Which fighters do you love?

[ßringer]

Emile Griffith- The kindest man in boxing in and outside the ring. He would give his last two pennies to any person in need and that's the selflessness I admire in any human being. World Welter Champion, Super Welter, Middleweight titlist who is best known for his his 1962 televised trilogy with Benny 'Kid' Paret, where Paret went into a comatose state after 12 rounds that had an enraged Griffith battering him against the ropes, Paret died nine days later. This launched the first assault by congress to ban boxing not only from television but in general.

Emile has never been a vicious fighter in the ring for fear of hurting his opponents, his rage was provoked due to years of aggressive mocking and harassment by Paret, due to Griffith's sexual preferences. Benny's death tortured Emile for years and he gave 50% of his future purses to the fallen fighter's family for the majority of his career. Emile Griffith lived in an era of boxing that would have shunned him and robbed him of his career if he would have been open about his sexual identity, he was abused, lied to, and taken advantage of because of his naive and kind hearted demeanor. Through it all, Emile Griffith stood out as an ambassador to the sport of boxing that makes me proud to be a boxing fan, not only because of what he's been able to accomplish in the ring, but what he has also done out of it.

Arron Pryor- What can I really say about this guy? He was pure animalistic fury in the ring. A stalker that would be on you no matter how much damage you inflicted, sapping you of any will or desire you had at that moment in time when you were losing to him. Subtle boxer that would unleash from many angles painting a master piece on your face, just ask Arguello. Although I was really young, watching taped fights of this guy inspired me to start fighting.

Rocky Marciano- Not the most gifted fighter, but had the heart of a lion, you couldn't diminish his courage even if you tried. Class act fighter, didn't run his mouth like a lot of hollow ******* out there nowadays and fought like his life depended on it, and eventually tore your ass up. Amazing fighter, I understand very well why he has haters.

Oscar De La Hoya- A lot of people talk mad **** about an individual they don't know, but if you're gonna judge someone for their human imperfections then you better take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror. I'm not a Golden Boy nut clinger, but I respect Oscar for the way he carries himself in the ring inside and out. His personality is similar to mine, people often mistake his kindness for weakness and give him no respect over some private **** in life that any human being would succumb to, he's never really talked **** about anybody unless provoked and he's always been an elite fighter.

Damn..so many other fighter's I have great respect for but I won't turn this into a book lol. Anyway that's what boxing to me is all about.

Aside from myself, you're the only other person I've ever seen on here bring up Emile Griffith's name. Emile was great, I had major respect for that guy not only for his skill and will, but the amount of **** he had to deal with throughout his life.

I'd love to meet him and just shake his hand.

[El Dominicano]

Give me some details about why you picked the ones you did. I'm very interested in how you feel about those particular fighters and I have a feeling you can capture that passion in word.

Bernard was VERY fun to watch in his prime the guy was a BEAST and I'd give him a really good chance against Hagler. From his destruction of Antwun Ecols I & II/Glen Johnson/Mercado, Schooling of Tarver, Eliminating Winky's Jab/Straights, Making Tito look like the underdog...Its hard NOT to like the guy. I like that fact that he talks too much, that doesn't bother me at all. Its HARD to watch him fight Now because of what he used to be but I'm still a fan. I want him to beat Pavlik, avenge his lost to RJJ and then retire.

Mayweather/ Pernell are two of my favorite little guys. They're two of the most complete fighters I've seen. Even tough they're nown as outboxers they won't hesitate to brawl if you push them. Would be a DREAM fight to see these two go at it at 140...I'd pay a whole lot.

Joan Guzman is slick and has GREAT defense. He is on a whole other level and its too bad he messed up the opportunity of getting 3 belts. What suxs the most about being a fan of his is that I sometimes told "Its because he is Dominican" This Dominican fighter felt into the style of fighterz I like. Yeah he is GREAT to watch and now that he screwed thingz up with Nate...I'd say go after Valero or someone.

[Porter's Dad]

Forgot to mention Duran I love watching him fight. It's like he really enjoys being in the ring, especially when he was a lightweight

Duran was a tour-de-force, a complete badass. Offensively wonderful, but I also loved the way he slipped punches so effortlessly.

It's such a great regret of mine that I wasn't around during prime-era Duran. Actually, a past-prime Duran was still good value.

Manos De Piedra forever.

[ßringer]

Bernard was VERY fun to watch in his prime the guy was a BEAST and I'd give him a really good chance against Hagler. From his destruction of Antwun Ecols I & II/Glen Johnson/Mercado, Schooling of Tarver, Eliminating Winky's Jab/Straights, Making Tito look like the underdog...Its hard NOT to like the guy. I like that fact that he talks too much, that doesn't bother me at all. Its HARD to watch him fight Now because of what he used to be but I'm still a fan. I want him to beat Pavlik, avenge his lost to RJJ and then retire.

Mayweather/ Pernell are two of my favorite little guys. They're two of the most complete fighters I've seen. Even tough they're nown as outboxers they won't hesitate to brawl if you push them. Would be a DREAM fight to see these two go at it at 140...I'd pay a whole lot.

Joan Guzman is slick and has GREAT defense. He is on a whole other level and its too bad he messed up the opportunity of getting 2 belts. What suxs the most about being a fan of his is that I sometimes told "Its because he is Dominican" This Dominican fighter felt into the style of fighterz I like. Yeah he is GREAT to watch and now that he screwed thingz up with Nate...I'd say go after Valero or someone.

I knew you'd come with it. Had no idea you loved Hopkins though, good ****.

And I'm hoping for that exact outcome for his career (beating Pavlik, then Roy, then retirement.), though even if he beats Kelly I say Roy goes for the Tarver/Dawson winner instead. Roy hates Bernard, and vice versa.

I'm not a big Floyd fan, though I have nothing but respect for him. Skillwise he ****s on anybody from his era. I loved Whitaker, I felt so bad when he lost to Trinidad like that. He should've never even been there, that loss ate at me for nearly 2 weeks.

And I'm a fan of Guzman as well. I hope he gets his weight issues straightened out alright and comes back with a ****. I've seen him do **** that I've never seen before. (I love when he'll squat down, damn near to his knees to avoid something, then pop up and hit his opponet flush before skipping ot the side.)

[ßringer]

Duran was a tour-de-force, a complete badass. Offensively wonderful, but I also loved the way he slipped punches so effortlessly.

It's such a great regret of mine that I wasn't around during prime-era Duran. Actually, a past-prime Duran was still good value.

Manos De Piedra forever.

I regret not being around for Frazier's era, I was born in '85. And I started watching boxing around '90. Growing up I had always heard people talk about him, many friends of my parents had met him, and I got his career on VHS from one of them.

I wouldn't let anybody tell me who won before I got the chance to watch them, so in essence, it's like I watched them live....almost.

The loss to Foreman made me profoundly sad, way sadder than any 5 or 6 year old kid ever should be.

[Scott9945]

I feel you Scott, on the don't get to hooked on a fighter. I punched a hole threw my uncles hall door during MT vs JCC 1 match. I worked for free that summer.

I had the same reaction after that fight Pea, although it had a lot more to do with the money it cost me.

[El Dominicano]

I knew you'd come with it. Had no idea you loved Hopkins though, good ****.

And I'm hoping for that exact outcome for his career (beating Pavlik, then Roy, then retirement.), though even if he beats Kelly I say Roy goes for the Tarver/Dawson winner instead. Roy hates Bernard, and vice versa.

I'm not a big Floyd fan, though I have nothing but respect for him. Skillwise he ****s on anybody from his era. I loved Whitaker, I felt so bad when he lost to Trinidad like that. He should've never even been there, that loss ate at me for nearly 2 weeks.

And I'm a fan of Guzman as well. I hope he gets his weight issues straightened out alright and comes back with a ****. I've seen him do **** that I've never seen before. (I love when he'll squat down, damn near to his knees to avoid something, then pop up and hit his opponet flush before skipping ot the side.)

The thing with the whole B-Hop and RJJ thing is that many don't understand that they're hate for eachother is what didn't allow the 2nd fight to happen. I would have love to have seen it because B-Hop changed ALOT after that defeat. As for Pernell...he was so out of his prime during the Tito fight, I think he was 35 and what I liked about Tito was the FACT that he didn't play the Whitaker Game which was crazy. Still it was a good fight and Pernell fought his ass off. Ricky Hatton, Chris Arreola and James Toney gotta stop taking Guzman out to eat

[Scott9945]

The thing with the whole B-Hop and RJJ thing is that many don't understand that they're hate for eachother is what didn't allow the 2nd fight to happen. I would have love to have seen it because B-Hop changed ALOT after that defeat. As for Pernell...he was so out of his prime during the Tito fight, I think he was 35 and what I liked about Tito was the FACT that he didn't play the Whitaker Game which was crazy. Still it was a good fight and Pernell fought his ass off. Ricky Hatton, Chris Arreola and James Toney gotta stop taking Guzman out to eat

I don't think that Jones and Hopkins hate each other. They are both just incredibly stubborn, with Roy being somewhat of a control freak too. I've heard that they get along rather well when they're not negotiating a fight.

[ßringer]

The thing with the whole B-Hop and RJJ thing is that many don't understand that they're hate for eachother is what didn't allow the 2nd fight to happen. I would have love to have seen it because B-Hop changed ALOT after that defeat. As for Pernell...he was so out of his prime during the Tito fight, I think he was 35 and what I liked about Tito was the FACT that he didn't play the Whitaker Game which was crazy. Still it was a good fight and Pernell fought his ass off. Ricky Hatton, Chris Arreola and James Toney gotta stop taking Guzman out to eat

Neither 'Nard nor Roy were at the top of their game when they first clashed, but I think Roy had a slight edge. The rematch should've taken place after Hopkins' destruction of Trinidad, if I could go back in time and change one event that is boxing related, that'd be the one. Seeing those two go at it in late '01 or early '02 would've been epic.

I'd still pay to see it now though. Granted it would be dimished, but Roy's offense isn't so amazing that Bernard would have a lot of problems dealing with it. And Roy is a bit gunshy these days, so that'd negate the stamina edge he'd have.

I think Tito's fans overrated that performance against Whitaker about as highly as I've seen any performance overrated. A prime Pernell, or even slightly past prime Pernell would've handled him with relative ease.

[ßringer]

I don't think that Jones and Hopkins hate each other. They are both just incredibly stubborn, with Roy being somewhat of a control freak too. I've heard that they get along rather well when they're not negotiating a fight.

I've heard they've chilled out in recent years as well. I even saw Roy say some positive things on Hopkins earlier this year on "Friday Night Fights" the night before Hopkins/Calzaghe.

But back then, when Bernard won the tournament, it was hate.