I am Bernard Docusen's oldest child. In one of the articles, BoxRec mentioned that my dad was half black. This is false. He is half white and half Filipino. Also, the article stated that my dad was married at 16. That too was an error. He was married at 17.
If anyone is interested, I am in the process of putting my dad's memoirs in a soft-cover book with many pictures during his boxing career including his fight with Ray Robinson and Frankie Fernandez.
We also have the original film which we have placed on a DVD of both fights which we may be selling copies of in the future. They are a masterpiece!
My dad is still very much alive.
Patricia Ann Docusen
Bernard Docusen
Your father & his brothers were quite the boxing family-how are they all doing?
I have not seen footages of your father, but I have heard the "Dook" gave QUITE a strong acccount of himself against Robinson. Would love to check out the book you are organizing.
I wish your family luck with the film, as I am sure many boxing fans would be interested in it's historical significance- may be the only, legitimate SRR welterweight footage to survive. And it's one of his welterweigh defenses at that.
I have not seen footages of your father, but I have heard the "Dook" gave QUITE a strong acccount of himself against Robinson. Would love to check out the book you are organizing.
I wish your family luck with the film, as I am sure many boxing fans would be interested in it's historical significance- may be the only, legitimate SRR welterweight footage to survive. And it's one of his welterweigh defenses at that.
Patricia,
Could you please contact me. My email is [email protected]. I would greatly like to talk to you.
Steve
Could you please contact me. My email is [email protected]. I would greatly like to talk to you.
Steve
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dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
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Goodnight, Irene
- Heavyweight
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Bernard Docusen
For all of you who replied to my e-mail and asked if my dad would like to be a part of the forum -- unfortunately he would not. I talk to him by phone on a regular basis. He is now 80 and in not the best of health. He is still very much alert, though.
I know once I get his "memoirs" done, boxing fans will enjoy it. He wrote it when he was in his 50's and he had accurate account of his fights. His biggest regret was leaving "Mr. Whitey" who gave him his start. He was bought by his friends from Mr. Whitey who didn't have a lot of knowledge about boxing and wanted to make money off him. Mr. Whitey, who was my godfather, looked out for my dad from the very beginning. When he fought Sugar Ray, his new managers made him change his style of fighting for this one fight. They told him to "rush" him. He said if he had been with Mr. Whitey, Mr. Whitey would have told him to "fight his fight". This was the BIGGEST regret of his fighting career -- leaving Mr. Whitey.
My Uncle Maxie is still very much alive too. I haven't seen him in years though.
Patricia Ann Docusen
I know once I get his "memoirs" done, boxing fans will enjoy it. He wrote it when he was in his 50's and he had accurate account of his fights. His biggest regret was leaving "Mr. Whitey" who gave him his start. He was bought by his friends from Mr. Whitey who didn't have a lot of knowledge about boxing and wanted to make money off him. Mr. Whitey, who was my godfather, looked out for my dad from the very beginning. When he fought Sugar Ray, his new managers made him change his style of fighting for this one fight. They told him to "rush" him. He said if he had been with Mr. Whitey, Mr. Whitey would have told him to "fight his fight". This was the BIGGEST regret of his fighting career -- leaving Mr. Whitey.
My Uncle Maxie is still very much alive too. I haven't seen him in years though.
Patricia Ann Docusen
Re: Bernard Docusen
I have seen footage of Bernard Docusen in his bout
with Frankie Fernandez and can tell you that he had
a beautiful boxing style. Welcome to this forum,
Patricia!
- Chuck Johnston
with Frankie Fernandez and can tell you that he had
a beautiful boxing style. Welcome to this forum,
Patricia!
- Chuck Johnston
Bernard Docusen
Thank you. I look forward to discussing my dad's boxing career.
Patricia A. Docusen
Patricia A. Docusen
Hello Patricia,
I happen to have a 28 min HL version of your father`s bout against Ray Robinson, and I must say that your father was one heck of a fighter. He sure gave Ray all he could handle in their fight and even though he lost he acquitted himself very well that night. The way he stormed back at Ray in the 11th round after he got dropped still stands out in my mind, what a great rally and round that was. I would like to speak with you Patricia in private if possible, please do contact me at [email protected] if you can.
Regards,
Craig
I happen to have a 28 min HL version of your father`s bout against Ray Robinson, and I must say that your father was one heck of a fighter. He sure gave Ray all he could handle in their fight and even though he lost he acquitted himself very well that night. The way he stormed back at Ray in the 11th round after he got dropped still stands out in my mind, what a great rally and round that was. I would like to speak with you Patricia in private if possible, please do contact me at [email protected] if you can.
Regards,
Craig
It's threads like these that bring great joy to a true boxing fan. These are the threads I most like to read and rarely add my two cents. All I really have to say here is that I'm glad this forum exists for expressions and moments like this.
I'll look forward to possibly reading your work Patricia upon it's completion and publication. (and you should do your best to have it published!) However if you were to post some excerpts here I'm sure it would be highly valued!
I'll look forward to possibly reading your work Patricia upon it's completion and publication. (and you should do your best to have it published!) However if you were to post some excerpts here I'm sure it would be highly valued!
Hi Everyone,
Here is an excerpt from my dad's memoirs. I hope to have it completed by the end of January and offer it for sale. Everyone, I'm sure, will enjoy it. Here we go: The title of this chapter is "Bantam Weight Champion of the South:
It is now time for the 1942 tournament to start. I would have to bypass the Novice that year but that's okay. If I were to win the Novice, I would just give my brass glove away or sell it. I'm still growing and getting older. I'm 14 years old and I tip the scale at 116 pounds. So, now I'm a batam weight - one division higher than last year. My speed is the same -- fast! For this tournament, Mr. Whitey has boys in all the Divisions. He had boys in the Beginners, Novice and Open. It should have been called Whitey's Tournament.
After the competition is over, I'm undefeated and Bantam Weight Champion of the South. When I think about it, I can't conceive how I did it -- but I did. I wasn't Mr. Whitey's only champ. Eddie Gettys, my stablemate, won the 147-pound Open and Augie Lapara, another stablemate, won the 112-pound Open. Mr. Whitey just accomplished a feat that has never been duplicated up to this point. Mr. Whitey had that extra something other trainers lacked.
It was our understanding that since we were all champions of the South that we would be going to Boston, but we would have to wait until Mr. Joe Scheafer told us that himself. Last year, after I won the Southern A.A.U. Opens in the Fly Weight Division, I was promised a trip to Boston to represent New Orleans, but at the last minute Mr. Schaefer told Mr. Whitey, "tell the Docusen boy he lacks the experience and he won't be going to Boston". I will never forget that year because I had my hopes set on seeing the northland where those Yankees lived. Now, I'm glad I didn't go. A 13-year-old kid doesn't belong in the ring with the best amateurs in the United States. Now, I'm 14 years old and I'm just anxious to go.
Hey -- hope you all enjoyed it. Throughout his writings, he becomes personable and describes each fighter that he fought. I will let you know when his "memoirs" go on sale.
Patricia Docusen-Maddox
Here is an excerpt from my dad's memoirs. I hope to have it completed by the end of January and offer it for sale. Everyone, I'm sure, will enjoy it. Here we go: The title of this chapter is "Bantam Weight Champion of the South:
It is now time for the 1942 tournament to start. I would have to bypass the Novice that year but that's okay. If I were to win the Novice, I would just give my brass glove away or sell it. I'm still growing and getting older. I'm 14 years old and I tip the scale at 116 pounds. So, now I'm a batam weight - one division higher than last year. My speed is the same -- fast! For this tournament, Mr. Whitey has boys in all the Divisions. He had boys in the Beginners, Novice and Open. It should have been called Whitey's Tournament.
After the competition is over, I'm undefeated and Bantam Weight Champion of the South. When I think about it, I can't conceive how I did it -- but I did. I wasn't Mr. Whitey's only champ. Eddie Gettys, my stablemate, won the 147-pound Open and Augie Lapara, another stablemate, won the 112-pound Open. Mr. Whitey just accomplished a feat that has never been duplicated up to this point. Mr. Whitey had that extra something other trainers lacked.
It was our understanding that since we were all champions of the South that we would be going to Boston, but we would have to wait until Mr. Joe Scheafer told us that himself. Last year, after I won the Southern A.A.U. Opens in the Fly Weight Division, I was promised a trip to Boston to represent New Orleans, but at the last minute Mr. Schaefer told Mr. Whitey, "tell the Docusen boy he lacks the experience and he won't be going to Boston". I will never forget that year because I had my hopes set on seeing the northland where those Yankees lived. Now, I'm glad I didn't go. A 13-year-old kid doesn't belong in the ring with the best amateurs in the United States. Now, I'm 14 years old and I'm just anxious to go.
Hey -- hope you all enjoyed it. Throughout his writings, he becomes personable and describes each fighter that he fought. I will let you know when his "memoirs" go on sale.
Patricia Docusen-Maddox
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dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
Thanks for sharing that wonderfull story with us. Please don't forget us. Thanks again. Please tell your dad how much we love him.Docusen44 wrote:Hi Everyone,
Here is an excerpt from my dad's memoirs. I hope to have it completed by the end of January and offer it for sale. Everyone, I'm sure, will enjoy it. Here we go: The title of this chapter is "Bantam Weight Champion of the South:
It is now time for the 1942 tournament to start. I would have to bypass the Novice that year but that's okay. If I were to win the Novice, I would just give my brass glove away or sell it. I'm still growing and getting older. I'm 14 years old and I tip the scale at 116 pounds. So, now I'm a batam weight - one division higher than last year. My speed is the same -- fast! For this tournament, Mr. Whitey has boys in all the Divisions. He had boys in the Beginners, Novice and Open. It should have been called Whitey's Tournament.
After the competition is over, I'm undefeated and Bantam Weight Champion of the South. When I think about it, I can't conceive how I did it -- but I did. I wasn't Mr. Whitey's only champ. Eddie Gettys, my stablemate, won the 147-pound Open and Augie Lapara, another stablemate, won the 112-pound Open. Mr. Whitey just accomplished a feat that has never been duplicated up to this point. Mr. Whitey had that extra something other trainers lacked.
It was our understanding that since we were all champions of the South that we would be going to Boston, but we would have to wait until Mr. Joe Scheafer told us that himself. Last year, after I won the Southern A.A.U. Opens in the Fly Weight Division, I was promised a trip to Boston to represent New Orleans, but at the last minute Mr. Schaefer told Mr. Whitey, "tell the Docusen boy he lacks the experience and he won't be going to Boston". I will never forget that year because I had my hopes set on seeing the northland where those Yankees lived. Now, I'm glad I didn't go. A 13-year-old kid doesn't belong in the ring with the best amateurs in the United States. Now, I'm 14 years old and I'm just anxious to go.
Hey -- hope you all enjoyed it. Throughout his writings, he becomes personable and describes each fighter that he fought. I will let you know when his "memoirs" go on sale.
Patricia Docusen-Maddox
Last edited by dagosd2000 on 17 Jan 2008, 23:51, edited 1 time in total.
Thank you for your comments. When I have his writings completed, I will let you all know.
I will also tell my dad about his fans and how much they love him. He's such a humble man. Last year my dad said his biggest regret of his career was leaving Mr. Whitey. He said Mr. Whitey trained him as a kid and always watched out for him. He allowed himself to be sold to a couple of his friends who wanted to manage him. They didn't come near to having the experience of Mr. Whitey. Mr. Whitey was my godfather and remembered me with a gift at Christmas up until his death. He was quite a man!!
Patricia Docusen Maddox
I will also tell my dad about his fans and how much they love him. He's such a humble man. Last year my dad said his biggest regret of his career was leaving Mr. Whitey. He said Mr. Whitey trained him as a kid and always watched out for him. He allowed himself to be sold to a couple of his friends who wanted to manage him. They didn't come near to having the experience of Mr. Whitey. Mr. Whitey was my godfather and remembered me with a gift at Christmas up until his death. He was quite a man!!
Patricia Docusen Maddox
I received this photo from Bernard Docusen's daughter Patricia Docusen-Maddox, this photo will be on the front cover of a book that she is writing as a memoir to her dad.
Last edited by kikibalt on 12 May 2008, 17:48, edited 1 time in total.
Bernard Docusen vs Sugar Ray Robinson
Look at Docusen's defense in this single photo.
Chin touching his chest.
Left deltoid completely covering that side of his face.
Right glove blocking other side of his head, right arm protecting that side of his body.
Left arm trailing down his body, upper arm protecting his side, forearm crossed over midsection.
Quite a defense.