[TheCornishMan]

Where have u been cornishman? this site needs more insight like yours.

Thanks for the compliment.

A life long passion for the noble art does develop you a little insight, but we are all still learning about the sport, and i am still as keen now as i was at the start of my boxing journey to keep learning, though now from the safe side of the ring ropes.

 

[Ricky123]

And your DP is a wife beater ^^^

good one!

Ricky in my ideal world i want 'The Champ' to be this perfect person, clean living, chartitable, good to his family, friends and fans, however life cannot always be like that.

I follow and enjoy boxing for what happens in the squared circle, i respect the fighters for their ring exploits, everything else is secondary, same way as i enjoy certain music but do not like the musicians lifestyle/behaviour off stage.

Alis nicknames for opponents were at best schoolyard banter

Liston = the bear
Frazier = the gorilla
Foreman = the mummy
Shavers= the acorn
Holmes = the peanut
Patterson = the rabbit.

Any fighter getting upset at being given a nickname, which was in a way was a publicity tool, should not be in the ring, a name will not hurt you, it is the punches from the 220+ pounds of muscle in front of them that hurts.

Boxing Champions are human, with human frailties but they are Boxing Champions because in the boxing ring they have less boxing frailties than any of their opponents.

fair points but the reason why character is so key (as well as sporting success) is it is the fundamentals on which every human being should aspire to.Indeed Ali has mentioned it in his book as well about the philosophies of life which he learnt through others over the course of his life in "the soul of a butterfly" .

 

[TheCornishMan]

good one!

fair points but the reason why character is so key (as well as sporting success) is it is the fundamentals on which every human being should aspire to.Indeed Ali has mentioned it in his book as well about the philosophies of life which he learnt through others over the course of his life in "the soul of a butterfly" .

Aspiration is important, role models are our ideal, but let us not forget in boxing, you build your body, hone your skills to win, now that could be by cutting your opponent, separating your opponent from his consciousness, or even god forbid your punches could kill or brain damage your opponent, could this damaging of another be a thing to aspire to or to role model upon?

It is of course a sporting contest carried out within strict rules, but we cannot escape from fact the aim is to 'damage' your opponent and him you. So using the champions of the noble art as aspirational ideals/role models is fine but even if they are polite, family guys, who attend church, give money to charity etc etc their 'day job' is a 'violent' one.

The point i am trying to make is that if analysed even 'perfect' boxing champions could be viewed as not ticking all the boxes, of being good role models beause of the purpose/possible outcome of their job within the ring. So if a boxer jive talk at press conferences, are adulterous or whatever these pale into insignificance when compared with the day jobs purpose.