Of Thugs and Men

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Great prizefighters are rarely mean-spirited people. The great ones have a way of letting their fists do the talking. For them talk is cheap. The very nature of their chosen profession seems to siphon away their maliciousness outside the ring. In simpler times, another time, another place, the world was less complicated and the fight game was populated by noble men.

Having been lucky enough to have spent summer mornings and fall evenings with gentlemen like Floyd Patterson, Carlos Ortiz and Alexis Arguello its easy to forget that these men achieved what they did in life by beating others with their fists. They are gracious, humble souls full of endearing qualities and they have an appreciation for a having lived an honest life. They respected their sport and the championships that they won and lost in the ring. There was no trash talking during their primes, no profanity laced tirades and no disrespect. They weren’t thugs – they were men – and they wore their violence subtly. [details]

[guru]

speaking of poor sportsmanship, walter wright on the contender is quickly becoming my least favorite fighter.... here's hoping that K9 KO's him

[grayfist]

I am one of those who pine for simpler times, sometimes. The times when champions conducted themselves impecably outside the ring --and, yes, out of fans' sight in some cases.

Speaking of fans, I miss the days when fans were able to disagree without being disagreeable.

But then, I'm one of those guys who have Model T's and Mustang '64's in their garages, have vivid recollection of flower power volkswagen Kombis, have a collection of 33 rpms Grateful Dead albums, heard Carlos Santana at Haight-Ashbury and who still wish that women would make "sure to wear flowers in their hair" in San Francisco.

Edit: Seriously, can we go back to that thing stated in the second paragraph?

Oh well, I'm so OLD!

[The Raging Bull]

That is a great article. But as it says, it sells to be a thug and that is what the boxers of today are doing. Selling their image. How people act normally depends on the society they were brought up in. So we get the trashy thugs now, when years ago, it was the gentlemen like Louis and Patterson.

[King Koyle]

speaking of poor sportsmanship, walter wright on the contender is quickly becoming my least favorite fighter.... here's hoping that K9 KO's him

I agree!If K9 doesn't do it,I hope Noberto Bravo does!

[Zaned]

speaking of poor sportsmanship, walter wright on the contender is quickly becoming my least favorite fighter.... here's hoping that K9 KO's him

I agree, At first Walter Wright was ok in my book.
Now, you see him talking trash,showboating, etc.. just shows poor sportsmanship. I hope K9 wips him good.

[K-DOGG]

Stewart makes a great point concerning how an athlete carries himself.

The decline of the popularity of the sport could be either a direct or an indirect result to the way modern fighters are perceived, for most do not carry themselves with the kind of class and honor that Louis, Marciano, and Patterson did.

Great point by the author....and kudos for pointing it out.

[Kball15]

GREAT read. one of favorites on this site so far. great work right there

[Kball15]

speaking of poor sportsmanship, walter wright on the contender is quickly becoming my least favorite fighter.... here's hoping that K9 KO's him

I feel the same exact way. i like bundrage a lot, and i hate wright. i was pissed when wright put his name in the wrong spot, but luckily he switched it. Im looking forward to that fight the most