Owen was also praised for his sportsmanship towards other fighters. Idris Sutton, who trained Owen from an early age, described him as "a real gentleman. I never saw him throw a foul punch or do anything dirty ... If he saw his opponent slipping, he would stand back and give him a chance to get up. He ... would never look to take advantage of an accident. And if you beat him fair and square he'd be the first to shake your hand." Lupe Pintor later described his admiration of Owen, remarking "Owen was very honorable because he had determination, not only the determination of winning but representing a society, his people, that's the greatest thing I admired about him, his will, his hunger, that's something that made him very special."