Should a boxer be humble and a gentlemen outside of the ring?

Question

Look at Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Joe was a gentlemen, he served his country, he was nice and humble in his comment when interviewed. Muhammad Ali was loud and arrogant, he refused to serve his country. The results are Muhammad Ali is more famous worldwide, most people call him the greatest, and Joe Louis was broke in the end. So what is the reward for being a gentlemen?

Answer 1

yeah.

Answer 2

When a person sees a video camera, they change the way they are to the way they want to be perceived.  You don't really know, and will never really know, how a fighter truly behaves off camera because you've never seen it.  How often has it happened that athletes with great images are found out to be abject jerks when they think no-one is recording?

Answer 3

Well you see most are because its like when you step in that ring that split personality. The viscous side of you takes over. So yeah most boxers are humble and nice outside the ring.

Answer 4

Never, no matter how hard, permit anyone to bring you down to a level below your standards of humility and that of a gentleman. Only if they succeed in lowering your character, can they win. If they succeed it is most difficult for you to rise again. When it's all said----CHARACTER & HUMILITY.

Answer 5

Everything you say about Joe Louis is true, but I disagree with almost everything you say about Muhammad Ali.

Ali all but invented the hype that made almost every fight a war and got fans to take an interest in boxing and buy tickets to see fights.  But a lot of his talk was just that -- talk.  Yes, he did refuse to join the army because of his religious convictions, and the Supreme Court ruled that his refusal was justified by his beliefs. When the Court's ruling came out, Ali was asked if he was going to sue the government.  He said, "No.  They did what they thought was right and I did what I thought was right."  

Ali could be very generous to opponents.  After he knocked out Zora Foley, he told the announcer that Zora's children should be proud of him because he was a great fighter.  After the Frazier trilogy, he said, "I bring out the best in everybody I fight, but Joe Frazier brings out the best in me.  He's one h**l of a man.  God bless him."  

Ali was not an inherently arrogant man.  He was a great advocate for boxing who used his mouth to benefit the sport. He always paid attention to the children, white and black, who came to his training camps and he came to be loved and admired around the world.

I look at what I see as Muhammad Ali as a whole package and think he is as great an athlete and person as we have ever had.  People may argue about his place in history, and many (even most) may not think he is the greatest heavyweight champion of all time.  But I've never heard anyone say he was not a true Champion.  I draw a distinction between fighters who become titleholders and those who become Champions.  Ali was, IMO, one of the latter.

Answer 6

Between Toughguy and Scott M there is not a lot to add, both great answers.  In the end, money is meaningless anyway, you can't take it with you, and I am sure Ali would give every penny he ever made just to stop shaking for a few minutes.  Louis died a figure beloved by millions, a true hero to all mankind, not just boxing fans.  Ali will do the same, both men transcended boxing and reached millions on the world stage.

All men, boxers or other wise should be humble and be gentlemen, in or out of the ring.  Louis and Ali were both, and most if not all of Ali's trash talking was hype.  His political positions on the Vietnam war and institutionalized racism were morally and ethically just and Muhammad was as much a champion for equality and justice as Louis in relation to their eras.  Joe fought evil on a scale that is beyond the grasp of most kids today.  Ali, under vastly different political circumstances did the same.  

The reward for being a gentleman is that it earns the respect of everyone around you, even your enemies, and believe me when I tell you integrity and decency are real possessions.  Those without those qualities will try and take yours from you.

Answer 7

I think that a boxer should be humble and exhibit class outside of the ring and there is nothing wrong with exuding class inside the ring either.  Joe Louis was class personified in and out of the ring, a true gentleman and a credit to his country.  There are other examples of classy fighters like Rocky Marciano who didn't brag about his accomplishments and Alexis Arguello are a couple more good examples.  Ali was also brash and controversial and it made for good press.  People were drawn to him because of his great charisma and flamboyance.  He was also somewhat of a comedian and unpredictable.  He was both loved and hated and was arrogant and controversial but to many in a fun way and the boxing media and public ate it up adding to his fame and popularity.  To me, nobody holds a candle to the great Joe Louis a true credit to mankind and a great example of how a man with class should carry himself.

Answer 8

Up to you, I feel like people need to earn respect and are not simply given respect, having said that I'm not an a*****e to people, anyways people tend to like more a person whos not arrogant, and people just liked muahama ali more, there are a lot of MMA I like that are humble, just remember that being a gentleman doesn't mean to have the personality of a rock.

Also as for behaving like a arrogant *** on camera and not in real life on the ali discussion, think of this: You don't see a lot murderers behave like a******s, or the scum they are ont he street before they are caught, h**l for most people they buy their act and might probably seem kind and a nice person.

I think the reason he wasn't considered like that off the boxing ring was because I don't think no one even argued with him and the reportess just *** kissed him.

Answer 9

reward? you only will see in the mirror (when nobody's around you can humbly tap yourself on the shoulder and be proud of yourself for a few seconds for being Good Human Being!) that's It!

there's no money or glory in it!

Muhammad Ali is very humble human being!

since He got the Greatest fighting spirit, his fighting spirit didn't let him to be quite in front of unjustice lashed out at the black people (don't forget He grew up in 40's and 50's, He have seen and been thru a lot!)

That's why He stood up against the system! (in his young age! in the 60's)

He wasn't afraid to say loudly what He believed (and God! He was brilliant at it! just: No VietCong ever called me a "n word"! is enough to admire Him forever!)

In the boxing, He knew that if He don't promote himself and stir up the hype, nobody will do it for him! He saw, how all those great champs before him went broke immidietly after! so He had to do what he had to do (he was hillariously great at it).

Then again don't forget, establishment wanted to see him be beaten in the ring, because they couldn't beat him off the ring (trust me, they tried very hard: they revoke his boxing license, strip his championship and banned from boxing in the states, while He was in his prime!)

that's why every and each of his fight's after he stood up to the system, was uphill battle with establishment, media and the system (they all favored his opponents! they never been fair to him! have you seen the reporter who say's: you Not that pretty! to him, when He just won the Heavyweight Championship from Liston? did you ever see any reporter say that to Mayweather, De La Hoya or any other fighter (even real ugly one's,) especially after they won the title?)

Muhammad Ali stood up to arrogant unjust system the way he could do the best: in the ring and off the ring!

He is exremely humble and gentle with most important: regular people of all walks of life!

That's why He is the Greatest!

Answer 10

Take Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather. Who is humble and who is the trash talker? Who is more famous?De La Hoya easily. Oscar De La Hoya has his reward, and his reward is that he is the best paid boxer today.

Answer 11

Yeah man I have always wondered this too. Ali was a serious sh*t talker , and to the media they portray him as like mother Teressa or something?  I don't know I guess its just all about which fighter is more marketable.

  Ali was the longer lengthy  fighter with the pretty face , who looked like the classic good guy , over coming brute strength. and well Joe Louis looked like a mean big dark black guy, who didnt have to much of a marketable appeal. Its that way now , look at mayweather , he is the biggest name in boxing because of his attitude , people tune in to see him loose and trash talk. I think the majority of people (casual fans) dont watch contact sports for the contact , I think they watch it for the drama and **** talking that leads up to it.  And Ali had allot of grudge matches so that could be why.

Answer 12

Mohamed Ali was a gentlemen outside the ring. he stood up for his beliefs and was a consciences objector, many others who weren't famous did the same thing. as for him being a loud mouth he was joking with people the whole time and he did this to sell tickets. you gotta think smart. the things Ali said about his opponents are examples of advertisement in its finest. The reward for being a gentleman is surrounding yourself with good people who will be loyal to you.

Answer 13

There is no reward for being a gentlemen or a "prick." Joe Louis was broke due to his own negligence. Ali was entertaining, which contributed to his wealth.

As far a ethics, boxers don't owe anyone an ounce of courtesy. If anyone wants courtesy, they should demand if from the President, Governer, mayor, and of course from the person in the mirror.