If you could speak to any boxer(all time) about a non-boxing related subject who/what would it be and why???

Question

Time to think a bit guys and girls............ you can go back in time and talk to any boxer ..........who would it be, what would it be and why???........ the only catch is it's not about boxing!!!! Would you talk to this person to gain insight on some subject or would you do it just to have empathy for the person, his life or maybe even the time in history that he lived??? Maybe you are interested in the culture of the boxers native country and talking to someone who is part of that culture and pround of it would allow you to gain some insight into the culture.......... heck you might choose to meet Mike Tyson to gain some empathy for a guy who has been portrayed in the media in a negative light but also has shown in some cases that he's a childlike and fun at times......what better way to form an opinion on the man than first hand knowledge??......... Talking Islam with Ali??? Talking Jail and overcoming hurdles in life with Bernard Hopkins???....... Who/What/Why??

Answer 1

I have two answers:  ONE)  I'd love to talk to a prime, undefeated Muhammad Ali about the injustices in the world, the pain suffered everywhere, and what we can do to rectify the situation.  I'm sure this would lead to a long conversation about why he simply CANNOT put his beliefs on hold, simply to defend a country that hates him for his skin color.  How he gave up stretch limos, money, and the title to go on Goodwill Speech Tours around the world. . . . .and praise him for being such a good example for so many people.   (I know this might not be a very popular viewpoint to super-patriotic Americans, but it's hard to argue his logic in refusing induction, when you consider how poorly he, as well as all blacks, were treated in the States at the time).

TWO:  I'd love to sit in a Boston tavern with John L. Sullivan, have a couple of cold ones, and discuss cigars, booze, and anything else that I'm sure he'd be interested in talking about.  We'd have a giant meal, I'd get my picture taken with him, have him sign a glove for me (I've only seen a single signed glove by Sullivan in my life, and it sold for over thirty grand!), and I'd shake his hand.  Merely shaking his hand, in Irish-American customs, meant good luck.  So much though, in fact, that this "luck" was able to be transferred from man to man. . . . to this day the phrase "I'm shaking the hand that shook the hand that shook the hand of the Great John L." is spoken in Irish taverns all over the country.  

***Great, great question!

Answer 2

I would choose Joe Louis.  It would be interesting to see how much of his quite dignity and polite demeanor was a mask for the public, and find out what Joe's personal beliefs were.  In his own way Louis was bigger than both Ali and Jackie Robinson in the arena of racial equality and civil rights.  Breaking the color barrier for professional golf is at least equal to that of other sports, but Joe never gets credit for his civil rights efforts.  

To me Joe Louis carried himself like the ultimate champion, and he would have been the type of guy I could have been close friends with.  He seemed to know right from wrong, and genuinely did what he thought was right.  That to me defines all the qualities of an honorable man.

Answer 3

Gene Tunney.  I would have loved to hear his insight as to the times and life in which he lived.  I understand he was a very intelligent, philosophical man...assuming that wasn't just hype, I think he'd be the top guy to talk to.  As far as specific subjects, I'd like to have known his true feelings about the color bar.

Answer 4

I would like to sit and discuss Quantum Physics with Mike Tyson.

Answer 5

With out a doubt it would be Ali. I would just like to know what was his thinking when he through away his Olympic Gold Medal.Where did he get the courage to tell the US government I,m not going to Vietnam to fight a people who did nothing to me. Why was it so important for him to change his name from Cassias Clay to Muhammad Ali right before he won the Heavyweight title .I only have one autograph picture in my collection and I have been around famous people my whole life and it is of Muhammad Ali standing over Sunny Liston. I would like to sell it but if I did I would not have anything. He sign it to me and my ex wife and drew a heart on it a very nice touch. The whif is gone but I still have that picture.

Answer 6

I would like to talk to Rocky Marciano, I met his brother, Peter and the Marciano's are very nice people, I heard Rocky was a gentleman as well.

Answer 7

George Foreman, I would talk to him about sales and how  to get rich off a grill.

Answer 8

I would have loved to have talked to Rocky Marciano about his Italian heritage, his family upbringing, how his father worked in a shoe factory, his tryout as a baseball player and the people he looked up to growing up.

Answer 9

Max Schmelling. He lived an amazing life. He had a jewish trainer throughout Hitler's reign. He served his country throughout WWII at a time when he didn't agree with the politics. He made a fortune from Coca Cola. There are many questions I'd love to have asked him. And how many boxers do you know that live to be anywhere near 100?