Finn wrote:
It surprised me I wrote to him for an autograph and he sent me one back.
Clearly Finn you must have mentioned Wembley,80,000 and George Groves getting "knocked spark out"
I reckon it won't be long until no-one ever needs to ask Carl for his autograph again - he'll be sending out mass mailshots of a signed photo of him landing the ko punch on Groves. Probably send them out 80,000 at a time
Boxerbeetle wrote:
Tbh, if I was a celebrity I think I'd be exactly the same.
What an odd thing to say. Why exactly?
Because I don't generally take kindly to strangers at the best of times. The hassle that would come with being famous would drive me insane.
Exactly, I think people forget that famous people are no different to anyone else so it must become tiresome when you're doing the weekly shop with your wife and kids and some nugget comes up to you asking for an autograph or a selfie.
Although never met him in person, a few autobiographies have mentioned Tyson as being fairly unapproachable.
It might have been Nigel Benns book that said he wouldn't let white people approach him in a nightclub when Benn was present. If true, i'd say thats about as disgraceful as it gets.
banjo wrote:
Exactly, I think people forget that famous people are no different to anyone else so it must become tiresome when you're doing the weekly shop with your wife and kids and some nugget comes up to you asking for an autograph or a selfie.
Yup. Don't get me wrong, no sympathy with pudenda like Katie Price or Big Brother contestants - anyone who deliberately seeks out the celebrity lifestyle deserves all the hassle in the world.
But someone who is famous just cos they happen to be good at something which puts them in the public eye (like a sportsman or an actor) must be driven up the wall by all the unwanted attention. Must be absolutely crap for guys like Cotto/Calzaghe/Tyson who are not exactly easy-going or sociable personalities.
My mates mum and dad met Mike Tyson about 10 years in the US. They literally bumped into him on the street, he was polite and happy to shake their hands, although a little bemused apparently. They're white too.
One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
palooka wrote:One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
Those with Bi-Polar can be a bit like that at times...
banjo wrote:
Exactly, I think people forget that famous people are no different to anyone else so it must become tiresome when you're doing the weekly shop with your wife and kids and some nugget comes up to you asking for an autograph or a selfie.
Yup. Don't get me wrong, no sympathy with pudenda like Katie Price or Big Brother contestants - anyone who deliberately seeks out the celebrity lifestyle deserves all the hassle in the world.
But someone who is famous just cos they happen to be good at something which puts them in the public eye (like a sportsman or an actor) must be driven up the wall by all the unwanted attention. Must be absolutely crap for guys like Cotto/Calzaghe/Tyson who are not exactly easy-going or sociable personalities.
If it wasn't for fans they'd be fighting in town halls to a few hundred people for peanuts. If they want the big bucks then they've got to accept what comes with it and can't bleat.
palooka wrote:One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
Those with Bi-Polar can be a bit like that at times...
palooka wrote:One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
Those with Bi-Polar can be a bit like that at times...
Fair point.
I am not convinced Tyson is genuinely bi polar. I think it has more to do with his admitted cocaine abuse, which leads to erratic behaviour
Chris Eubank Sr at certain points in his career....some of those WBO defences were dire (with the ring entrance being the best action all night) and it felt like he was just ticking boxes against some opponents who he could have put on a show against without risking much. He got the bird a few times in those fights.
To be fair to Chris he always showed-up when it mattered and he was on record (consistently so) as saying that he viewed boxing as a business and not a vocation/calling. So those nights when he won easy and was lazy against some pretty lame opposition and pocketed the cheque....should not have been a total surprise for a fan like me.
I met him a couple of times in the lanes down in Brighton....and he was a good guy and likes a natter. Bit nervous the first time scrabbling around for pen and paper and he just signed his own card for me and let me have a look around his Harley. Generous with his time as well.
I have no idea why anyone would think a boxer or celebrity somehow owes them a photo op or a signature - and if they don't provide one, they are somehow, some selfish arsehole who disrespects their fans. Absolute complete and utter nonsense.
cotto fought many fights in the garden , where everyone was a puerto rican, remember the Malignaggi fight , pauile a new Yorker getting it both barrells.
fozzy wrote:Junior Witter never really looked to have give a poo about his fans, met him a few times always sat on his own at shows!
He had fans?
Not been on in a few days. I read that comment and went to reply much the same and out the corner of my eye I caught your comment lol. I saw him on Question of Sport years ago and he just seemed bloody awful!
cotto fought many fights in the garden , where everyone was a puerto rican, remember the Malignaggi fight , pauile a new Yorker getting it both barrells.
I've always been a massive Cotto fan but I never really saw that side of him. Never been anywhere near him mind you!
palooka wrote:One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
Those with Bi-Polar can be a bit like that at times...
I suffer from the same condition and I would do anything for anyone. It has different affects on different people though so you could be right. I struggle with the anxiety side of things more than anything. Horrible condition, not just for the sufferer but (in a lot of cases) more so for the people around them! I am lucky enough to have an understanding family but people only really understand so much.
banjo wrote:
Exactly, I think people forget that famous people are no different to anyone else so it must become tiresome when you're doing the weekly shop with your wife and kids and some nugget comes up to you asking for an autograph or a selfie.
Yup. Don't get me wrong, no sympathy with pudenda like Katie Price or Big Brother contestants - anyone who deliberately seeks out the celebrity lifestyle deserves all the hassle in the world.
But someone who is famous just cos they happen to be good at something which puts them in the public eye (like a sportsman or an actor) must be driven up the wall by all the unwanted attention. Must be absolutely crap for guys like Cotto/Calzaghe/Tyson who are not exactly easy-going or sociable personalities.
If it wasn't for fans they'd be fighting in town halls to a few hundred people for peanuts. If they want the big bucks then they've got to accept what comes with it and can't bleat.
The way I look at it, when they get in the ring and fight that's when they pay you back. Like I said they are normal people with normal flaws, so they can't be expected to be public property 24/7. Fans sometimes need to show a bit of respect themselves and think, "hang on he looks busy there, best not harass him"
The way I look at it, when they get in the ring and fight that's when they pay you back. Like I said they are normal people with normal flaws, so they can't be expected to be public property 24/7. Fans sometimes need to show a bit of respect themselves and think, "hang on he looks busy there, best not harass him"[/quote]
i totally agree with you, you cant ask a fighter for this and that out side ring side while there in the zone , he is training to hurt another man , he pays you back by fighting for your,town,city,country
palooka wrote:One of Tyson's big mates is a white fella from a village in Doncaster; he's called Andy Booker and they've been mates about 30 years, apparently he appreciates people that don't want stuff off him all the time. An excellent boxer from Donny, Pete Gabbitus, does security for Tyson when he's around and says he can be very moody.
Big Joe Egan another example, see Joe once every 3 months or so.
Old Jack J wrote:Although never met him in person, a few autobiographies have mentioned Tyson as being fairly unapproachable.
It might have been Nigel Benns book that said he wouldn't let white people approach him in a nightclub when Benn was present. If true, i'd say thats about as disgraceful as it gets.
My cousin works for Sky Sports and used to have to look after certain sportsmen and women during his first few months (drive em around, get em food they wanted etc). Looked after the likes of Jess Ennis, Bradley Wiggins, Mo Farah etc and said the nicest person to work with was in fact Tyson.
I'm also quite surprised to read the story about Froch. I've never met him but know plenty who have and say he comes across a really nice bloke.
Most people are a bit moody or have off days, you can't judge someone on a chance encounter. I imagine it'd be really pleasing and gratifying for people to recognise and praise you though after a few hundred times or when you're in a rush it'd get on my nerves maybe.
The more I read this thread the more sympathy I have for the boxers. It's a shame that being good at your job isn't enough you also have to be a consummate man of the people and wherever you are and whatever you're doing if you don't stop for some stranger or crowd or strangers and do what ever they tell you to do for as long as they tell you to do it you are an arsehole.
I would say being a bit of a loner with a hardened mindset is a help for a boxer who has to live such a hard lifestyle but doesn't lend itself to being a fan friendly celeb.
If they are using their profile to try to be a celeb - big brother, adverts etc then fair enough but if they are just boxers doing their job I don't expect them to have to act the celeb outside specific promotional duties.
Last edited by Shirow on 27 Oct 2015, 18:43, edited 1 time in total.
I reckon it won't be long until no-one ever needs to ask Carl for his autograph again - he'll be sending out mass mailshots of a signed photo of him landing the ko punch on Groves. Probably send them out 80,000 at a time 
