What is, or what do you think is the single greatest moment in boxing History? Armstrong holding three titles in three divisions simultaneously? Ali knocking out Foreman? Tyson becoming the youngest heavyweight champion? You can pick any of these (just suggestions) or post your own.
-
max baer
likes this.
-
My personal favorite is Frazier beating Ali in the FOC.
GhostofDempsey
likes this.
-
I'll choose three of them.
1) In terms of accomplishment, Foreman knocking Moorer out cold and regaining a title at 45 still gives me goosebumps.
2) As for a sheer "moment", Simon Brown - in full fighting trance - almost decapitating his best friend Maurice Blocker, then sobbing like a baby while he was hugging him after the fight.
3) "Outside the ring" favorite: Roberto Duran visiting and embracing former enemy Esteban De Jesus on his death bed, and telling his daughter to embrace him as well, regardless of any AIDS-related danger.
AP890414077.jpg?tag=app_id=1,user_id=undefined,org_id=undefined.jpg
Last edited by Tatabanya; 09-02-2024, 01:41 PM.Comment
-
June 22, 1938 - Fortelling the outcome of the 2nd word war when Joe Louis smashed Max Schmeling in their rematch in the 1st round.Comment
-
All great answers. I especially like the one about Duran and DeJesus. Duran was always portrayed as this cold hearted assassin, but he had a heart of gold. I remember reading about this many years ago and thinking how crazy Duran was for doing that. This was during the height of the AIDS epidemic. He didn't care. It was more important for him to show his humanity.Comment
-
- - Did it mostly blind in one eye, and half blind in the other when Mercante accidentally poked his good eye while separating an Ali induced clinch.Originally posted by BKM- View Post
Put in a shout for the first Arguello/Pryor fight fought toe to toe at a blistering pace with multiple changes of tactics. Easily the best most competitive fight of the modern age of boxing.
billeau2
likes this.
Comment
-
Dempsey-Carpentier 1921
Boyles Thirty Acres -- Tex Rickard -- 70K plus attendance.
The afternoon when prize fighting became a million dollar business.
1. First time fighters recieved life-changing purses for a single fight.
2. 30% in attendance were ladies, who sat in a gender mixed audience.
3. Attendees wore their finest clothes, making it a gentleman's sport outside of a gentleman club.
4. First 'million dollar' gate. (1.6 million)
5. First major prize fight broadcast on radio (to a very limited audience.)
6. First prize fight to use all available medias to promote itself, not just newspapers.
7. First prize fight to use (outside of sport) celebrity endorsements to promote itself, e.g. Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplan, Mary Pickford.
8. The promotional build-up highlighted class distinction: Carpentier 'the gentleman and war hero; Dempsey the common man's favorite, with everyone having cause to have an opinion.
9. The fight ensured that the HW Championship would now always hold nationwide attention, across gender, race, or class (until its fragmentation in the 1980s).
10. Ushered in the Golden Age of Sport, boosting interest and attendance across the American sport landscape.Last edited by Willie Pep 229; 09-03-2024, 01:07 PM.Comment
-
Call me sentimental but i would put the Max Bauer James Braddock underdog saga right up there... Oh it got Hollywood touches that were mean spirited to Bauer, whom, was in fact, a decent and lovable lub. But the fact remains: Bauer was merely a foil for the American Dream realized... a man past his prime, reinvents himself on the docks, as a strevadore, using his bad hand because his good one was toast, and with athritis, age, and the fears of a nation gripped in economic uncertainty, coming from the lowly economic class of the downtrodden Irish, rises to win the hearts of a country.
Where religious men, far from hypocracy, kiddie dddlng and entitlement, held the pews open to those who "prayed Braddock did not have his brain separated from his skull." Where Braddock actually returned welfare money given to him in his worse time of need, to the government.
Louis captured a nation twice... against Max Schmeling and lets look at some nice trivia here... proof that The Most High sees patterns and has a great sense of order and humor! Louis, Not only was in a similar saga against Schmeling (though not as the underdog), but was the man to take Braddock's title after his own Cinderella moment. Both Louis and Braddock fought men whom, despite being portrayed as evil, were more than decent and good... Schmelling actually helped support Louis and Bauer was known in Northern California for his good deeds along with his sense of humor.
JAB5239
likes this.
Comment
-
Ah yes! The Americam 'super stars' of the 1920s.Originally posted by billeau2 View Post
Baseball --> Babe Ruth
Boxing --> Jack Dempsey
Football --> Red Grange
Golf --> Bobby Jones
Tennis --> Bill Tilden
Swimming --> Johnny Weissmuller
Horse Racing --> Man 'O War
Wrestling --> Ed 'Strangler' Lewis
Auto Racing --> Jimmy Murphy
Women's Swimming --> Gertrude Ederle
Women's Tennis --> Hellen Wills
I would say Babe Ruth was the first super star, but Dempsey didn't need his coat tails.
Side note: Babe Ruth picked-up the nickname "The Bambino" from the newly arrived Italian-Americans, who sought to 'americanize themselves' by embracing baseball with a passion. Everyday the Italians, who couldn't read the English newspapers would ask, "Did the bambino hit one today."
This passion is why, in the 1930s, the DiMaggio brothers (Vince, Dom, and the middle brother whose name escapes me right now. I think he might have played for the Yankees.) became such popular icons; baseball made the Italians felt like they were in the American fold.
Comment
Comment