Fighters We Never Talk About

[Seamus]

I'll throw out the first name. Chicago born Lightweight Willie Joyce. He beat Henry Armstrong twice by decision, Ike Williams 3 times in 7 months by all by decision, Lew Jenkins twice and Chalky Wright once. In addition he stopped Leo Rodak and Pete Lello and posted decision wins over Frankie Covelli, Slugger White, John Thomas, Bobby Ruffin and Allie Stolz. And in 104 bouts he was never stopped within the distance.

When I made out my Top 20 Chicago (born) Fighters of alltime, I somehow just missed Willie Joyce, who I always assumed was from Gary, where he later lived. So, with that in mind, I've put Joyce at number 4.

[elmersalsa]

Willie Joyce definately has to be in the Hall of Fame.

[granberry]

I'll throw out the first name. Chicago born Lightweight Willie Joyce. He beat Henry Armstrong twice by decision, Ike Williams 3 times in 7 months by all by decision, Lew Jenkins twice and Chalky Wright once. In addition he stopped Leo Rodak and Pete Lello and posted decision wins over Frankie Covelli, Slugger White, John Thomas, Bobby Ruffin and Allie Stolz. And in 104 bouts he was never stopped within the distance.

That is amazing.

He obviously deserved a title fight.

The lightweight title was a mess in some of those years, disputed among different jurisdictions.

I see on his record

1943-01-04 133¾ Slugger White 134¾ 34-11-2
Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, United States L UD 15 15
Vacant Maryland version of World Lightweight Title

The number of top level fighters on his record is amazing.

Most remarkable is the fact that he was never stopped in 104 bouts against fighters of that caliber.


WILLIE JOYCE

[granberry]

I see that Izzy Kline was a manager of Willie Joyce.

Kline was known in Chicago. If I remember correctly he had been a cornerman for Barney Ross.

[Seamus]

And Chicago Bears lineman turned boxer, George Trafton, was his other manager.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

I put Willie Joyce in my vote for the HOF

[My2Sense]

Battling Battalino

Possibly the greatest over-achiever of all time.

For most of his career, the guy was considered just a tough clubfighter, yet he managed to win a world title and successfully defended it against three Hall of Famers - Kid Chocolate, Fidel LaBarba, and Freddie Miller, all considered genuine great fighters.

He first gained attention when he upset the great bantamweight champion, Panama Al Brown (another Hall of Famer), in an over-the-weight fight.

That led to a fight with Andre Routis for the featherweight title, which he won.

In non-title fights, Battalino lost almost as often as he won. But in his title fights, he always turned up the heat.

He was probably the underdog for every title defense he made, yet it seemed the more he was the underdog the better he would fight.

Everyone kept expected him to lose, saying "Oh, this guy (Chocolate, LaBarba, etc.) will be the man to expose him". But he just kept on winning.

Sadly, he disgraced himself in a title rematch with Miller, when he was disqualified for "not trying". Battalino and his manager had just bought Miller's contract before the fight. The story goes (which Battalino himself has confirmed) that Battalino was planning on vacating his title and moving up in weight anyway, so he decided to throw the title to Miller, so Miller would be secured with a title and Battalino and his manager would now have a piece of a world champion. The ref could foresee the charade unfolding and ended the fight. The fight was eventually called a no-contest, both fighters had their purses upheld, and Battalino was stripped of the title. Battalino duly moved up in weight and ironically, Miller won the vacant title anyway.

After moving up in weight, Battalino redeemed himself somewhat by destroying another elite fighter, Al Singer, and then competing in two terrific battles with Billy Petrolle, though he lost both of them. Petrolle stopped Battalino (still on his feet) in one of the fights, which is the only time in his career (roughly 90 fights) that Battalino was ever stopped. Those fights earned Petrolle, who was nearing the end of his career, his long overdo shot at a title.

I nominated Battalino for our Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, I seem to be the only one.

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

My2Sense,

Please, don't worry; as any of the great fighters who were voted now, like J L Sullivan or G Dixon, will be in the HOF, there will be new vacants in our 25 names, and, as J Carattoli or W Joyce, we include B Battalino in the next

[Seamus]

Willie Joyce was also US National Amateur Champion at 118 in 1936, Golden Gloves Champion at 126 in 1937.

Christopher Battalino was US National Champion at 126 in 1927

[raylawpc]

Lightweight Sammy Mandell. He defended his title against two all-time greats in Canzoneri and McLarnin before losing his title inexplicably in one round to Al Singer. And he beat a tough Rocky Kansas for the title.

[Seamus]

Mandell was a very slick boxer, with great speed and defense. He also had alot of Jewish fans who assumed he was one of them because of his shortened name. He was actually of Sicilian ancestry though, and one of our many outstanding fighters from the state of Illinois.

[Seamus]

Here's a shot of Sammy Mandell mowing his lawn in Rockford http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =25&REC=16

And all dressed up http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =24&REC=17

And in the gym http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =26&REC=15

[AngryGoon38]

Here's a shot of Sammy Mandell mowing his lawn in Rockford http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =25&REC=16

And all dressed up http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =24&REC=17

And in the gym http://www.digitalpast.org/cdm4/item_vi ... =26&REC=15

i like the "push reel lawnmower" photo. 8)

i use one of them myself....the old fashioned way is the best!!

[Collins2000]

Edgar "Bad News" Wallace

Elijah "Tap Tap" Makhatini

[raylawpc]

Another great lightweight champion hardly ever mentioned is Joe Brown.

[elmersalsa]

Maybe because there were not enough fights of those guys seen on film?

Or maybe these guys were not in controversial fights?

[Expug]

Edgar "Bad News" Wallace

Elijah "Tap Tap" Makhatini

Good call on Bad News Wallace Collins.
I remember him.
Had a couple nice wins.
Another guy who was similar , even in name, was Edgar "Mad Dog " Ross.
He was another entertaining banger.

[kikibalt]

Another Chicago fighter that you don't hear much about is Freddie Dawson.

I seen Dawson fight Bobby Jones and Charley Salas live in 1951 here in L.A.

[dagosd2000]

I'll throw out the first name. Chicago born Lightweight Willie Joyce. He beat Henry Armstrong twice by decision, Ike Williams 3 times in 7 months by all by decision, Lew Jenkins twice and Chalky Wright once. In addition he stopped Leo Rodak and Pete Lello and posted decision wins over Frankie Covelli, Slugger White, John Thomas, Bobby Ruffin and Allie Stolz. And in 104 bouts he was never stopped within the distance.

When I made out my Top 20 Chicago (born) Fighters of alltime, I somehow just missed Willie Joyce, who I always assumed was from Gary, where he later lived. So, with that in mind, I've put Joyce at number 4.

Seamus
Did you have Earl Mastro and Eddie Shea on your Chicago list? i know you go back pretty far. My father saw these two boys fight. Said it was the best action he ever saw in the ring. Both italian and fighting for bragging rights. I believe Mastro beat Bud Taylor twice. thanks

[Seamus]

Dagosd

I had Earl Mastro in my top 10, and my understanding was that he was Jewish. Didn't have Eddie Shea or Barney Ross, because they weren't born in Chicago. I know that's really splitting hairs, but look at Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Both lived in Chicago for some time as well. Louis on South Michigan Avenue, and Ali in Kenwood.

Others from the past I had, were Leo Rodak from the Back of the Yards, who won the Golden Gloves championship 3 consecutive years in 3 different weight classes, and began his career fighting outdoors at Shewbridge Field at 74th-Morgan in Englewood. Roger Bernard and Harold Dade, two guys who were much better than there records look, and Ray Miller who actually stopped Jimmy McLarnin and decisioned Billy Petrolle.

[dagosd2000]

Dagosd

I had Earl Mastro in my top 10, and my understanding was that he was Jewish. Didn't have Eddie Shea or Barney Ross, because they weren't born in Chicago. I know that's really splitting hairs, but look at Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. Both lived in Chicago for some time as well. Louis on South Michigan Avenue, and Ali in Kenwood.

Others from the past I had, were Leo Rodak from the Back of the Yards, who won the Golden Gloves championship 3 consecutive years in 3 different weight classes, and began his career fighting outdoors at Shewbridge Field at 74th-Morgan in Englewood. Roger Bernard and Harold Dade, two guys who were much better than there records look, and Ray Miller who actually stopped Jimmy McLarnin and decisioned Billy Petrolle.

Thanks for getting back. Nice talking to you again. My dad was real strong on Mastro. I don't think he'd be a big fan if Mastro wasn't Italian. Real last name was Maestro. Sounds more like Taylor Street than Maxwell. thanks again.

[Seamus]

Dagosd

A number of sites including BoxRec list Earl Mastro as Jewish. I initially figured he was Italian as well. Maybe his father was Italian and mother Jewish.

Do you remember Frankie Sagilio ? My Dad met him a few times in the 50's, after his career was over. If my memory serves me correct, I believe he was living in St Mary of Mt Carmel parish around 67th-Wood at the time.

[dagosd2000]

Dagosd

A number of sites including BoxRec list Earl Mastro as Jewish. I initially figured he was Italian as well. Maybe his father was Italian and mother Jewish.

Do you remember Frankie Sagilio ? My Dad met him a few times in the 50's, after his career was over. If my memory serves me correct, I believe he was living in St Mary of Mt Carmel parish around 67th-Wood at the time.

Pete
You lost me on this one. If my father was alive,i think you two would be on the phone a lot. Let's stay in touch. Roger

[dagosd2000]

Pete
Take a walk over to Classic West Coast Boxing once in a while. Pug's from Chicago. Share some of your thoughts with us.

[Seamus]

Some Chicago boys

Harold Dade http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/ ... 2_22068127

Leo Rodak http://www.nd.edu/~joycecol/exhibits/wi ... -30-84.jpg

Earl Mastro http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/ ... 2_12621790