Who do you think is the classiest/respectful boxer?

[TitoFan]

Floyd Paterson - all the abuse he took from ALI, and the defeats by Liston he still gave respect to these guys, and his entire life was - with respect.

Good choice. Floyd Patterson was all class.

[Trainer Monkey]

Yes, Duran showed max. respect to De Jesus when he was dying of AIDS... at a time when everybody was afraid of even shaking hands with somebody who had it. Duran went to visit him in hospital and kissed him. When DeJesus died a few days later Duran wept. The real Duran was not the near-animal that the press made him out to be - he was (and still is) a very caring and generous man who gave most of his money to poor Panamanians who needed it more than he did. Inside the ring it was a different matter, however!! Duran probably showed De Jesus so much respect because he knew that De Jesus had beaten him, and anybody who could do that at the time deserved all the respect in the world!!

cc
Sometimes its what you do outside of the ring that makes you truly great
Wether its traveling to a prison hospital to hold the hand of a dying former foe(Duran)
Almost single handedly rebuilding the gutted industrial town you grew up in(Holmes)
Organizing a charity to give retired boxers some measure of financial security(Cooney)
Or running a gym for almost no money,to help the next generation of kids get the hell off of the streets(Frazier)

[ICB]

Jim Braddock

Sorry to disappoint you but he's not like the movies. I remember reading about his fight with Tommy Loughran and this guy was saying every dirty curse word there was. Tommy Loughran was a nice guy, honorable and didn't never had anything bad to say. Max Baer was a lot better than the movie portrayed of him.

In regards to himility Rocky Marciano was never boisterous, was a very humble and a very respecting fighter; although he was pretty rough and viscious when it came to his punches.

Larry Holmes didn't have a lot of respect for his opponents, or fighters and trainers before him, but he was strictly business. He did however had a lot of pressure on him that affected him greatly.

Oscar Delahoya knows how play the camera but when behind the scenes he doesn't have the nicest things to say.

I agree that Kostya Tszyu had the mannerisms and respect as the champ that he was. Shane Mosely, and Arguello were good people as well.

Thinking about it besides the images that they portray even fighters that played it mean were good respecting guys. If you know the story between Roberto Duran and his nemisis Estaban DeJesus, Duran went to pay his respects to him while he was in the joint.

He (Holmes) didn't have a lot of respect for white fighters, either, and incessantly whined about not getting enough respect 'cause he was black. Never could stand him, and was ecstatic when Tyson KTFO'ed him.

President Reagan had a phone installed in Cooney's dressing room to congratulate him on his victory over Holmes
There wasnt one in Holmes dressing room
He respected Cooney plenty,and has actually become very good friends with him,and is the leading contributor to Cooneys FIST charity

I read about that. He may said a lot of things but despite the pressure the press was giving him he was good guy. I also talked to him on his message board, really nice to talk to.

I talked to him on his message board aswell what name was you under ??

[ICB]

Jim Braddock

Nice choice

back mate.

[FBEAR]

Jim Braddock

Sorry to disappoint you but he's not like the movies. I remember reading about his fight with Tommy Loughran and this guy was saying every dirty curse word there was. Tommy Loughran was a nice guy, honorable and didn't never had anything bad to say. Max Baer was a lot better than the movie portrayed of him.

In regards to himility Rocky Marciano was never boisterous, was a very humble and a very respecting fighter; although he was pretty rough and viscious when it came to his punches.

Larry Holmes didn't have a lot of respect for his opponents, or fighters and trainers before him, but he was strictly business. He did however had a lot of pressure on him that affected him greatly.

Oscar Delahoya knows how play the camera but when behind the scenes he doesn't have the nicest things to say.

I agree that Kostya Tszyu had the mannerisms and respect as the champ that he was. Shane Mosely, and Arguello were good people as well.

Thinking about it besides the images that they portray even fighters that played it mean were good respecting guys. If you know the story between Roberto Duran and his nemisis Estaban DeJesus, Duran went to pay his respects to him while he was in the joint.

He (Holmes) didn't have a lot of respect for white fighters, either, and incessantly whined about not getting enough respect 'cause he was black. Never could stand him, and was ecstatic when Tyson KTFO'ed him.

President Reagan had a phone installed in Cooney's dressing room to congratulate him on his victory over Holmes
There wasnt one in Holmes dressing room
He respected Cooney plenty,and has actually become very good friends with him,and is the leading contributor to Cooneys FIST charity

I didn't say REAGAN was respectful (or not secretely bigoted, maybe), only that Holmes WASN'T. He may have befriended Cooney after their fight, but he still constantly bitched and moaned about how he got disrespected, or not praised enough because he was black. IMO, he was a total bigot himself. And his comment about Marciano was utterly disgraceful. My image of him will always be that of a bitter, surly man. Probably following in the steps of Ali didn't help matters, either.

I agree... although I think Holmes was one of the most underrated heavyweights (although I think most people are now realising how good he actually was), he does tend to bleat on and on about how little respect he got at the time. His remarks about Marciano were a disgrace... even more so when you consider that they were made in front of the Marciano family who had gone to the fight to congratulate Holmes on equalling Rocky's record. They were prepared to show Holmes that much respect and all they got by way of thanks was a kick in the teeth from a sore loser.

In defense of Holmes, it's true, he didn't get the respect a champion with his record deserved, I'm not sure why. Following in the footsteps of Ali ( Mr. Respect ) is a big part of it, those are tough shoes to fill. Also, I agree with Trainer Monkey, the Holmes Cooney fight was racially charged, Holmes wanted no part of that. It wasn't a happy time and it affected Holmes in quite a negative way. "It's that black white thing, I hate it" Holmes was quoted as saying. As for the jockstrap remark, unfortunate but it is well recorded that Holmes did provide an excellent apology, and peace was made with the Marciano family long ago. Who knows what was said to him by whom, at an emotional time, that caused that remark? Besides we know what the remark meant. Personally, I think his record in title defenses against quality opponents is far more significant than the undefeated record. The undefeated aspect is overrated.

[:::PSL:::]

Pinoy fighters.

Pretty much all of them coz they're god fearing and they don't talk sh!t a lot against their opponents.

[CutMeMick]

Naz


In no particular order:

Was:
Johnny Tapia
Lopez
Louis
SRR
Alexis
Chacon

Are:
BCD
JMM
Cotto
Holyfield
ODLH
Wlad

[Beanflicker]

The first guy that popped into my head was Floyd Patterson. I doubt he had a bad thing to say about anyone. A real classy gentleman, RIP.

[:::PSL:::]

I like Juan Diaz and Kelley Pavlik too.

[THE THIRD MAN]

Who do you think was the most respectful boxer ever?

Was It Evander Holyfield and His Christian-based comments?
Or Kostya Tszyu and his well-mannered remarks?
Was it someone else?

Let us know.

On first meeting Zab before their fight in 2001 KT's first words were "how is your family, i hear you have a new child i hope all is well, it is a great feeling being a father"
Kostya was genuine with his comments but it sure did throw Zab a curve ball.

[BoomBoom]

Ward, Gatti, Oscar, Tito, Barrera, Cotto, a few as of late

[southakron314]

I believe after watching Cinderella man. James. J . Braddock.
Than as a fighter in the ring..........Ray Robinson.

[southakron314]

For the Future of this sport .....Kelly Pavlik. He is humble and has a right hand that could move a truck.

[Beanflicker]

I believe after watching Cinderella man. James. J . Braddock.

Yeah but movies don't always give the whole story.

[Canvasback]

The first guy that popped into my head was Floyd Patterson. I doubt he had a bad thing to say about anyone. A real classy gentleman, RIP.

Agreed.