| The old playground taunt; ‘My dad could have your dad any day’ never rang truer than when the punching, mauling pater in question is one of these fathers, all of whom are handy with their fists, some in the ring, some on the big screen and others in the street. |
| 1. Big Daddy |
In the days before WWF, UFC and daytime TV studio debates hosted by the likes of Jeremy Kyle, the only time you could see grown men fight glove-free on TV was via Saturday afternoon wrestling. In the 1970s bouts took place in town halls around the UK and the leading lycra-clad good guy of the day was Big Daddy – a scales-busting former rugby league star whose real name was Shirley. To the crowd chorus of ‘Easy, Easy’ the father of six would regularly splash his foe into submission by bellyflopping his 26st frame down upon them. They just don’t make entertainment like that anymore.
Verdict: Grappling God. |
| 2. Muhammad Ali |
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee – was how Ali himself described the almost balletic style of boxing that earned him three world heavyweight titles along with the epithet ‘Sportsman of the Century’. His life away from boxing has required a certain degree of bobbing and weaving too. Married four times, Ali has two sons and nine daughters. Now suffering from Parkinson’s disease he is a shadow of the great man he once was though his name lives on through his daughter, Laila, a successful female fighter in her own right.
Verdict: Legendary big hitter |
| 3. Bruce Lee |
Lee, the martial arts legend and master of the one-inch punch, left Hong Kong for the USA aged 18 with a CV of bit-part acting roles and a clutch of medals for Cha Cha dancing. He was spotted six years later at a karate tournament and given the part of kato in the Batman TV series. Lee went on to become a world famous movie icon through films such as Enter the Dragon – but he died aged just 33 leaving a daughter, Shannon, and a son Brandon Lee, who also died tragically young whilst filming The Crow.
Verdict: Father of the flying fists. |
| 4. Eric Cantona |
The French footballer had a rep as a fighter long before his infamous dropkicking of a Crystal Palace supporter during a game in January 1995. Previous ‘convictions’ had included punch-ups with team-mates, opponents and even referees – but King Eric’s kung fu kick, live on Sky, and before the masses surpassed them all. Today he insists he’s a placid type and the father-of-two is still capable of giving paternal quotes that the average footballer would be hard-pressed to come up, such as: “Goals are like babies... they are all beautiful.”
Verdict: A seagull among sardines…. |
| 5. Jean-Claude Van Damme |
The muscles from Brussels may have won some Golden Raspberry awards for making turkey films but the kick-boxing father of three is no dumb Dad. His fluency in English, German, French and Spanish, a love of classical music and a five-year stint learning ballet suggest Jean-Claude has a softer side. However, the Belgian is best known for his skill as a supreme scrapper thanks in no small part to his ability to knockout the reigning world champion with a round-house kick in the opening seconds of his first ever US kickbox tournament.
Verdict: A kick-ass Dad |
| 6. Sylvester Stallone |
Rocky or Rambo? Take your pick – neither would win the Gandhi prize for cheek turning in the face of provocation. Of course Stallone isn’t half as fearsome as his fictional parts – though his mum puts the willies up us. The three-time married, hormone-injecting muscle man has five children – all of whom are cursed with celebrity style odd names – though it’s a worthwhile sacrifice to be called Sage Moonblood, Seargeoh, Sophia Rose, Sistine Rose or Scarlet Rose Stallone just to have a dad who owns Planet Hollywood.
Verdict: Without equal, though not sequel |
| 7. Darth Vader |
“No Luke, I am your father.” So said the lightsabre-wielding sith in the climatic final scenes of The Empire Strikes Back. Not only did Star Wars’ most sinister villain expose a pretty ghastly skeleton in Luke Skywalker’s cupboard – but the revelation sparked a whole new plot line. This in turn would lead to a dramatic showdown in Return of The Jedi, a shake-up in the branches of Princess Leia’s family tree and a whole new trilogy of prequels for the next generation of fans. Sadly we also got Jar Jar Binks.
Verdict: Dark Lord Dad. |
| 8. Liam Gallagher |
“You gotta roll with it,” lairy Oasis frontman Liam once sang. We wonder if he was referring to the windmill of punches he’s so often aimed at intrusive photographers over the years. When it comes to scrapping Mancunians only Ricky Hatton seems to have had more bouts than Noel’s little brother. Fatherhood doesn’t seem to have mellowed Liam that much either – in 2007 he looked back in anger at a photographer in a north London street near his North London, Primrose Hill home and larruped the over-intrusive lens-man in full view of his five-year-old son, Gene.
Verdict: Papa-razzi pole-axer |
| 9. George Foreman |
“Boxing isn’t an easy living for a family to rely upon” the two-time heavyweight champion of the world told FQ in 2006. Even so, George managed to struggle through and father 10 kids. All five of his boys are called George “That’s because I wanted them to have something to remember me by,” he insists. Now a Christian minister and peace-loving father of a mighty flock the only victims of a heated onslaught when Foreman is around these days are those he’s grilling on his million-selling kitchen cookers.
Verdict: Crusader and fryer |
| 10. John Prescott |
Former Deputy Prime Minister – the old-Labour bruiser with a reputation for putting his foot in his mouth – went from Two Jags to Two Jabs after a feisty fist swap with a mullet-haired protestor during the 2001 general election campaign. ‘Prezza’s’ right-hook was a response to having been pelted with an egg from close range. Such campaign hazards, along with Two Jags’ affair-and-croquet-ridden downfall haven’t stopped his son – David Prescott – announcing an intention to follow the old man into politics.
Verdict: Egg-streme Fighter |
