Can your favourite fighter ever be from before you where born?

[paddyman87]

I was having a discussion with my gf's dad about favourite fighters and I said Calzaghe, I know he's not the best ever, but in my lifetime I watched him on tv growing up and went to 2 of his fights, my gf's dad tried to persuade me that it should be Ali, but as I never watched one of his fights live how can he be? So I was wondering does anyone have a favourite fighter from before they where born?

[Clegg]

Nope, page 7 of the Boxing Fan Rulebook expressly forbids it

Seriously though, I think that whoever you like the most is your favourite fighter, regardless of who they may be.

I'm a Calzaghe fan as well, and no older fight has offered the tension/suspense that I felt waiting to hear the decision at the end of his fight with Hopkins. Your favourite fighter can be from whenever you like, but I think it's more likely that you'll hold guys in particularly special regard if you followed their career, the ups and downs and the drama of not just their fights but the days/weeks leading up to them as well.

I'm not sure if many would agree with this way of describing it, but for me I'd say that I'd compare watching+appreciating older fighters the same way that I can enjoy a great documentary film. There are of course some excellent documentaries out there that I've watched multiple times. But I'd say that a fighter who you've followed while his career was ongoing is like watching a theatrical film: you're along for the ride, and you're on the edge of your seat not knowing what the next twist or turn is going to be or how things will end.

Ali-Frazier I is a great fight, but I can't recall where I was the first time I saw it. Same goes for all of the Ali, Robinson, Duran etc. fights I've seen. On the other hand I could tell you about the first time I saw Pac fight, or the incredible excitement of being a kid staying up until 3am and watching FOTY Hamed-Kelley taking place, or even the drama of the 12th round of Bute-Andrade I, which is not likely to go down in history as being anywhere near as notable or as memorable as Chavez-Taylor I, but which I was more engrossed in because it was live.

So I guess it differs from person to person, but for me I'm more likely to be a big fan of someone if they've been active during the time I've followed the sport.

[The Surgeon]

Most of my favourite fighters are form my era, guys i watched come up and saw at their best and saw live. U can just connect better but u gotta love some of the old skool guys, For example Joe Louis is my 2nd favourite fighter ever and i never saw him fight live obviously

[tofu2009]

Of course, the one time someone asked me who my fave footballer was, and at the time it was Gary Barry. The guy who asked me could not comprehend my response, because I didn't say anyone like Messi, Ronaldo etc.

When obviously as you state, your fave Boxer can be anyone you want it to be.

[young_robbed]

I think it could be anybody