Thanks for being a friend

[bobcatbox]

I’ve been on the boxrec forum for about a year now, and it’s made boxing so much more fun for me personally. I live in a very isolated part of America where there are virtually no boxing fans, and there is little interest in boxing in my home state overall tbh. I’ve watched 99% of the fights in my life completely alone. It’s nice being able to talk boxing with people. Sorry for the sap this morning, but it had to be said.

Your community means a lot to me, and I’m genuinely thankful.

[DrDuke]

Thank you for making interesting posts as well!

[HomicideHenry]

No need to apologize for sappiness.

[Onetimeonly]

You're not alone, boxing is a niche sport here. The product sucks ass, talking about it keeps up interest.

[ironbeard]

You are welcome, and the feeling is mutual. Thank you!

[margaret thatcher]

[tiny_acres]

Thank you. Nice to come here and share our views

[candyslim]

I live in the London suburbs where there a plenty of people, plenty of sports fans, and a few who have some opinions about boxing.

I don't personally know anybody who could give me their insight into how Spence v Crawford (or Manny for that matter) is likely to play out. Hell I'd consider it marvellous if they even knew who I was asking about.

So I know exactly what you mean Bobcat and I'm grateful to everybody on this forum for providing me with someone I can talk boxing with. Even the few a-holes

[Cent0089]

Thank you guys for good boxing discussions. Also there is minumum trolls and idiots on this forum, i like browsing here

[Ruthless-RKO]

You’re welcome

[Bandog]

I live in the London suburbs where there a plenty of people, plenty of sports fans, and a few who have some opinions about boxing.

I don't personally know anybody who could give me their insight into how Spence v Crawford (or Manny for that matter) is likely to play out. Hell I'd consider it marvellous if they even knew who I was asking about.

So I know exactly what you mean Bobcat and I'm grateful to everybody on this forum for providing me with someone I can talk boxing with. Even the few a-holes

Most people here in the U.S. seem to be much bigger fans of mma vs boxing. Boxing fans have gotten less and less in the last 20+ yrs.

[candyslim]

You can't wonder at it. Too many great fights not getting made and fighters ducking each other.

[golden_labrador]

[JamesPhilips]

I’ve been on the boxrec forum for about a year now, and it’s made boxing so much more fun for me personally. I live in a very isolated part of America where there are virtually no boxing fans, and there is little interest in boxing in my home state overall tbh. I’ve watched 99% of the fights in my life completely alone. It’s nice being able to talk boxing with people. Sorry for the sap this morning, but it had to be said.

Your community means a lot to me, and I’m genuinely thankful.

Cool what part of the States do you live?

[lazboy]

Dear Bobcat,

I like boxing and I like you too

Kind regards,

Lazboy

[KiwiRider]

[bobcatbox]

I’ve been on the boxrec forum for about a year now, and it’s made boxing so much more fun for me personally. I live in a very isolated part of America where there are virtually no boxing fans, and there is little interest in boxing in my home state overall tbh. I’ve watched 99% of the fights in my life completely alone. It’s nice being able to talk boxing with people. Sorry for the sap this morning, but it had to be said.

Your community means a lot to me, and I’m genuinely thankful.

Cool what part of the States do you live?

I’m from southeastern Kentucky. Deep in the heart of Appalachia. It gets a bad reputation, but I honestly love living here. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.

A few contributions to boxing have been made here. Most notably Mayfield Pennington, who beat a way past his prime Emile Griffith. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/16209

Mayfield had a gym in Pikeville. Like most retired fighters he lived in poverty. He was the first guy who taught me how to box. I drove an hour both ways to work out. Such a sweet dude. He gave anyone who would pay $25.00 a month a key to the gym. He exclusively played Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, etc. in his gym. He was also friends with Buster Douglas. I was sadly on vacation the week that Buster visited the gym. Mayfield died about ten years ago in a car wreck. His gym is an auto parts store now..

A few hours north and you’ll hit Ashland, home of Mike Tyson victim Sammy Scaff. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/3047

It’s also the home of active boxer Travis “The Hillbilly” Hanshaw who is currently making a comeback. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/579040

Sadly other than Catlettsburg and Ashland, which are both roughly two hours away from my hometown, pretty much nobody on this side of Kentucky cares about boxing.

[JamesPhilips]

I’ve been on the boxrec forum for about a year now, and it’s made boxing so much more fun for me personally. I live in a very isolated part of America where there are virtually no boxing fans, and there is little interest in boxing in my home state overall tbh. I’ve watched 99% of the fights in my life completely alone. It’s nice being able to talk boxing with people. Sorry for the sap this morning, but it had to be said.

Your community means a lot to me, and I’m genuinely thankful.

Cool what part of the States do you live?

I’m from southeastern Kentucky. Deep in the heart of Appalachia. It gets a bad reputation, but I honestly love living here. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.

A few contributions to boxing have been made here. Most notably Mayfield Pennington, who beat a way past his prime Emile Griffith. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/16209

Mayfield had a gym in Pikeville. Like most retired fighters he lived in poverty. He was the first guy who taught me how to box. I drove an hour both ways to work out. Such a sweet dude. He gave anyone who would pay $25.00 a month a key to the gym. He exclusively played Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, etc. in his gym. He was also friends with Buster Douglas. I was sadly on vacation the week that Buster visited the gym. Mayfield died about ten years ago in a car wreck. His gym is an auto parts store now..

A few hours north and you’ll hit Ashland, home of Mike Tyson victim Sammy Scaff. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/3047

It’s also the home of active boxer Travis “The Hillbilly” Hanshaw who is currently making a comeback. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/579040

Sadly other than Catlettsburg and Ashland, which are both roughly two hours away from my hometown, pretty much nobody on this side of Kentucky cares about boxing.

I was gonna ask if it was in Appalachia! Wow..... amazing.... annoyed I didn't write that! thanks for the extensive post. Very interesting. I don't know much about the area, people from outside have tarred the area with a dirty brush (Deliverance didn't help...) but I don't believe that crap. The 'mainstream" view from outsiders who have never been there is usually BS. From your perspective what are locals like with outsiders? What are the friendliest/ best places to go? I know little about the area though I've been fascinated about this location for some time.... like you say its beautiful scenery.

I'm sorry to hear about your trainer..... what a shame. Funnily enough I always remember Sammy Scaff.... a huge man, who went for it against Tyson.... was brave but at that time Tyson was a different breed to other heavies. I remember Sammy taking some big shots and his nose bursting with blood.....

Shame there's no boxing really.... boxing works well for poor areas. Do they have an MMA scene? Have a great day mate!

[bobcatbox]

There was at one time a very vibrant MMA scene. Ironically Mayfield trained a lot of guys who would go on to compete in MMA. For some reason that all dried up about ten years ago. I still can’t reason why. McGregor is immensely popular here.

Its fairly welcoming to outsiders. You have your folks who don’t like them like anywhere else but most everyone is opening up to our growing tourism sector. If you ever want to visit I highly recommend Pikeville. It’s the most developed and tourist ready destination. From there you can easily drive down US 23, AKA “The Country Music Highway,” to Prestonsburg. Smaller towns like Hindman and Hazard are within reach as well. If you really want to see some beautiful mountains, fly into Asheville, NC, and then drive US 23 into Whitesburg and Pikeville. You’ll cross the Blue Ridge and then into the Pine Mountain. For local food I suggest one of our many dairy bars.

[candyslim]

Yeah I'll not forget Sammy Scaff rather more for his appearance - like a grizzly bear who'd lost most of his fur, rather than his boxing ability.

I envy you the Appalachians. I've only seen the area in film but it does indeed look gorgeous.

[bigjack]

[caldo2025]

Yes, I agree too so please accept my handjob as well guys. Good things.

[Tony1244]

While there certainly is a lot negativity on the Internet, it's great that people can find niche topics to discuss like the Foreman-Lyle fight or the Nixon-Humphrey-Wallace race of 1968.

Bringing things like that up in public will get you strange looks.


Glad to have you onboard, Bobcat.

[Bandog]

While there certainly is a lot negativity on the Internet, it's great that people can find niche topics to discuss like the Foreman-Lyle fight or the Nixon-Humphrey-Wallace race of 1968.

Bringing things like that up in public will get you strange looks.


Glad to have you onboard, Bobcat.

Speaking of strange looks, years back a friend of mine and his 3 buddies were planning a trip canoeing at the Ozarks. All four of them inexperienced and naive. I laughed and said have you ever seen Deliverance? He said no, so I said you may want to watch that movie first for some canoeing tips. He gave me a very strange look next time I saw him.

[JMac]

It’s also the home of active boxer Travis “The Hillbilly” Hanshaw who is currently making a comeback.

He must be brother to Charlie Hanshaw who coached in Ashland. He was the LBC President many years ago. I used to see him at USA Boxing annual meetings. Nice guy.
Speaking of Appalachia....back in 2006, I spent 10 days in Morocco at the U-19 world championships. Tyson Fury boxed in it and his father, Gypsy John was there with him. Anyway I talked with the Fury's a lot during those 10 days and John was telling me some crazy stories about some time he spent deep in Appalachia visiting some people he knew there. I think there is a town somewhere there that most of the people living there were Travelers (Gypsies) from Ireland originally.