Boxers With the Worst Nicknames in History
Worst Boxing Nicknames Ever
Mar 11, 2010 Vikas Vij
For some unknown reason, boxing has been traditionally associated with interesting nicknames that tend to reflect the persona of the boxer. Sometimes the names are truly fitting. Mohammad Ali, for instance, was known by the nickname of “The Greatest,” which was indeed the truth in the world of boxing. However, more often than not, boxers happen to have terrible nicknames.
The following is a selection of the top 5 boxers with worst nicknames in the history of boxing:
Benny Leonard aka “Ghetto Wizard”
One of the greatest names in the history of lightweight boxing is Benny Leonard. He made it to the International Hall of Fame, and enjoyed a succession of victories for almost a period of two decades from 1912 to 1932. It is said that Benny had picked up the basic lessons of boxing on the streets of New York. Therefore, he came to be recognized as the “Ghetto Wizard,” to reflect his background. However, the name has offended many people because it shows people with humble origins in a poor light.
Sam Langford aka “Boston Tar Baby”
One of the top notch boxers of the last century was Sam Langford. Known for his powerful punches, Sam enthralled the crowds for several years in the boxing arena. He was relatively shorter in height at 5’ 7” and people loved it when he would vanquish much bigger opponents than himself. However, his nickname “Boston Tar Baby” seems to have racist connotations for many people, and is largely regarded among the worst nicknames in boxing.
Johnny Risko aka “Cleveland Rubber Man”
Johnny Risko was a renowned heavyweight boxing champion of the 20th century. The period of 1925 till 1934 was totally dominated by this amazing boxer. His key defensive skill was to survive the hard blows from his opponents. Perhaps that skill was responsible for his nickname of “Cleveland Rubber Man.” But over the decades, many fans of boxing have tended to dislike this nickname for one reason or the other.
Darnell Wilson aka “Ding-a-Ling Man”
A very hard hitter and a tireless fighter who used both his hands to rain blows on his opponents, Darnell Wilson was a highly regarded boxer of his time. He was famous for telling his opponents, “I am the Ding-a-Ling Man. I will ring your bell.” This earned him the nickname of “Ding-a-Ling.” However, in later years many people have ridiculed this name, and called it vulgar and offensive.
Emmanuel Nwodu aka “Chukwu”
In recent boxing history, Emmanuel Nwodo, the boxing champion from Nigeria made his international debut in 1998. In his very first international encounter, Nwodo demolished his strong opponent James Omondi with total ease. However, his nickname “Chukwu” does not seem to have gone down well with the followers of the sport. It is believed to be among the worst boxing nicknames by many people.
Boxing is a great sport, and the list of interesting and witty nicknames in this sport is endless. However, the sport also seems to have more than its fair share of ridiculous nicknames that tend to offend the sensibilities of many people around the world.
