Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Kid Pambele

[Flump]

Billy never really developed as a pro, in my opinion. His ticket-selling abilities meant he was moved too soon, especially into a pair of bruising 10-rounders with Johnny Prescott. The promoters found themselves in a quandry. When 11,000 fans turn up every time, those fans have to be rewarded with real fights as opposed to low-key learning ones.

Very true, though personally I don't think he was a 'natural' in the classical sense but he certainly was brave and packed a punch. And he gave value for money which is why he sold tickets.

[kikibalt]

Cassius Clay 1969 AAU Tournament Semi Finals Bout Sheet 1960

[kikibalt]

[kikibalt]

[bennie]

Tapia has 'died' many times in his life. That mullet of his is photographic proof.

[kikibalt]

"Here's Lookin' at you kid"

[Expug]

Ive always been interested in Bobby Cassidys career.
He fought alot of good fighters.
Anyone of you guys ever see him fight?
He was a little before my time.

[kikibalt]

Emil Barao

[dagosd2000]

Was watching a replay of Archie Moore's fight with Marciano. I had read that Moore was upset with Harry Kessler ,the referee,for "allowing" The Rock a moments's pause and then tugging his gloves to "snap him to" before motioning the boys to continue the action. If you look at the fight,Arch isn't even in a neutral corner. Moore said that Kessler's actions prevented him from finishing off Rocky.

As much as I admired Archie Moore,I always thought his excuse was sour grapes. George Foreman was sitting with Bill Gallo during the replay on ESPN. Foreman said that when Kessler passed away,Archie regreted saying those things about him. Foreman said that Archie's wish would have been to apologize to Kessler for making those excuses. George said that Archie carried those regrets with him to the end of his life.

George also said that Archie always had with him a briefcase of his fights. One of the reels was of his fight with Marciano. George asked him why did he carry that fight since it was the only one in his collection where he lost.
"Because Rocky Marciano was the hardest puncher I ever faced."

[kikibalt]

Was watching a replay of Archie Moore's fight with Marciano. I had read that Moore was upset with Harry Kessler ,the referee,for "allowing" The Rock a moments's pause and then tugging his gloves to "snap him to" before motioning the boys to continue the action. If you look at the fight,Arch isn't even in a neutral corner. Moore said that Kessler's actions prevented him from finishing off Rocky.

As much as I admired Archie Moore,I always thought his excuse was sour grapes. George Foreman was sitting with Bill Gallo during the replay on ESPN. Foreman said that when Kessler passed away,Archie regreted saying those things about him. Foreman said that Archie's wish would have been to apologize to Kessler for making those excuses. George said that Archie carried those regrets with him to the end of his life.

George also said that Archie always had with him a briefcase of his fights. One of the reels was of his fight with Marciano. George asked him why did he carry that fight since it was the only one in his collection where he lost.
"Because Rocky Marciano was the hardest puncher I ever faced."

Arch's homage to The Rock

[kikibalt]

Don Fullmer vs Nino Benvenuti

[kikibalt]

Marvin Hagler, Bob Arum & Tommy Hearns

[kikibalt]

Charley Fusari, Ray Arcel & Tony Marsilo

[kikibalt]

Muhammad Ali

"I Am The Greatest"
By Diego

[Expug]

Charley Fusari, Ray Arcel & Tony Marsilo

When I see Fusari, it reminds me of Johnny Bratton and the old Chicago Stadium."The Madhouse on Madison.
A great venue that closed up in 94.
Lots of great fights there .
Fusari dropped a dec. in a NBA title fight to "HoneyBoy" Bratton at the Stadium.
Bratton later on wound up homeless and wandering the streets of Chicago.

[granberry]

Was watching a replay of Archie Moore's fight with Marciano. I had read that Moore was upset with Harry Kessler ,the referee,for "allowing" The Rock a moments's pause and then tugging his gloves to "snap him to" before motioning the boys to continue the action. If you look at the fight,Arch isn't even in a neutral corner. Moore said that Kessler's actions prevented him from finishing off Rocky.

As much as I admired Archie Moore,I always thought his excuse was sour grapes. George Foreman was sitting with Bill Gallo during the replay on ESPN. Foreman said that when Kessler passed away,Archie regreted saying those things about him. Foreman said that Archie's wish would have been to apologize to Kessler for making those excuses. George said that Archie carried those regrets with him to the end of his life.

George also said that Archie always had with him a briefcase of his fights. One of the reels was of his fight with Marciano. George asked him why did he carry that fight since it was the only one in his collection where he lost.
"Because Rocky Marciano was the hardest puncher I ever faced."

Archie had no such complaints (less than a year before he fought Marciano)

when Harold Johnson knocked Moore flat on his face with a right hand in the tenth round of their title fight.

Referee Ruby Goldstein continued counting once Moore was up--breaking the rules of a title fight in NY at that time.

Goldstein's "mistake" kept Johnson from getting off another punch at Moore before the bell rang ending the round.

Rocky Marciano, as a commentator on a showing of that fight, said, "Ooooh, the referee just cost Johnson a lot of money."

[dagosd2000]

Charley Fusari, Ray Arcel & Tony Marsilo

When I see Fusari, it reminds me of Johnny Bratton and the old Chicago Stadium."The Madhouse on Madison.
A great venue that closed up in 94.
Lots of great fights there .
Fusari dropped a dec. in a NBA title fight to "HoneyBoy" Bratton at the Stadium.
Bratton later on wound up homeless and wandering the streets of Chicago.

Pug
It's interesting that you brought that up about"Honeyboy" Bratton. The wiseguys in Chicago used him up pretty good. My father told me he'd see him once in a while. Bratton had lost a lot of his memory. If my father saw him,he'd slip him a twenty to get by. Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis would help him out once in a while also.

[dagosd2000]

Pug
My father also told me the syndicate asked Ray Robinson to carry Charlie Fusari in their title match in Jersey City. I looked at the tape of that fight a few times. It did look like Robinson could take him out whenever he wanted,but it went 15.

[kikibalt]

Johnny Bratton's ex-wife will be at the CBHOF Saturday with Motown's Berry Gordy.

[kikibalt]

06/16/2008 Entry: "Motown Founder, Berry Gordy, Inducted into California Boxing Hall of Fame!"

Motown Founder, Berry Gordy, Inducted into California Boxing Hall of Fame!

Press Release

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Berry Gordy, known as the man that started Motown music, has been elected into The California Boxing Hall of Fame. Gordy was a professional fighter in the late 1940's, boxing three times at the Olympic Auditorium in 1949.

Gordy will be inducted in ceremonies, Saturday, June 21 at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City.

[kikibalt]

Johnny Bratton vs Chico Varona

[kikibalt]

Johnny Bratton vs Tuzo Portuguez

[dagosd2000]

Johnny Bratton's ex-wife will be at the CBHOF Saturday with Motown's Berry Gordy.

Frank
When you think of all the ex wives and girlfriends fighters had,you could write a book and probably end up on "easy street".

[dagosd2000]

"Here's Lookin' at you kid"

Hey Frank
Seriously,that's got to be the most beautifull dog I've ever seen. Who picked him out? You or your wife?