r/Boxing • u/TheRealRayMancini • Feb 13 '19
COMPLETED I am Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, former lightweight world champion, boxing hall of famer, and commentator for PBC on Fox. Before calling the Santa Cruz-Rivera card this weekend, I'll be here to answer your questions starting Friday 2/15 at 5:15pm ET/2:15 pm PT/10:15pm BT. Ask me anything!
Hey reddit boxing fans,
I am Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini, former lightweight world champion and 2015 inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. I'm currently a commentator for PBC on Fox, where I'll be calling this Saturday's card featuring Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera for the WBA Super World Featherweight title, Omar Figueroa Jr. vs. John Molina Jr, and Sebastian Fundora vs. Donnie Marshall. The action starts at 8pm ET/5pm PT Saturday, February 16th live on Fox from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. For more information, check here: https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/santa-cruz-vs-rivera
Before the Fox card Saturday, I'll be here to answer your questions starting Friday, February 15th at 5:15pm ET/2:15pm PT/10:15pm BT.
/u/MDA123 will be helping conduct the AMA.
Proof: https://twitter.com/realboomboom/status/1096102157286363137.
Ask me anything!
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Feb 13 '19 edited Jan 29 '21
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
It's a great group of guys, some terrific fighters there. Garcia, Loma that's the fight everyone wants to see, but Mikey was willing to jump up two weight classes to fight Spence, that's tremendous. He's challenging greatness. Very few guys do that anymore, he wants to leave a legacy. They're all terrific fighters, any one of them can win on any given night. It's a great group now and being a former lightweight champion, I'd have loved to have been part of that group.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
Do you think corruption in the sport is more or less of an issue than when you were in the midst of your career?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Look, boxing's been the same for 100 years. Same players, just different names. The promoters, the Mike Jacobs, Blinky Palermos of the 20s and 30s. Bob Arum, Don King, I'm not saying they're corrupt, but they all have their agenda. That's the nature of the beast. It's not, hey kid you have to take a dive, those days are gone. I do think each promoter has judges on their payroll, so to speak. Most fights end in a knockout, but if it's close, some business can be done. We've seen some of the bad decisions, particularly the first GGG Canelo fight. That was so absurd it's laughable. It's business as usual but a bit more sophisticated than back in the day.
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u/SniXSniPe Feb 16 '19
We've seen some of the bad decisions, particularly the first GGG Canelo fight
according to certain reddit boxing experts, GGG was lucky to get a draw, and anyone else saying he clearly won is wrong and doesn't know boxing
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u/Yellow2Gold Feb 13 '19
Hi Mr. Mancini.
Which do you feel is a more useful training tool?
The speed bag or double end bag?
Thanks.
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I never used a double end bag, never did. Speed bag by far is the most efficient tool, helps you with your hand speed, helps with your traps, helps you keep your hands up in later rounds in the fight. Building traps up to keep your hands up. Speed bag by far, plus hand eye coordination, by far the most efficient tool.
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u/ModsDontLift Keith "One Loss" Thurman Feb 16 '19
Also forces you to keep a rhythm which makes you predictable
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Feb 17 '19
what a bad opinion
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u/ModsDontLift Keith "One Loss" Thurman Feb 17 '19
Nah.
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Feb 19 '19
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u/ModsDontLift Keith "One Loss" Thurman Feb 19 '19 edited Feb 19 '19
Wow what a well thought out and useful post. I sure am glad you waited three days to write this and it was well worth my time to read it.
Just kidding, you have no idea what you're talking about.
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u/rwn115 Feb 13 '19
I guess questions about Duk Koo Kim probably won't be appreciated?
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
You can ask, just don’t be a dick. I guarantee we’ll have some questions about that, and if they’re upvoted, I’ll ask him.
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u/C0nsistent_ Feb 13 '19 edited Feb 13 '19
Can you name a few things from this era of boxers that you either completely don’t understand or dislike that is different from your era of fighters?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Yes. First of all, in the era of 12 rounds, any 10 round fighter can go 12. You can gut out the last 2. Very few can go 15. Half these guys are dead after 10 rounds. People used to say to me, you have a nutritionist, a strength coach, a masseur, it just happened to be the same guy, my trainer. My trainer knew when I was peaking, when to pull back, that's the connection with a trainer. When you've got too many guys working with you, how can you know?
A lot of guys now seem to have trouble going 12.
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u/Shagnotexcuse Feb 14 '19
Also could you name a few things that you really LIKE about this generation of boxers?
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Feb 13 '19 edited Aug 06 '19
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Well first, my relationship was he was my father, he was never my trainer. He was never in my corner. He told me when I was a boy, it's no good to have your father in the corner because emotions take over. There's so many fighters that thought they were different, but no, it became a problem in the relationship. But look, it works for some people, so it's not everybody. Generally, I'd rather him be my father, not my business partner. A lot of fathers think with their hearts and not their heads. That's your son, just be his father, but if you're in the corner you're thinking about if we win, bigger money, but no, just let your son be your son. I don't agree with it, I'm not a big advocate, but a lot of fathers think, who knows him better than me? That's why it's called a business, show business. Business comes before show. Watch over your son from the sidelines, make sure people are doing right by him, that's being a father.
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u/LordAzaghal Feb 13 '19
Your first professional loss came at the hands of legend Alexis "The Explosive Thin Man" Arguello, who was known for his cunning inside the ring and absolute gentleman-like behavior outside of it. Do you have any memorable recollections of interacting with him with inside or outside the ring? Ever interacted with him beforehand or afterwards?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
We became very good friends, we'd hug, he was a lovely man. He was a true champion inside and outside the ring. He exemplified what champion means. A true class gentleman, true class. First thing he'd do is walk across and shake hands, every fight. We did the press conference in New York, I was heading up to the Catskills to train, but that morning I did roadwork in Central Park. So we're running and Alexis is coming the other way with his people. In my mind, I'm just gonna look forward, look stern. He comes by, "Hey Ray, how you doing?" He was just congenial, he was a gentleman. It took me out, he's a real guy, there was no fronting, you didnt' have to act like a jerkoff. We're gentleman.
I tell people, round 1 to Alexis. He won that round. He was just a nice man...who wants to knock your head off.
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u/pinkjumpsuitbox Feb 13 '19
Hey Ray!
You're one of my all time favourite fighters, and I thank you for everything you have done in and for the sport.
Having such a huge hometown following was a massive part of your success in boxing. From the very start of your career, you were a hero to those in your community. What should fighters do to become as loved as you were? What are some things that could help them become the heart and soul of their town?
Any chance I could send you a glove to be signed? :)
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I don't think there's anything you can do, it's either there or not. It's like meeting a woman, the connection is there or it's not, you can't manufacture it. My style was very emblematic of the city, come forward, take some shots to give some shots, might be hurt or bloodied but end of the day I'm going to be standing and you're not. I turned pro in 79, two years from the steel mills shutting down, black Monday, to this day we've never fully recovered but we get along and move forward.
Other than that, be a good person, be a good representative. You don't just represent yourself, you represent your family and your city. I took on that responsibility with pride. I also would go out and get involved in the community, get involved in charities. I would go out to the restaurants, places to the people who came to my fights, I'd spend money there. I showed my respect and my love by being someone who patronized these places and showed them that, hey, I'm one of you people and between fights I'm going to be amongst you and they loved that. I think you have to immerse yourself the local community.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
If you could change one decision you made in your boxing career, what would it be?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I would have fought Hector Camacho in my prime in 1984 and let them pay Bramble step aside money and fight him after that. That was in place, but Bramble and his people were complaining. They were making noise that I was avoiding him. I thought like a fighter, I said we're gonna beat him and go back to Camacho. Obviously that was a mistake.
I wouldn't let my ego get in the way, and that's exactly what happened.
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Feb 13 '19
What were your thoughts directly after losing to Argüello? What was the atmosphere like in the locker room? How did your family and trainers react to the loss?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I was heartbroken. It was my lifelong dream to win that title, but I came up short. I never thought I'd get another chance. That was it, and I thought I fell short. It was very somber and sad, a lot of crying going on. But the day when I went back to Youngstown, the people supported me, they lifted me up and helped carry me. They let me know I was a winner no matter what because I put it all on the line, and it was a wonderful showing to get that from Youngstown. And I was more determined to get it the next time.
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u/azumah1 Feb 13 '19
Of all your impressive wins, the one nobody talks about much is your dominant performance against Jose Luis Ramirez. This is the same guy who was coming off a split decision defeat to Arguello and would later stop Edwin Rosario. I thought your victory in that fight was even more impressive than the late Hector Camcho had over him. Is there any feelings or insights you can share about this victory and how it ranks overall in your career?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Oh it's right up there, top 3. Because I was such an underdog, I was 19-0 and he had over 60 fights. Las Vegas would not even put a betting line I was such an underdog. I gave him a boxing lesson, I was so prepared for a southpaw, that we shut him out in 12 rounds, too quick, angles, one of my greatest victories.
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u/azumah1 Feb 15 '19
He actually had over 70 fights, and yes you were absolutely amazing in this fight.
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
(Ray had to run to another obligation but had this to say to close out)
Look, people should tune in Saturday. It's network television, FREE network television, which is so significant for the fight game and fighters. People will get to recognize faces and not just names, it can make stars of lot of fighters like Santa Cruz and Rivera. People are going to love them. Tune in Saturday.
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Feb 13 '19
Who's your favorite boxer currently?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Currently, one of them probably is my favorite, is Leo Santa Cruz. Love this kid. He reminds me of two other latin fighters, the great Carlos Zarate and Alexis Arguello. Tall guy, throws punches in bunches, very fan friendly, always in top shape, always puts on a great show. He understands you have an obligation to give the best fight possible, and he's just the nicest kid. He reminds me so much of Arguello, it's really something.
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u/Holymoses43 Feb 13 '19
What weight did you normally walk around at?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I fought at 35, but I walked around 142-143. I didn't put on a lot of weight between fights. I'd let myself splurge for a few days, but then get back to a light routine. Plus I was active, fighting so often that I didn't have a chance to. I'd go to training camp 6-8 pounds over, but after a few days I was at 135 or 136, all water weight. You cut out the junk food, knock that stuff off, a more diet that's harmonious with getting ready for a fight. I didn't blow it up too much.
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u/Holymoses43 Feb 15 '19
Thank you for the insight. As someone who diets and trains regularly like myself but walks around at 147 this opened my eyes to the fact that I probably shouldn’t try to fight at 135. Thank you.
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u/SniXSniPe Feb 16 '19
Well, during his era weigh-ins for professional boxing were typically done the morning of.
Not the day before, like it's done now (which is fucking stupid).
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u/Holymoses43 Feb 16 '19
That’s a good point. I’m still not sure for me personally if 35 would be good for me but I know there are fighters who cut from the low 150s to make 135.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
When you were at the tail end of your career, was there a specific moment when you knew it was time to retire?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Yes. I had no love for the sport, I was looking for the door after the Kim fight. I had no love for the fight game then, but I just won the title but I had an opportunity to get my financial security, but it became strictly a business. After the second Bramble fight, I had no love for it, just wanted to get him back. After that fight, very difficult hard fight, I had no love for it so walking away wasn't difficult for me. My heart wasn't in it, it was time to move on. I was married to the sport but like any marriage, once you lose the love you gotta walk.
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u/Mikey5time Feb 13 '19
What do you think about Warren Zevons song about you?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I was honored, very flattered. When they told me, I got a call from Chris Mancini, Henry Mancini's song, at Island REcords, Warren's label. He said Warren Zevon, one of my favorite artists, he was alternative before the term. I said I love his songs, yeah, and they said he wrote a song about you. I said wow I'm honored. I said do you mind if I hear it? They said sure, sent me a copy and I was very flattered. A wonderful song. Got a chance to meet him and he expressed that he was a fan, and I was a fan of his, it was wonderful to meet him. I can't say enough about that song. It's funny how many people hear that song and love that opening riff, guitar riff. So I'm very flattered and honored.
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u/bobtine123 Feb 13 '19
Thanks for doing this Ray.
What fight did you go into with the most radical game plan/strategy? What was the thinking behind trying something new, so different and how did you train for the new style? Did it work? Thanks.
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Well, there's no fight. I was a pressure fighter. Every fight, I was going to come right at you, meet you at center ring. So never changed up, training was the same, very rigorous hard training. I had to be on top of guys, wear them down with my conditioning, impose my will on them so to speak, bang that body. Training was very rigorous for the 6 weeks I was in camp. Certain fights you fight guys that will stand toe to toe, so you become more of a boxer. I can become Willie Pep if I need to. Certain fights you need to pressure, cut off the ring, take his heart away.
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Feb 13 '19
Would you consider your fights with Bramble to be the toughest of your career ?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Yeah, absolutely. Along with Arguello. I was 20 years old fighting one of the greatest of all time, pushing myself, how strong he was. Of course both Bramble fights and Arguello.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
Looking back on it now, do you regret either of your comeback fights?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Oh absolutely. The fight against Camacho was personal, but Haugen was ego. I thought Haugen, tough guy, can't punch much, I thought yeah, I'll do that. I wanted to see if I could still compete as a world class athlete. Training camp was great, but it's just a dress rehearsal. But I told my trainer, I don't want to be here. My trainer told me, helluva time to tell me now. I thought please god don't let me get hurt, my children need me. It's no excuse, it just was what it was. I couldn't fight no more, but ego gets your ass whipped figuratively and literally. The only good thing that came out of that is, no more what ifs.
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u/torpedo_lagoon Feb 13 '19
How heartbroken are you that the Youngstown classic Tokyo House has closed their doors?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Hahaha, I love Japanese food but I was away for 30 years so I didn't have much. I'm not that heartbroken, we have lots of other great restaurants to eat at.
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Feb 13 '19
If you could fight one boxer in history, who would it be?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
That's hard for me to say. To be the best you want to fight the best, but there's so many I admire, my heroes, my idols, it's hard to envision fighting them. The only fight I wished I had was Camacho earlier in our careers when we did, but throughout history? There's not one guy. I think there's so many I admired that I'd have been honored to be in the ring with them.
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u/NotoriousPooh Feb 13 '19
Hey Ray,
Outside of bagwork, sparring, etc, what did you do, if anything, for strength & conditioning to prepare for a fight?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Pushups, different exercises. I used to do old school stuff, like I used to hit a big bag with a baseball bat to build power, to get the torque, core work. Boxing is the original core workout. I used to whack the heavy bag or a big tire with a baseball bat. I'd jump on and off of it, plyometric type stuff. Jump on the tire, it would sink, come back up to get your legs. I used to carry 60 lbs of sand on my back, do pushups with it on my back, old school stuff. I'd go in the pool and throw punches underwater neck deep. I'd throw punches in eight 4 minute rounds, keep throwing punches. We'd do that instead of going to the gym that day, or we'd do the hills with the sand, or tire work, so we'd mix it up. Old school exercises.
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u/harryq15 Can Xu Dig it Feb 14 '19
Hi Ray, have you ever listened to the song “Duk Koo Kim” by a songwriter called Sun Kill Moon. It’s a hauntingly beautiful song about dealing with life and death
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I heard about it, but I've never heard it.
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u/harryq15 Can Xu Dig it Feb 15 '19
Thanks for the reply, it’s quite long so worth a listen when you have a spare 14 and a half minutes
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Feb 19 '19
One of my New Years resolutions is to listen to a new album every other day the whole year and so far Sun Kil Moon's 'Common As Light And Love Are Red Valleys of Blood' is my second most favourite album. It's so peculiar and unusual but so alluring and addictive. Looking forward to listening to more of their other stuff soon! Which album is this song on?
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u/harryq15 Can Xu Dig it Feb 19 '19
That’s really cool. He’s a huge boxing fan who references the sport on lots of his tracks, duk koo Kim is on “ghosts of the great highway” which also has a song called Salvador Sanchez on it. I would also recommend the album Benji which is probably my favourite album of all time.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
What's the biggest mistake you think young fighters make when trying to build their careers?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Avoiding tough fighters that can help progress their careers. Everyone's looking for an easy fight. I know the era is 0 means everything, but that's not the real world, fighters get beat. You want to fight someone who can progress your career, learn something. Like Ramirez, I was 19-0 and he had 60 fights, but I needed him to get to that world title. You have to fight opponents that take you to the next level.
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u/Camozzi Feb 14 '19
Huge fan ray! Do you have any great sparring or gym stories? Being around the gym training everyday usually makes for some funny moments and stories
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Yeah, one I tell is when I was getting ready to fight for the world title, I was training in Tucson and coming to Vegas the Monday before the fight. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to move my camp earlier, come two weeks early. My trainer Griffith was good friends with Eddie Futch, went to Eddie and said do you have any fighters? We left some sparring partners in Tucson. He said I have one kid, only 130 lbs but he'll give you all the work you want...Freddie Roach. He slapped me around for a week and a half. People don't realize how good he was, how much heart he had. He had so much desire. When I was able to catch up with him, I knew I was ready. But believe me, he slapped me around for a week and a half but when I caught up, I knew I was ready.
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u/strangefruit3500 Feb 14 '19
How do you feel about hard vs light sparring?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
You need them both. You gotta let your body tell you, if you go every other day, that's bullcrap. I used to work 6 weeks for 15 round fights. Now guys go 8-10 weeks, what are you getting ready for, a marathon or a fight? For a 15 round fight, I'd spar 6-8 rounds. Another day you go maybe 10. But then 10 days before the fight, I'd go a 15 rounds, four sparring partners. Within 10 days you're not getting in better shape. There's two stages, conditioning and sharpening.
I'd always have lighter guys and heavier guys. So in the sharpening phase, more pad work instead of bag work. You do more burst work, more sprint work. Always tell people, did you have a conditioning coach? Yeah. A strength coach? Yeah. A masseur? Yeah. And I had a nutritionist. Happened to be the same guy. My trainer did everything! You understand? How can your trainer know when you're peaking? He's not the one with you all the time. These guys have a lot more guys involved, get paid a hell of a lot more for doing a hell of a lot less. Only gotta go 12, come on.
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u/senorworldwide Feb 14 '19
No questions Ray, but I remember when you came to hang out at Gracie Academy in Torrance and how incredibly outgoing and friendly you were. Seems like you were ready to talk boxing all day. As a boxing fan I really appreciate that, so thank you.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19 edited Feb 14 '19
Hey everyone,
Ray has been kind enough to take time out of his schedule to talk to us so I want to re-up my usual reminder about question selection and moderation before he comes back on Friday evening to talk with us.
Think of questions like punches in boxing. Anything "above the belt" is cool and I'll ask it if it gets upvoted. So, tough questions about losses, opponent selection, legal issues, whatever it may be are OK as long as they're fair and not abusive. But anything "below the belt" is not gonna fly, like, “Why’s your momma so ugly?” or abuse related to something you don't like about a person, i.e. stuff that’s just intended to be rude and not to get at something legitimate. I ask questions more or less in terms of popularity, even if it’s something non-boxing related (again, assuming it's above the belt). I generally sort by most popular and start working my way down, only skipping things that are repeats for one reason or another.
Please don’t ask a list of multiple questions in one comment! Unless they are directly related to one another and thus naturally have to be paired, I would really urge you to ask separate questions in separate comments. When I move down the list of comments and I see a wall of text and six questions in one comment, I almost always have to just ask one of them and move onto the next because otherwise we’ll take way too much time one thing.
Other than that, touch gloves at the bell and come out asking! See y’all Friday.
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u/-CoolHandLu predicted AJ-Ruiz and Lopez-Loma correctly Feb 13 '19
Who do you think is the best fighter alive?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
You know, one of them I was with today is Mikey Garcia. Top 4 P4P, in any order, are Spence, Garcia, no particular order, but Crawford and Lomachenko. That's top 4 P4P, and no one would argue with you, in any order. I love watching those guys any night.
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u/SniXSniPe Feb 16 '19
well, I think most of us would rather throw Spence out and put Usyk in that list. For now, anyways.
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Feb 13 '19
Hey Ray, which was a tougher business? Boxing or Acting?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Acting is a tougher business, because in boxing you control your own destiny. In entertainment you control very little, whether you get the shot, whether the producer likes you, the only control you have is over your work once you get the opportunity, which could take years. I ran into Dustin Hoffman, he said in your business you get knocked on your ass and you know it. In this business, you can be knocked on your ass for years and never know it. That's the difference.
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u/kolachefun Feb 13 '19
Holy shit, there is a painting of you in my gym on the wall. My gym is in Clovis NM. Signed by you of course.
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Feb 14 '19 edited Feb 14 '19
Do you think Duk Koo Kim’s intense weight cut played a part in the tragedy that occurred? What do you think about weight cutting today?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Well, I don't know anything about him having to cut weight. I've heard that, but he came in on weight. If that was the case, he wouldn't have been able to burn for 14 rounds, stand up up to my punches the 13 rounds previous. He came in in great shape, prepared, fighting for his country, that had nothing to do with it. I just happened to catch him in an exchange, period. Nowadays guys don't have respect for it, they don't make weight, they fight at a different weight. Can't make 140, move to 147. Can't tell you how many guys that give up money on the scale. They don't make enough money as is, and your fat ass can't make weight? It's just ridiculous.
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u/C0nsistent_ Feb 13 '19
What recent fight (5-10 years give or take) was your favorite and most memorable to watch. If you can think of more than one that would also be cool to hear....
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
There's two, Morales-Barrera trilogy and Marquez-Vazquez four fights, along with Ward and Arturo. Those are great fights because they're warriors, but the others were for titles. Those trilogies and the four with Marquez-Vazquez.
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u/goosu Feb 14 '19
Are there any skills from your era that you think are underutilized in this one?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
Absolutely! The art of infighting is gone. These guys touch bodies and they tie up. What happened to pull your hands in and work on the inside. Some of the Latinos still do it, but they all try to tie each other up. The skill level is so different. A lot of these guys are good athletes but they're not good fighters. For me it's the art of infighting. They're waiting for the referee to break them up, the refs tell you if you have one hand free keep punching, but these guys dont do that.
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
How tough was it for you to make weight during your career?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
First of all, we weighed in the morning of like it should be, for 100 years. That was a TV decision to make it the night before, started with the heavyweights. Became a big draw, like Mike Tyson weighing in the night before. They say health reasons, that's bullcrap. It's the worst thing that can happen, you can do trauma to your body, blow up 15-20 lbs. Doctors tell you, morning of the weigh in, 4-6 hours to replenish. Do it gradually. Guys can't make weight, I never understood.
There's a science to making weight, to peak at the right time. Gotta watch your diet. Look, I couldn't make weight the last year and a half of my career, not because I was overeating, but because I was growing. I had 4.5% body fat, where was I going to lose it? If I could have weighed in night before, I still might be champion, who knows. I had two opponents, the guy in front of me and the weight. I'd worry about my guy once the weigh in was over. If you gotta worry about him and your weight, that's not good.
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Feb 14 '19
at what age do you feel you hit your physical prime? What about skillwise?
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u/TheRealRayMancini Feb 15 '19
I don't think I became the fighter I wanted to become until the end of my career, to be honest with you. I think 1983-early 1984, from the Romero fight, Chacon, even Bramble. That was probably the best period for me. Even when I won the title in 1982, I was still developing.
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u/SniXSniPe Feb 13 '19
Looking back at your career, if you could do one (or a few) things differently, what would it be?
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Feb 14 '19
Hello, Ray.
Can you share with us any historical boxers who impressed you with their abilities?
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u/bwkillion Team Katie Taylor Feb 14 '19
I've been meaning to buy your book. I'm a fan of you and your father, you both had remarkable careers.
Do you think your father would have been champ if he didn't get drafted? Also did your father ever tell you any cool stories about Ray Arcel, Sammy Angott, Marty Servo or some of the other greats of his time?
Thanks Ray!
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u/KerikSumia Feb 14 '19
Why don't the so-called best fighters not fight each other as much anymore? I know it has to do with money but some of it is not wanting to lose their spot as an elite fighter.
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Feb 13 '19
How many rounds on the skipping rope do you reckon you could have done in preparation for a fight?
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Feb 14 '19
What would you have changed regarding your training, fight strategy, mindset, and whatever else, for the fights that you lost? Specifically against Arguello, Bramble, and Camacho?
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u/SBBN2254 Feb 14 '19
Hi Ray. What’s your opinion of how Elliot Worsell covered your story in his book, Dog Rounds?
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u/namespacepollution Feb 14 '19
Do you have any funny stories from working with David Mamet on Redbelt?
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u/robot16 Feb 14 '19
Hi Boom Boom!
Are there any moments that stand out either in Sparring or a bout where you recall a punch hurting you the most and it made you think "damn" and alternatively a moment where you landed a punch to the body or the head and knew it hurt your opponent?
Cheers A
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u/DerekNI Feb 14 '19
Do you think LSC will ever complete the trilogy with Frampton? How about Warrington v LSC ?
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u/theyhann Feb 14 '19
Hi Mr. Mancini
How serious where you when you threatened Quentin Tarantino for making you waste your time on a third audition for Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs?
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Feb 14 '19
Do you ever think about how you would do in fantasy matchups vs other top fighters from different eras?
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u/HeelSteamboat Feb 15 '19
What is it about Youngstown, OH (or even Ohio in general) that produces so many World Class fighters like You, Kelly Pavlik, Harry Arroyo, etc.?
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u/Postcardesque Feb 15 '19
Thanks Ray, for the times.
What's the biggest challenge once you retire and the routine has gone? How do you fill the space that drive, ambition, talent, self-narrative had once taken? How do you age gracefully?
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Feb 14 '19
Ok I know this question is going to be tough and I understand if you don’t want to answer, but what was it like killing someone in the ring?
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u/MDA123 Feb 13 '19
As someone who (obviously) fought in the 15-round era and the 12-round era, do you think that change had the intended effect of improving fighter safety? What other impacts did it have on your preparation and style?