BoxRec

Ali's first opponent v. his last

Who wins?

zojo, wrote:Ali's first opponent v. his last

Who wins?

Berbick was legit...Hunsaker was a journeyman. Berbick waxes him.

Hunsaker was merely a police officer masquerading as a professional boxer.
He did have a fairly lengthy career but was a clubfighter at best. His renown only comes from being Ali's first professional foe.

Berbick, of course, would win a version of the heavyweight title. Hardly a great fighter but good enough to KO Hunsaker if they had met.

SenorPipino wrote:Hunsaker was merely a police officer masquerading as a professional boxer.

That's an unfair comment in my opinion. Are you suggesting that if one isn't able to make a living from prize fighting one is "a [fill in the job title] masquerading as a professional fighter?" Or if one never becomes a top ten contender, one is "masquerading as a professional boxer?"

Hunsaker started boxing while he was in the U.S. Air Force and won a Golden Gloves title while stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He compiled a 17-15-1 record. Besides Ali, he fought such notable boxers as Ernie Terrell, Tom McNeeley, Bert Whitehurst, and Alejandro Lavorante. He always gave his best effort, and took Ali and Terrell the distance.

Would Hunsaker have defeated Berbick? Not likely. But was he somebody "masquerading as a professional boxer?" NO. He was a real professional fighter, and he is entitled to respect.

raylawpc wrote:

SenorPipino wrote:Hunsaker was merely a police officer masquerading as a professional boxer.

That's an unfair comment in my opinion. Are you suggesting that if one isn't able to make a living from prize fighting one is "a [fill in the job title] masquerading as a professional fighter?" Or if one never becomes a top ten contender, one is "masquerading as a professional boxer?"

Hunsaker started boxing while he was in the U.S. Air Force and won a Golden Gloves title while stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He compiled a 17-15-1 record. Besides Ali, he fought such notable boxers as Ernie Terrell, Tom McNeeley, Bert Whitehurst, and Alejandro Lavorante. He always gave his best effort, and took Ali and Terrell the distance.

Would Hunsaker have defeated Berbick? Not likely. But was he somebody "masquerading as a professional boxer?" NO. He was a real professional fighter, and he is entitled to respect.

OK OK.
Maybe masquerading is a trifle harsh. I certainly do respect Hunsaker as a true professional fighter. Especially since he's part of a historic trivia question.

But he was a police chief in West Virginia and spent the bulk of his life serving in law enforcement.
Boxing was actually his sidelight, not his main profession.
Yes, he was a legitimate boxer, but it wasn't his vocational focus. Almost a hobby.
Hence, the "masquerade" usage.