Fighters from the past you'd like to have met

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 28 Apr 2008, 15:24

If we could invent a time machine, who are some of the fighters from the past you'd go back in time to meet? Not necessarily to see fight, but with whom you'd just like to meet and hang out?

My top pick would be Bob Fitzsimmons. By all accounts, a zany, fun-loving guy, and great story-teller.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 28 Apr 2008, 15:39

Tommy Ryan, or perhaps John L -- on a sober day.

bjermaine · Post by **bjermaine** » 28 Apr 2008, 19:09

Marciano!

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 28 Apr 2008, 20:40

Id like to have met alot of the old time guys Sullivan, Jeffries etc and ask to have a roll with them.

I think they would be pretty keen to mix it up and not just box.

Id like to have met Patterson when he was young, hung around with him.

Holmes would be pretty interesting, I think he would have been more approachable before he became champion.

Baer and Cobb would both have been funny guys to train and be around.

I would have liked to met Foreman during the late 60s and early 70s to see how different he is to the man we have now come familar to listening to on HBO.

Realrobroy · Post by **Realrobroy** » 28 Apr 2008, 21:54

Langford , legendary in witt and equally compelling in terms of situation ... historically speaking .... hard to beat my friends !

Goodnight, Irene · Post by **Goodnight, Irene** » 28 Apr 2008, 22:05

Can't go past hanging out with Maxxy Baer. I can think of none better.

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 28 Apr 2008, 23:28

Robinson wrote:Id like to have met alot of the old time guys Sullivan, Jeffries etc and ask to have a roll with them.

I think they would be pretty keen to mix it up and not just box.

Id like to have met Patterson when he was young, hung around with him.

Holmes would be pretty interesting, I think he would have been more approachable before he became champion.

Baer and Cobb would both have been funny guys to train and be around.

I would have liked to met Foreman during the late 60s and early 70s to see how different he is to the man we have now come familar to listening to on HBO.

Robinson, Foreman was very quiet and didn't say much. He would speak if spoken to, but that was it. When he came to Oklahoma City to fight Lou Bailey, I remember him sitting on the Pat O'Grady's couch reading Sean O'Grady's comic books, and not saying a word to anyone.

He's making up for all that silence now.

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 28 Apr 2008, 23:41

I always love to watch him after a bout, during the interviews and the in ring chaos.

I think after he beat Norton, a fighter approaches him about something and you can not hear in great detail but you can make out Foreman saying 'You go away now."

Anothr great moment was when he looks down to Saddler "I told you to behave now Dick"

Seems like an interesting guy.

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 28 Apr 2008, 23:42

How old was Sean at the time ?

Goodnight, Irene · Post by **Goodnight, Irene** » 28 Apr 2008, 23:59

Robinson wrote:I always love to watch him after a bout, during the interviews and the in ring chaos.

I think after he beat Norton, a fighter approaches him about something and you can not hear in great detail but you can make out Foreman saying 'You go away now."

Anothr great moment was when he looks down to Saddler "I told you to behave now Dick"

Seems like an interesting guy.

How about him staring that poor French reporter down, who didn't speak great English, interviewing him just before the Rumble In The Jungle?

Reporter: "You would go on, even if you would lose?"

Foreman: "Beg your pardon?"

Reporter: "You would continue boxing, even if you...uh...would lose over there?"

Foreman: [Harder] "I beg your pardon?"

Jerry Izenberg: "Have you fought many guys who were talkers in the ring?"

Foreman: "No, I never get a chance to talk much. [Smile creeps across his face as he refuses to look up at Jerry] By the time you get to know a fella, it's all over."

Which Sean are you referring to?

p4p1 · Post by **p4p1** » 29 Apr 2008, 02:02

Goodnight, Irene wrote:
Robinson wrote:I always love to watch him after a bout, during the interviews and the in ring chaos.

I think after he beat Norton, a fighter approaches him about something and you can not hear in great detail but you can make out Foreman saying 'You go away now."

Anothr great moment was when he looks down to Saddler "I told you to behave now Dick"

Seems like an interesting guy.

How about him staring that poor French reporter down, who didn't speak great English, interviewing him just before the Rumble In The Jungle?

Reporter: "You would go on, even if you would lose?"

Foreman: "Beg your pardon?"

Reporter: "You would continue boxing, even if you...uh...would lose over there?"

Foreman: [Harder] "I beg your pardon?"

Jerry Izenberg: "Have you fought many guys who were talkers in the ring?"

Foreman: "No, I never get a chance to talk much. [Smile creeps across his face as he refuses to look up at Jerry] By the time you get to know a fella, it's all over."

Which Sean are you referring to?

i always thought the thing in the rumble in the jungle was funnny

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 29 Apr 2008, 09:16

Robinson wrote:How old was Sean at the time ?

He was 10 or 11 years old.

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 29 Apr 2008, 11:58

I'd like to have met Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore. Going back in time Johnson, Dempsey and Langford.

More recently Carlos Monzon. Just seems like a chilling character. many boxers play up the tough guy image but this guy just seems to ooze menace without trying too hard.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 29 Apr 2008, 13:33

Jack Johnson for me; just to ask him what it was like having to put up with the brown stuff that he had to put up with, yet remain so nonchalant.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 29 Apr 2008, 14:22

Terry D wrote:
Syntax Error wrote:Jack Johnson for me; just to ask him what it was like having to put up with the brown stuff that he had to put up with, yet remain so nonchalant.
Did he have a shit problem? Clingons I guess. blow me.

Joan of Arc. Or Marvin Hagler.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 29 Apr 2008, 17:49

I met Monzon when he came to Miami in the eighties and Brussa -his ex manager- was working for Tuto Zabala promotions.

I had dinner with him and he was -at least that night- a relaxed, easy going guy. We talked boxing and he said of the Napoles fight: "I could reach him easier than he could reach me..."

jonp · Post by **jonp** » 29 Apr 2008, 19:59

Harry Greb,Stanley Ketchel,Would loved to have met and chatted on a differnt kind of setting with Archie moore and Eddie futch.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 29 Apr 2008, 21:43

enrique wrote:I met Monzon when he came to Miami in the eighties and Brussa -his ex manager- was working for Tuto Zabala promotions.

I had dinner with him and he was -at least that night- a relaxed, easy going guy. We talked boxing and he said of the Napoles fight: "I could reach him easier than he could reach me..."

THAT'S an understatement.