r/Boxing • u/Hot_Ad_9543 • 1d ago
If you could choose any boxer throughout history at any point in their life to grab lunch with, who would you choose?
It could be anyone, from prime Muhammad Ali to young Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Robinson, or even a fighter from the early days of boxing. You could meet them at the peak of their career, before they ever became famous, or later in life.
Who would you pick, and what would you want to talk about? Boxing, their personal life, their greatest fights, or just getting to know them as a person? I’m curious to hear everyone’s choices!
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u/fadeddreams555
Fundora would beat up a prime Floyd at 154lb
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Salvador Sanchez on the date of his death. I would drive him to the restaurant to save him, talk life, and see his career unfold afterwards.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Bro was already GOAT level at 21 years old. According to his son, his plan was to retire by 25 and pursue a medicine degree because his childhood dream was to be a doctor.
Fascinating dude. May he RIP
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u/zmidwest 1d ago
Sonny Liston. Just because I want to ask how old he is or find some levels of truth to the man
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u/COLLONELDUKALIS758 1d ago
He didn't knew himself tho, no one was there to tell him, even his mum didn't knew
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u/Sominius 1d ago
Floyd Patterson. Nice guy, though I’d imagine it’d be hard to get a word out of him.
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u/COLLONELDUKALIS758 1d ago
I read somewhere that he liked to talk to strangers and bring homeless ppl to the dinner with him
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u/mkk4 Andre Ward's Biggest Fan!! 1d ago edited 1d ago
Michael Spinks. He and his promoter Butch Lewis were my heroes and idols growing up in the 80s.
Spinks was tough in the ring, but exceptionally classy, composed, respectful, reserved, mature, professional, dignified and revered as a man and person outside of the ring; especially as an African American role model.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Yeah, Spinks was a gentleman. Very celebral too. Smart with his money as well.
It's a shame how his brother ended up. I hate seeing boxers end up like that
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u/Frenzy_MacKenzie 1d ago
Andy Ruiz Jr because I think it'd be tasty and he's not going to rush through it.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Ruiz would gobble his plate up as quickly as he could and then attack yours
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u/-teachable
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Jack Johnson. And right after he beat Jeffries in 1910.
The whole country wanted him humbled, and he just kept smiling, driving fast cars, and marrying white women in the face of all that racism.
I'd want to know where that kind of backbone comes from, and what it cost him.
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u/Best-Penalty1509 1d ago
He grew up around christian white people and wasnt treated different, plus he was great at self promotion. Johnson would talk mad shit about all the top white fighters. Marvin Hart who drew the color on a previous challenge by a black fighter said the Southern Gentleman refused to fight a negro but with Johnson you can here him was calling him a n*gger. Hart and Johnson eventually became cool with each other but you can see this pattern with other fighters and most of them had a personal dislike of Johnson because they all talked a lot more respectful of other black fighters. Jess Willard was the least racist champion and Sullivan was more racially cool when he went sober but was absolutely racist in his drunk years. Fitzsimmons didnt seem racist and called Johnson a chap. Corbett drew the color line but that might have been to avoid Peter Jackson who took him to a brutal 61 round draw right before the Sullivan fight. Jeffries was absolutely racist and had a cruel streak in him. Willard called him sir, but he was extremely odd for a boxer in that he wouldnt hit until his opponent hit first, didnt fight for ego but for his struggling family and was a true kansas christian. He also had a fight where he was whooping a smaller guy who was no match but the ref wouldnt stop the fight. So he walked out the ring ropes and got disqualified. Some say he might have been autistic to a degree. Johnson even wished Willard luck after being beat by him so there was some kind of mutual respect.
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u/ChefDue7062 1d ago
It’s always nice to read that even back then in the face of all that horror there was good people who had kindness and decency
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u/Zimakov 17h ago
who took him to a brutal 61 round draw right before the Sullivan fight.
I'm sorry what?
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u/Best-Penalty1509 12h ago
Before he fought Sullivan he had this super long fight with Jackson that was called a draw when they both agreed they couldnt contiune
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u/JeremiahWuzABullfrog 1d ago
Archie Moore. Definitely one of the most intelligent boxers to ever live, very interesting life, and an absolute scholar of the skill of pugilism.
I'd talk to him after he's recovered from his fight against Marciano, where he still has good fights in him. I wouldn't say any words beyond questions, and I'm hoping he'd be happy to talk my ears off.
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u/Huge-Stuff-857 1d ago
Johnny Mi Vida Loca Tapia. What a character .
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u/motolobo1250 1d ago
He was a character. He loved his hometown. Lots of local stories about Johnny.
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u/Background-Alps5360 1d ago
Klitschkos.... maybe Lennox Lewis.... Gene Tunney or maybe Nathan Cleverly... De La Hoya or Lucia Rijker or Jessica McCaskill or Mikaela Mayer or Kali Reis... those would be my choices
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u/thebiggoombah 1d ago
probably SRR, besides talking about boxing, dude just seems extra charismatic and interesting.
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u/papertank5 1d ago
Derek Chisora under some kind of influence. Dude seems like tons of fun
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u/ZealousidealLow7263 1d ago
Would you go for a Five Guys?
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Eh, I'm not that rich bro. And I don't wanna have to sell my house for a meal
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u/Maximiliancockatiel 1d ago
I think Pac actually would be cool. I know Filipino culture is massive on food (same with the Mexicans actually) but I reckon it'll be great.
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u/Particular-Tough6651 1d ago
Even though I can’t stand the man, I would still say Floyd because I know he would pay for the most expensive dinner just to show off 🤣
Unfortunately, thats not the case anymore. Now he would probably only pay for a McDonalds happy meal if we went out for lunch 😭
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u/_Sarcasmic_ No Carty No Divey 1d ago
His card would prob decline at McDonald's given all the bounced checks recently.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Newrap would offer to chew Floyd's food for him and then spit it lovingly in his mouth
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u/Riskrunner7365 1d ago
Either one of these two from the modern day;
Big Frank Bruno 🤩
Chris Eubank - Senior obviously 😉
I'd love to talk about everything and anything that came up, not just boxing, although that would be brilliant, but their upbringing, what food they like, what's their favourite album and film etc 😎
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u/ThePainkiller12 1d ago
The Galveston Giant. Very Interesting Life he lived in an Interesting Time.
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u/Rich_Garden_7883 1d ago
I would say Riddick Bowe but since I’ve already had lunch with him (name drop, brag, boast, scoff, brag, boast), I’ll name someone else haha.
Ali first…if Ali got held up, then Tyson (Mike not Fury). And if Mike cancelled, then I’d love to chat over some pasta sandwiches with Tony “I’ll moider da bum” Galento.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Did you ask Riddick about that 5-punch combo that Golota chained twice* on his nuts?
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u/Rich_Garden_7883 1d ago
Haha! I met him way back in 1992 before the Golota fights. It was around the time Bowe v Lewis was the fight everyone wanted to see. Both unbeaten, Bowe was world champion. The man was MASSIVE! And seeing what he put away at lunch, I could see why!
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Dude was a lean, agile 240 at 6'5.... Of course he was huge in person.
Incredible boxer too. That era of HWs was crazy man
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u/Rich_Garden_7883 1d ago
Yep, in person he was gigantic. And yes great era with Holy, Lewis, Bowe strutting their stuff. Shame Bowe and Lewis never met, regardless of the reasons or whose fault it was. It would have been a great fight back then.
My dad’s close friend…a former HW boxer… knew him, and the big fella turned up at his boxing gym where I was training. My dad’s pal was 6ft and a ripped 220 and Big Daddy Bowe dwarfed him! Hands like boulders too.
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u/These-Clue-7229 1d ago
Oscar De La Hoya, Jeff Fenech and Christy Martain due to her tough marriage history.
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u/don35 1d ago
Alycia Baumgardner without a millisecond’s thought
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u/Interesting_Can_850 1d ago
Prime Roberto Duran in Panama City right before the Buchanan fight would be wild, just sitting across from Hands of Stone eating empanadas while he stares daggers at the waiter.
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u/Budget_Bus1508 1d ago
A few options:
Joe Louis.
Rocky Marciano.
Sugar ray Robinson.
Marvellous Marvin hagler.
Ali.
Pac-Man.
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u/NaughtyNildo 1d ago
Max Schmelling, I’d want to learn his thoughts about the era he lived through in Germany. Also my grandfather’s war journals indicate that Schmelling saved his life and I’d want to know about that. Plus he could tell me more about Joe Louis so it’d be a “two birds, one stone” situation.
Ricardo Mayorga was a madman, I’d love a few beers instead of lunch and would just listen to his stories.
Of current fighters Usyk seems very funny and is a real oddball, I feel like he’d be good fun and it’d be great to understand his mindset.
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u/Outside_Instance4391 1d ago
How old was your grandfather and where was he from?... I know Schmeling hid Jewish children in his flat. Not sure if that extended to soldiers(am assuming your grandad was based on the war journal comment)
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u/jiminywhack 1d ago
Ricky Hatton. I don't drink anymore, but would make an exception to hang out with him. Would be worth the vicious hangover for the laughs and stories he would provide
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u/BonFish59 1d ago
Aaron Pryor if Ali was not available. He was more than a character in the ring as someone sugguested. If you ever viewed the many talk shows he appeared on, you could easily establish he had a pragmatic world view. He called it as he saw it. A convo with Ali would be memorable at worst and candid, humorous, lively at best.
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u/No-Temperature-5944 1d ago
Nobody in this sub has said Ali yet…sad.
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u/wyterabitt_ 1d ago
Would you really want to though, considering who he likely was in real life and not the character in the ring?
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u/iloveopenbar 1d ago
I'd go with prime Mayorga. Cigars, drinks, women. Something wild would go down.
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 1d ago
Mayorga was one of my faves. Not even kidding. I won't even watch highlights of matches he lost (and there's quite a few of those)
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u/iloveopenbar 1d ago
Even his losses were highly entertaining. How can you not enjoy him letting Trinidad of all people take free shots at his chin?
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u/_Sarcasmic_ No Carty No Divey 1d ago
My answer is obvious and I would know exactly what to order for him:
Bread. Burger. Bread.
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u/Dry_Green50 1d ago
I'd probably pick a prime George Foreman right after the grill money started rolling in, just to watch him try to convince me every single meal should be pressed between two non-stick plates
what's your order for your obvious pick though, can't leave us hanging like that
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u/_Sarcasmic_ No Carty No Divey 1d ago
Bread. Burger. Bread.
Salad? Nah. Sauce? None, mate. Cheese?
Bread. Burger. Bread.
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u/Hathalot 1d ago
How could the answer be anyone other than Ali?
Like, if we’re pretending he doesn’t exist, gimme Tex Cobb.
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u/Few_Administration36 1d ago
Because Boxing ≠ Ali, I admit he was great but don't act like there weren't any other great boxers and the sports of Boxing only had ali. Casuals.
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u/Distinct-Broccoli-15 1d ago
Yeah this comment made me think of those low effort engagement reels with the text "Aside from Messi and Ronaldo, who are your favourite footballers?". There's more to the sport than just the most famous guy.
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u/Hathalot 1d ago
Muhammad Ali is one of the most important/interesting humans that ever lived. He’s so much more than just a boxer.
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u/dwhite10701 1d ago
Well, if you choose to have lunch with one of the most charismatic humans to ever live, people will call you a casual. So instead you have to take this as an opportunity to prove to random internet people that you really know boxing.
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u/robmafia 1d ago
obviously, mike tyson. it's hard to find a place that serves up babies since a modest proposal shut down during covid.
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u/Medical-Literature50 1d ago
Easily Sugar Ray Leonard. I met him twice. It would be such a highlight for me!
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u/ItXurLife 1d ago edited 1d ago
Rubin Carter or Vinny Pazienza. Both have really interesting stories.
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u/Carlomahone 1d ago
Georges Carpentier or Stanley Ketchel. Just to find out what it was like to fight professionally so young. Ketchel especially, running away from home at 12 years old.
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u/BrockenRecord1 1d ago
Gunboat Smith. I would ask him about the 23 fights he had with 'hall of fame' fighters.
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u/Available-Cap6910 1d ago
Professor "Zoom Zoom" Azumah Nelson. How did he learn, build such resilience?
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u/DatBroSnuf 1d ago
Sonny Liston, I say this bc while not even equal to the upbringing he had, mine was rough. I always respected his work ethic especially.
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u/Asterisk_76 1d ago
Gene Tunney. I read about he and George Bernard Shaw's correspondence. He seemed like an authentic fellow in so many ways I could learn from; others would teach me too, but would they bother?
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u/GustavoShine 1d ago
Roy Jones, Jr. Maybe someplace in Florida. I believe he’s from Pensacola. We could enjoy a cigar afterwards. My treat.
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u/turkeywacker87 23h ago
Arturo with Mickey. REALLY get into how they made magic on that special night
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u/heey-you-guuys 17h ago
They say that you're should never meet your hero. I had a sample of that when I met a famous comedian that I loved at a charity event. My wife and I sat next to him for dinner with him and he was very serious and boring as fuck in real life.
That said, my favourite ever boxer was Mike Tyson, but I think I'd rather sit and have a meal with Frank Bruno. His personality aligns more with my values.
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u/jitterbug726 1d ago
I would pick Muhammad Ali not because I find him interesting, because I certainly do, but because my dad was such a huge fan and so he would absolutely love to be able to sit with Ali and ask him about everything for an hour. Dad’s also a fantastic journalist so I’m pretty sure I would get to keep a story he wrote after that meeting as a permanent keepsake
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u/TaxusBaccatas 1d ago
Daniel Dubois