Have you met any big names before, what were they like?
Hopefully this thread will generate a few good stories.
I met Ricky Hatton @ a Tom Jones concert in Manchester, had a quick snap with him which he was more than happy to oblige for, which came out blurred cos my Mum was "nervous" haha & Saw David Haye after the weigh in on Friday, he was eating with family and friends so left him be til shouting a good will message as he left.
A mate of mine met Lennox Lewis in NY before Calzaghe vs Jones, he asked for a photo but Lennox was in a rush and declined which prompted my mate to run up the street shouting "come on Lennox". Lennox and his minders started jogging away with my mate running behind them, apparently looked like they were running scared, obviously the reality was Lennox just couldn't be bothered with some pissed up Welsh guy mythering him :D
Muhammad Ali twice...once in LAX and another in the old Denver Airport. Excellent experience and the second time I saw him I felt like he remembered me. This happened during the 80's both times.
Ken Norton in the 80's at the LA Forum Coliseum...the same night I met and spoke with Mike Weaver after he lost his title to Michael Dokes by KO. This was an awesome night for me as a little kid.
Tommy 'Hitman' Hearns at his after party in Las Vegas for the Tyson vs. Botha fight. It was nice because I got to spend quite a bit of time with him talking about the fight game. The same night I saw Tyson but didn't get a chance to speak with him.
Diego Corrales before his rematch with Juan Manuel Castillo at Ceasars Palace. He was a true champ and spoke with me like we had been friends forever. I really miss that guy.
Terry Norris in 1998/99 this was really sad because he was stumbling over his feet and he was clearly punch drunk when I spoke with him. It was good to later find out that he won his lawsuit against Don King.
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad in 2004...another guy who spoke with me like we knew each other for years.
Floyd Mayweather in 1998 at a club in Las Vegas. At the time he was an upcoming lightweight champ. He was very cocky and ready to fight. In fact, I use to see Floyd at this same club a lot and he began to recognize me and was a little more friendlier but a little too cocky for me to hang out with.
Not a big name, but I almost got obliterated by Mike Tyson's half brother Cliff Couser. I was in a bad mood and he was in my way so we got into a bit of an argument and me not knowing that he was a boxer, I was about to get down with him. I know that he wasn't scared of me, but when he saw that I was serious he intelligently changed the mood by asking me my name. We exchanged numbers and he introduced me to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and invited me to train with him. There are a lot more details but it is truly a funny story of mine.
Lamon Brewster outside of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. This was very strange because I was walking back to my car and I saw Brewster profusely sweating talking to himself while he was ripping up papers in anger. All of the contents of his wallet were thrown all around him and he was very angrily looking for something. I noticed him and walked over to him and he quickly gained his composer. He was a very nice guy and very well spoke despite the unknown circumstances. He gave me his number and told me to call him anytime. He even invited me to his gym to train.
Fernando Vargus...very drunk and it was the same night he got those rape charges in Las Vegas.
Winky Wright at the Belagio Hotel in Las Vegas. He was a pretty cool dude but a little cautious.
There are several other smaller name guys that I have met as well. To name a few:
Johnny McClain (Laila Ali's ex-husband)
Audley Harrison
Jose Castilla
Chuck Liddell...a big name but MMA...this was a really funny story.
Kevin Lacy who is Jeff Lacy's cousin
Duey Cooper another MMA guy...a cool dude and I used to see him a lot.
Kemo another MMA guy...a pretty down to earth guy
Khan most recent
Maidana
Schaefer
Interviewed all 3
Sergio Martinez, Froch, Kessler, Judah, Barkley, Duran, Vitali, Calzaghe, Rendall Munroe, Glen McCrory, Johnny Nelson (these 2 when I was working at Sky), Arthur Abraham, Robin Reid, Cleverly, Tim Witherspoon, Earnie Shavers, James Degale, Duke Mckenzie (Got autographs/pictures with most of these guys) also got a pic holding Khan's WBA belt
Spoken/interviewed: Cloud, Dirrell, Khan, Malignaggi off the top of the head
Edit: Kellerman & Lampley at Cotto/Clottey for my 21st birthday
I've met a lot of boxers in my life. Among them are:
George Foreman
Vitali Klitschko
Floyd Mayweather Jr (very cool)
Panchito Bojado
Jerry Quarry
David Tua (not friendly)
John Ruiz
Shane Mosley
Danny "Little Red" Lopez
I've also talked to Lampley and Merchant. Lampley was smug while Merchant was super nice.
cool list man
nearly as cool as the hot chick in your avatar :D
I've met a lot of boxers in my life. Among them are:
George Foreman
Vitali Klitschko
Floyd Mayweather Jr (very cool)
Panchito Bojado
Jerry Quarry
David Tua (not friendly)
John Ruiz
Shane Mosley
Danny "Little Red" Lopez
I've also talked to Lampley and Merchant. Lampley was smug while Merchant was super nice.
I met Floyd Mayweather Jr., I was angry for the fact he was throwing money out in a crowd and I grabbed like 200 bucks and it turned out to be fake money.
Really? thats too f-ing funny. where was this?
Tito trinidad- in PR
miguel cotto- in PR
Joe Frazier- in philly
arturo gatti- while he lived in jersey city
kermit cintron-he doesnt live far from me at all.(not big time tho)
Bernard Hopkins- lived in delaware where my aunt lives in the same community, really cool dude!
and Rocky Balboa...lol well at least the guy who played him!
So far only David Estrada not a "big" name in boxing..but he's been in there with the likes of Berto, Mosley, Abregu, and Cintron
He was cool as hell..looked cocky from a distance..but once I approached him he was like "what's up bro!" like if he knew me..definitely made it more comfortable knowing he was actually approachable..so I appreciated the the time he took just to chat a bit..
Can't wait to meet more!!
The only boxing personality I have come across who was so unapproachable that I didn't say hello was Anne Wolfe.
She looked like she was more ready to fight than Kirkland was.
I can see that LOL
Since I'm a trainer, I have met a ton of pro boxers and trainers in my lifetime.
I met ODL and JMM and those two were my favorites. They were really humble dudes, very accommodating and kicked it with me for a while.
I also got to spar with Jean Pascal when he trained down here in Florida and he was a super nice dude.
Michael Moorer was punch drunk just talking to him and he actually gave me some great hand wrapping tips, he can wrap hands really good.
Also met Ian Darke of Sky Sports at the Khan vs Barrera fight after jumping the barrier to the floor seating, thoroughly nice chap & a good laugh engaging in a bit of banter with a couple of beer fueled idiots!
It was actually a boxing function and he is usually un-approachable and his entourage doesn't let you close. But he usually just ignores everybody around him. And to say he is one of my all time favorite boxer
The only boxing personality I have come across who was so unapproachable that I didn't say hello was Anne Wolfe.
She looked like she was more ready to fight than Kirkland was.
I've heard a lot of people say that Hagler was rude. I guess he is one of those types who doesn't shake hands with people.
It was actually a boxing function and he is usually un-approachable and his entourage doesn't let you close. But he usually just ignores everybody around him. And to say he is one of my all time favorite boxer
Marvin Hagler (the least friendly)
I've heard a lot of people say that Hagler was rude. I guess he is one of those types who doesn't shake hands with people.
Thomas Hearns
Chad Dawson
Antonio Tarver
Anthony Dirrell
Andre Dirrell
Arthur Abraham
Ricky Hatton
Brian Vera
Juan Diaz
James Kirkland
Johnathon Banks
Andy Lee
Also met:
Jim Lampley
Max Kellerman
Manny Steward
Jackie Kallen
Bill Miller
Milton McCrory
Hilmer Kenty
Roy Jones-was filming a commercial for NIKE and was cool talking to everybody
Tito Trinidad-in one of his many trips to NY, he has family here
Alexis Arguello-in NY and in the BHOF where he was a staple there
Marlon Starling-at the garden, nice guy
Livingstone Bramble-trained in many gyms and is very approachable
Graziano-couldn't believe that I was talking to the guy
Marvin Hagler (the least friendly)
Ricardo Lopez-couldn't believe how big his hands are for a small dude
John Ruiz-if you can call him a big name, nice quiet dude
Buster Douglas-not too friendly
Mike Tyson-all over NY, you never knew what Tyson you were getting
Riddick Bowe-funny guy
Aaron Davis-has his own gym
Iran Barkley-still see him around, he is in a sad state
Juan Laporte-runs many youth programs, very un-assuming person
Kasim Ouma-humble person