what pro fighter have you met?

[THE REAL NINJA]

Being a boxer has been great for me because of the opportunities it sometimes gives me to meet people... Muhammad Ali (shadowboxed with him), Archie Moore (he was a mentor of mine since I was 15), Willie Pep (we live near each other, gave him a ride to the airport once), ... Ken Norton, Foreman, McClellan (when we were amateurs), Bones Adams when he was 13, Cornelius Boza Edwards (he helped me work a corner once in Las Vegas back in 2002, Michael and Leon Spinks, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio (he hit me in the balls once when were kind of slap boxing, true story), Aaron Pryor 9many times including once in 1989 when we were sharing a dressing room in Rochester), andmany others. NOTHING compares to meeting Aliand even people that aren't big fans of his will often tell you that... there is a certain (powerful) presense about him...crazy stuff..if you met him u likely know what I'm talking about....

I love the old pics of guys like Archie Moore and Joe Louis when they were watching a young guy spar . I always wonder what they were thinking one pic I have I think it is Moore and Tyson together ,just amazing to see them in the same place and time .

[Rockin']

Being a boxer has been great for me because of the opportunities it sometimes gives me to meet people... Muhammad Ali (shadowboxed with him), Archie Moore (he was a mentor of mine since I was 15), Willie Pep (we live near each other, gave him a ride to the airport once), ... Ken Norton, Foreman, McClellan (when we were amateurs), Bones Adams when he was 13, Cornelius Boza Edwards (he helped me work a corner once in Las Vegas back in 2002, Michael and Leon Spinks, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio (he hit me in the balls once when were kind of slap boxing, true story), Aaron Pryor 9many times including once in 1989 when we were sharing a dressing room in Rochester), andmany others. NOTHING compares to meeting Aliand even people that aren't big fans of his will often tell you that... there is a certain (powerful) presense about him...crazy stuff..if you met him u likely know what I'm talking about....

I felt that aura of Ali, its very peacefull.

Bones would come and train at our gym when he was like 12 or 13. Wasnt he rollin' in from Kentucky or somehwere? He was good even back then too. We sparred a couple of times. I was like 14 or 15 I believe at the time. The kid was tenacious.

I just met Ray Mancini at the fights that we worked. Super nice guy as you know most of them are. After the Mesi fight Joe came back to our locker room and we chatted for a while, another really nice guy. My favorite boxer that I have ever met would still have to be Hilmer Kenty, the guy is just a class act. When I was young my trainer took me to his house and all of us talked and hung out. Hilmer showed me his belt, I was awestruck at its presence. But Hilmer shines brighter than any belt. Like I said, class act.

Rockin'

[GEOFFHAYES]

I've met guys like Hagler, Benn, Mugabi, actually shook hands with them at the Pea**** Gym. Benn in '88, Hagler and Mugabi in about '89. I watched Michael Watson train there once for one of his Commonwealth title defences and Gerald McClellan train there once for the Benn fight. Met Mugabi again in '93 when he beat up Gary Stretch in sparring that summer. Frank Bruno and Naseem Hamed came to my gym once in '95, Joe Calzaghe, and actually sparred with guys like Glenn Catley, Dean Francis, Ryan Rhodes (at Neville Brown's gym in Burton), Neville Brown, Carl Froch. I'm personal friends with Dean Francis (still spar with him at his dad's gym in Basingstoke, he could of beaten Calzaghe if not for his shoulder injury) and Belly (Stevie Bell) from the Phoenix camp (ie Hatton's gym).

[Rockin']

I've met guys like Hagler, Benn, Mugabi, actually shook hands with them at the Pea**** Gym. Benn in '88, Hagler and Mugabi in about '89. I watched Michael Watson train there once for one of his Commonwealth title defences and Gerald McClellan train there once for the Benn fight. Met Mugabi again in '93 when he beat up Gary Stretch in sparring that summer. Frank Bruno and Naseem Hamed came to my gym once in '95, Joe Calzaghe, and actually sparred with guys like Glenn Catley, Dean Francis, Ryan Rhodes (at Neville Brown's gym in Burton), Neville Brown, Carl Froch. I'm personal friends with Dean Francis (still spar with him at his dad's gym in Basingstoke, he could of beaten Calzaghe if not for his shoulder injury) and Belly (Stevie Bell) from the Phoenix camp (ie Hatton's gym).

I sparred with Gary Stretch down at Galaxy around like 93 or 94. He was a really nice guy. Descent fighter too.

Rockin'

[GEOFFHAYES]

I always thought Stretch was an *******. Did you smudge his make-up Rockin'?

[BuddyChacon]

I sparred with Gary Stretch down at Galaxy around like 93 or 94. He was a really nice guy. Descent fighter too.

Rockin'

When I sparred with Frankie Randall and he avoided my face and worked on my body. He nailed me with a couple of hooks and it was bad. I was 15 or 16 at the time. It was after he lost to Rahilou and before fighting Carr and he talks really country. It was surreal sparring with a guy who beat Chavez. I know I have told this before but it was my only acheivement in life.

[Rockin']

When I sparred with Frankie Randall and he avoided my face and worked on my body. He nailed me with a couple of hooks and it was bad. I was 15 or 16 at the time. It was after he lost to Rahilou and before fighting Carr and he talks really country. It was surreal sparring with a guy who beat Chavez.

Ive always had the utmost respect for Randall. I remember watching him on cable when I was younger, tough tough guy. Sharp skill too. I had an amatuer bout with Oba back in the day, he was sharp too. How long did you box for?

Rockin'

[Rockin']

I always thought Stretch was an *******. Did you smudge his make-up Rockin'?

Ive heard those things about him and I dont know if they are true or not. From my encounters with him he was just always a nice person. Bell rings and you fight. Bell rings again your nice person. We talked abit one day after the workouts and I liked him.

Rockin'

[BuddyChacon]

From about 11 to 18. I got jumped by like six guys after busting this guys lip at a party. I got a detached retina and was beaten for like 45 minutes. I had to quit after going to the eye doctor and it ruined my vision. I only had about 26 fights but lots of smokers. Boxing isn't big where I live, so in the summer I would go to Mobile to box.

[Rockin']

From about 11 to 18. I got jumped by like six guys after busting this guys lip at a party. I got a detached retina and was beaten for like 45 minutes. I had to quit after going to the eye doctor and it ruined my vision. I only had about 26 fights but lots of smokers. Boxing isn't big where I live, so in the summer I would go to Mobile to box.

Thats good, 26 fights is a descent #. Enough to know that you can handle yourself fine. Is that Alabama you were from?

Rockin'