09.05.06 – By James Slater: The following article focuses on the quirky side of the sport of boxing. There have been some quite surreal moments to have taken place inside the ring – from the infamous “Fan Man” incident in 1993 where a guy attempted to land in the middle of the ring occupied by Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, to the more recent and well documented crazy exploits of Mike Tyson. But there have been many incidents that are not quite so well known..
With the intention of creating some fun and nothing else, I now list ten of the most bizarre and hard to believe facts pertaining to our sport. However, to make things even more interesting I have purposely included one “fact” that is a complete fabrication. I will be most curious to see how many of Eastside Boxing’s knowledgeable readers will be able to tell me the correct names of the boxer/boxers who were the participants in the nine true events, while also being able to spot the complete lie that I have inserted somewhere in the list.
All those wishing to answer simply do so via the comments service ESB provides. I will write up the correct answers in my next article later on this week.
One final point before the list of facts – Though some of the following events may have comic overtones the last thing on my mind is to laugh, or cause laughter, at a boxer’s expense. The fact that some of the following incidents were completely unexpected and unforeseen merely serves to prove how brave boxers have to be. That literally ANYTHING can happen between the
ropes and that all boxers enter a fight knowing this all too well is testament to their courage at facing the unknown.
Fact One. There was once a fighter who, while challenging for the heavyweight championship of the world, was given Champaign to drink between rounds instead of the usual water!
Fact Two. There was once a fighter, good enough to have fought for a world title – who only had one leg!
Fact Three. There was once a bout (in modern times) where both guys were knocked to the canvas, as in the movie Rocky II – at the same time!
Fact Four. Once upon a time an ageing heavyweight, while coming towards the end of his career, fought whilst wearing corrective lenses so as to aid his eyesight!
Fact Five. There was once a world class light heavyweight boxer who took to the practice of never washing or bathing for weeks prior to entering the ring for a bout. These strange tactics were employed so as to prevent his opponent from initiating clinches with him, such was the bad odour!
Fact Six. There was once a fighter who was in such desperate need for the toilet during a fight that he had to quit and leave the ring!
Fact Seven. There was once a heavyweight champion who claimed that when a dear friend/relative, who was sat at ringside, screamed to the referee that he was using illegal tactics, he was unable to land the blow that was certain to have finished off his hurt opponent!
Fact Eight. Once upon a time there was an amateur boxer who, when fighting for a local title, was TKO’d by the doctor before the very first bell when his Marvellous Marvin Hagler copied warm-up technique, of hyping himself up by hitting his own face and head, caused a severe nose bleed!
Fact Nine. There was once a world class welterweight boxer who would only fight when there was either a full or a half moon!
Fact Ten. There was once a heavyweight who made a frequent habit of taking a disguise to wear upon leaving the arena, should he lose!