KICKBOXING'S GENUINE NICE GUYS

[admin]

I was moved by a story Paul C put on the Prince Amir thread about pictures he had taken with fighters and kids and those fighters who were kind enough to autograph them.

So I'm interested... what cool stories do any of you have about your experiences with the genuinely nice guys in our sport?

I'd be keen to hear... when you get to see fighters at all levels as I have, from a fan level, a media level, a promotional level and a friend level, and you spend time with them, hang with them and tour with them, you get a very good indication of what sort of person they are. There are some guys I regard as very GENUINE and NICE human beings in the sport... and some I DON'T.

What are your stories?

Please share :)

MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO
- Editor -
International Kickboxer
Fox Sports
SKY TV NZ

[admin]

Paul's story...


My mate Michael's tiny little son Ali had photos of Ozkan holding him up and doing the fighter pose fist thingo, and also one of the same type situations with Prince Amir and Auckland Aumatagi.

My mate asked if I could take these pics and see if I can get them signed for his son by the 3 fighters when I come across them at shows. Strangely enough, this was on the show when Gurkan Ozkan was fighting Adam Watt. Prince Amir was going to be in the corner for his fighter Rizal, and coincidentally, Auckland was fighting in the 4 way eliminator.
I thought, damn, I'll try and catch them if they aren't too busy.
I asked Amir first and showed him the picture. Amir was giggling like a kid himself at this picture of him holding a cute kid. Not only was he happy to sign the picture, but honestly asked me if he could have a copy for himself.

Ozkan just won his fight with Watt and was in a total buzz. The dressing room was absolutely packed with stunning girls and dozens of guys there congratulating him. I thought, na, better not bother the guy now, he's too busy celebrating. But then something just made me think how happy my mates son would be if I brought this back for him. So I asked.

Ozkan has a look at this picture......starts giggling and walking around the dressing room showing it to his friends, hehe espescially the girls. I swear it was weird, Ozkan signs the photo.....and asks me if I have a spare copy that he could have.

Unfortunately I didn't bump into Aukland, but am absolutely certain he would have signed his gladly. For those of you that have met Auckland, I'm sure you'll agree that this guy is as friendly as can be.

I think it's a great public relations thing guys. You should all sign as many photos as you can squeeze in. Not only is it good for your public image, but these little kids won't let their parents rest if they know you're fighting in their town and that they parents could take them.

[ShinSlinger]

I trained with Adam Watt for about 4 years, and every morning after training the boys used to go down the Corso at Manly to one of the café’s on the beach for a coffee or two. As Manly is a tourist attraction, there were many Japanese travelers walking by, and so many of them would come up to him for a chat and a photo. He always found time for this and is a complete gentlemen and an absolute pleasure to train with.

[da GhOsT]

i actually came across prince amir at the black and blue factory picking up his shorts for the k1 max show. i was with my 6 yr old son and amir was kindly enough to give my son a autograhed t-shirt of himself.<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

[supermario]

Scott Bannan and Kerry McNaught allowed me to interview them for an article I was writing for the Uni newspaper. They were really generous with their time, considering it was a couple of days before the welterweight supa8 that Soren won. Of course my article was chopped up into little pieces and given only a couple of lines because I was told it was too "promotional" (duh!), but that's another story. I'm not bitter.

[Lucy Tui]

:)Stan The Man was a born champion for autographs, he loved to make kids happy, and people in general, over the years I must have had hundreds of kids get his autograph when he came to Sydney, definetly number one for giving his time to the public in my books...
Prince Amir, Gurkan Ozkan, MarkMay,Steve Jez,Grant Barker,Shane Starr,Ian Jacobs,Alex Tui,Adam Watt..all were great with autographs and giving there time to the public...
Regards
Lucy Tui

[n/a]

up here in qld i dont think there are too many fighter that dont take the time out for a fan & have a bit of a chat with them, i have many photos now with fighter from qld & teams shirts signed, posters & a jacket signed by all the super 8s fighter that scotty bannan got for me, even when i was in melbour last year i meet a few fighter at the k1 max oceania that were more then happy to have a quick chat & get a photo with them, i think most fighter must know what its like been a fan trying to meet as many of them as you can & have a chat or get some thing signed or a photo after all they once were just that a fan like most of us are now, it would be a shame if there was a fighter out there that didnt take the time out for there fans

[shacols]

that was a good story indeed.i have found,that the fighters that i have said hello to have alswyas had time to chatto me.
prince amir
reinhardt
greg foley
shane starr
toma tehuna
always said gday and never seem to be annoyed.
awesome stuff from this fans prospective.

[wizard]

i remember my first fight back 1996 at the heildelberg town hall, being from the country (shepparton) i rememember being a very nervous 18 year old thinking what the hell am i doing here and what am i about to put myself through. this night there was two of us from shepp fighting the thing was i was in the blue corner and jamie was fighting out of the red, and there was only one fight in between ours, jamie was having his 4th fight so our trainers/seconds were concertrating more on jamie (which is understandable). i was alone in the blue corner change rooms for awhile not knowing what was going on, thank god techno ted argyle and richard walsh had a few guys from warrnambool fighting that night and they were all in the blue corner to, ted and richard must have seen how nervous i was while i was doing my wraps up, came over and introduced themselves (i knew who they were of course) and asked where i was from i told them, and they said your a country boy like us hey, ted went on and asked how many fights i had i told him it was my first and went on to say just fight with your heart win lose or draw if you fight with your heart will come out a winner, your a winner for even getting in there. after talking a little more and holding the pads for me to warm up i went into the fight feeling good about myself and my nervs had gone, they went out of there way to help me out when they had there own guys to look after to. i ended up losing the fight on points, but they made a scary situation turn into one of the best nights of my life, these guys are true gentalmen of the sport in my eyes.
scott

[Slyman]

True champions show what they're worth outside the ring as well as in it. As a photographer,I have been fortunate enough to get to know many of the fighters outside the ring.

It makes you feel good when a fighter, who enters the ring totally focussed on the title they're about to fight for, casts an eye in your direction and gives you a wink. That's cool! Reinhardt Badato, Greg Foley, Steve and Stuart McKinnon, Mark Vella, Frank Zammit, Marcus Mangan just to name a few make it worth while to know that they acknowledge YOU during such an important time for them.
Ernesto Hoost also glady posed for many photo's with fans during a visit to a JNI promoiton in Darling Harbour.
There are many humble and gracious fighters involved with Kickboxing and that's one of the reasons I like to be part of it.

[joncav]

A good topic!
Over the years I have met and spoken to many fighters, and I can honestly say none have ever declined to chat about the sport. I travel a fair bit and usually run into fighters and trainers at airports.
Some that come to mind as follows:
Darren Hedgecock,Louie Iosofidis,Laura Skinner,Gurkan Ozkan,Joe Nader.
My vote has to go to Sam Greco. When i first nmet Sam it was in the street just after the Crowning. I was with my son who had been with me to the show. Sam was very kind to him and invited us to his gym where he signed some posters and photographs. Needless to say they are still hanging on my sons bedroom wall. He treasures them and will not take them down.
A special mention must go to the chief Bob Jones. No matter where you bump into him he is always happy to talk, even if he is an a hurry!
The fact that these guys are so humble and friendly to the fans is what makes our sport so great!

Still kicking strong at 42! :)

[paul c]

I want to throw a Boxer in here.

I bumped into Jeff fenech at a boxing show. I wish I would have known he was going to be there because I would have brought his book along for an autograph. He seemed a very friendly bloke. He had dozens of people lining up to talk to him or shake his hand, and he did so with a huge smile on his face for everyone.



Edited by - paul c on 07 May 2003 00:47:36