Who were examples of sensitive boxers?

I don't know if this counts but the rough, tough "Toy Bulldog" Mickey Walker was an exhibited and successful painter in his later life.

 

yes but I think he used that hatred he had for Tommy to come out strong. Leonard was aware of it and Marvin came out righty.. I believe had Ray been more talkative against Marvin it would have worked against him and he knew it.

 

Jess Willard

 

Floyd Patterson was a great man and human being as I have mentioned before, there are no more sensitive fighters. Floyd grew as a man and as a better fighter once he separated from Cus D Amato. Cus, as I have posted previously was like a parent who smothers their child, impeding mental growth, not allowing them to grow into adulthood. Floyd did very well for himself without Mr. D Amato. Cus did not want Floyd in the ring with the more risky competition such as Sonny Liston and Cleveland Williams. Instead Patterson fought the likes of Roy Cut N Shoot Harris in Aug 1958, and Tom McNeeley in March 1961. Later Floyd would fight George Chuvalo, Eddie Machen,Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena without Cus.

 

Cus for all his short comings loved, nurtured and protected his fighters. He was arrogant, he was stubborn and set in his ways but he always had a fighters interests as he saw it at heart. He loved Floyd, Tyson and Torres and every boy who stepped into his gym. I believe he turned away nearly every pay check he could’ve taken from Patterson and Torres if memory serves? I’ve noticed at heart, all of his champions matured into articulated, humble, thoughtful and polite guys including Tyson.

 

While I do agree with you, Cus did smother his fighters despite his genuine good intentions. It is kind of like an individual who gets hooked on something, once that item that they have been dependent on is gone, they began to fail, sort of like withdrawals. Cus caused his fighters to be co dependent on him and his teachings. When you smother someone or even an animal, it fights to breath, sometimes it goes away, seeking life on it's own. Mike Tyson as great as he was began to self destruct without Cus D Amato and Kevin Rooney. It is good to give guidance but one has to be careful on how much to give.

 

Randy Turpin was, I belive a sensitive guy.

 

Shakur Stevenson, blubbering like a baby because he had to train in a garage or something bizzare, strange guy

 

I believe Mike Tyson admitted he would cry before fights sometimes in his dressing room. His brooding and violent demeanor was real, but had a shadow of a terrified and sensitive boy behind it. I know that he admitted at the least on his podcast. Mike cried moments before he participated in the Olympics.

 

Floyd really is a saint in boxing.

'The Loser' is one of the best profile's ever written on an individual. To see a two-time heavyweight champion of the world be so vulnerable, so open about his anxieties and his fears. Floyd, to me personally, is the most relatable boxer. His career is nothing short of marvelous, twenty years of longevity as one of the best in the game and even after his losses he was a contender for the rest of his career and deservedly so.

For anyone who hasn't read it, here's a reprinting of The Loser, a profile on Floyd Patterson after his first loss to Sonny Liston.

https://deadspin.com/the-loser-the-most-honest-sports-story-ever-written-772260237

 

One who was, but not really thought of as such: Marvin Hagler. He was very sensitive about how others thought of him in the Boxing world and how his career was perceived. It inspired fierce passion in him, nearly always in the 'prove them wrong' category.

 

Tyson has to be the toughest man to unashamedly cry in public over all kinds of things. Have you listened to his first episode with Ray Leonard? Jesus.

 

Man I have seen that episode. Mike's love for the game is raw and on full display there. There are a handful of episodes from his podcast that are top-notch, and what a beautiful episode that was with Ray Leonard.

 

Johnny Tapia was known to fight too emotionally.

 

I don't know if it counts as sensitive, but Max Baer was very emotional and apparently altered his style after killing an opponent and never got over it