Who Has Had The Biggest Impact On Society Outside The Ring?

[max baer]

Who in boxing has had the biggest impact on life in general.
Who was so famous, who was the most notorious.
Ali, no doubt first but who else captured people's imagination.
Who did the most for the poor?
It isn't just since the sixties with all the media and tv. There may be someone like louis or johnson.
Who, by the standards of the day had everyone talking about them and attracted controversy and fame both good fame and notorious fame etc.
Who angered the public most?
Who, if alive today would the the biggest news story by far?

[GhostofDempsey]

Dempsey was hated early on in his career and only later became a fan favorite towards the end of his career. He elevated boxing to the most popular and lucrative spectator sport. Did a lot of charitable work during his lifetime.

Johnson was hated by whites and blacks who were ashamed of his arrogance.

Louis’ fights with Schmeling and his serving in the army boosted he morale of Americans and helped them unify against a common enemy. He was adored by fans before and during WWII.

Pacquiao has used millions of his own money to build houses for the poor in his country. Globally recognized as a humanitarian.

Floyd was rightfully hated by millions who paid to see him lose. His racism, misogyny, arrogance, cherry picking, boring style, and criminal activity outside the ring did little to boost his image. It earned him a lot of money but will hurt his legacy decades from now.

There were two sides to Ali who appealed to different generations. Early Ali was arrogant, charismatic, disliked, racist, and bitter. Later Ali was more humble and conservative. An ambassador to the world.

[Willie Pep 229]

Who in boxing has had the biggest impact on life in general.
Who was so famous, who was the most notorious.
Ali, no doubt first but who else captured people's imagination.
Who did the most for the poor?
It isn't just since the sixties with all the media and tv. There may be someone like louis or johnson.
Who, by the standards of the day had everyone talking about them and attracted controversy and fame both good fame and notorious fame etc.
Who angered the public most?
Who, if alive today would the the biggest news story by far?

I know nothing about these men's lives post boxing. Their largeness, their politics, their entrepreneurship, are all way past me.

Now speaking from within the ring . . .

. . . Jimmy Braddock did the most for poor people. *

. . . Joe Louis did the most for racial equality.

. . . George Foreman made getting old OK.

. . . Sugar Ray Robinson showed the world the entire arc of stardom.**

*Outside the ring he could only pay his bills. Thank God he got that much.

** Nothing SRR actually did then, would necessarily echo today. BUT if the man himself came up today, we would be talking about his exploits outside of the ring, now. I figure. He would have gotten our attention.

P.S. I would have included Sugar Ray Leonard for showing how a fighter can protect himself and be a true entrepreneur. But I fear it didn't stick. He didn't change the game. Too bad.

[JeBron Lamez]

Who did the most for the poor?

Most boxers do a great deal for the poor without ever donating to a single charity, holding any kind of drive or making a single fundraising appearance anywhere because most boxers still (& likely always will) come from deprived backgrounds and charity begins at home ijs.

[QueensburyRules]

I know nothing about these men's lives post boxing. Their largeness, their politics, their entrepreneurship, are all way past me.

Now speaking from within the ring . . .

. . . Jimmy Braddock did the most for poor people. *

. . . Joe Louis did the most for racial equality.

. . . George Foreman made getting old OK.

. . . Sugar Ray Robinson showed the world the entire arc of stardom.**

*Outside the ring he could only pay his bills. Thank God he got that much.

** Nothing SRR actually did then, would necessarily echo today. BUT if the man himself came up today, we would be talking about his exploits outside of the ring, now. I figure. He would have gotten our attention.

P.S. I would have included Sugar Ray Leonard for showing how a fighter can protect himself and be a true entrepreneur. But I fear it didn't stick. He didn't change the game. Too bad.

- - The Ks relocated the Heavy Title to Ukraine where they also promote fighters. They are also active in a lot of 3rd world charities.

Of Course Joe Louis will always be King in and out of the ring.

Manny was politically very active working for the downtrodden Filipinos that he grew up in and thus has worldwide gravitas. I'd say that Manny is the only fighter who could match Joe Louis' worldwide impact.

[JeBron Lamez]

. . . George Foreman made getting old OK.

That plus 100 million grillers can't be wrong...

[Coverdale]

Dempsey was hated early on in his career and only later became a fan favorite towards the end of his career. He elevated boxing to the most popular and lucrative spectator sport. Did a lot of charitable work during his lifetime.

Johnson was hated by whites and blacks who were ashamed of his arrogance.

Louis’ fights with Schmeling and his serving in the army boosted he morale of Americans and helped them unify against a common enemy. He was adored by fans before and during WWII.

Pacquiao has used millions of his own money to build houses for the poor in his country. Globally recognized as a humanitarian.

Floyd was rightfully hated by millions who paid to see him lose. His racism, misogyny, arrogance, cherry picking, boring style, and criminal activity outside the ring did little to boost his image. It earned him a lot of money but will hurt his legacy decades from now.

There were two sides to Ali who appealed to different generations. Early Ali was arrogant, charismatic, disliked, racist, and bitter. Later Ali was more humble and conservative. An ambassador to the world.

I think Floyd's poor oratory skills held him back as well. Listening to him was mostly an awful/uncomfortable experience.

[IronDanHamza]

I think Floyd's poor oratory skills held him back as well. Listening to him was mostly an awful/uncomfortable experience.

I thnk when he's actually himself, it's better. Like on 24/7 etc. It's when he does the "media trained" interviews and talk shows that are unbearable to listen to.

Also doesn't help that's he's as thick as a plank of wood.

[Willie Pep 229]

I have seen Money speak but a few times.

Exclusively on HBO post fights interviews with Larry Merchant.

Mayweather always seemed angry, arrogant, and distrustful.

But IMO the failure lay with Merchant. He was, as he always was, as interesting as dry white toast.

He had no shtick!

So it seemed to me that Merchant, for lack of any other interview skill, deliberately sought to antagonize Mayweather.

Finessing a stressful situation was not Larry Merchant's long suit.

Like I said I have had very little exposure to Mayweather. But I walked away from those, 'not so good interviews,' feeling Merchant blew the interview.

As much as I hated him at the time, a Howard Cosell type would have found a way to work the interview better and at least make it entertaining.

[Coverdale]

I thnk when he's actually himself, it's better. Like on 24/7 etc. It's when he does the "media trained" interviews and talk shows that are unbearable to listen to.

Also doesn't help that's he's as thick as a plank of wood.

For what it's worth, I thought 50 Cent mocking him for being (allegedly) illiterate was a cruel thing to do.