Trivia: Army Boxers Who've Made The Grade

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 09 Aug 2004, 08:07

Have there been any boxers from the army who've gone onto make the grade or who've done well as amateurs but couldn't repeat it in the pros/

1. Nigel Benn: WBO middleweight/WBC super-middleweight world champion. Former Royal Fusilier

2. Carl Crook: British & Commonwealth lightweight champion was in the Paras, I think.

Any others?

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 09 Aug 2004, 08:09

David Barnes was in the army. British title now. Think he went inside for A.W.O.L?

Boxingmad · Post by **Boxingmad** » 09 Aug 2004, 08:11

I think he was in the Paras too, though don't know if he got his Red Beret though.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 09 Aug 2004, 08:20

Dazzo Williams was in the army.

TheGoods · Post by **TheGoods** » 09 Aug 2004, 08:39

Commonwealth lightweight champ Kev Bennett was as well.
And lest we forget Billy 'Big Fun' Bessey aka 'Man In Thong', former Army boxer, ABA super-heaveyweight champion (who knocked out Mighty Joe Young in the final), and all-round nightclub lothario who finished his pro "career" with a 3-1 record.

Wilko · Post by **Wilko** » 09 Aug 2004, 10:10

If your talking international boxers too then Ray Mercer was in the army and wasn't Vitali Klitschko also?

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Aug 2004, 10:14

Jack Doyle

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 09 Aug 2004, 10:15

Kostya Tszyu, Gene Tunney.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Aug 2004, 10:50

Roman Greenberg is ex-army.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 09 Aug 2004, 10:55

Has he made the grade? I'll bet you rate him above Ali too...

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:19

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Has he made the grade? I'll bet you rate him above Ali too...

No, he hasnt made the grade.

Of course, one thing Ali never did was go in the army

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:20

Riddick Bowe

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:20

One up for Roman in that case...

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:30

Ray Mercer

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:32

Joe Louis.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 09 Aug 2004, 11:45

Well his career predated the Army though surely Dave, didn't he box exhibitions in the Army?

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 09 Aug 2004, 12:08

The same exhibitions that were offered to Ali in 1967.

I'm sure Louis didn't see much frontline action but he did his time and boosted morale, counts as serving your country to me.

His career pre-dated and followed the war, I suspect.

But the links were getting tenous by the time I put him forward.

I jsut had a mental picture of him getting on the plane.

chado · Post by **chado** » 09 Aug 2004, 12:58

Light welter, Ali Nuumbembe is an Officer in The Namibian Army and has been allowed unpaid leave to pursue a career in boxing.

He has his own Platoon but has not yet met them as he came to the U.K. the same time he was promoted.

All African Champion, World Military Champion, Commonwealth Bronze and 9 and 0 as a professional. He's doing ok so far.

neil r · Post by **neil r** » 09 Aug 2004, 13:50

there were dozens during the 50s and 60s primarily due to war time call ups and national sevice.

the yanks too had a few, tony graziano, henry armstrong, marciano too

mickeybeard · Post by **mickeybeard** » 09 Aug 2004, 19:02

Anyone mentioned Kevin Bennett yet? Sorry, it's late and I'm skim reading...

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » 09 Aug 2004, 21:01

Wasn't Ken Norton a Marine?

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 10 Aug 2004, 04:03

Johnny Carwash wrote:Wasn't Ken Norton a Marine?

Yes and Terry Marsh was a Royal Marine

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 10 Aug 2004, 04:26

Paul Ingle?

Hardhitters11 · Post by **Hardhitters11** » 10 Aug 2004, 04:27

Ray Mercer...

Its not worth going back to far as the majority of the older boxers will have served at some point or other...

HH

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 10 Aug 2004, 04:43

DavidPayne wrote:Riddick Bowe