Which Nickname has affected a fighter's legacy the most?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Boilermaker, Oct 6, 2012.


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  1. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think that Nicknames often effect a fighters legacy, for better or worse, what nicknames can be thought to have effected a legacy the most?

    Off hand, i can think of:
    Jack Johnson - The Galveston Giant. People regularly think that Jack Johnson was a considered a giant amongst heavyweights of the time. He wasnt.

    Bonecrusher Smith - Gives the impression of freakish finish ability and power, i doubt hed have been remembered as fondly, if he was called the Quiet Man James Smith or something similar.

    Razor Ruddock - Another nickname which gave many people the impression he was a little bit sharper than he probably was.

    Sugar Ray Leonard - Great fighter, but isnt his legacy made even better by the Sugar Moniker.

    The Greatest - Muhammed Ali. Would he be the same consensus no 1 if he was just plain old casius Clay?

    Fat Willie Meehan - He was actually quite a skilled fighter. If his name was fast Willie Meehan or Razor Willie Meehan, he would probably be ranked quite a bit higher.

    Gentleman Jim Corbett - Cuts both ways this one, affecting his legacy in and out of the ring. I think Sugar Jim Corbett could easily making him seen as the true icon that he was during his time. Of Course, Pompous Jim Corbett might have him seen today as more of his true perona according to some.

    Any other nicknames that have really made, or broke, a fighter?
     
    Boilermaker, Oct 6, 2012
    Boilermaker, Oct 6, 2012
    #1
  2. Absolutely!

    Absolutely! Fabulous, darling! Full Member

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    Iron Mike Tyson. Just a very iconic nickname that inextricably linked itself with the man and added to his "invincible hardman" persona, for good or ill.

    Pacman - not really descriptive of the fighter or his persona, just a very recognisable nickname that even casual fans know about. Easier to remember (and spell) than Pacquiao. May have aided in internet searches.

    Lights Out - makes Toney look like some killer knockout puncher.

    Sugar Shane - maybe a bit more apt in his earlier days, but certainly not in his later ones. Still, it had a nice alliterative ring to it.

    Hitman Hatton - Hatton was a little beast when this name was coined, but not a precise one punch knockout puncher like I associate with the name. Catchy name though, like Sugar.
     
    Absolutely!, Oct 6, 2012
    Absolutely!, Oct 6, 2012
    #2
  3. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    nonparail jack dempsy, both nickname and actual name.
     
    kingfisher3, Oct 6, 2012
    kingfisher3, Oct 6, 2012
    #3
  4. Derrick-Rose

    Derrick-Rose Guest

    Marvellous Marvin Hagler

    Sugar Nikolai Valujew
     
    Derrick-Rose, Oct 6, 2012
    Derrick-Rose, Oct 6, 2012
    #4
  5. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Johnny "DQ me, I'm so bad" McFunt. That mu****a got DQ'd about 41 times. And he was winning all them fights.
     
    Boxed Ears, Oct 6, 2012
    Boxed Ears, Oct 6, 2012
    #5
  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I somtimes think that the name "bum of the month club" has left an unfairly negative impresion on some of the fighters concerned.
     
    janitor, Oct 6, 2012
    janitor, Oct 6, 2012
    #6
  7. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    definitely "The Greatest" helped brainwash a generation.

    And Richard Mayorga is most definitely NOT a matador.

    It was hard to take Winky Wright seriously for a long time, too.
     
    Vince Voltage, Oct 6, 2012
    Vince Voltage, Oct 6, 2012
    #7
  8. BillB

    BillB Well-Known Member Full Member

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    "The Greatest" was a self administered nickname. He gave it to himself.

    I think "The Louisville Lip" was a lot better and more accurate.
     
    BillB, Oct 6, 2012
    BillB, Oct 6, 2012
    #8
  9. grumpy

    grumpy Member Full Member

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    "Pretty boy" Floyd, I've always thought it was kind of wussy.
     
    grumpy, Oct 6, 2012
    grumpy, Oct 6, 2012
    #9
  10. FIN

    FIN Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Executioner hopkins,sounds like a guy who is a ko artist or vicious fighter,not a clever defensive fighter who spoils...
     
    FIN, Oct 6, 2012
    FIN, Oct 6, 2012
    #10
  11. SJS19

    SJS19 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    When you know the context of it, it's actually one of the cleverer nicknames in Boxing history. Much better than 'Money' in my opinion.

    I have no problem with 'Sugar' Shane Mosley or with Ricky 'Hitman' Hatton.

    'The Golden Boy' suited DLH to the ground, from his Olympic medal, to his ten world titles, to his box office appeal.
     
    SJS19, Oct 6, 2012
    SJS19, Oct 6, 2012
    #11
  12. TIGEREDGE

    TIGEREDGE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    nigel benns nickname was very fitting. he was a dark destroyer
     
    TIGEREDGE, Oct 6, 2012
    TIGEREDGE, Oct 6, 2012
    #12
  13. MAG1965

    MAG1965 Loyal Member banned

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    I liked Ricky Hatton and Jeff Harding, but the original hitman Thomas Hearns was hard to follow. I always saw Tommy as the original obviously.
     
    MAG1965, Oct 6, 2012
    MAG1965, Oct 6, 2012
    #13
  14. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sometimes I wonder if he took that named off of the fame 1930's gangster. Now that you think of it, Gangsters from that time have as cool nicknames as boxers lol.
     
    Dempsey1238, Oct 6, 2012
    Dempsey1238, Oct 6, 2012
    #14
  15. doug.ie

    doug.ie 'Classic Boxing Society' Full Member

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    tell me....what pops into your mind every time you hear tina turner - simply the best played on radio or telly?
     
    doug.ie, Oct 7, 2012
    doug.ie, Oct 7, 2012
    #15
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