The Punching Postman and the 20 Worst Nicknames in Boxing History

In boxing, a nickname can exemplify how a fighter is perceived both in and out of the ring, needless to say, ever since the sweet science ingratiated itself into the public domain there have been a plethora of monikers attached to the names of the great as well as the mediocre fighters—from the good to the bad, and from the best to the downright worst.

Here’s a look at some of the worst nicknames in boxing history.

20. Mitch “Blood” Green

Mitch Green had a nickname that should’ve struck fear into the hearts of men, but for some reason he couldn’t or wouldn’t do what his sobriquet said on the tin—draw ample amounts of blood from his opponents.

The only time he really went looking for blood, he ended up with his own, courtesy of the then “Baddest Dude on the Planet” Michael Gerrard Tyson.

The result was a bloodied nose which required five stitches—a timely reminder of his bloody encounter at Harlem’s Dapper Dans clothing shop.

19. Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha

First it was “The Great White Hope” in Gerry Cooney, and then came South Africa’s Francois “The White Buffalo” Botha.

Cooney was never great and it’s plain to the naked eye that Botha wasn’t in the slightest bit a Buffalo, for had he been, he would have rampaged through the heavyweight division, but he didn’t.

His stoppage losses to Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Evander Holyfield and Michael Grant are evidence of that.

18. Joel "El Cepillo" Casamayor

Joel “El Cepillo” Casamayor or “The Brush,” when translated into English, was a two-division world champion who acquired the name due to his abilities to brush off his opponents.

I think “The Evader” would’ve been a more appropriate name, or maybe not.

17. Nate "The Galaxy Warrior" Campbell

With a nickname like “The Galaxy Warrior” you’d think the former WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight champion had auditioned for a part in Star Trek or better yet George Lucas’ Star Wars.

In fact, his nickname would be suited to any sci-fi television programme or film for that matter.

Though, I can’t imagine Nate Campbell alongside Luke Skywalker and Co., fighting the forces of evil—Darth Vader.

I would’ve liked to have said ‘May the Force be with Campbell,’ but that left him a while ago—sometime back in 2009.

Needless to say, Campbell was a warrior of sorts, but a galaxy warrior, I think not.

16. Audley “A Force” Harrison

An Olympic gold medalist, Audley “A Force” Harrison burst onto the heavyweight scene (British scene I might add) with the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulders (precariously would’ve been more apt).

Harrison was soon to sign a multi-million pound contract with the BBC, what the British Broadcasting Association and the nations public were unaware of was that he was a Fraud, hence his other nickname “Fraudley.”

Harrison looked great at smashing cans, but when he had to step up to the plate, he always came crashing down, which constituted his second moniker—“Audinary.”

His preferred moniker A Force was a misnomer if there ever was one.

Think Air Force One—clout, reverence and fear.

Think A Force—ditto.

In Harrison’s case, the only force he could muster was the hot air escaping his mouth—he was all mouth and no trousers.

His second claim to fame was his assumed poetic skills—writing and recitations.

William Wordsworth he was not.

The last time Audinary Fraudley stepped into the ring, he was blown away by a real force, in the guise of David “The Haymaker” Haye (Wladimir Klitschko, I’m sure, would disagree).

15. Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon

Whilst Mike Tyson was serving time at Her Majesty’s pleasure or should I say Indianapolis’ Plainfield Correctional Facility, Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon was tearing up the heavyweight division.

As if.

His moniker denotes speed—two kinds of speed—the speed at which he lost the title and the speed with which it took Tyson to derail The Atlantic City Express and to consign this misnomer permanently to the history books of failed heavyweight champions.

14. Tony “The Punching Postman” Thornton

The late Tony Thornton who passed away in 2009 delivered 26 knockouts in 45 career fights, losing seven with one draw.

“The Punching Postman” was never going to be a top-tier middleweight, but what he lacked in superior skill, he more than made up with his tireless work ethic.

Needless to say, when the opportunities did present themselves in the form of a title short, The Punching Postman failed to deliver.

Remember the film “The Postman Always Ring Twice?”

Well The Punching Postman couldn’t even deliver once, even though he had three opportunities to stamp and post.

13. Vaughn “Shake and Bake” Bean

Vaughn Bean was one of those lucky heavyweights, I say lucky because he was given three undeserved stabs at the heavyweight title.

Needless to say, he came up short each time—Michael Moorer, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko.

Though, he can’t be blamed for title shots given to him as he had no hand in the matters, but one thing he’s blameworthy for, is the atrocious moniker of “Shake and Bake.”

Of all the names he could conjure up, Shake and Bake was the one that came to mind—he named himself after a bread coating.

Still, he was able to Shake and Bake 34 of his opponents, even though they were bush-league level, a bit like Mr. Bean himself.

12. Michael “Double M” Moorer

The former heavyweight champion’s moniker sounds like something straight out of spy movie—agent “Double M” has just completed his mission in Prague and will be accompanying 007 to Istanbul blah blah blah.

Double M? Please! If he had any semblance of creativity, he’d have been the first Eminem (Marshall Mathers).

11. James “The Fighting Cowboy” Tillis

When he fought Mike Tyson in 1985, he was named James “Quick” Tillis.

And boy, was he quick, but not quick enough to stop Tyson from displaying 10-15 seconds of some of the best defensive skills in boxing history.

Then out of the blue, he decided the moniker “The Fighting Cowboy” was a much more apropos name for a prizefighter as himself.

Fail.

10. Chuck “The Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner

The inspiration behind the main character in the Rocky franchise, Chuck Wepner adopted “The Bayonne Bleeder” due to his susceptibility to cuts during fights.

In my opinion it would’ve been better if he’d stuck with his other moniker “The Bayonne Brawler,” but once a bleeder, always a bleeder.

9. Donnell “The Real Touch of Sleep” Holmes

One can only construe one of two things—that either Donnell Holmes was a tremendous knockout artist or that he sent the fans and the viewing public to sleep?

I would say the latter, however, the name does sound a tad über-cool—The Real Touch of Sleep.

8. Cliff "Twin Tyson" Couser

Newsflash: “Twin Tyson” is actually related to Mike Tyson. The truth be told, they were separated at birth.

Cliff Couser is Tyson’s long-lost brother...if you believe that, you’ll believe anything.

He looks like Tyson and fights like Tyson.

Oh wait! That’s a lie, the fight like Tyson bit, because during his not-so-storied career “Twin Tyson” compiled an abysmal record of 26-21-2-2 NC.

7. Eric “Butterbean” Esch

The nickname “Butterbean” could suggest a variety of things, but I’ve come up with two, and they’re part of the seven deadly sins—gluttony and greed.

Butterbean is synonymous with overindulgence and all things fattening.

Nevertheless, the boxer, kickboxer, wrestler and mixed martial artist has compiled an impressive record of 97 wins, 67 knockouts, 20 losses and five draws in all competitions.

Now, that’s not a record to turn your nose up at, butter and beans regardless.

6. Darnell "The Ding-A-Ling Man" Wilson

Whatever you do, please don’t hate on him—he was blessed, unlike some.

On a serious note, what fighter goes into a sport such as prizefighting with “The Ding-A-Ling” as his fighting moniker?

I take it when he was swinging for the fences en route to his 20 knockouts in 24 fights, was he actually swinging with punches or something else?

Or is his name a phallic joke of small proportions?

The questions are yours to answer.

5. Jerry “Wimpy” Halstead

Jerry Halstead’s moniker is misleading to say the least—in 105 career fights, he amassed a total of 84 wins, with 64 coming by way of knockout.

Now I dare you to call him a wimp.

Still, Wimpy?

4. Lance “Goofi” Whitaker

The towering 6’8’ Lance Whitaker formerly known as “Mount” showed promise early on in his career, but the loss of his 18-fight win streak and subsequent losses to Luan Krasniqi and Sultan Ibragimov sent him on the path of journeymanship.

Now back to that name or those names.

Mount? Once he actually went to Mount Olive, now that’s a bad name.

“Goofi,” however, in some respects is even worse.

Imagine the master of ceremonies:

And in the red corner hailing from…is Lance “Goofi” Whitaker.

A nickname that instilled fear into his opponents? Never.

Apparently his moniker was a stunt invented by his manager Rock Newman to generate publicity and affection towards him, and for a while it caught on, and he became headline news.

For a short period that is, I mean! What did he expect with a nickname like Goofi?

3. Scott “The Pink Cat” Walker

What isn’t there to say about a fighter who walks around with the not-so-manly moniker of The Pink Cat and with pink boxing trunks to boot?

Well, if he does have any credibility, then it’s due to the fact that he won a 10-round decision over legend and Hall of Famer Alexis Argüello.

Though, those credentials went straight out of the window when he lost to another Hall of Famer Julio César Chávez via second-round knockout.

2. Joel “Love Child” Julio

Can you imagine the trash-talking leading up to a fight with Joel Julio—“You’re nothing but a punk-assed b*****d,” “Do you know who you’re daddy is?”

I could go on, but you get the gist of the matter?

Julio, however, is no pushover and has amassed decent record of 31 knockouts in 37 fights that he’s won.

The nickname Love Child, however, was bestowed upon him by ESPN columnist Dan Rafael, and some might presume that he fathered Julio.

Be that as it may, Julio has done nothing to dispel such alleged rumours, as he wears the initials L.C. on his boxing trunks during bouts.

1. Anthony “Sugar Ray Clay Jones Jr.” Small

This guy takes the No. 1 spot with no questions asked.

What a temeritous and audacious move by Anthony Small (Abdul-Haqq is his Islamic name) to walk the streets of Britain with four boxing greats as his moniker.

In fairness to Small, his record suggests he’s not a run-of-the mill fighter.

He’s compiled a decent record of 23 wins, 16 via KO and two losses.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t let him off the hook, not in a long shot.

I guess you know whose handles he’s used as his nicknames?

Well if you don’t, here goes—Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Cassius Clay and Roy Jones Jr.

Apparently, it was his way of paying homage to his boxing idols, but still, it’s utter sacrilege.