Fighters that thought they were tougher than anyone and fought anyone

[GhostofDempsey]

The willingness to fight anyone and allow yourself to enter as an underdog likely fits the criteria of thinking one is tough. Not many of those in existence today outside of Pacquiao and hold your laughter for a moment—Broner, who has shown a willingness to step up against the odds.

In prior eras we can consider Gatti, Whitaker, Chavez, Barrera, Morales, Oscar, Holyfield, Mayorga, Khan, Hatton, just to name a few. Also can’t rule out LaMotta, Basilio, and Moore.

[Willie Pep 229]

The willingness to fight anyone and allow yourself to enter as an underdog likely fits the criteria of thinking one is tough. Not many of those in existence today outside of Pacquiao and hold your laughter for a moment—Broner, who has shown a willingness to step up against the odds.

In prior eras we can consider Gatti, Whitaker, Chavez, Barrera, Morales, Oscar, Holyfield, Mayorga, Khan, Hatton, just to name a few. Also can’t rule out LaMotta, Basilio, and Moore.

What about Louis and Ali ? Just becuse they won all (most) of the time shouldn't rule out their willingness to take on all comers.

[GhostofDempsey]

What about Louis and Ali ? Just becuse they won all (most) of the time shouldn't rule out their willingness to take on all comers.

I don’t think Louis had a choice but to fight whoever was there. Especially when he came out of retirement. He was broke and the shot callers likely wouldn’t allow him to cherry pick opponents. In fact there were very few fighters of that era who called their own shots. I know Robinson got away with avoiding the black murderers row, but supposedly Burley and that group weren’t very good for television and the risk wasn’t worth the reward.

Ali fought everyone. Despite being gifted a few decisions, I wonder if he had any knowledge of fixes in his favor. Dundee had known mob associations through his brother and the mob and the media knew they could make a lot of money from Ali.

I look at the fighters of the 1960’s as an often underrated league of champions and contenders that aren’t spoken of enough. Luis Rodriguez, Griffith, Tiger, Cokes, Carlos Ortiz, Napoles, Benton, Giardello, to name a few.

[Willie Pep 229]

I don’t think Louis had a choice but to fight whoever was there. Especially when he came out of retirement. He was broke and the shot callers likely wouldn’t allow him to cherry pick opponents. In fact there were very few fighters of that era who called their own shots. I know Robinson got away with avoiding the black murderers row, but supposedly Burley and that group weren’t very good for television and the risk wasn’t worth the reward.

Ali fought everyone. Despite being gifted a few decisions, I wonder if he had any knowledge of fixes in his favor. Dundee had known mob associations through his brother and the mob and the media knew they could make a lot of money from Ali.

I look at the fighters of the 1960’s as an often underrated league of champions and contenders that aren’t spoken of enough. Luis Rodriguez, Griffith, Tiger, Cokes, Carlos Ortiz, Napoles, Benton, Giardello, to name a few.

I agree that Louis wasn't in a position to cherry pick his opponents post war but is there any sign thst he ducked anyone pre war? NO!

So in the end he never ducked anyone . . . I don't think a fighter needs to be tough in the traditional/romantic sense e.g. Duran to still be considered a tough guy.

I feel the same about Ali - if the OP criteria for toughness is a willingness to fight anyone how does Muhamnad come up short?

P.S. I think Holyfield should be near the top of everyone's list. And I'm not a Holyfield fan I think him a cheat. He's the one guy I would be most comfortable putting in the ring with the likes of Dempsey, Marciano, and Liston. And of course he took out Tyson twice. Dempsey would have found himself with a guy willing to match him low blow for low blow, elbow for elbow, and he would throw inq a few head butts as well ( Something Dempsey didn't do.)

[GhostofDempsey]

I agree that Louis wasn't in a position to cherry pick his opponents post war but is there any sign thst he ducked anyone pre war? NO!

So in the end he never ducked anyone . . . I don't think a fighter needs to be tough in the traditional/romantic sense e.g. Duran to still be considered a tough guy.

I feel the same about Ali - if the OP criteria for toughness is a willingness to fight anyone how does Muhamnad come up short?

P.S. I think Holyfield should be near the top of everyone's list. And I'm not a Holyfield fan I think him a cheat. He's the one guy I would be most comfortable putting in the ring with the likes of Dempsey, Marciano, and Liston. And of course he took out Tyson twice. Dempsey would have found himself with a guy willing to match him low blow for low blow, elbow for elbow, and he would throw inq a few head butts as well ( Something Dempsey didn't do.)

I think we can both agree on Louis. He fought whoever they put in front of him. But I find it a little challenging to include heavyweights in this discussion only because there is nowhere else for them to go. They have fewer options than smaller fighters who can move around different weight classes and take on bigger challenges. Outside of Bowe, Wilder, and Johnson, I can’t think of too many other champions who avoided tough opponents while champion.

With Ali I always thought the Liston fights were fixed. I also suspect some of the gift decisions he got against Norton, Young, Shavers and quite possibly the rematch with Spinks were engineered by Dundee or people close to him. I know it is a very unpopular opinion, but all that aside, yes, Ali has the heart to fight anyone and never avoided anyone. I just don’t know if he ever knew that some of the fixes were in.

[QueensburyRules]

It is because you cannot think! You are the number one TROLL on boxing scene. Sam Langford is not back to the 80's.

- -U a noob incapable of properly framing U question. U thinking back to the 80s as far as U go.

[billeau2]

Duran would fight anybody, the true mark of an ATG. I always felt James Toney would as well. I also don't recall Thomas Hearns avoiding anybody either.

Now Toney... Theres a good one. The late joe Rein adored JamesToney... Toney loves two things: To fight and to eat. It makes it interesting to speculate if that makes him tough. it certainly makes him able! Duran also loves to fight... I guess that toughness can be a labor of love. I certainly see these three (hearns as well) as "tough." There were many rumors that Sugar Ray Robinson loved to dance... more than anything in the world! This is somewhat verified by his television appearances after his fight career. But, one knock on Robinson was that he did not like to fight... Hard to believe lol. And sugar ray was tough.

[billeau2]

- -U a noob incapable of properly framing U question. U thinking back to the 80s as far as U go.

Makes sense to me... NOT. You misread a question and the question is therefore in error. beautiful, absolute pristine... You are a dunce and a half lol.

[billeau2]

I think we can both agree on Louis. He fought whoever they put in front of him. But I find it a little challenging to include heavyweights in this discussion only because there is nowhere else for them to go. They have fewer options than smaller fighters who can move around different weight classes and take on bigger challenges. Outside of Bowe, Wilder, and Johnson, I can’t think of too many other champions who avoided tough opponents while champion.

With Ali I always thought the Liston fights were fixed. I also suspect some of the gift decisions he got against Norton, Young, Shavers and quite possibly the rematch with Spinks were engineered by Dundee or people close to him. I know it is a very unpopular opinion, but all that aside, yes, Ali has the heart to fight anyone and never avoided anyone. I just don’t know if he ever knew that some of the fixes were in.

I have always kept an open mind on this issue... I also think that Liston's listed age was incorrect and that he was probably a lot older when he fought Ali.

[QueensburyRules]

Makes sense to me... NOT. You misread a question and the question is therefore in error. beautiful, absolute pristine... You are a dunce and a half lol.

- -What grade U say U was in when Kerouac and Ginsberg read U their poetry?

Thread title: "Fighters that thought they were tougher than anyone and fought anyone"

Net result: I answered the thread title and U obliviate U very existence with U nano IQ.

Do they have a grade low enough to attempt an education at your advanced years?