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R.I.P. "King" Arthur Williams

Well, to be fair they were also desparate for money at that point. But were they brave? Absolutely. That's something Big Roy definitely developed. His fighters werent averse to taking their licks like mature warriors.

Oh definitely they needed the paycheck, that goes without saying. But to take that paycheck knowing your legs are likely going to get kicked to hell still takes balls.

I went back and looked at those fights and credit is also due to Ignashov who didn't even celebrate kicking Williams' legs, just quietly gave respect to Williams and his corner.

Unlike Masato who celebrated like a complete dickhead vs Phillips.
 
Oh definitely they needed the paycheck, that goes without saying. But to take that paycheck knowing your legs are likely going to get kicked to hell still takes balls.

I went back and looked at those fights and credit is also due to Ignashov who didn't even celebrate kicking Williams' legs, just quietly gave respect to Williams and his corner.

Unlike Masato who celebrated like a complete dickhead vs Phillips.

Arthur always laughed at this fight, saying no one had ever kicked at him in his entire life. He was incredibly down to Earth about the whole experience
 
Got to talk to him quite a bit over the past year at Top Rank Gym. Super friendly. Sad news indeed
 
I've met 3 of the 4 Dads you mentioned. The only one I couldnt stand was Teofimo's Dad. He kept going on and on about how his Son was the best ever. He was wearing sunglasses in a room that absolutely didnt require it, and he didn't have eye problems. But...Teofimo did smack Rolly around that day in sparring so there's that.

Kenny Porter and Floyd Sr. are cool with me. Kenny was training people at our gym recently and always seemed gracious. I spent a lot of time around Floyd Sr. He definitely likes both fame a d infamy, and money, but I never once had a problem with him. Remember he beat up Charlie Z for us also lol.

I think a lot of these guys who push their Sons, the Sons end up without a personality. Or at least the personality seems to be that they NEED attention. Teofimo and Floyd came off that way. Their Dads kinda try to make up for their kid not being as bombastic as they think they should be. I dont have to worry about that. My Son has tons of personality and people likely will either love or hate him. I can be the reserved one lol

It is an interesting dynamic, I just say not to get swept up into stereotypes. For every Garcia or Lopez, there are guys like Anatoly Lomanchenko, or Jose Morales.

But in the case of Big Roy, Arthur gave me a lot of insight as to what that program was like for everyone who wasnt Roy Jr. And from what he said, Roy Jr. was always the favorite. He did get pushed the hardest, but he also got the most leeway where the others had to earn everything. By the time Roy Jr. was 16 he was already pretty much a star, and he carried himself like it. There arent a ton of interviews of Big Roy, but from what Arthur said and what I've been able to find he actually took responsibility for missteps he made as a Father that led to their split, and still always advocated and cared for his Son.

Really appreciate your thoughtful response and your willingness to share you experiences with fighters/trainers that most of us will ever only know as fans.
 
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