Fighters that have turned you around?

Lots of fighters out there, some annoy me, but all of them I admire for having the nerve to step in the ring. But which fighters have you liked or disliked, but then turned around on.

Andre Ward - didn't like him much, purely because, as talented as he is, he fights in a style that I consider repulsive, at times. Hugging, hitting and headbutting, argh! That said, he conducts himself like the consumate pro, he is has tremendous (his fav word) talent, and now, for me, it's very hard not to like him.

Amir Khan - Probably due to the hype machine that followed his Olympic run, I used to pick at him regularly. But let me say this. Clean fighter, trains hard, professional and despite his verbal faux pas - a nice guy. And most importantly, takes on tough fights all the time.

Who has turned you around???

Khan for me, when he was up and coming his career choices and the way he spoke used to drive me insane. Dismissing and refusing to fight his domestic rivals whilst talking like he was levels above them, all the while when the evidence in the ring did not really support his belief used to really grate on me.

Since he won his world title whilst he is still capable of putting his foot in his mouth and should not be allowed within 100 miles of twitter you can't really fault his ambition in the ring where he seems genuinely intent on clearing out the division and facing the best

Gavin Rees - always thought he was a bi of a joke but judging by recent fights and his attitude out of the ring - I respect him for hi grit and determination.

I would have to say that David Haye has done the opposite with me. Was a big fan of his during his cruiserweight time, and had huge hopes for him in the heavyweight division. However, now I can't stand him at all and just wish he would go away. I don't know who I want to lose on Saturday more, if possible I would like them both to lose.

That aside I would say maybe Joe C. (sorry don't want to open the usual ducking debates etc). Would say that only really after his fight against Jeff Lacy did I have a high opinion of him (although that could have been a lingering effect of him beating my childhood hero Eubank).

Carl froch, derek chisora, nearly amir khan at one time. I'm not liking Haye much these days.

Good call on Rees there, Shah. I agree. Disliked him intensely a few years back but, now that he keeps his mouth in better check and has put in some very commendable performances, I have warmed to him.

For whatever reason, I never liked Vic Darchinyan, or his style of fighting when he was hot property. But then I felt a great wave of sympathy for him after he was on the wrong end of a truly horrendous decision against Gorres, and his mettle has impressed me in his gallant losing efforts since.

Tony Bellew, when he was calling Cleverly out left right and center I didn't like him, I thought he was someone who just knew how to shout his mouth off. However after hearing some interviews off the sky cameras, he comes across as a really nice person and extremely entertaining. I am most definitely a big fan of him now.

Used to be a huge fan of Antonio Margarito, before I found out he was a cheating scumbag.

Hatton. Used to like him up until the Floyd fight. Wanted him to lose badly. Laughed at the headbutt to the ringpost.

azania wrote:Hatton. Used to like him up until the Floyd fight. Wanted him to lose badly. Laughed at the headbutt to the ringpost.

What made you hate him? If I remember correctly Floyd was the one running his mouth.

He wa probably being humble and that made Azania go crazy and try to molest the tv

Yep, Bellew is a good shout, too, although I suppose I'm a little against the grain by saying that he'd started to go up in my estimations even befre the Cleverly fight.

I thought the Tony Bell....(well, you can guess the last bit)' nickname was very apt two years back, but since he's had a little more exposure he's impressed me with his wit, humility and, rather surprisingly given his questionable temper, decent insight.

Bellew and Rees are great shouts. I like both now, and I thought Bellew was nothing more than a mouthy so and so before.

BoxingFan88 wrote:

azania wrote:Hatton. Used to like him up until the Floyd fight. Wanted him to lose badly. Laughed at the headbutt to the ringpost.

What made you hate him? If I remember correctly Floyd was the one running his mouth.

I dont hate him. I just wanted him to lose. He was fighting a better and superior athlete and all the hype that followed him did it for me. The football chants wherever he went etc. Floyd wasn't running his mouth. He doesn't bad mouth opponents. He just patronises them by talking about his skills. "There is no blueprint....".

Wasn't a fan of Khan when he was a Warren puppet, can't say I'm much more of a fan but I do like the way he's going about the business.

Was never really sold on Froch and whilst there are infinitely more skilled and technically gifted fighters out there, you can't knock the guy's heart and ambition.

Manny - used to be really impressed when he was going through the divisions but then the whole Floyd/drug/ducking nonsense started, coupled with the shocking "wins" against JMM and also some his opponents who suddenly became viable despite being dead from the neck up (and down), I really couldn't care less if he fights ever again

Eubank - thought he was luck many times with decisions going his way and found his silly persona annoying, but he really showed heart in those Thompson fights and it became impossible not to respect him.

I would say Khan, but to be honest have always supported him insofar as I never wanted to see him lose.

He showed termendous heart in the Benn fights, the Watson fights and the Collins fights. But typical brit is loving a guy after he looses.

I want Manny to retire now, don't dislike him but his career has peaked and allt he Floyd, drug tests and Top Rank association have made me sick of him

azania wrote: But typical brit is loving a guy after he looses.

If you're going to be a Wum AZ you need to get your own schtick, Truss does this one so much better, and with the added bonus of spelling loses correctly.

rowley wrote:

azania wrote: But typical brit is loving a guy after he looses.

If you're going to be a Wum AZ you need to get your own schtick, Truss does this one so much better, and with the added bonus of spelling loses correctly.

hahahhahahaha

rowley wrote:

azania wrote: But typical brit is loving a guy after he looses.

If you're going to be a Wum AZ you need to get your own schtick, Truss does this one so much better, and with the added bonus of spelling loses correctly.

And no sunglasses smiley.

That's kinda put me in my place. Cheers guys.

I used to hate Lewis especially after he KO'd Frank. Never a massive fan but certainly warmed to him.

Good topic.

Bellew is a worthy contender recently, still in the warming process but after seeing him in the few fights before the Cleverley fight I thought there was no way I'd like him.

Which brings me neatly to a fighter I've turned against... Clev.

Watched him at British level and appeared to be a really level headed switched on lad then it all went sour. He had a few KOs then started with all this macho business and forgot how to box. His last few fights he's been wide open and fights with face taking needless shots. I don't know if he's very good or not but I certainly think he is better than he's showing and could do with a change of trainer.

Haye is another who has gone downhill in my opinion. I watched and followed him for a good few years and was glued to the radio when he beat Mormeck then backed him against my mates when he ruined Enzo. I forgave most of the tasteless Wlad and Vit build up because I thought he was intentionally playing the clown just to get his name out there and believed he had a decent chance of beating Wlad. But witnessing such a lame performance awoke me to the criticisms others had often thrown his way. I didn't have him as favourite against Wlad and actually thought the fight would go largely as it did, except I thought there would be at least one or two moments when Haye throw caution to the wind but alas, it never happened and he left too much in the ring, not performed. He seemed happy to drift to a loss without trying to change it. That saddened me.

If you like Bellew, then IFilm London has some cracking interviews with him, he is a top quality guy.

hopkins was the main one for me. took me a while to warm to him but went on to be my favourite boxer. also i like froch these days and never thought i would
nothing like a bit of gambling to turn you into a supporter of someone, especially when you get a big win. has turned me into a fan of mitchell, bradley, witter and various other lately

Paulie Malignaggi after the Hatton loss, because of his fantastic performances against Juan Diaz and all else he's done since bar Khan

I like malignaggi for the way he goes about things, despite his shortcomings he gives it everything in the ring and that can only be commended. He also sells his fights in a very tasteful and humorous way, on top of that he talks a lot of sense when analysing other fights.

Kevin Mitchell when he beat Prescott i thought he was looking pretty darn good. Then after Katsidas beat him like a red headed step child and it turned out he hadnt bothered preparing properly i just felt he was a complete tool.