Boxing's Boogeymen

Published on 29 May 2023 at 10:15

Boxing is a sport that is all about facing your opponent in the ring and fighting until one of you is declared the winner. However, there have been times when boxers have been openly avoided by other fighters, either due to their skill level, their reputation, or simply because they were too dangerous to face. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most famous boxers who were openly avoided by their opponents.

 

1. Archie Moore

 

Archie Moore was a boxing legend who held the world light-heavyweight title for almost a decade. He was known for his incredible punching power, his ability to take punishment, and his ring intelligence. However, despite his impressive record, Moore was often avoided by other boxers, who were afraid to face him in the ring.

 

One of the reasons why Moore was avoided was his unorthodox fighting style. He was known for his defensive skills and his ability to take his opponents' best shots without flinching. This made him a difficult opponent to beat, as his opponents were often unable to land clean punches.

 

Another reason why Moore was avoided was his reputation as a knockout artist. He had a total of 141 knockouts in his career, which is still a record today. This made him a dangerous opponent to face, as he could end a fight at any moment with one of his devastating punches.

 

Despite being avoided by many opponents, Moore continued to fight and dominate the light-heavyweight division. He retired in 1963 with a record of 185 wins, 23 losses, and 10 draws.

 

2. Mike Tyson

 

Mike Tyson is one of the most famous boxers in history, known for his incredible punching power and his ferocious fighting style. He became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20 and went on to dominate the division for several years.

 

However, despite his impressive record, Tyson was often avoided by other boxers. This was partly due to his reputation as a dangerous opponent, but also because of his erratic behavior outside of the ring.

 

Tyson was known for his aggressive personality and his tendency to get into trouble with the law. This made him a controversial figure in the sport, and many boxers were hesitant to face him in the ring.

 

Despite being avoided by some opponents, Tyson continued to fight and win, becoming one of the most dominant boxers of his era. He retired in 2005 with a record of 50 wins, 6 losses, and 2 no contests.

 

3. Sonny Liston

 

Sonny Liston was a powerful heavyweight boxer who was known for his devastating knockout punches. He became the world heavyweight champion in 1962 and held the title until 1964, when he was defeated by Muhammad Ali.

 

However, despite his impressive record, Liston was often avoided by other boxers. This was partly due to his reputation as a dangerous opponent, but also because of his association with organized crime.

 

Liston had a criminal past and was rumored to have connections to the mob. This made him a controversial figure in the sport, and many boxers were hesitant to face him in the ring.

 

Despite being avoided by some opponents, Liston continued to fight and dominate the heavyweight division. He retired in 1970 with a record of 50 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.

 

4. Henry Armstrong

 

Henry Armstrong was a boxing legend who held world titles in three different weight classes. He was known for his incredible stamina and his ability to fight at a high pace for the entire duration of a fight.

 

However, despite his impressive record, Armstrong was often avoided by other boxers. This was partly due to his reputation as a tough opponent, but also because of his aggressive fighting style.

 

Armstrong was known for his relentless attack, and many boxers were hesitant to face him in the ring. This made it difficult for him to secure fights against top-level opponents, and he often had to fight against lesser-known fighters.

 

Despite being avoided by some opponents, Armstrong continued to fight and dominate the sport. He retired in 1945 with a record of 150 wins, 21 losses, and 9 draws.

 

5. Lennox Lewis

 

Lennox Lewis was a dominant heavyweight boxer who held world titles in three different weight classes. He was known for his incredible size and strength, as well as his technical skill in the ring.

 

However, despite his impressive record, Lewis was often avoided by other boxers. This was partly due to his reputation as a tough opponent, but also because of his careful approach to fighting.

 

Lewis was known for his strategic approach to fighting, and many boxers were hesitant to face him in the ring. He was able to control the pace of a fight and use his size and strength to his advantage, which made it difficult for opponents to land clean punches.

 

Despite being avoided by some opponents, Lewis continued to fight and dominate the heavyweight division. He retired in 2004 with a record of 41 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

 

 

Boxing is a sport that requires courage and determination, as well as skill and technique. However, there have been times when boxers have been openly avoided by their opponents, either due to their reputation, their skill level, or simply because they were too dangerous to face.

 

In this article, we have looked at some of the most famous boxers who were openly avoided by their opponents. These boxers include Archie Moore, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Henry Armstrong, and Lennox Lewis. Despite being avoided by some opponents, these boxers continued to fight and dominate the sport, cementing their place in boxing history.

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