IF you have a brother, then you have a sparring partner for life. And if your brother is a fighter, you better learn how to defend yourself sharpish or you’ll end up the proverbial puncher for your bigger (or in some cases, smaller) sibling.
Brotherly love and sibling rivalry helped create these famous fistic families – or best boxing brothers.
Spare a thought for Joe Zivic. The only one of five brothers who wasn’t a fighter. Eddie, Fritzie, Pete and Jack were, of course, the scrappers of the family. Known for their toughness, they’re pictured below with their mother in their native Pittsburgh.
Honourable mentions go to the Currys (brilliant Don and big-punching Bruce), the Attells (featherweight champ Abe and younger brother Monte were the first to simultaneously hold world titles, when Attell Jnr won the bantamweight crown), the Ruelas boys (in the mid-nineties Rafael and Gabriel also reigned concurrently) and the Canizales’ (bantamweight kings Orlando and Gaby).
Fighting in the unforgiving 1920s, Tommy and Mike were two of the toughest sons of guns of the era. Between them they took the best of Gene Tunney, Harry Greb and Jack Dempsey.
9. The Quarry bros
Jerry famously tested the best heavyweight era in history, while Mike was a similar 1970s nuisance to the 175lb class. Youngest brother Bob was a journeyman of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Robert reigned as IBF super-featherweight at the close of the last century before becoming a trainer for his younger brother Mikey, who won the first of two WBO titles in 2013.
Three years before Randy stunned Sugar Ray Robinson to win in 1951, big bro Dick became the first black fighter to win a British title. In the middle was solid feather, Jackie.
Juan Manuel is one of the current era’s finest technicians, with the younger Rafael, who ruled at bantam and super-bantam, not far behind.
Khaosai was a super-flyweight terror who defended his WBA title 19 times, winning 16 by knockout. His twin Khaokor would twice claim major bantamweight belts.
“Terrible” Terry was a slick and savage super-welter king in the ‘90s, while stocky sibling Orlin ruled at cruiserweight.
Call them robotic if you like, but – largely malfunction-free – they dominated at heavyweight.
Gene was twice world middleweight king in the late 1950s, youngest Don unlucky not to be, while middle brother Jay at light and welterweight.
Leon’s stunning heavyweight win over Muhammad Ali in 1978 was almost topped seven years later by Michael when he upset Larry Holmes.
