Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Ron Lyle vs Jack O'Holloran

Jack O'Halloran finished his career in San Diego. After Foreman stopped him in the Garden he came to the West Coast. He was a big draw at the Coliseum. But man was he ugly.Now don't get me wrong. If you're a fighter, being ugly is good. I remember his fight with Norton. Two slow moving guys pounding each other back and forth. Norton connects with a big right hand and down goes O'Halloran. It was like someone had dropped a truck from the ceiling. I thought the ring was going to collapse. For a moment,I think everyone was thinking the same thing. I never had to go to Sea World again to watch Shamu splash in the water.

After fighting,O'Halloran got into the movies. I saw a publicity photo of him. One of those photos that try to make you look glamorous. I don't think Edison could have helped him. I read later in the papers that some people kidnapped him. I kind of laughed and asked,"What in the hell would you do with him?"

I figured after the ransom money was paid they dropped him off at Sea World.

[kikibalt]

Jack O'Halloran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Born April 8, 1943 (1943-04-08) (age 65)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack O'Halloran (born April 8, 1943) is an American ex-boxer and actor.

Biography

Boxing
O'Halloran was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fighting as "Irish" Jack O'Halloran, he was a heavyweight boxing contender active from 1966 to 1974. O'Halloran was undefeated throughout his first 16 professional fights.

During his career, O'Halloran defeated former title contenders Cleveland Williams and Manuel Ramos. He also defeated Danny McAlinden who won the bronze medal for boxing at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica and later became the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion. O'Halloran's loses included defeats at the hands of future heavyweight champions George Foreman and Ken Norton.

In 1973, O'Halloran was close to attaining a match against Muhammad Ali when he was knocked out by Jimmy Summerville.[1] This ended his chances to fight Ali. Although O'Halloran went on to defeat Summerville by K.O. in a rematch, with only three more wins and five losses he was never again a serious heavyweight contender.[2]

Acting career
Retiring from boxing in 1974 with a record of 34-21-2 (17 knockout victories)[2] O'Halloran turned to a career as an actor. He first won the role of Moose Malloy in the 1975 film Farewell, My Lovely featuring Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe.

Superman film series
This led to other tough "henchmen" style roles which culminated in the role he is best known for: Non, the menacing-but-mute member of the trio of Kryptonian supervillains banished to the Phantom Zone by Jor-El (Marlon Brando) in Superman (1978) and inadvertently released, by the Man of Steel himself (Christopher Reeve), in Superman II (1980).

O'Halloran once stated in an interview that it was his idea to make Non a very child-like character, having difficulty adjusting to his new-found powers and making sounds in the absence of voice. It is also believed that, as an American, O'Halloran was the "odd-man-out", teamed with Terence Stamp (General Zod) and Sarah Douglas (Ursa), whose English accents contributed (in the American psyche) to the menacing presence original director Richard Donner wanted for the Kryptonian outcasts. O'Halloran has also vocally criticized Alexander and Ilya Salkind, the producers of the Superman films, for their mishandling of the franchise, believing that their firing director Richard Donner was a huge blow to the series and was the primary result in the series downturn in quality, a sentiment that was shared by Gene Hackman, who refused to reprise his Lex Luthor role in the third film, and Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane.

In an interview with Starlog Magazine, back in October 2006, O'Halloran had stated that he and Christopher Reeve did not get along during the making of Superman II. One incident in particular nearly led to a fight between the two actors, only to be stopped by Richard Donner. Despite the clash between them, O'Halloran stated that his heart went out to Reeve after his 1995 accident, and commended him for helping others with spinal cord injuries.

According to O'Halloran, the reaction he gets most often from fans is "My God, he can talk!"

Other acting roles
O'Halloran has also played supporting roles in King Kong (1976) and Dragnet (1987).

[raylawpc]

Sadly, Jack's irregular features were as a result of a glandular problem.

He was really a fun guy to hang around with.

[granberry]

Incidentally, nobody answered my question about Jose Torres. How good was he?

Bennie have you heard about when Torres fought Charlie "Devil"
Green at Madison Square Garden.
Torres was scheduled to fight somebody else, but the opponnent didnt show.
Matchmaker Teddy Brenner found Green sitting in the audience eating a hotdog and asked him if he would fight Jose.
Green said ok and jumped in with Torres and had him on the deck once or twice in the first round before getting stopped.
When Green got paid after the fight, he wanted an extra 1.50 for the hotdog he didnt get to finish.

The ref helped Torres make it through the first round vs Green.

Torres lost badly to Eddie Cotton and kept his title on a horrendous decision.

Notice how Torres disappeared completely when Bob Foster appeared.

[dagosd2000]

Here's one for Tom & Diego to fight over.

Hey Buddy
If I got to fight over a woman,she ain't worth it.

[raylawpc]

Particularly a gal who is likely to develop lower back problems, right dagos?

[Rick Farris]

Emile Griffith vs Stan "Kitten" Hayward

In Philly, Hayward won by split decision, but later, in the Garden, Griffith clearly defeated "Kitten" Hayward. Hayward was one of those special Philly fighters and Griffith was special everywhere.

-Rick

[Rick Farris]

VIVA "El Gato" . . .

It's been quite awhile since Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez scored a KO in the ring, but today he scored a knockout with the executive producer and star of a new TV series, "Cleaner", at the CBS Studio Center.

Actor Benjamin Bratt, and exec. producer Warren Boyd, met with the former World Lightweight Champ and are putting a project into development relating to an episode of "Cleaner" that will focus on the world of boxing. Gato would make a cameo appearance, playing himself, and possibly a feature length film in due course.

El Gato won the hearts of the entire production crew, both above and below the line. The crew was amazed that the gentle, intelligent man in front of them was an all-time KO record holder, a Hall of Famer. When he left the studio, the talk of the day was mostly Rodolfo Gonzalez. People came up to me and said they were amazed at Gato's story, especially those in story development.

Just a personal word to the champ, you did yourself and boxing proud today, you are special and touched a lot of people. It's funny, we on film crews work with the biggest celebrities and athletes in the world, but there is something about a legendary boxing champion, that can excite veteran film tech's like they're kids. When some found that Gato had left before they could get a picture with the champ, they were disappointed. They'd ask, "He is coming back, isn't he????"

Yep, GATO WILL BE BACK! They wouldn't have it any other way. More to be revealed . . .

-Rick

[bennie]

Incidentally, nobody answered my question about Jose Torres. How good was he?

Good enough to become light-heavyweight champion of the world, but that's about it. I don't write that disparagingly, nor do I intend to demean his accomplshment. He certainly won the title in decisive fashion against the reigning champion, but he was never an all-time great.

As a champion, I would put him at a level below - say, John Conteh.

Interesting. Torres beat a Pastrano who had gone to war with Terry Downes over here. I honestly believe Downes took something out of Willie. Willie was losing, got fired up by Dundee at the start of the 10th and opened up to finish Downes. But he later said if Downes had got up, he (Willie) would have quit right there in the ring, that's how exhausted he was.

[bennie]

Ingemar Johansson vs Joe Bygraves

Great shot, Bygraves was boxing Ingo's ears off much of the way but those 15-rounders were long, long, long. Ingo finally nailed him.

[bennie]

Jimmy Wilde & Pancho Villa

Brilliant shot of two flyweight greats. Not sure why Pancho is eyeing up the scales; Wilde rarely came in anywhere near the flyweight limit, but the Welshman still took out 99 of his 137 career victims, "The ghost with the hammer in his hand."

[bennie]

Ron Lyle vs Luis Pires

By the look of that shot, Pires certainly earned his money. Lyle vs Foreman is surely one of the greatest heavyweight non-title fights ever.

[bennie]

Jimmy Wilde & Pancho Villa

Brilliant shot of two flyweight greats. Not sure why Pancho is eyeing up the scales; Wilde rarely came in anywhere near the flyweight limit, but the Welshman still took out 99 of his 137 career victims, "The ghost with the hammer in his hand."

The big guy with the cauliflower ear, incidentally, looks like Gunboat Smith.

[kikibalt]

Ingemar Johansson vs Joe Bygraves

Great shot, Bygraves was boxing Ingo's ears off much of the way but those 15-rounders were long, long, long. Ingo finally nailed him.

Bennie,

Did you see this fight live?

[kikibalt]

Frankie Baltazar

[bennie]

Ingemar Johansson vs Joe Bygraves

Great shot, Bygraves was boxing Ingo's ears off much of the way but those 15-rounders were long, long, long. Ingo finally nailed him.

Bennie,

Did you see this fight live?

No, Frankie, but I've read about it. Bygraves was a class boxer with all the moves. He exposed Ingo a bit, although they fought twice. This must have been the second one, in Sweden. Just looking at the record, I've got Joe Bygraves mixed up with Joe Erskine in terms of the 15-rounder.
That's rather embarrassing.

[raylawpc]

Jimmy Wilde & Pancho Villa

Brilliant shot of two flyweight greats. Not sure why Pancho is eyeing up the scales; Wilde rarely came in anywhere near the flyweight limit, but the Welshman still took out 99 of his 137 career victims, "The ghost with the hammer in his hand."

The big guy with the cauliflower ear, incidentally, looks like Gunboat Smith.

The guy to the right behind Villa is Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.

[bennie]

Brilliant shot of two flyweight greats. Not sure why Pancho is eyeing up the scales; Wilde rarely came in anywhere near the flyweight limit, but the Welshman still took out 99 of his 137 career victims, "The ghost with the hammer in his hand."

The big guy with the cauliflower ear, incidentally, looks like Gunboat Smith.

The guy to the right behind Villa is Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.

Yes, Ray.

[bennie]

Ron Lyle vs Luis Pires

By the look of that shot, Pires certainly earned his money. Lyle vs Foreman is surely one of the greatest heavyweight non-title fights ever.

Shavers Vs Lyle is one for the memory books also. At one point Shavers pinged Lyle with such a perfect left hook it was unimaginable that Lyle would get to his feet.

My version, thankfully, has no commentary so the fight speaks for itself. Shavers was punched out by the finish and Lyle broke his heart that night.

Wild shoot out, again, for Lyle.

Lyle looks like he's clocking Tyson.

[bennie]

Frankie Baltazar

Frankie looks 'ready' for his next fight, for sure.

[granberry]

Jimmy Wilde & Pancho Villa

Brilliant shot of two flyweight greats. Not sure why Pancho is eyeing up the scales; Wilde rarely came in anywhere near the flyweight limit, but the Welshman still took out 99 of his 137 career victims, "The ghost with the hammer in his hand."

The big guy with the cauliflower ear, incidentally, looks like Gunboat Smith.

The guy in the black suit standing directly behind Villa, to the extreme right of the picture, is Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.

Gunboat Smith is not in that photo.

[scartissue]

VIVA "El Gato" . . .

It's been quite awhile since Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez scored a KO in the ring, but today he scored a knockout with the executive producer and star of a new TV series, "Cleaner", at the CBS Studio Center.

Actor Benjamin Bratt, and exec. producer Warren Boyd, met with the former World Lightweight Champ and are putting a project into development relating to an episode of "Cleaner" that will focus on the world of boxing. Gato would make a cameo appearance, playing himself, and possibly a feature length film in due course.

El Gato won the hearts of the entire production crew, both above and below the line. The crew was amazed that the gentle, intelligent man in front of them was an all-time KO record holder, a Hall of Famer. When he left the studio, the talk of the day was mostly Rodolfo Gonzalez. People came up to me and said they were amazed at Gato's story, especially those in story development.

Just a personal word to the champ, you did yourself and boxing proud today, you are special and touched a lot of people. It's funny, we on film crews work with the biggest celebrities and athletes in the world, but there is something about a legendary boxing champion, that can excite veteran film tech's like they're kids. When some found that Gato had left before they could get a picture with the champ, they were disappointed. They'd ask, "He is coming back, isn't he????"

Yep, GATO WILL BE BACK! They wouldn't have it any other way. More to be revealed . . .

-Rick

Rick, it's great to see one of the good guys make it to the forefront once again and you are to be thanked for putting this together. I talked to Rodolfo last night and he couldn't say enough about what went on and how indebted he was to you. He said he talked to Ben Bratt for quite awhile in English and Spanish and he too was quite taken with the champ. I know what you mean, how excited one can get in meeting an ex-champ. There is a certain escapism in meeting up with someone who went through what El Gato endured and eventually hold the 135 lb. world in your hand. Way to go guys!

Scartissue

[Bobbin & Weavin]

Sadly, Jack's irregular features were as a result of a glandular problem.

He was really a fun guy to hang around with.

Hey Raylawpc,
Can you elaborate on hanging around with O'Hollaran; any good stories, I had heard a had a stint in the NFL any truth to that?
Thanks,
Bruce

[kikibalt]

Ken Norton vs Lorenzo Zanon

[raylawpc]

Sadly, Jack's irregular features were as a result of a glandular problem.

He was really a fun guy to hang around with.

Hey Raylawpc,
Can you elaborate on hanging around with O'Hollaran; any good stories, I had heard a had a stint in the NFL any truth to that?
Thanks,
Bruce

Sure, in 1974 O'Halloran decided to make a comeback. He entered into some kind of a deal with Pat O'Grady, and moved to Cushing, Oklahoma to train with Kelly Burden, who was the recreation director for the city of Cushing and a fitness fanatic. I think he stayed with Kelly for about a month. Kelly was the guy to stay with if you wanted to get in shape.

I was in college at the time, and I stayed with them over Spring Break for about a week, if I recall. Jack was a terrific guy, and the three of us spent a lot of time working out and talking about boxing. You know, I don't recall anything really specific, but I remember him as a great story-teller and jokester with a quirky sense of humor. Very outgoing. Somewhat egotistical, and a bit of a ham. I was not surprised at all when he went into films.

I am not sure about the NFL. When I saw your post, it triggered something in the back of my mind (one of those - 'oh yeah, I remember something about that. . ." moments), but nothing specific.

One thing that I remember is that, at that time, he was somewhat sensitive about his appearance. I'm not sure how it came up, but I remember him telling me that his large jaw and brow came from a pituitary gland disorder he developed in his 20s. They were able to cure it, but the damage was done. Jack showed me an old photograph of himself (I think he carried it in his wallet) to show you that he, at one time, had "normal" features. Made you feel kind of bad for the guy.

Another thing I remember very clearly was that he was absolutely obsessed with fighting Muhammad Ali. He thought that the fight would draw well (the whole white v. black thing), he'd get a big payday, and that he had a good chance to score an upset. He said, "A big guy with a good jab can beat Ali. Well, I'm a big guy with a good jab." The whole reason for the comeback was to try and work himself into position for a fight with Ali.

Ultimately, he relationship with the O'Grady's ended with the Danny Lee fight in Dallas, which O'Grady promoted. The record book shows that Jack got the decision, but I would have given it to Lee. Funny thing, Jack went into the fight telling me that he was in the best shape of his life, but he looked absolutely horrible.

Probably more than you want to know, but those are my memories of Jack O'Halloran.

N.B.: I reread the earlier post from Frank that he took from Jack's imdb bio. The confrontation between Jack and Christopher Reeve doesn't surprise me. I sensed that Jack was the kind of guy who would bully somebody if he didn't get along with them. I was fortunate that I got along with him just fine.