The Legacy Continues: Top Father and Son Duos in Present Day Boxing

Boxing has had exemplary instances when outstanding fathers contributed to the sport by sending their sons who continued their legacy. Who can forget Chris Eubank Sr. and his son Chrisk Eubank Jr.? Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Jr.’s exploits evenly matched Julio Caesar Chavez and his son Chavez Jr. On the other hand, many a time, the roles of the trainer, motivator, nurturer, and manager fall into one person’s lap, who invariably turns out to be the fighter’s father. So the obvious question is whether an all-family setup works in boxing as in other trades. Or if it does, then what’s the outcome? Are they successful?

In the contemporary era, quite a few examples exist where fathers, maybe not accomplished boxers themselves, still play the most critical role in their sons’ careers. Top Rank shared a five-minute footage of the father-son duo ruling the roost in boxing through its Facebook page.

Bill and Devin Haney:

The footage starts with the famous father-son team of Bill and his undisputed Lightweight champion Devin Haney. The senior has stuck with his son through thick and thin and saw him become a world champion in 2019. There has been no looking back, and the undisputed Devin Haney defended his title for the first time against Vasiliy Lomcachenko.

Anatoly and Vasiliy Lomachenko:

The second team under review pertains to the Ukrainians Anatoly and Vasiliy Lomachenko. While the exploits of ‘The Matrix’ are pretty known in boxing, his father chose to stay out of the limelight. However, his influence on his son’s outstanding career remains unquestionable. It remains to be seen how the father and son work out as ‘Loma’ approaches the twilight years of his career.

Fernando and Emiliano Vargas:

In his time, Fernando Vargas fought some of the biggest names of the time, such as Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, and Shane Mosley. Though he retired after his last fight, a loss in 2007, Vargas Sr. joined hands with his son, Emiliano. Barely nineteen, the youngster has had a smooth run with five wins, of which four came his way through knockouts.

Teofimo Lopez Sr. and Jr.:

It was in 2020 that the son of a Honduran immigrant, barely twenty-three, shocked the world with a decisive win over Vasiliy Lomachenko. Reportedly, his father took the reigns of coaching his son when he was six. Though a few questions arose because of his recent performance, Teofimo Lopez Jr. silenced all the critics with an emphatic win over Josh Taylor this month. Whether Lopez Sr. can talk his son out of retirement is a question, still awaiting an answer.

Shingo and Naoya Inoue:

Nobody can deny the kind of monstrosity ‘The Monster’ brings into the ring. The undefeated champion, whose opponents fear the devastating body shots, is now a decade old in the trade. However, the Japanese boxer, whose popularity crosses the shores of Japan, credits his father, Shingo Inoue, a trainer, for all his success. Shingo Inoue, who couldn’t fulfill his boxing dreams, realizes them through his two sons, Naoya and Takuma.

Though seemingly an individual sport, boxing, for those who know, remains far removed from that notion. A whole team takes care of the fighter until he enters the ring to face the foe. It is the team that prepares him both physically and mentally. From the training staff to the cut-man and, in some cases, the nutritionist get together so that once the slugfest commences, their fighter can take punches and dole a few of his.

Read More: “No You Don’t Hug Me”: Bill Haney Seen Locking Horns With Teofimo Lopez Sr. as Talks for a Potential Devin Haney Fight Rages On

Who, in your opinion, is the most famous father-son duo in boxing history? Do share your views and thoughts with us in the comments below.

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