Classy Fighters

[goblin213]

The category of 'class' probably should be expanded but it is also a subjective term. But I'm sure nobody can argue that Ali was a very influential figure in and out of the ring, and the media microscope was constantly on him - so any wrong word is captured.

Agree on Martinez and Trinidad, but Barrera punching Morales at a press conference? That must have been something to see.

here's another classic

[IronDanHamza]

strange..angelo dundee was white

When Muhammad Ali was asked on the Micehal Parkinson show about Angelo Dundee he said Angelo Dundee isn't even a friend to him, merely an associate.

He said he has no white friends. Something about all white people being the devil, or something....

[Flo_Raiden]

Nonito Donaire, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Sergio Martinez seem classy to me.

[Thread Stealer]

I like the class displayed by Alexis Arguello. Very respectful of opponents, the sport itself, taking on the toughest tests. It's sad he had to battle personal demons for so long.

Styles makes fights in boxing, and here are some of the fighters which had some interesting styles. In no particular order, I think these guys were cool in and out of the ring.

Sugar Ray Leonard
- great quickness, power, skill and defence
- throws brilliant combinations
- always respects his opponents and his fans
- never heard anything negative about him in and outside of the ring

Leonard admitted to having problems with ******* and alcohol, during a time in which he beat up his wife Juanita. He was also known as a primadonna who rubbed many people the wrong way with his demands.

Marvin Hagler
- gentleman brawler
- great power, chin, and inside game
- fought all the greats - Hearns, Duran, Leonard

Hagler was more of a boxer than a brawler. At least for the great majority of his career.

Muhammad Ali (of course)
- I think he invented the slick Afro-American style
- combined power, quickness, and technique
- controversy was part of his era (Vietnam, social revolution, racism, etc..)

Jack Johnson had slick boxing skills. Was ahead of his time, although god-awful to watch nowadays. Jersey Joe Walcott was slick. So was Archie Moore.

Oscar DeLa Hoya (of course)
- skills, speed, power and throws good combinations
- straight up classic style, with good forward movement
- controversies mainly after his boxing career ended
- helped bring boxing back to the mainstream in the 90s

De La Hoya had controversial decisions throughout his career. Do you mean controversies in terms of how GBP conducts business?

With regards to Ali, he often poked fun at his opponents but never in a hateful way like Mayweather does. He also changed his religion from Christianity to Islam, and went to jail because he didn't want to fight in Vietnam. He was famously quoted for summing up the war in these words: "Here lies the yellow man, killed by a black man, fighting for the white man."

I think Ali goes beyond class because he fought not just in the ring, but also in defiance against the consevative 'white' establishment of the time. Maybe he has outboxed the establishment because we honor him today.

No, Ali's offensive comments to opponents (and non-boxers) were FAR worse than anything that jackass Floyd says.

Calling Joe Frazier an Uncle Tom? A gorilla?

Calling Joe Louis and Jackie ****ing Robinson Uncle Toms?

Saying that ******s who married non-******s should be KILLED?

That's more hateful than the excrement spewed from Floyd's mouth.

Ali was a great, great boxer, extremely charismatic, and his generous side is well-known, but he could be a real asshole as well.

[balintawak]

^^^
Wow!
You must have been watching boxing for at least 4 decades.

About DLH, yes I think the way he conducts himself now, and his business is controversial.

[Walt Liquor]

Frazier was being backed by a group of largely white Philadelphia businessmen. I think that was to a large degree the catalyst for Ali's comments.

i haven't even gotten to his comments about jackie robinson and dundee