Who is the boxing man you most respect?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 15 Jan 2004, 18:34

I must admit, I've got a lot of time for Bob Mee. He's a true pro. He does all the stats for Sky, and gets all the gossip from fighters beforehand. That's how Ian Darke seems to know so much.
He's also a great journalist.

Another man I admire, is the great Nobby Nobbs. He's probably on a motorway right now with a couple of his fighters. He's the lifeblood of the game. He knows that for every winner, there has to be a loser, and has capatalised on that.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 15 Jan 2004, 18:54

Peter Buckley one of the great unsung heroes, just look at the people he's shared a ring with.

kevin · Post by **kevin** » 15 Jan 2004, 19:33

Spot on there James, without people like Buckley where would the fight game be!

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 15 Jan 2004, 19:47

I echo that, guys like Paul Bonson, Nigel Senior, Peter Buckley etc keep the game going. And some idiots dare to call them "bums"

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jan 2004, 05:57

I am ashamed to say I once was one of those 'idiots' before I learned how important those guys are. Imagine what balls it takes getting in the ring with someone like Acelino Freitas when you know the gulf in class and punching power between you.

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 16 Jan 2004, 06:13

Bennie

I agree with you on Bob Mee - by far the best of the newspaper journalists.

He is also very approachable.

Ulysses · Post by **Ulysses** » 16 Jan 2004, 06:19

Mick Carney and his peers, such as Steve Hiser, Tony Burns etc. but especially Mr Carney.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 16 Jan 2004, 06:51

Mickey Duff, Claude Abrams

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Jan 2004, 06:55

Graham Houston - great writer and gets 99% of his previews right.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 16 Jan 2004, 07:10

Spud.

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 16 Jan 2004, 07:11

Two people (amongst many others) in British boxing I respect are:

Trainer: Brian Hughes - a great man who has dedicated his life to helping and informing others both in and out of boxing.

Promoter: allegedly - not everybody's cup of tea but for me he is a fantastic businessman.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 16 Jan 2004, 08:45

FlawedGenius wrote: Promoter: allegedly - not everybody's cup of tea but for me he is a fantastic businessman.

fair play for saying what you think, but 'shit the bed' I didn't expect to see his name on this thread.

Chambers · Post by **Chambers** » 16 Jan 2004, 08:48

I don't know any behind the scenes people in boxing, so I would choose Oscar De La Hoya for what he has achieved and for how he conducts himself in and out of the ring

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 16 Jan 2004, 08:49

Freddie Roach and Buddy McGirt.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 16 Jan 2004, 08:55

Yeah, I'm with Chambers on that one, I can't really nominate a well known matchmaker or some other behind-the-scenes type chap as I don't really know any.

I guess Lou DiBella of HBO for striving to force promoters make the best fights over the last decade?

Lennox Lewis for refusing to be shafted by those who control the sport, unlike almost every other Heavyweight of note. For coming out on top although they did their very best to keep him down.

As someone else said those guys like Peter Buckley that save shows at 8 hours notice.

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 16 Jan 2004, 09:05

All the fighters such as peter buckley,miguel matthews etc....

All of the small hall promoters for striving to make the sport as good as possible with there hard work at grass roots level!

Without the above people boxing would fall to pieces.

HH

DOG · Post by **DOG** » 16 Jan 2004, 09:48

Goz wrote:Spud.

ROTFLMFAO

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 16 Jan 2004, 09:59

Don't know many 'behind the scene' types, but Eddie Futch always struck me as just about the best guy in boxing.

Hugely knowledgable, he cared about his fighters well being and prepared them magnificently.

DOG · Post by **DOG** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:02

On a serious note I would say all mentioned previously are worthy. Nobby Nobbs etc.

but to take it back another step

I would nominate any local boxing/gym coach who puts himself out countless times for his community and the young (and old!) of that community.

These guys do this for the most part, for little of no payment, and just out of a love for the sport.

Without these guys (and girls) the lifeblood of would very quickly drain, and we wouldn't be left with too much.
Maybe more directionless youngsters out on the streets and severely reduced number of naturally talented amateurs and pros..We wouldn't have many potential Audley Harrisons on the horizon for Olympic glory on the horizon.....The pro game would lose the constant stream of new talent for the pro ranks

These are the people I have most respect for in boxing. The local guys who get kids/teenagers into Boxing at an early age..Teaching them disciplie, fitness and about life...And maybe unearthing a real boxing talent along the way

JimStone · Post by **JimStone** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:15

DOG wrote:I would nominate any local boxing/gym coach who puts himself out countless times for his community and the young (and old!) of that community.

That's a great call, mate. I can think of 8 people in particular who fit into that category and made a real impact on my life.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:28

It's true, these guys who run small local gyms often do so at their own expense, and never really make much of a living, if any at all.

I think they should receive lottery funding, because they really do serve their communities.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:32

jamesmcdonnell wrote:It's true, these guys who run small local gyms often do so at their own expense, and never really make much of a living, if any at all.

I think they should receive lottery funding, because they really do serve their communities.

Very true.

But Boxing is not politically correct and gets no recognition from the establishment.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:38

fornicating namby-pamby twats. I spoke to Ian Irwin of the British Olympic squad, and that's what he said, it's almost impossible to convince the sports minister to give funding to boxing, except at the highest amateur level, which really doesn't provide coaching to very many people. He said that they spoke to the sports minister, is it Kate Hoey, and she just didn't want to get involved in boxing at all, yet they are happy to give money to fornicating fencing, which hardly anyone participates in.

It's funny, the government in this country talks the talk about sport for all, and getting people off their asses, lack of exercise costs the NHS a fornicating fortune because everyone is getting so fat, and yet all of the local community gym's (not boxing, just sports centres) are all going private and up market, pricing them out of lots of people's bracket.

We are going to end up a nation of fat pudenda and the government is partly responsible.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 16 Jan 2004, 10:49

Spot on.

What Kate Hoey knows about sport the Lord alone knows.

Someone from a working class blue collar background should be sports minister.

Someone like Chris Okoh, for instance.

Did you hear the Radio 4 show on him last night. Very, very interesting and a very positive advert for boxing.

Is it in any of the papers?

Is it hell. They would rather report on Tyson biting someone.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 16 Jan 2004, 11:15

Hmm, I wonder how hard it is to get an interview with Kate Hoey? I'd like to ask her why boxing doesn't get more funding at grass roots level?