What boxers have you met?

Admit it he called you a "sonofabitch" in the bar, that is when you "Licked" him.

 

What was wrong with Honeyghan, Mike? I have heard he's a complete arse but would be good to have detail.

 

An old boxer I knew used to say he met James J Corbett. He had to be lying.

 

Hi Eddie.
Allow me to elucidate, have been in his company twice, both times he displayed a arrogant and conceited nature.
First time, he was world champ and in training to defend his title against Maurice Blocker, I had read in BN that he was working out in a gym near the old Spurs ground, at that time I didn't live that far from the gym, so I thought will go and watch him workout, arrived about midday and he was just about to spar, so I sat quietly at the back of the gym looking forward to see him in action, after about 2 mins of sparring he looks over in my direction, stops the workout and shouts from the ring " who the **** are you " slightly taken aback, I shouted back to him
and his crew " nobody really, I just came to see you spar, that's all " he wasn't taking my word for it and replied " you look like a spy, **** off before I come over and spark you " he was indeed about to climb out of the ring when Bobby Neil stopped him, after swearing at Neil ! he was ushered back to his stool, Bobby then came over to me and said better I leave, before things turn nasty, he then said " he is a *****, I know, but what can I do, he pays the wages" is that how a world champ should act.
Fast forward ten years or so, and I was at a fair in Wood Green with some friends, it was a nice sunny day, all the locals were having fun playing on all the rides, when all of a sudden, there was a commotion at the gate to the fair, it turned out that Honeygan and a few of his mates, had parked their cars right at the entrance to the fairground, restricting access for the Ambulance or fire brigade, should they be called upon, again Honeygan had bullied and swore at the young women ( no less ) and said the cars were staying where they were, not content with that, he and his entourage pushed and shoved their way around the park shouting and swearing, oblivious to all the small and intimidated young kids that were there, when asked for a signing he rudely told the fight fan get lost, he didn't want to bothered he said, the whole park was was walking on eggshells while he was there, he had shown himself to me as a thoroughly unworthy fighter and man, his demeanour and attitude on both occasions were, and remain disgraceful, I know some posters have him a favourite, but not me, he is a lout, and brings boxers and boxing into the gutter.
stay safe buddy.

 

I’ve not met a one but if I could choose only one among the living, I think it would be George Foreman.

Anyway, terrific thread and the contributions have all been a great read.

 

Chuck Wepner
Jersey Joe Walcott
Rocky Graziano
Steve Dudas
Floyd Patterson
Roberto Duran
Joe Frazier
Freddie "Red" Cochrane
George Foreman
Shannon Briggs
Michael Moorer

Muhammad Ali came to speak at my college in 1969 and I went to see him, but didn't really get to meet him.

I missed an opportunity to meet Jack Dempsey when he came to my town in 1976. I went to his viewing after he passed in 1983 and the casket was closed, so I can't really say I met him.

Not really meeting them, but I saw several fighters at fights in Madison Square Garden and fighters introduced pre-fight. At the Ken Norton - Jerry Quarry fight I was Pedro Soto in an undercard, and Jake Lamotta and Floyd Patterson at ringside. I was at a Boom Boom Mancini fight and at the Roberto Duran - Davey Moore fight. I saw the tragic Billy Cellins- Luis Resto undercard fight and saw Marvin Hagler, Ray Leonard, Larry Holmes, Ali, Gerry Cooney, and Joe Frazier coaching his son in an undercard.

 

Corbett died in 1933. He was in attendance at the first Sharkey-Schmeling fight in 1930 and was quoted as saying that boxing will never recover from this disgrace, referring to the outcome of the fight being decided by a foul.
I believe Corbett lived his later years in Queens, New York. Might the elder boxer have been around at those times?

 

I was the same with Ali, Stevie. I couldn't believe I was actually stood near the man! Lol

 

Interesting post Mike. Proves that all boxers aren't nice guys, but in my experience it's often the case that they are. I once went to an evening with event where the main man was a famous cricketer. He spent the full evening slagging off another, much better, player. 3 of us went to the event and when we left, one of us had his car blocked in. Rightly he was the only one who hadn't had a drink. I went in the bar and asked who was the owner of the car and surprise surprise it was the main guest. I asked him if he would move his car and he said he was having a drink . I said I know that but unlike you my mate hadn't and wanted to leave as, unlike him, he had to go to work in the morning. Grudgingly moved it.
Course he wasn't a world champion but why do some of these people think they have more rights than anybody else? As said luckily in the minority.

 

Or took too many punches??

 

Ali
Chuvalo
Hearns
Pea
Castillo
Morales
Barrera
Rahman
Michael Spinks
Leon Spinks
Chad Dawson
Bermane Stiverne
James Tillis
Jeff mayweather
Danny mcAlinden


Would most like to meet:

Roberto Duran
George Foreman
Barry McGuigan
Tyson Fury
Vitali Klitschko
Randy Cobb

Deceased boxers I'd most like to meet (without dying !)

Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Willie Pep
Sonny Liston
Marcel Cerdain
Henry Cooper

 

You met a lot of classy boxers my friend.

 

But yo've "met " Sonny , sort of,

I'm jealous.

 

Man, That was a very scary situation my friend. I really thought that I did not survive my open Heart Surgery on Jan 21 2020. That scowl that we often post of and then that Wink afterwards. I really thought that I was in the same place that Liston ended up.

 

Had met so many. Last one was Michael Eifert who is now ranked as a top 10 Light Heavyweight by the Ring Mag. Quite a gentlemen!