Bone crusher names the best fighters he faced

[JAB5239]

"The wait in the dressing room before a Boxing match — that last hour — would be enough to strip a Man that never Boxed before of whatever Pride, Desire and Heart he THOUGHT he had."

[JAB5239]

The first time it happens you say, ‘I can’t believe it. I’m scared. I’m fearful.’ You’re wondering what’s going to happen to you. It’s a test in itself."

Scully says that being a veteran fighter stands for more than what has happened in the ring.

"When people say ‘experience’… this guy’s got a lot of experience. It’s not just the fight. This guy’s been in the dressing room 35 times as opposed to your 10. He’s beat it. He’s gotten stronger because of it every time."

Early Spring sunlight shoots through the skylight windows at the San Juan Center boxing gym in downtown Hartford, CT. Both pro and amateur fighters work out, sparring, hitting the mitts with trainers and pounding the heavybags. "Being in the gym is very relaxing," says Scully. "I can box 10 rounds easy in the gym."

But once a fight is signed, there is a mental and emotional progression leading up to the bout.

"Every day it just intensifies and other things in your life become less important. It gets to the point where your whole life revolves around this one particular fight."

According to Scully, a fighter’s mental state the night before a fight can depend on his training.

"When I fought Michael Nunn, I was so focused, so sure and so ready, I slept like a baby…Drake Thadzi was probably the worst. I just couldn’t lose weight properly. I was weak. I was up all night. It was like going to the electric chair. I was like, ‘I’m going to die tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m going to get killed.’

The pre-fight dressing room is the final moment of truth:

"If you’re in the dressing room and you realize you skipped days of running, instead of doing 100 sit-ups a day you did 50. It all hits you at that moment. You can’t escape it."

Scully says that any honest fighter will tell you there were times he wanted to run out of there.

[JAB5239]

THIS is why all fighters deserve respect.

[BM dnobagaV]

First heavyweight boxer to have a college degree? That is a cool tidbit of history right there

[Citizen Koba]

https://www.******.com/614596-best-i...crusher-smith/

James "Bone crusher
" Smith talks about his career and the best fighters he faced. Nice article.

Not a wonder the two top fighters overall, but Smith had a pretty good career coming from such a meager start.

Edit: I posted this with out checking the link. It's Ring if you're interested.

Good read, but I'm guessing you ain't seen Chrismart's 'Best I Faced' thread...

https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/s...d.php?t=641139

[JAB5239]

Have you ever read this article?

https://projects.nj.com/investigatio...zyz/index.html

I myself remember when Czyz bragged about his IQ and being a member of Mensa in interviews. Years of alcohol abuse and repeated problems with the law made him end like this.

So much for presumed intelligence.

Wow....I didn't know a lot of that, thanks for sharing it. Very sad.

[JAB5239]

Good read, but I'm guessing you ain't seen Chrismart's 'Best I Faced' thread...

https://www.boxingscene.com/forums/s...d.php?t=641139

I hadn't seen it, no. I'll check it out thought. Chrismart has always been a good poster in so I'm sure it's a good thread...thanks!

[Citizen Koba]

I hadn't seen it, no. I'll check it out thought. Chrismart has always been a good poster in so I'm sure it's a good thread...thanks!

He is a good poster and it's a Lengendary thread though it's less well known than it should be. Basically it's a complilation of The Ring's 'Best I Faced' articles going back to 2014 (and maybe beyond - can't recall if Chris transcribed some of the earlier articles too).

[Tatabanya]

Wow....I didn't know a lot of that, thanks for sharing it. Very sad.

Sad indeed.

Of course, IQ issues aside, one must also consider the decisive shock that Czyz received when he found his father dead.

[JAB5239]

He is a good poster and it's a Lengendary thread though it's less well known than it should be. Basically it's a complilation of The Ring's 'Best I Faced' articles going back to 2014 (and maybe beyond - can't recall if Chris transcribed some of the earlier articles too).

I just read a few of them and loved it. Good stuff for sure!!