Why does POVERTY MAKE FIGHTERS?

[bklynboy]

I was reading a Sugar Ray Robinson book the other day, and the author states that it's usually the broke men who are inside of the ring. Anyone want to take a crack at why it's usually the poor who are psychologically fit to be fighters?

One more thing besides hunger and that's fighting to live. I grew up in an area of NY where it was common for the kids to fight. The Irish fought the Italians, both fought the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, everyone beat up on the ***s. I moved away as a kid and people avoided me cause I was quick tempered. I adjusted and became like the other kids.

When I went back to where I grew up - culture shock - I didn't have that mental edge and it took a bit to get it back and fit in. After a while I didn't care about going back and fitting in. Now, as an adult, that quick-tempered kid is a fading memory.

Middle class kids don't beat each other to a pulp over lunch money. A fight yes, hurt feelings, kids running home with a bloody nose yes. But they aren't fights where people get hurt bad. These middle class kids don't see their fathers and other adults in brawls where noses and jaws are broken, teeth left on the ground - and sometimes much, much worse. (Today we use guns - I'm not sure how that changes the dynamic.)

Boxers whose only knowledge of fighting is in the ring are not as prepared as boxers who fought real fights as kids, where they were scared for their lives, these memories of survival on the streets help in the ring.

[GrandpaBernard]

good posts in here. keep em coming.

[bklynboy]

Boxers whose only knowledge of fighting is in the ring are not as prepared as boxers who fought real fights as kids, where they were scared for their lives, these memories of survival on the streets help in the ring.

Reading back on this I see an obvious exception. Cassius Clay did not have to fight much as a kid and he grew up to be a pretty good fighter [/understatement] with as much heart as anyone before or after him.

[GrandpaBernard]

Reading back on this I see an obvious exception. Cassius Clay did not have to fight much as a kid and he grew up to be a pretty good fighter [/understatement] with as much heart as anyone before or after him.

Didn't his father have a habit of domestic abuse?

I know Sugar Ray Leonard grew up being a "good kid", but his father was mean and violent man.

[RubenSonny]

Reading back on this I see an obvious exception. Cassius Clay did not have to fight much as a kid and he grew up to be a pretty good fighter [/understatement] with as much heart as anyone before or after him.

He started boxing because some kids stole his bike.

[RubenSonny]

A place with poverty and a significant middle-class is the best breeding ground IMO. When you grow up poor and theres rich people on TV or a few miles away it is a real motivator, USA and Mexico are perfect examples in Africa theres less champions because its mostly just poverty and many kids don't know they can become rich not to say there hasn't been some great African fighters.

[bklynboy]

He started boxing because some kids stole his bike.

Yeah but you read about Tunney growing up amoung drunken longshoremen having brawls in the streets; where Italian kids would beat him because he was Irish. (Similar story with James Braddock and others.) Ali's background seemed more stable.

[bklynboy]

A place with poverty and a significant middle-class is the best breeding ground IMO. When you grow up poor and theres rich people on TV or a few miles away it is a real motivator, USA and Mexico are perfect examples in Africa theres less champions because its mostly just poverty and many kids don't know they can become rich not to say there hasn't been some great African fighters.

I think there's something to that.

[JAB5239]

Yeah but you read about Tunney growing up amoung drunken longshoremen having brawls in the streets; where Italian kids would beat him because he was Irish. (Similar story with James Braddock and others.) Ali's background seemed more stable.

I don't think you had to have fought as a kid in the streets to have heart and determination. Growing up with people hating you because of the color of your skin, not being able to drink at certain water fountains or eat in certain restaurants was enough to force many greats to put their foot down and develop a hardened demeanor of "no more!" that carries over into the ring.

[bklynboy]

I don't think you had to have fought as a kid in the streets to have heart and determination. Growing up with people hating you because of the color of your skin, not being able to drink at certain water fountains or eat in certain restaurants was enough to force many greats to put their foot down and develop a hardened demeanor of "no more!" that carries over into the ring.

Well said. That's certainly true.