Try to give the context, the quote{s} and a link if you can, so as to avoid too much apocryphal stuff. ************************** Context: Argument between Mickey Duff and Joe Bugner, KL, 1975. Duff, a promoter, felt that Bugner had not tried hard enough vs Ali and was only in it for the money.......... Mickey Duff: "Well....Well...I suppose thats the name of the game..........Money." Bugner: "Yes...Money.......And being able to spend it" Context: Same time, same place...Ali-Bugner II post-press conference. Press get on Bugners case whereupon he declares... Bugner: "I'll fight anyone, even Jesus Christ" Hugh McIlvanney "Aye...but only cos you know he has bad hands" Context: Las Vegas, 2009, Buildup to Hatton-Pacquiao, Week Of The Fight. Mayweather Sr, Freddie Roach and Jim Lampley meet in the ring as part of the HBO Promo. Mayweather Sr: "You too soft, Freddie". Roach: "When Pacquiao stands up at them fights I sit down. I dont have to be fuckin' hard. Only time I have to be hard is when I am with a girl." Context: Clay-Liston I, 5th St. Gym Miami, 1964 Interviewer "Now..I've Seen Liston and..." Clay...."Ain't he Ugly???!!!" Context: Sometime into the Hagler-Hearns Fight. Hagler is bleeding profusely from a cut in the middle of his forehead when he is approached between the rounds by Richard Steele.... Richard Steele: "Can you see??" Hagler "I'm hitting him, ain't I??"
Context: England, 1990, Chris Eubank makes his trademark leap over the top rope and into the ring......... Reg Gutteridge, commentator..: "The Ego Has Landed".
Kevin Kelley: How come I don't have a big HBO contract? Naseem Hamed: We're gonna give you a contract...to put my posters up all over town, and don't leave any wrinkles on them!" ::
After Mike McCallum fought Jeff Harding: Commentator to Toney: What did you think of McCallum's most recent performance ( a decision over Harding)? Toney: Shitty! The guy he fought was a bum! I would have knocked him out in 5 rounds! ::
How about an auld context there Joe!!!!:nono::warning: November 8th, 2003,Mandalay Bay Events Center, LV NV. Jay Nady: "Any Questions" Antonio Tarver: "Got any excuses tonight Roy????"
That actually happened, supposedly- Reg Gutteridge and Harry Carpenter quoted it in one of their videos. On a side note, Gutteridge was taken aside by a French commentator once and asked "I believe you lost your leg in Normandy" to which Gutteridge replied "Why? Have you found it?" ::
Bugner: "I'll fight anyone, even Jesus Christ" Hugh McIlvanney "Aye...but only cos you know he has bad hands" this has got to be the best ever::::
Greg Haugen, late in career, fighting for some obscure belt known as the WBF Welterweight Title... "WBF? What the hell is that, the World ButtFucking championship?"
James Toney, when asked before the Jirov fight what he had been practicing in training, James replies: "All I been practicing is walking to the corner after I put him on his ass" And of course theres the heckler that kept telling Duran in training over and over again "Pipino Cuevas will kill you" to which Duran finally dropped his pants and said "Pipino Cuevas can suck my dick!"
:doh: I never knew Duran was out of the closet even though I should have guessed based on his hugging style
Hugh's the best boxing writer ever, IMO. His book 'McIlvanney on boxing' is WELL worth picking up.:cheer:
100% accurate, LOK:: One of the funniest things I ever heard Here's one that isnt funny, but it is jaw-dropping: After Yaqui Lopez beat up Mike Rossman (who was Jewish, of course) in what was (Im not sure why) a mini-upset, a TV reporter asked him how he was able to win so easily Lopez's response on TV was: "I hate Jews"
"A house doctor??" "No, dummy. I want to see a people doctor." - Max Baer speaking to the front desk clerk as he was having a heart attack in his room and the clerk hold him the house doctor was on the way up.
Even funnier when you consider that moments later, Max spluttered...."Oh God, Here I Go...".....and died.
"Ducking him? I've never even heard of him" -De La Hoya responding to Darryl Coley who said he was ducking him