Classic American West Coast Boxing

[dagosd2000]

Ike Williams's record


Ike Williams

Country USA
Global Id 9020
Hometown Trenton, NJ
Birthplace Brunswick, GA
Division Lightweight
Born 1923-08-02
Died 1994-09-05
Stance Orthodox
Height 175cm


Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com

Date Opponent Location Result
1955-08-12 Beau Jack Augusta, USA W RTD 8
1955-04-09 Beau Jack Augusta, USA D PTS 10
1954-07-02 Rafael Lastre Havana, Cuba L PTS 10
1953-11-09 Jed Black Fort Wayne, USA L UD 10
1953-09-17 Dom Zimbardo Newark, USA W TKO 2
1953-06-08 Georgie Johnson Trenton, USA L TKO 8
1953-05-09 Billy Andy Erie, USA W PTS 10
1953-04-20 Billy Andy Trenton, USA W PTS 10
1953-03-28 Vic Cardell Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1953-03-09 Claude Hammond Trenton, USA W PTS 10
1953-01-12 Carmen Basilio Syracuse, USA L UD 10
1952-11-24 Pat Manzi Syracuse, USA W TKO 7
1952-03-26 Chuck Davey Chicago, USA L TKO 5
1952-03-17 Johnny Cunningham Baltimore, USA W KO 5
1951-09-10 Gil Turner Philadelphia, USA L TKO 10
1951-08-02 Don Williams Worcester, USA L PTS 10
1951-05-25 Jimmy Carter New York City, USA L TKO 14
1951-04-11 Fitzie Pruden Chicago, USA W PTS 10
1951-03-05 Beau Jack Providence, USA W SD 10
1951-02-19 Joe Miceli Philadelphia, USA L UD 10
1951-01-31 Vic Cardell Detroit, USA W TKO 9
1951-01-22 Ralph Zannelli Providence, USA W KO 5
1951-01-05 Jose Maria Gatica New York City, USA W KO 1
1950-12-18 Rudy Cruz Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1950-12-12 Dave Marsh Akron, USA W RTD 8
1950-11-23 Joe Miceli Milwaukee, USA W SD 10
1950-10-02 Joe Miceli Milwaukee, USA L UD 10
1950-09-26 Charley Salas Washington, USA W SD 10
1950-08-07 Charley Salas Washington, USA L UD 10
1950-07-12 George Costner Philadelphia, USA L UD 10
1950-06-02 Lester Felton Detroit, USA W UD 10
1950-02-27 John L Davis Seattle, USA W SD 10
1950-02-17 Sonny Boy West New York City, USA W KO 8
1950-01-20 Johnny Bratton Chicago, USA W TKO 8
1949-12-05 Freddie Dawson Philadelphia, USA W UD 15
1949-11-14 Jean Walzack Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1949-10-24 Al Mobley Trenton, USA W PTS 10
1949-09-30 Doug Ratford Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1949-08-03 Benny Walker Oakland, USA W UD 10
1949-07-21 Enrique Bolanos Los Angeles, USA W TKO 4
1949-06-21 Irvin Steen Los Angeles, USA W UD 10
1949-04-22 Vince Turpin Cleveland, USA W TKO 6
1949-04-01 Kid Gavilan New York City, USA L UD 10
1949-01-28 Kid Gavilan New York City, USA L MD 10
1949-01-17 Johnny Bratton Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1948-11-18 Billy Nixon Philadelphia, USA W TKO 4
1948-11-08 Buddy Garcia Philadelphia, USA W TKO 1
1948-09-23 Jesse Flores Bronx, USA W TKO 10
1948-07-12 Beau Jack Philadelphia, USA W TKO 6
1948-05-25 Enrique Bolanos Los Angeles, USA W SD 15
1948-05-05 Rudy Cruz Oakland, USA W UD 10
1948-02-27 Kid Gavilan New York City, USA W UD 10
1948-02-09 Livio Minelli Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1948-01-26 Freddie Dawson Philadelphia, USA W MD 10
1948-01-13 Doug Carter Camden, USA W PTS 10
1947-12-12 Tony Pellone New York City, USA W UD 10
1947-10-10 Talmadge Bussey Detroit, USA W TKO 9
1947-09-29 Doll Rafferty Philadelphia, USA W KO 4
1947-08-04 Bob Montgomery Philadelphia, USA W TKO 6
1947-06-20 Tippy Larkin New York City, USA W KO 4
1947-05-26 Juste Fontaine Philadelphia, USA W TKO 4
1947-05-09 Ralph Zannelli Boston, USA W UD 10
1947-04-25 Willie Russell Columbus, USA W UD 10
1947-04-14 Frankie Conti Allentown, USA W TKO 7
1947-01-27 Gene Burton Chicago, USA L PTS 10
1946-09-04 Ronnie James Cardiff, United Kingdom W KO 9
National Boxing Association World Lightweight Title
1946-08-06 Ivan Christie Norwalk, USA W KO 2
1946-06-12 Bobby Ruffin Brooklyn, USA W TKO 5
1946-04-30 Enrique Bolanos Los Angeles, USA W TKO 8
National Boxing Association World Lightweight Title
1946-04-08 Eddie Giosa Philadelphia, USA W TKO 1
1946-03-11 Eddie Giosa Philadelphia, USA W TKO 4
1946-02-22 Ace Miller Detroit, USA W PTS 10
1946-02-14 Cleo Shans Orange, USA W PTS 10
1946-01-28 Freddie Dawson Philadelphia, USA D MD 10
1946-01-20 Johnny Bratton New Orleans, USA W PTS 10
1946-01-08 Charlie 'Petey' Smith Trenton, USA W PTS 10
1945-11-26 Wesley Mouzon Philadelphia, USA D MD 10
1945-09-19 Sammy Angott Pittsburgh, USA L TKO 6
1945-09-07 Nick Moran New York City, USA W UD 10
1945-08-28 Gene Burton Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1945-08-14 Charlie 'Petey' Smith Union City, USA W PTS 10
1945-06-08 Willie Joyce New York City, USA L SD 10
1945-04-18 Juan Zurita Mexico City, Mexico W TKO 2
National Boxing Association World Lightweight Title
1945-03-26 Dorsey Lay Philadelphia, USA W KO 3
1945-03-02 Willie Joyce New York City, USA L UD 12
1945-01-22 Maxie Berger Philadelphia, USA W KO 4
1945-01-08 Willie Joyce Philadelphia, USA W UD 12
1944-12-11 Dave Castilloux Buffalo, USA W TKO 5
1944-12-05 Lulu Costantino Cleveland, USA W PTS 10
1944-11-13 Willie Joyce Philadelphia, USA L SD 10
1944-11-02 Ruby Garcia Baltimore, USA W TKO 7
1944-10-18 Johnny Green Buffalo, USA W KO 2
1944-09-19 Freddie Dawson Philadelphia, USA W KO 4
1944-09-06 Sammy Angott Philadelphia, USA W SD 10
1944-08-29 Jimmy Hatcher Washington, USA W UD 10
1944-07-20 Julie Kogon New York City, USA W UD 10
1944-07-10 Joey Pirrone Philadelphia, USA W KO 1
1944-06-23 Cleo Shans New York City, USA W KO 10
1944-06-07 Sammy Angott Philadelphia, USA W SD 10
1944-05-16 Slugger White Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1944-04-17 Mike Delia Philadelphia, USA W KO 1
1944-04-10 Leroy Saunders Holyoke, USA W KO 5
1944-03-27 Joey Peralta Philadelphia, USA W TKO 9
1944-03-13 Leo Francis Trenton, USA W PTS 8
1944-02-28 Ellis Phillips Philadelphia, USA W TKO 1
1944-01-25 Bob Montgomery Philadelphia, USA L KO 12
1943-12-13 Mayon Padlo Philadelphia, USA W UD 10
1943-11-29 Willie Cheatum New Britain, USA W PTS 8
1943-11-08 Johnny Hutchinson Philadelphia, USA W KO 3
1943-10-29 Gene Johnson New Orleans, USA W PTS 10
1943-10-22 Eddie Perry New Orleans, USA W KO 2
1943-10-01 Lefty LaChance Boston, USA W KO 4
1943-09-13 Jerry Moore West Springfield, USA W PTS 10
1943-08-31 Johnny Bellus Hartford, USA W PTS 10
1943-08-24 Tommy Jessup Hartford, USA W TKO 5
1943-07-19 Jimmy Hatcher Philadelphia, USA W TKO 6
1943-05-17 Ray Brown Philadelphia, USA W PTS 10
1943-05-07 Lefty LaChance Boston, USA W UD 8
1943-04-21 Joe Genovese Cleveland, USA W TKO 4
1943-04-05 Ruby Garcia Philadelphia, USA W PTS 8
1943-04-02 Rudy Giscombe New York City, USA W TKO 3
1943-03-08 Bill Speary Philadelphia, USA W TKO 2
1943-02-23 Bobby McQuillar Cleveland, USA W KO 3
1943-02-22 Sammy Daniels Philadelphia, USA W KO 2
1943-01-29 Jerry Moore New York City, USA W PTS 6
1942-12-21 Sammy Daniels Baltimore, USA W PTS 6
1942-12-07 Bobby Gunther Trenton, USA W PTS 8
1942-10-20 Gene Burton White Plains, USA W KO 4
1942-09-10 Charley 'Dixie' Davis Elizabeth, USA W PTS 8
1942-07-29 Angelo Maglione Trenton, USA W KO 3
1942-06-29 Ivan Christie Newark, USA W KO 5
1942-05-07 Abie Kaufman Atlantic City, USA W PTS 8
1942-04-24 Willie Roache Perth Amboy, USA W PTS 8
1942-04-10 Angelo Pantellas Atlantic City, USA W TKO 5
1942-03-26 Pedro Firpo Atlantic City, USA W PTS 8
1942-01-16 Ruby Garcia Atlantic City, USA W PTS 6
1941-12-16 Eddie Dowl Perth Amboy, USA W PTS 6
1941-11-03 Vince Delia Newark, USA W PTS 6
1941-10-27 Benny Williams Newark, USA D PTS 6
1941-10-01 Freddie Archer Perth Amboy, USA L PTS 8
1941-04-14 Hugh Civatte Trenton, USA W KO 3
1941-04-09 Johnny Rudolph Perth Amboy, USA W PTS 6
1941-03-19 Joe Genovese Perth Amboy, USA W PTS 6
1941-03-05 Joey Zodda Perth Amboy, USA L PTS 6
1941-02-19 Carl Zullo Perth Amboy, USA W KO 2
1941-01-06 Tommy Fontana Trenton, USA W PTS 8
1940-11-11 Angelo Maglione Trenton, USA L PTS 8
1940-09-09 Pete Kelly Trenton, USA W KO 2
1940-07-19 Joe Romero Mt. Freedom, USA W TKO 2
1940-06-14 Billy Hildebrand Mt. Freedom, USA W KO 6
1940-05-10 Billy Hildebrand Morristown, USA L PTS 6
1940-04-01 Patsy Gall Hazleton, USA D PTS 6
1940-03-29 Leroy Born New Brunswick, USA W PTS 4
1940-03-15 Carmine Fotti New Brunswick, USA W PTS 4

Record to Date
Won 125 (KOs 60) Lost 24 Drawn 5 Total 154

Just pick out a segment of Williams' record. Example:In a year's time Ike fought Beau Jack,Kid Gavilan twice,Johnny Bratton,and Enrique Bolanos.Plus 5 other fights. Man ,I was born too late.

[kikibalt]

Ike Williams vs Beau Jack

[kikibalt]

Rocky Graziano

"The Rock"
By Diego

[kikibalt]

Just pick out a segment of Williams' record. Example:In a year's time Ike fought Beau Jack,Kid Gavilan twice,Johnny Bratton,and Enrique Bolanos.Plus 5 other fights. Man ,I was born too late.

And look at the other names that he fought around the same time, guys like Freddie Dawson, Rudy Cruz, Jessie Flores Charley Salas, Joe Miceli and John L. Davis, I don't know if you are familiar with these guys, but they were all good fighters in their own right.

[dagosd2000]

Just pick out a segment of Williams' record. Example:In a year's time Ike fought Beau Jack,Kid Gavilan twice,Johnny Bratton,and Enrique Bolanos.Plus 5 other fights. Man ,I was born too late.

And look at the other names that he fought around the same time, guys like Freddie Dawson, Rudy Cruz, Jessie Flores Charley Salas, Joe Miceli and John L. Davis, I don't know if you are familiar with these guys, but they were all good fighters in their our right.

Frank
I've seen the footage of Williams and Montgomery. What inpresses me about these guys is their footwork. They were trained to put their feet in position to connect with their punches. THEY ARE NOT RUNNING WITH THEIR PUNCHES. A good indicator to me is when I see Williams,for example ,throw his right hand. Straight with his shoulder behind it. Your feet have to be in the right place to do that. And the power of that right has to be on the end of that punch.

You don't see that many fighters today that have the feet and the good right hands that those guys had. I could get into jabbing and body punching and head movement,but then I don't want to take up too much space on the thread. Where are all the good trainers?

[dagosd2000]

Just want to get this in. Big heavyweights. You can weigh 230 and move like welter weight like Buster Douglas did against Tyson,or weigh 230 and move like a slug like Douglas did aginst Jesse ferguson and lose. I'll take conditioning,combined with movement and boxing skills ,any day to off set a fighter without this and having a 30 pound weight advantage.

[kikibalt]

Just pick out a segment of Williams' record. Example:In a year's time Ike fought Beau Jack,Kid Gavilan twice,Johnny Bratton,and Enrique Bolanos.Plus 5 other fights. Man ,I was born too late.

And look at the other names that he fought around the same time, guys like Freddie Dawson, Rudy Cruz, Jessie Flores Charley Salas, Joe Miceli and John L. Davis, I don't know if you are familiar with these guys, but they were all good fighters in their our right.

Frank
Where are all the good trainers?

Dead!!

[Expug]

Dagos, your right about the heavier fighters and conditioning.
I dont know what it is about the allure surrounding heavyweights.
Ive always felt that the lighter weight fighters always put on much better fights.
This isnt news to anyone I know, but there is also the thought in many peoples minds that some of these "little " guys dont really hit so hard.
They are under the impression that a slighter frame means they dont pack a good wallop.
Man is that ever a misconception.
A good solid pro fighter at any weight can punch like hell.

[dagosd2000]

Dagos, your right about the heavier fighters and conditioning.
I dont know what it is about the allure surrounding heavyweights.
Ive always felt that the lighter weight fighters always put on much better fights.
This isnt news to anyone I know, but there is also the thought in many peoples minds that some of these "little " guys dont really hit so hard.
They are under the impression that a slighter frame means they dont pack a good wallop.
Man is that ever a misconception.
A good solid pro fighter at any weight can punch like hell.

Pug
Another misleading feature: Big Muscles. I don't want this to get like other threads"Who Could Beat Who?" but give me Louis or even Charles in their primes and they'd make "borsht" out of Klitschko.

[Expug]

Dagos, your right about the heavier fighters and conditioning.
I dont know what it is about the allure surrounding heavyweights.
Ive always felt that the lighter weight fighters always put on much better fights.
This isnt news to anyone I know, but there is also the thought in many peoples minds that some of these "little " guys dont really hit so hard.
They are under the impression that a slighter frame means they dont pack a good wallop.
Man is that ever a misconception.
A good solid pro fighter at any weight can punch like hell.

Pug
Another misleading feature: Big Muscles. I don't want this to get like other threads"Who Could Beat Who?" but give me Louis or even Charles in their primes and they'd make "borsht" out of Klitschko.

Agreed, I cant think of too many fighters who had the huge bodybuilder physiques.
Mike Weaver was real big but he didnt have those enormous legs.
Norton , same thing.He was athletic.
There was a decent heavyweight who trained in the same gym with me named Mike Evans.
That guy was enormous , Jumbo Cummings also.Again , those guys were Pretty athletic also.

[dagosd2000]

Here's the one that gets me. (Please someone talk about Oldies or somethin' FRANK). I like when they show the training camps of these fighters and you see all this Olympic Triathelete Training with the special conditioning and nutritionist experts with their fancy training methods like holding a 40 pound weight above your head while you balance yourself on one leg hopping around the room like a bunny rabbit?What the hell does he know about boxing?

How about Mayweather JR. when he stands in the middle of the ring and he throws 20 million punches in 3 minutes at his trainer who's holding the mitts. The trainer is standing right in front of him and Mayweathers' feet are planted in the ground like in concrete. Just like in a real fight---NOT! He can't do that in a real fight. Who's going to stand in front of him like that. I've always thought Mayweather and Hopkins used their speed to play cat and mouse. I'll tell ya' they wouldn't draw flies in Madison Square Garden in the 50's with their styles of fighting. Did I say fighting?

[Randyman]

You hear sometimes that the United States didn't have a culture. Europeans like to make those statements. Well in the 20th Century it was the United States that had more culture than Europe. Two world wars devasted that continent.After 1919 and then after 1945,Europe was trying so hard to recover that there wasn't much time forthe arts. Many of their artists,musicians,film makers,and writers came to America.

It was OUR films,musical scores,jazz,popular songs(that had lyrics Shakespeare would have admired),novelists and poets that were the benchmark of the 20th Century. But after WW II we started a subtle decline. Again war was the culprit. Coming out of a war erodes the the culture of a society. Vietnam smashed the door down. The younger crowd,the post Vietnam generation that was born into the culture we have today,never saw the last of the "Golden Days". The 50's and early 60's.

When Frank posts those old programs,he's showing us the last of a good era.When you read the articles,it is not only a nostalgic look into our past,but a representation of quality American writing.

Rog, you might even say the Europeans have culture courtesy of the USA. Like you, I look back somewhat sadly at the decline of our culture, but I still believe that we can pull through. There's a reason everybody and their brother are clamoring to get in, and it ain't the cheese.

Frank has to be considered the number one West Coast boxing historian, internet or otherwise. Whenever i think he has exhausted his supply of photos, magazine covers and articles, he'll post another.
Thanks, Frank and Rog for turning me on to this site. What an education just browsing through here.

Randy
I forgot to ask you this the other day. Zapata's number one general in his army was De La O. Any relation to him?

Rog, I have been researching General Genovevo De La O but I haven't made the connection. I've traced my family back to the mid 1700's, so if he is related, he is not a direct ancestor. He's an interesting historical figure.
Randy

[Randyman]

I'm going to have to figure out how to upload photos here. Randy

[Randyman]

I call Don Fraser at the hospital and was able to talk with him for a couple of minutes, he seem to be doing better then the last time I talk to him, which was Friday (7-18-08).

Get well Don!!........keep

Frank, give my best to Don! I hope he;s doing better by now.
Randy

[bennie]

I know we all echo what Randy says. Don has been through a terrible time with a terrible condition.

[bennie]

Dagos, your right about the heavier fighters and conditioning.
I dont know what it is about the allure surrounding heavyweights.
Ive always felt that the lighter weight fighters always put on much better fights.
This isnt news to anyone I know, but there is also the thought in many peoples minds that some of these "little " guys dont really hit so hard.
They are under the impression that a slighter frame means they dont pack a good wallop.
Man is that ever a misconception.
A good solid pro fighter at any weight can punch like hell.

This is a world class post. Many so-called boxing 'experts' believe that, say, flyweights don't punch as hard as the heavies. Codswallop! Pound for pound, the little guys punch every bit as hard, and usually harder, as the big boys.
Pascual Perez punched harder than Rocky Marciano.

[kikibalt]

Guys,

Don Fraser is doing much better, talk to him last night, and he is talking more, and has less pain, he said that as soon as he starts eating he can go home.

[kikibalt]

The diego clan waiting to eat Birria, goat to you, that don't know Birria.... in Jiquilpa, Mex. diego do they sell Pan Dulce there?

[kikibalt]

Miguel Cotto is a world champion with two sides

Miguel Maldonado / For The Times
Miguel Cotto, the unbeaten WBA welterweight champion from Puerto Rico, is known for his hard punching and serious demeanor in the ring. "But he's completely the opposite when he's out of the ring," says his trainer, Phil Landman. "Always joking, laughing, having a good time."
Unbeaten welterweight from Puerto Rico, who'll defend his WBA title Saturday, is all business in the ring, but within his tight inner circle he's a fun-loving practical jokester.

By Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

CAGUAS, Puerto Rico -- The sun is still fighting to rise over the lush green hills of Puerto Rico's fertile midsection as five men meet in a park near the city center for their regular morning workout.

Less than a block into the run, when an SUV pulls up behind the group and honks, the man at the front of the pack responds by pulling down the back of his sweat pants and mooning the driver.

Miguel Cotto, arguably the island's hottest athlete, breaks into a smile before he's even broken a sweat. Turns out he's just flashed his own mother.

Yet that's a side of Cotto few outside a tight circle of friends ever get to see. Most of the world knows the undefeated, two-time world champion for his scowl and his punishing punches in the boxing ring. Cotto will defend his World Boxing Assn. welterweight title Saturday in Las Vegas against Antonio Margarito.

Outside the ring, however, Cotto is a tireless practical joker who isn't afraid to let down his guard -- and his sweat pants -- once in a while. "When he's boxing, people say he's serious and he's focused and he doesn't smile," says his trainer Phil Landman. "But he's completely the opposite when he's out of the ring. Always joking, laughing, having a good time."

"He was always a bit cheeky, like all kids," Jose "Joey" Gomez, one of Cotto's cornermen and a friend since early childhood, says in Spanish. "He jokes in a way that leaves you stunned. He's going to try to make you happy. [But] he's not the type of person who makes friends easily and trusts everyone."

The public Miguel Cotto, the one with the rock-star following in his native Puerto Rico, will greet a raucous crowd of 1,500 packed into a shopping mall with little more than a shy wave. But the private Miguel Cotto has proven so loyal that when he shaved his head at the start of training camp for Saturday's fight, every one of his friends -- as well as his son -- insisted on having their heads shaved as well.

"He's totally different with us," Gomez says. "He's the type of person that if you were with him from the beginning, he's not going to leave you behind. He's going to take you by the hand and take you with him."

Perhaps one reason Cotto seems so uncomfortable in the limelight is the fact he never set out to be there in the first place. When he first stepped into the gym as a pudgy 156-pound 10-year-old he was hoping boxing might save his life, not take it over.

"At that time we weren't thinking of this. It was simply because he had to lose weight. He was fat," says Evangelista Cotto, Miguel's uncle and the only coach he's ever had.

In nine months Cotto lost more than 50 pounds, earning a chance to leave the speed bag and jump rope for a real fight in the ring. By 16 he was on the Puerto Rican national team, following in the footsteps of his older brother Jose, who boxed in the 1996 Olympics. "Year after year I took the boxing more seriously," Cotto says.

And when he came back from the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games in Venezuela with a silver medal, he says, "I decided I want to be a boxer for the rest of my life."

But less than seven months after his pro debut, Cotto's career -- and his life -- nearly came to an end when he fell asleep while driving to a predawn workout, crashing into a concrete wall and breaking his right arm and shoulder in four places.

"After 30 days he was running again," his father remembers.

And after five months he was boxing again, flattening Joshua Smith two rounds into his return to the ring.

The accident, Cotto says, changed him, making him "more focused on boxing." As a result, he's scored knockouts in 21 of his 25 fights since beating Smith, raising his record to 32-0 with 26 KOs.

"When you think this thing never can happen to you and it happens, you put in more effort and you stay more focused on your work."

And you find a friend to drive you to workouts, he adds with a smile.

Yet it hasn't all been smooth sailing.

For the last 14 months there's been a bitter, if quiet, feud between the boxer and his uncle/coach, apparently dating to his older brother's 2007 lightweight title bout in Puerto Rico. With Jose Cotto fighting poorly, Evangelista confronted him in a screaming, water-throwing rage after the eighth round. When the argument continued after the next round Miguel left his ringside seat to try to make peace, but Evangelista eventually stormed off.

Although Miguel Cotto continues to train in Evangelista's gym -- an airless, windowless, zinc-roofed bunker tucked amid rows of low-slung concrete houses in a working-class neighborhood -- the two don't speak much and rarely even acknowledge one another.

"Evangelista's role is circumspect. And it has been for years," says Bob Arum, the promoter for both Cotto and Margarito. But while there's little doubt Cotto would like to break away from his uncle, the boxer's father has insisted the family will stay together until the end, no matter how strained things become.

"It's like every family," the elder Miguel Cotto says. "There's some friction, there's some discussions. That's part of what life teaches. But Evangelista is in charge of Miguel's training."

And the father has given his son several reasons beyond simple familial respect to heed his wishes. Millions of reasons, in fact.

Since becoming a pro Miguel Cotto has turned his prize money over to his father, who has invested it wisely, buying eight gas stations, an apartment building, commercial offices and 12 villas in tony Palmas del Mar, a resort in southeastern Puerto Rico.

Cotto also backs fights and fighters through his own promotion company, is the pitchman in Puerto Rico for everything from pickup trucks to pick-me-up pills and is pioneering his own line of sports apparel through a partnership with Ecko.

"Boxing is not forever," the 27-year-old says. "One day I have to stop [and] I have on my side other things to continue to raise my family. If I announced my retirement today, me and my family are going to live good."

That announcement, say many in the Cotto camp, is at least two years off. Among the things the boxer wants to do before he quits is unify the world welterweight title. Plus if he gets by Margarito there's talk of a matchup with Oscar De La Hoya, a fight that would almost certainly earn Cotto more than in any previous bout.

And while that would make a rich man even richer, it wouldn't change him.

"He's very humble. You would never think he is what he is," says Landman, the boxer's South African-born trainer. "Just hanging out, he's normal. It's like hanging out with any of your other mates."

[email protected]

[bennie]

Ike Williams vs Beau Jack

We've all seen it but the finish is still breathtaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPzCi2IKdhA

[dagosd2000]

GATO GONZALEZ AT MANDO'S MEMORIAL Part 2

"I go proxima semana a Jiquilpan,Gato. A mi casa."
"Yes I want to go back."
Gato was speaking very passionately. Wanting to emphasize in words how strong he was feeling.
"Do they remember me?"
"Yes they do. Remember the Palenque next to el Estadio? El Jefe remembers you well."
Gato 's face was trying to pour everything from his heart at me.
"He does? That is good. I miss Jiquilpan very much."
Gato had three of his early pro fights in Jiquilpan.
"El Estadio is still there?"
"Yes.Very little has changed."
"You know I fight there against a man who was 22. I was only 15."
"You fought in a lot of little pueblos in the beginning."
Gato is from a little pueblo outside of Guadalajara.
"My relatives,Alacron Torres and Jose Becerra start like that too."
In Mexico,with boxing,is a struggle. Little money,little pueblos,little amateur experience.
"Mexican fighters fight a lot. To make the money."
If you look at the Mexican fighters' early records they are peppered with bouts all through the Republic in every pueblo that has an arena. This is there "amateur" career. It's sink or swim. Sometimes,like Gato,a young inexperienced fighter is thrown in there with an older veteran.
"But tell me. They still remember me?"
Mando's ceremony was winding down inside the Longshoremsn's Hall.People were slowly making there way outside.
"Si,seguro."
"Maybe,Rogelio,when you go ,I can go with you."
The custodians were folding chairs and putting them away in the storeroom.The food on the table was gone. Some lights were being turned off.
"My home will be yours."

[kikibalt]

Ike Williams vs Beau Jack

We've all seen it but the finish is still breathtaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPzCi2IKdhA

Thanks Bennie for posting the link to Williams vs Jack.

[Randyman]

Ike Williams vs Beau Jack

We've all seen it but the finish is still breathtaking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPzCi2IKdhA

Whew! Tough fight. I still think Duran was the greatest lightweight of all time but I can see how Williams would definitely give him a run for his money. When he turned his head to ask the ref to stop the fight I thought Beau was going to pop him one. What was the ref waiting for anyway?

[Randyman]

Beer was advertised a lot on the fights. Why not/ Fight fans like beer. It wasn't only Pabst Blue Ribbon,but I remember Hamm's and Schlitz too. Being a kid in Chicago was the first time I smelled the aroma of beer. My aunts on my mother's side married Poles and Germans and remember their husbands always with a beer. Don't recall Budweiser much,which is the number one seller in the U.S.,but Hamm's and Schlitz. The aroma though,and the golden color with a frothy head. Looked real good. Smelled good too.

But then my uncle lets me have a taste,and like all kids that sip their first taste,it don't taste that good. Alcohol for the first time makes you make a face. But it grows on you drinking beer. One day it's hotter than hell outside and nothing is more satisfying than a cold beer.


I understand how my uncles in Chicago grew fond of the hops. Now it's all these foreign beers and micro brews. To tell you the truth,you can have them. And that goes for light beer too. It's "in" to be seen or name drop some rare beer from Honduras. They taste awfull. And that goes for you Europeans. OK Bennie,I'll probably be hearin' from ya,but when I went to England I gagged everytime i had one of those warm pints of whatever. It's been explained that warm beer brings out the taste. Go serve that stuff at Madison Square Garden and it will bring out a riot. Bud. Ice cold. Everyone thinks they can concoct something better,and then put a name on it like "Rattlesnake Tits" or "Saint Sadie Marie" It's like trying to improve on Joe Louis. Leave it be.

Beer's got to be cold. IT DON'T TASTE GOOD WARM! I'll pull up a stool on the North Side of Chicago and toast a few COLD ONES with Pug anyday. I'll have a Bud. No glass. Cheerio!

That reminds me of the time I was visiting my favorite cousin and drinking buddy David Robles. It had to be about '91, or '92. My son was about ten. Dave and I were drinking beer and Jack Daniels. My son kept asking for a shot of jack daniels. Of course I kept saying no. Then I remembered my father telling me about the time my grandfather Santiago gave my uncle Larry some whisky to teach him a lesson. My uncle hated it and never took up drinking. So the lightbulb went on and I told my cousin "this'll fix him" so the next time my son asked I calmly poured him a shot of Jack Daniels and put it in front of him and said "Go ahead, have a shot. Dave and I snickered at each other knowing what was coming. My son Andrew reached over took the shot glass and drank it in one gulp. He shook his head a little and then looks me right inthe eye and said "let me have another one". John Wayne couldn't have said it better. It wasn't one of my finer moments as a father and my wife let me know it, all the way home.

[kikibalt]

"let me have another one".

Now, thats classic.....