What was the first main event you saw in person?

Simonpure · Post by **Simonpure** » 30 Mar 2004, 07:42

Several months ago on a Greybeard?s Roundtable thread the participants discussed the first fights they had ever seen live.

Amazingly the fights mentioned included Joe Louis-Billy Conn, Archie Moore-"Oakland" Billy Smith, Virgil Akins-Percy Pugh and Beau Jack-Johnny Bratton.

So now tell us what was the first bout that you ever saw in person? Where was it held? Who won? What was the crowd like? Were there glamorous women at ringside? Do you remember how much you paid for the tickets? Was the fight indoors or outdoors?

Please take us back there with you and share your memories.

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 01 Apr 2004, 19:30

My first main event I saw was when Bobo Olson stopped Lennart Risberg all of a sudden in Stockholm 1962. I remember they looked so small from my outdoor tribune seat for wich I payed 60 kr. I was very embarrassed because a friend had helped me to do my haircut much too short in the neck. I didn't go out for a month, but this bout I just had to see. I tried to disguise with a cap, but everybody kept starring at me.
Later, in France, I learned how to sneak up closer to ringside while the card was progressing. The ladies there looked at everything but the ring action, and I kept wondering why the american opponents always got disqualified against the french prospects.
8)

crooked nose · Post by **crooked nose** » 02 Apr 2004, 16:49

First bout I saw in person Nov. '80, Int'l Amphitheatre in Chicago. Double main events: local lt. heavy Luke Capuano v. Mike Rossman and James Tillis v. Domingo D'Elia. Chicago hadn't had contending fighters in years and this card had some buzz about it. Tillis looked sharp dispatching his Argentine opponent in four. My attention was focused on Tillis' corner. None other than Angelo Dundee was his trainer. Angelo remained calm but kept his eyes fixed on his fighter every second.
Rossman-Capuano was a thriller. Capuano showed more skill than we thought he had. Rossman was cut up but took a 10 rd. decision. Remember him leaving the ring. He saluted the crowd with raised arms, blood dripping down his cheeks. His wife, a slender gorgeous brunette, walked alongside, clearly not thrilled with the event. The crowd was as varied as Chicago: pinstripe suits, white fur coats, tattooed muscle. I even spotted my dentist near ringside. Probably scouting for new customers.

Simonpure · Post by **Simonpure** » 03 Apr 2004, 06:01

Crooked Nose....I think that`s the same crowd that was at the Beau Jack-Bratton fight in `48.

Juno · Post by **Juno** » 03 Apr 2004, 20:27

unfortunately I've never seen any boxing matches live. There're no boxing shows near where I live..

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 04 Apr 2004, 04:07

simon...it's after 1:00 am sunday and i'm sleepy and to tired to check back, but the archie moore/oakland billy smith fight must have referred to a post i made because that was the first fight I saw in person...at ringside. i'd dig into my memories if i were more awake...maybe i went into detail on the original answer.

incidentally i'm sorry that greybeard idea didn't get off the ground. one reason was terap's being sent to siberia and my own shortage of time when it was in it's budding stage, and also laziness.

if anyone's still interested i'd kind o like to write about some of the fights i saw live....excitng ones, nutty ones, name fighters of the day who are forgotten....fighters who weren't names when i saw them but became champions...but here I am, half asleep and my fingers are typing promises my mind may regret in the morning.