Why Is Your Favorite Fighter Your Favorite Fighter?

Willie The Worm Monroe!

My pop pop used to take me to fights with him all the time. I was just an ornery kid who liked to be contrary. My Pop pop was a big Eugene Hart fan, so when we went to the Spectrum (pretty sure?) to watch them fight, I cheered for Monroe just because he wanted Hart. Been my guy ever since

 

Little Red Lopez: exciting fighter, always seemed like a really nice guy, and as a kid watching him fight I liked that he had red hair like me.

 

In April 1984, I read about the defeat of Mathew Saad Muhammad at the hands of Willie "Sandman" Edwards in KO Magazine. This was only the first or second issue I had read. I was immediately hooked on Boxing and endeavored to order as many backissues as I could. It was then that I learned the incredible backstory of the life of Saad Muhammad, and of his incredibly exciting run as 175 lb Champion. I had seen only highlights of one of his fights - the sad blowout loss to Eric Winbush, and was eager to learn how such a splendid champion had devolved completely by age 29. I was to learn he had had a great prime.

 

I think that's a good story. Vitali Klitschko was one of my top 3 favorites at the time, and after Corrie blasted out baby brother, he was the ultimate boogie man in my mind.

 

Alexis Arguello - for his class outside as well as inside the ring. I also find it fascinating that he fought for the Contras in the Nicaraguan civil war and later became a Sandinista.

 

Evander Holyfield.

And the story.

The 1st fight I've ever watched was Holyfield-Cooper fight. Not only it was a great fight, but Holy also tore his right glove with numerous uppercuts to the Cooper's head. I remembered this moment especially.

And the 2nd fight I've ever watched was Holy vs Bowe rematch, also a great fight. And a Fan man in the middle of the fight, another interesting event.

You know, Holy was involved in so many legendary events through his career, it's hardly believable.

Mike Tyson and the ear in 97. Or Rahman's second head in 02.

 

Roy jones . He showed up for Toney fight in a white tuxedo. And put on a show like a magician . He just looks like what a champion is supposed to look like. I was in boot camp for the military and we ran and did push ups or sit ups. I would picture this guy in my mind

 

Mike Tyson . The media always labeled him as a thug .Or a villain so i kinda gravitated to him like Tupac. I identified with him coming from the streets with no father

 

I think Arguello was a great, classy fella no doubt, but he was a politician and I mean that in a non-derogatory way. He knew how get others to accept him; apparently he grew up having read 'How To Make Friends and Influence People' and I can't help having that in my mind when knowing that he altered his Contra beliefs and sided with the Sandinistas. Or when he put his arm around the vanquished Mancini's (??) shoulder and offered his eternal friendship and support. It doesn't really tarnish my image of him though as I think he genuinely liked to please and help people.

 

Saad was one hard man. Not a tougher fighter ever lived, I’m sure. In his prime, you just couldn’t break him mentally no matter what an opponent put on him.

You chose well.

 

Gene Tunney. He was the kind of guy who would discuss Shakespeare and other literary greats. Tunney was one of the most intelligent champions ever. He was the Renaissance Man of boxing. Gene was brilliant in and out of the ring!

 

Ezzard Charles he had long since passed away by the time I got into boxing but seeing him fight and how undervalued he was as well as not getting a shot at light heavy (despite being the greatest at the weight) seemed like a class guy. Big fan of his style of fighting and he took on all comers. Something about an undervalued genius who just gets on with it.

 

Jack Dempsey, because of his ferocious style and how he was a man of many talents both in and out of the ring. Strong, fast, aggressive, and skilled as a fighter. Outside he was also a businessman, referee, promotor, trainer, lieutenant, and many more things. He's done so much in his life, and it's something I aspire to be like.