Ever wonder why a boxer who doesn't have a high knockout rate gets nicknames like “Killer” that don't suit him?
Eric “Butterbean” Esch, 65-2-3, July 7, 2002, ended the career of Larry “Easton Assassin” Holmes. He allegedly suffered a questionable knockdown in the 10th and final round. Holmes never fought again, but Butterbean finished with a record of 77 wins, 10 losses, and 4 draws.
I believe it was Muhammad Ali who nicknamed Holmes “Peanuthead” because of his small head and large body.
Speaking about Ali, he called himself “the best!” 56-5. He usually gave his opponents nicknames like “Rabbit” for 55-8-1 Floyd Patterson. Probably because he sometimes takes off his feet and hits his left hook.
Ali called Sonny Liston (50-4) a “big ugly bear.” His real name was Charles, so “Sonny” was his nickname. Other players with nicknames that he didn't necessarily fight under are:
Knockout Light Heavyweight Champion Archie Moore, 186-23-19, known as “Old Mongoose.”
Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams was 82-13-2 and was on the verge of being knocked out when he was shot. Argentina's Oscar “Ringo” Bonavena, 58 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw.
Of course, there was “Smokin'” Joe Frazier, 32-4-1. Ali said, “Smokin' is bad for your health, Joe!” Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury, 34-0-1.
“Big” George Foreman, 76-5, Ali called “The Mummy”! Chuck “The Bayonne Breeder” who was 36-14-2 was another breeder, as was Henry “Our Henry” Cooper who was 40-14-1. Ernie “Black Destroyer” Shavers, 76-14-1, a very fitting nickname for his 70 knockouts.
“Neon” Leon Spinks is 26-17-3, and his younger brother Michael “Jinx” Spinks is 31-1. “Jersey” Joe Walcott, 49 wins, 20 losses, 1 draw. Rocky “Brockton’s Blockbuster” Marciano, 49-0. So was Ezzard “Cincinnati Cobra” Charles. Alvin “Blue” Lewis, 30 wins and 6 losses.
Italian Primo “The Ambling Alp” Carnera, 88-14. James “Cinderella Man” Braddock, 46 wins, 24 losses, 4 draws. Joe “The Brown Bomber” Lewis, 66 wins and 3 losses. Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 43-3-1, Max “Livermore Larappa” 66-13, of Larappa, California. “Ruby” Bob Fitzsimmons, 61 wins, 8 losses, 4 draws. “Iron” Mike Tyson, 50 wins and 6 losses. James “The Boilermaker” J. Jeffries, 19-1-2. James “Gentleman” Jim Corbett, 11-4-3. Jack “Galveston Giant” Johnson, 54 wins, 11 losses, and 8 draws. Max “Rhine's Black Uhlan” Schmeling, 56-10-4.
Floyd “Jumbo” Cummings was 15-6-1 and was “Smokin’” Joe Frazier’s final opponent. “Slappy” Maxie Rosenbloom, 207-39-26. Mike “Giant” White, 26-13-1. Ray “Windmill” White, 40-14-5. “Two-Tone” Tony Galento, 78 wins, 26 losses, 6 draws.
Apart from the strong players, there is Roberto “Hands of Stone, Duran, 103 wins, 16 losses”, also known as “El Cholo”. Alexis “Thin Man” Arguello, 77 wins, 8 losses, also of “El Flaco Explosivo”. Willie “Will-O-The-Wisp” Pep, 229-11-1.
How many people are named “Sugar”? Top of the list is “Sugar” Ray Robinson, 174-19-6. Olympian “Sugar” Ray Shields, 57 wins, 8 losses, 3 draws. Another Olympian, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, has 36 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. “Sugar” Shane Mosley, 49-10-1.
One of Philadelphia's boxers, like Tommy “Phantom of Philly” Loughran (90-25-10). Garnet “Sugar” Hart, 29-7-2. Willie “The Worm” Monroe, 40-10-1. Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts, 39-7-1. Stanley “Kitten” Hayward, 31 wins, 12 losses, 4 draws. Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, 39-9-1.
His son, known as Jesse “Hard Work” Hart, is 30-3 years old. “Gypsy” Joe Harris, 24 wins and 1 loss. Earl “The Pearl” Hargrove, 32-6; “Bad” Benny Brisco, 66 wins, 24 losses, 5 draws. Aussie “Blue Mole Bomber” Panteras, 28 wins, 6 losses.
Anthony “Two Guns” Fletcher, 24-4-1. his brother Frank “The Animal” Fletcher, 18-6-1; “Joltin'” Jeff Chandler, 33 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws. His brother Jaron “Boots” Ennis is 31-0, Derek “Pooh” Ennis is 24-5-1, and his father and trainer Derek “Bosie” Ennis is 4-2. .