Boxer's you've met......and disliked.

[bikersk]

Jeff Harding is probably the most famous. Years ago not long after his success he used to drink a lot and I would often see him in the same pubs me and a mate would go to. You could tell people were taking advantage of him and it was quite sad as he obviously had a problem. He was in the kind of state most of the time where it was best just to avoid eye contact. More recently though he's been in this part of the world after getting his act together and stopping the drinking etc and had a chance to spend some time with him. He's a nice guy and we mainly spoke about our kids and that kind of thing but he was happy to talk about some of the old fight stories as well. Met big Bob Mirovic briefly and he was happy to say g'day and have his photo taken, unfortunately my mate who took kthe pic with my phone messed it up and it's so fuzzy no one believes it's him anyway, or even me for that matter. A local pro fighter Chad "Hollywood" Bennett is often in our building and at events. He's nice enough to chat to in the lift etc but is a dick when on the piss, but i think he knows that and even his friends (apparently) tell him that. Well thats it from me........

Over the years I have met many many fighters most were nice guys. The only guy I didnt like was Riddick Bowe. Several of us were collecting autographs and pics of fighters for a young guy in a hospice inFla. I asked Bowe to sign the fight cardfor him, Bowe was a guest of honor at the black tie fights in Dallas. He just dropped the pen I handed him and held his hand out.
"I dont sign for less than $10 for nobody " he said. That p'd me off right there I told him in no uncertain terms what he could do with his $ 10 autograph he just walked away

Wow that's not very classy at all. You're lucky he just walked away I guess after you gave him a mouthful. A funny, not boxing related story - an old acquaintance of mine bought a beer for a rugby league player years ago - he was a front row forward, a big fella (Think line backer you yanks) Kerry Hemsley - for those who know. He spoke to him for a bit and offered to buy him a beer, asked what he wanted brought him back a middy of the brew and handed it to him, it dropped straight through his hand and smashed on the ground to which he apparently said "Only fit's schooners mate".