Greatness despite lifestyle

Morning Folks

Which fighters have reached a status of being a great fighter despite the lifestyle they led?

I'm thinking along the lines of smoking, partying, drinking, over indulgence of food etc.

A modern one would have obviously have been Ricky Hatton. Never took care of his body inbetween fights.

Interested in ones from earlier if there are any.

Cheers and happy Friday!

Most definitely Duran.

Tony Galento has to be top of the list, I'll let Windy fill in the details though!

What were the vices these two were involved in chaps?

Well, Galento's preparation for his World Heavyweight Title fight against Joe Louis involved "not taking alcohol for two days".

Julio Caesar Chavez was well known for partying and certainly liked a drink.

Wasn't Sugar Ray Leonard quite fond of the Bolivian Marching Powder?

Union Cane wrote:Well, Galento's preparation for his World Heavyweight Title fight against Joe Louis involved "not taking alcohol for two days".

He didn't do too badly in that fight either!

Sir. badgerhands wrote:Julio Caesar Chavez was well known for partying and certainly liked a drink.

Wasn't Sugar Ray Leonard quite fond of the Bolivian Marching Powder?

During his career?

Good call on Galento, Union.

Would also mention Monzon's smoking habit - up to 100 a day, they reckon - and also Locche's. I read somewhere that Locche was known to take a drag on a cigarette between rounds (!)

John L Sullivan was keen on the high life, too.

Just to help the old boys out the likes of Hatton had to lose the weight of a small teen before each fight. James "Macdo" Toney was once a half decent middleweight, 90lbs of fat later he's still looking as trim as ever.

Scott Harrison probably spent most of his fights either drunk or high as a kite as well.

Oh and Mayorga was never one for wanting the right things, nor did he particularly like training either. Heard stories about there being intervals for fag breaks etc

not sure what your definition of great is, daz if you're including hatton - and he at least trained properly for fights... though granted his pie and beer diet out of training was not really one of the consumate professional

Benitez would be up there as would Monzon.

If you're looking for british 'greats', conteh and honeyghan

coxy0001 wrote:Oh and Mayorga was never one for wanting the right things, nor did he particularly like training either. Heard stories about there being intervals for fag breaks etc

Mayorga was who i thought of, crazy lifestyle, Alvarez is supposed to like his partying.

100 a day!!! That would mean every few minutes!

Had a few stories about Mayorga Coxy! He was a 'special' character!

By great - i mean well established - not ATG if that helps Milkyboy.

The Galveston Giant wrote:

coxy0001 wrote:Oh and Mayorga was never one for wanting the right things, nor did he particularly like training either. Heard stories about there being intervals for fag breaks etc

Mayorga was who i thought of, crazy lifestyle, Alvarez is supposed to like his partying.

Alvarez? Really - didnt think he was the type. Still very young I guess. Just had him down as being straight laced. Not sure why!

Heard mixed stories on Alvarez but a commentator mentioned recently he's been living it large recently.

The Galveston Giant wrote:Heard mixed stories on Alvarez but a commentator mentioned recently he's been living it large recently.

gotta be hard drugs to turn a mexican's hair ginger

Dazstarr wrote:

Sir. badgerhands wrote:Julio Caesar Chavez was well known for partying and certainly liked a drink.

Wasn't Sugar Ray Leonard quite fond of the Bolivian Marching Powder?

During his career?

Well according to Leonard he dabbled teween the years of 1982 and 1986 which I think was his time away from boxing.

As for JCC there was a moment in Del A Hoya's biography where he said he knew he'd beat JCC after seeing him get off his private jet with some ill reputed young ladies stinking of booze.

Must have been a hard life!!

Dazstarr wrote:100 a day!!! That would mean every few minutes!

Had a few stories about Mayorga Coxy! He was a 'special' character!

By great - i mean well established - not ATG if that helps Milkyboy.

monzon took his profession seriously and cut to 50 a day in the week before a fight... the denial gave him a mean streak.

If we're not being precious about 'great' then kirkland laing is worth a mention

Monzon would be my pick. As Windy said, smoked about 100 a day which he would cut to about 50-60 a day when training and his idea of rest after training was to lie down with a dark and sultry female.

superflyweight wrote:Monzon would be my pick. As Windy said, smoked about 100 a day which he would cut to about 50-60 a day when training and his idea of rest after training was to lie down with a dark and sultry female.

And when he chucked his girlfriends he did so literally.

Usually off a third storey balcony.

Haha! JCC and Monzon sound like right characters!

What's the deal with Kirkland Laing Milky?

I also read somewhere that Monzon was heavily involved in football hooligansim - fancy running into Carlos when you're just trying to get home after the match.

A fairly despicable man outside the ring.

characters/murders that sort of thing!

Kirkland was not averse to drink and women but had a particular liking for smoking a variety of plant life... allegedly

Bit of a different one but Ali did ok despite missing 3 of his prime years because of a lifestyle choice. Also I'm sure I have read that the Belgian heavyweight Jean-Pierre Coopman who Ali beat in 1976 was drunk for that fight, don't know how true that is though.

Drunk! Haha! If thats true then thats shocking!

Some of the old time greats like Greb, Ketchel and Walker lived life like feral alley cats outside the ring they didn't have bad careers.

There are some funny stories regarding Laing. Apparently when he beat Duran he partied for a year all over the place and in a match with Buck Smith, Micky Duff had to look for him and found him in a blues party smoking some of Amsterdam's finest. Rumour has it that he fought Buck Smith whilst absolutely high. Same goes for his rematch with Colin Jones.

Poor guy now. I used to see him shadow boxing in Victoria park about 10 years ago. Off his head now.

Also John Mugabi was a total party animal that before his fight with Hagler Duff moved him from the ground floor hotel room into a higher floor and locked the windows so he couldn't get out.

azania wrote:There are some funny stories regarding Laing. Apparently when he beat Duran he partied for a year all over the place and in a match with Buck Smith, Micky Duff had to look for him and found him in a blues party smoking some of Amsterdam's finest. Rumour has it that he fought Buck Smith whilst absolutely high. Same goes for his rematch with Colin Jones.

Poor guy now. I used to see him shadow boxing in Victoria park about 10 years ago. Off his head now.

Also John Mugabi was a total party animal that before his fight with Hagler Duff moved him from the ground floor hotel room into a higher floor and locked the windows so he couldn't get out.

Did he win his match with Buck Smith? Can't imagine smoking weed will do any good to your reflexes.

Dazstarr wrote:

azania wrote:There are some funny stories regarding Laing. Apparently when he beat Duran he partied for a year all over the place and in a match with Buck Smith, Micky Duff had to look for him and found him in a blues party smoking some of Amsterdam's finest. Rumour has it that he fought Buck Smith whilst absolutely high. Same goes for his rematch with Colin Jones.

Poor guy now. I used to see him shadow boxing in Victoria park about 10 years ago. Off his head now.

Also John Mugabi was a total party animal that before his fight with Hagler Duff moved him from the ground floor hotel room into a higher floor and locked the windows so he couldn't get out.

Did he win his match with Buck Smith? Can't imagine smoking weed will do any good to your reflexes.

Yeah but you don't notice when you get punched in the face so does your punch resistance a world of good.

Some of the old time greats like Greb, Ketchel and Walker lived life like feral alley cats outside the ring they didn't have bad careers..

Ketchel and Walker certainly did, badger but a lot of the stories about Greb are just that, stories - many of them made up by the man himself. Indeed, the story goes that in order to land the title fight with Johnny Wilson, Greb made sure he was seen out and about supposedly living the high life and supposedly drinking like a fish. In fact, he wasn't drinking alcohol and was looking to convince Wilson that the time was right to take on Greb. Wilson and his handlers took the bait.

Steve Bunce did a good piece on Laing a few years back for the BBC.

Well worth a watch if you can track it down.

Real shame to see his current state now.

superflyweight wrote:

Some of the old time greats like Greb, Ketchel and Walker lived life like feral alley cats outside the ring they didn't have bad careers..

Ketchel and Walker certainly did, badger but a lot of the stories about Greb are just that, stories - many of them made up by the man himself. Indeed, the story goes that in order to land the title fight with Johnny Wilson, Greb made sure he was seen out and about supposedly living the high life and supposedly drinking like a fish. In fact, he wasn't drinking alcohol and was looking to convince Wilson that the time was right to take on Greb. Wilson and his handlers took the bait.

Not a bad tactic for landing a title shot.

Good story, I like that one.

bellchees wrote:Bit of a different one but Ali did ok despite missing 3 of his prime years because of a lifestyle choice. Also I'm sure I have read that the Belgian heavyweight Jean-Pierre Coopman who Ali beat in 1976 was drunk for that fight, don't know how true that is though.

probably not a bad idea really... belgian courage is like dutch courage just with stronger beer. After a few leffes i'd fancy my chances against ali... and the beatdown wouldn't hurt so much

Sir. badgerhands wrote:

superflyweight wrote:

Some of the old time greats like Greb, Ketchel and Walker lived life like feral alley cats outside the ring they didn't have bad careers..

Ketchel and Walker certainly did, badger but a lot of the stories about Greb are just that, stories - many of them made up by the man himself. Indeed, the story goes that in order to land the title fight with Johnny Wilson, Greb made sure he was seen out and about supposedly living the high life and supposedly drinking like a fish. In fact, he wasn't drinking alcohol and was looking to convince Wilson that the time was right to take on Greb. Wilson and his handlers took the bait.

Not a bad tactic for landing a title shot.

Good story, I like that one.

Shrewd!!

milkyboy wrote:

bellchees wrote:Bit of a different one but Ali did ok despite missing 3 of his prime years because of a lifestyle choice. Also I'm sure I have read that the Belgian heavyweight Jean-Pierre Coopman who Ali beat in 1976 was drunk for that fight, don't know how true that is though.

probably not a bad idea really... belgian courage is like dutch courage just with stronger beer. After a few leffes i'd fancy my chances against ali... and the beatdown wouldn't hurt so much

You could probably take him out now to be honest.

Bad taste Alex!

Dazstarr wrote:

azania wrote:There are some funny stories regarding Laing. Apparently when he beat Duran he partied for a year all over the place and in a match with Buck Smith, Micky Duff had to look for him and found him in a blues party smoking some of Amsterdam's finest. Rumour has it that he fought Buck Smith whilst absolutely high. Same goes for his rematch with Colin Jones.

Poor guy now. I used to see him shadow boxing in Victoria park about 10 years ago. Off his head now.

Also John Mugabi was a total party animal that before his fight with Hagler Duff moved him from the ground floor hotel room into a higher floor and locked the windows so he couldn't get out.

Did he win his match with Buck Smith? Can't imagine smoking weed will do any good to your reflexes.

Nope. He got KO'd. Started showboating then got decked. Between rounds he was drinking gallons of water. Wonder why he was thristy!

azania wrote:

Dazstarr wrote:

azania wrote:There are some funny stories regarding Laing. Apparently when he beat Duran he partied for a year all over the place and in a match with Buck Smith, Micky Duff had to look for him and found him in a blues party smoking some of Amsterdam's finest. Rumour has it that he fought Buck Smith whilst absolutely high. Same goes for his rematch with Colin Jones.

Poor guy now. I used to see him shadow boxing in Victoria park about 10 years ago. Off his head now.

Also John Mugabi was a total party animal that before his fight with Hagler Duff moved him from the ground floor hotel room into a higher floor and locked the windows so he couldn't get out.

Did he win his match with Buck Smith? Can't imagine smoking weed will do any good to your reflexes.

Nope. He got KO'd. Started showboating then got decked. Between rounds he was drinking gallons of water. Wonder why he was thristy!

Did his trainer nip down to the 24 hour garage for some chocolate digestives too?

Toney. Something tells me he didn't have a nutritionist.

Emile Griffith was positively fabulous.

Bob wrote:Toney. Something tells me he didn't have a nutritionist.

Modern diets.

Burley was a fan of lucky stripes.

Fitzsimmons was an alcoholic.

Stanley Ketchel was a big drinker and loved a heavy session on the opium, he was still a picture of health though until someone shot him.

butterbean what a discrace, only joking, He's a discrace to the profession, but thankfully even the way that the term "great" is bandied about doesn't cover him.

Pavlik would be the name that I'd add to the list.