Which great fighters fought there way up from ABSOLUTE poverty?

..............No happy ending I'm afraid. MDWC (where is he, by the way) reminded me the last time I told this story that Saad later found out somehow that his real name had been Loach.

 

I've got a client who is in the movie industry. I remember telling he how great I thought a movie on Dempsey would be. It has damn near everything, as it relates to the human experience. Born in poverty, riding the rails, fighting in bars for food, beating a monster of a fighter in one of the most lopsided beatings ever, the ring incident with Firpo, making it bigger than Ruth, 1st million dollar gate, accused of being a slacker in WW1, getting complacent and losing to Tunney via the long count, in the second fight. Great story!

 

Well almost every fighter came from some sort of poverty, one that sticks close to my heart is my local favourite benny lynch, brought up in the slums of the gorbals glasgow, very sad story how he escaped just to be pulled back in through the booze and died pennyless in his 30s, an unbelivable fighter too, once of the most talented i've seen on film

 

We should not forget Rocky Graziano.

 

Barney Ross of couse.

Rocky Marciano and family should get some mention I suppose.

Armstrong perhaps??

Jack Johnson of couse

 

I really wouldn't say Marciano was poor compared to most being mentioned.

 

Marciano, his brothers, ete were living in the SAME HOUSE as grown men. Come on.

 

WOW.

Compared to Matthew Saad Muhammad's story that's a real tear jerker. :nut

 

That was nothing special for the times that he lived in .

Allthough Marciano was not rich he wasnt dirt poor either.

 

For sure he was none too well off.

Wheen he went to meet Charlie Goldman for the first time he had to hitch a ride on a fruit truck.

 

Man that one really gets to a person :verysad... Should make most realise how lucky they really are!

Makes a person wonder how many of the better boxers had a decent home life... you know, a Mom and Dad to count on, or whatever. Having a good Mom and Dad around may amount to more than a large amount of money to a kid. Like you said, the matter is heartbreaking.

 

I think this was before he became a miser consumed by greed.

He just didnt have any money to be mean with.