{"id":32264,"date":"2020-05-26T16:50:46","date_gmt":"2020-05-26T16:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=32264"},"modified":"2020-05-26T16:50:46","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T16:50:46","slug":"the-mount-rushmore-of-boxing-a-suggestion-for-honoring-our-great-fighters-in-stone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/the-mount-rushmore-of-boxing-a-suggestion-for-honoring-our-great-fighters-in-stone\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mount Rushmore of Boxing: A Suggestion for Honoring Our Great Fighters in Stone"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mount Rushmore of Boxing: <\/strong>A Suggestion for Honoring Our Great Fighters in Stone<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Barry Lindenman<\/p>\n

There is always some debate about who are the most important figures in the history of boxing. More importantly though than coming up with this list is how best to honor these historic individuals. When you hear the word \u201crock,\u201d or more specifically, the word \u201crocky,\u201d what sport immediately comes to mind? Boxing, of course. Rocky Graziano, Rocky Marciano and of course, the \u201cRocky\u201d movies. How about honoring these great individuals in a way that would suggest an association fitting of the sport itself: in rock, similar to Mount Rushmore? \u00a0\u00a0How about sculpting a Mount Rushmore of boxing? \u00a0Here\u2019s the hard<\/u><\/em> part (no pun intended). What four individuals would be immortalized forever on the Mount Rushmore of boxing?<\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/suljosblog.com\/suljos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/rushmore.jpg\"<\/p>\n

To come up with the list, you first have to dive into history and read about the intent of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore and how he decided on George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln as the four men who would grace the Black Hills of South Dakota. Borglum wanted to create a memorial in commemoration of the foundation, preservation and expansion of the United States. His vision for Mount Rushmore was a formal rendering of our government\u2019s philosophy into a granite mountaintop. Similarly, the Mount Rushmore of boxing should represent the men whose careers transformed boxing into the great sport that it is.<\/p>\n

Borglum\u2019s first choice of subjects, George Washington almost seems like a no brainer. Washington was after all, the first President of the United States. Besides that, he also happened to be the commanding leader of the Revolutionary forces that fought and won freedom against the British. He was by virtue of his place in history, the first man to symbolically represent the United States and all that it stands for. Similarly, the first choice of boxing immortals to be chiseled into boxing\u2019s version of Mount Rushmore should be none other than John L. Sullivan. He was after all the first heavyweight champion recognized under the Queensberry rules. His nickname, \u201cThe Boston Strong Boy\u201d connects him geographically to the site of the first great American show of defiance, The Boston Tea Party. \u00a0Finally, his famous quote that \u201che can lick any son of a bitch in the house\u201d is consistent with the arrogant attitude that Washington and his contemporaries had against the mighty British.<\/p>\n

Next to George Washington on Borglum\u2019s masterpiece is Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. Included in this historic document are the famous words that \u201call men are created equal.\u201d If ever there was a champion boxer who echoed this belief, it was Joe Louis. Louis was the first Black man to hold the heavyweight crown since the rebellious Jack Johnson. Two things made Louis\u2019s reign as heavyweight champion more accepted than Johnson\u2019s. First and foremost, Louis\u2019s behavior as champion was \u201cacceptable\u201d with the way the public expected a heavyweight champion, white or black, to behave. Secondly, because of the nationalism associated with the Second World War, Americans of all races symbolically rallied alongside Louis against Max Schmeling and anything German. The classic description of Louis as being \u201ca credit to his race, the human race\u201d echoes Thomas Jefferson\u2019s ideas about equality among all men.<\/p>\n

Third in line as part of Gutzon Borglum\u2019s masterpiece was Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. Roosevelt was a man whose ideas and vision made him way ahead of his time. He was the father of progressive ideas like conservationism and business reform long before it was fashionable to be associated with them. As well as being one of the best pound-for-pound fighters ever, Sugar Ray Robinson was also the originator of such forward thinking ideas as the entourage and contract negotiation. During his time, Robinson\u2019s direct involvement with his own career outside the ring was viewed as unique. Today however, an athlete\u2019s entourage and renegotiation of contract terms is recognized as commonplace. Like Theodore Roosevelt, Robinson\u2019s ideas have stood the test of time.<\/p>\n

Last in the line of great American leaders on Mount Rushmore is Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln\u2019s legacy in the turbulent 1860\u2019s will forever be remembered as the man who ended slavery after the Civil War. Similarly, Muhammad Ali\u2019s legacy in the 1960\u2019s will forever be remembered as the man who embodied the ideals of the Civil Rights movement. His political stance of standing up for one\u2019s freedom of beliefs made him a great champion of human rights causes outside the ring just as he was a great champion inside the ring.<\/p>\n

So there you have it in words. The Mount Rushmore of boxing consists of the following: John L. Sullivan, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Now without further ado, here is the final unveiling of the monument. Although the final choice of boxers may be up for debate, if Gutzon Borglum had been a boxing fan, I think he would have been proud.<\/p>\n

\"http:\/\/suljosblog.com\/suljos\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/boxing-rushmore.jpg\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The Mount Rushmore of Boxing: A Suggestion for Honoring Our Great Fighters in Stone By Barry Lindenman There is always some debate about who are the [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n

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