we know, he did - and in sublimely violent fashion, with maybe the most destructive finishing combination in all of filmed heavyweight championship prizefighting. I wonder, though, do some of those brats (among whom there could well still be a few living; the youngest whelps now at least octogenarians, while Joe's older, adolescent tormentors are nonagenarians in the final stretch of the race to reach the century mark) realize what an instrumental role they played in fueling what many believe is the greatest HW victory h2h of all time?
Click to expand...

That’s interesting, never heard that before. What’s the primary source for that if you don’t mind me asking?

Kids can be brutal. Could’ve been even worse, I guess, they might’ve whispered “I seez sumzing!”

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The coldest bit of trash-talk in boxing history came from the mouth of no fighter, nor a promoter...

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The coldest bit of trash-talk in boxing history came from the mouth of no fighter, nor a promoter...

IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

Philly161 "Fundamentals are the crutch of the talentless" banned Full Member

cslb Puerto Rican Uppercut Full Member

Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

janitor VIP Member

Melankomas Corbett beats your favourite fighter

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Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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