Network TV fighters

[Ambling Alp]

For younger people, it might be hard to fathom that atleast 5 times as many people watched the fights that were broadcast on free network TV as do that watch the fights on the cable networks now. ABC, NBC, and CBS had more than 90% of the audience for decades. So to fight on national TV was a big deal for a fighter.

I was thinking about some guys that I saw on national TV a lot that never were champions. These guys weren't legends but were interesting to watch. You don't hear much about them anymore. These guys are probably not that well known to those younger than 30 years old, but I bet a lot of people older than that will remember some of these guys.
Here are some guys that I remember fighting a lot on TV:

James Scott- Remember him fighting Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,Richie Kates,Jerry Celestine,Yaqui Lopez,Jerry Martin, and Dwight Qawi. He was in prison and his opponents would come there to fight him.

Jerry Martin- Remember him against Scott,Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,Mathew Saad Muhammad, and Qawi. A very good fighter who would have been a champion in many eras.

Mustapha Hamsho- vs Wilfred Scypion,Curtis Parker, Bobby Czyz,Wilfred Benitez.

Frank "the Animal" Fletcher - vs James Green,Scypion, Mugabi. His mom would be at ringside screaming uncontrollaby.

Howard Davis-vs Claude Noel, Tony Baltizar,Greg Coverson, Edwin Rosario, Buddy McGirt.

Renaldo Snipes -vs Jumbo Cummings,Coetzee,Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,and primetime fight vs Holmes. I remember the "Mr. Snipes" on his trunks.

Robin Blake- vs Baltizar,Jimmy Paul,Tyrone Crawley, and Harry Arroyo. Had pink trunks with music symbols on them.

If you never won a title (there were not more than 2 for a long time) it seems that you may be long forgotton. The funny this, these guys were actually seen by more people than the big names of today.


I'm sure I saw these guys in other fights but can't remember them.
Does anyone else remember these fighters or any other guys that were on TV a lot that you don't hear a lot about any more?

[Nile4000]

Bobby Czyz- Mustafa Hamsho, and especially the fight against Robbie Sims
Greg Page- Marty Monroe, Alfredo Evangelista, Jimmy Young, Stan Ward
Michael Dokes- Tex Cobb, Ossie Ocasio, Franco Thomas, George Chaplin
Cornelius Boza-Edwards
Definitley Ray Leonard
Jeff Chandler.

[EriqS]

I also remember these guys (some did go onto win a belt)

Tyrone Crawley
Frankie Warren
Tony Lopez (his rivalry with John John Molina was good)
Tyrone "The Harlem Butcher" Jackson
Vinny Pazienza had a couple Network fights before his title fight against Haugen. Fought Harry Arroyo and Robert(?) Elizondo. The first fight with Haugen was the last fifteen round championship ever aired on TV.
I remember watching Mitch Green's pro debut on NBC's Tommorow's Champions.
Harry Arroyo had a few network fights himself.
Michael Olajide
Tony Baltazar
Duane Thomas

[kikibalt]

For younger people, it might be hard to fathom that atleast 5 times as many people watched the fights that were broadcast on free network TV as do that watch the fights on the cable networks now. ABC, NBC, and CBS had more than 90% of the audience for decades. So to fight on national TV was a big deal for a fighter.

I was thinking about some guys that I saw on national TV a lot that never were champions. These guys weren't legends but were interesting to watch. You don't hear much about them anymore. These guys are probably not that well known to those younger than 30 years old, but I bet a lot of people older than that will remember some of these guys.
Here are some guys that I remember fighting a lot on TV:

James Scott- Remember him fighting Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,Richie Kates,Jerry Celestine,Yaqui Lopez,Jerry Martin, and Dwight Qawi. He was in prison and his opponents would come there to fight him.

Jerry Martin- Remember him against Scott,Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,Mathew Saad Muhammad, and Qawi. A very good fighter who would have been a champion in many eras.

Mustapha Hamsho- vs Wilfred Scypion,Curtis Parker, Bobby Czyz,Wilfred Benitez.

Frank "the Animal" Fletcher - vs James Green,Scypion, Mugabi. His mom would be at ringside screaming uncontrollaby.

Howard Davis-vs Claude Noel, Tony Baltizar,Greg Coverson, Edwin Rosario, Buddy McGirt.

Renaldo Snipes -vs Jumbo Cummings,Coetzee,Eddie Mustapha Muhammad,and primetime fight vs Holmes. I remember the "Mr. Snipes" on his trunks.

Robin Blake- vs Baltizar,Jimmy Paul,Tyrone Crawley, and Harry Arroyo. Had pink trunks with music symbols on them.

If you never won a title (there were not more than 2 for a long time) it seems that you may be long forgotton. The funny this, these guys were actually seen by more people than the big names of today.


I'm sure I saw these guys in other fights but can't remember them.
Does anyone else remember these fighters or any other guys that were on TV a lot that you don't hear a lot about any more?

Its Baltazar, not Baltizar....

Tony fought on CBS 4 times in the 1980's

Frank Baltazar

[yancey]

Wonder whatever happened to James Scott?

Hope he is doing well.

[My2Sense]

Anyone remember Richie Sandoval?

[Expug]

Curtis Parker
Wilford Scypion
James "HardRock Green
Louie Burke
John Collins
Lenny Lapaglia
Dwight Davidson
Yaqui Lopez
Jerry Martin
Howard Davis
Johnny Lira
Larry Stanton
Murray Sutherland
Nino Larocca
Jose Baret

[granberry]

My understanding is Scott was let out a couple years ago after 36 years in prison (robbery/murder).

His great win was over Eddie Gregory.

[bennie]

Anyone remember Richie Sandoval?

We've been talking about Sandoval on the West Coast thread. Had two cracking fights with Harold Petty and ended the long reign of Chandler, of course.
Sadly, weightmaking cost him as champ.

[bennie]

Curtis Parker
Wilford Scypion
James "HardRock Green
Louie Burke
John Collins
Lenny Lapaglia
Dwight Davidson
Yaqui Lopez
Jerry Martin
Howard Davis
Johnny Lira
Larry Stanton
Murray Sutherland
Nino Larocca
Jose Baret

Some familiar names. Baret blew up in shocking circumstances against Starling, of course, and LaRocca also disappointed against Curry, although Curry fought a great fight. Stanton came over to Ireland in the 70's and gave Charlie Nash a great fight, to win a lot of friends. Davison was one of those nightmare opponents who struggled for a big fight once Sibbo outhustled him in England in 1982 (a fight I attended). Davis was the biggest waste of talent. The Wacko Twins ruined him, as they did Cooney, by matching him too soft and then chucking him in too deep. Davis never really got over a 15-round thumping at the hands of Jim Watt, although he nearly beat Rosario a few years later. Sutherland was a tough old pro, rarely stopped...

[Expug]

Thanks Bennie.
Its great you remember Irish Larry Stanton.
He was always an honest workman type fighter.
And he also fought Johnny Lira.

[bennie]

Thanks Bennie.
Its great you remember Irish Larry Stanton.
He was always an honest workman type fighter.
And he also fought Johnny Lira.

Stanton vs Lira. Not for the faint-hearted.

[joe kurtz]

Thanks Bennie.
Its great you remember Irish Larry Stanton.
He was always an honest workman type fighter.
And he also fought Johnny Lira.

Stanton vs Lira. Not for the faint-hearted.

Certainly not. Larry had him on the deck twice & in a life or death struggle right after the unbeaten Lira had upset the highly regarded Andy Ganigan to become the #1 contender.

Stanton had his limitations, but he was always game & teak tough.

My old stablemate Ralph Racine actually beat him over 10 rounds in a barnburner on his way to his days as a contender.

Then, a couple of years later, not long after my 19th birthday, I attended my first live pro boxing card in Niagara Falls,Ontario to see Stanton fight the local boy Nicky Furlano in a North American title fight.

[bennie]

Interesting, Joe. Stanton nearly beat an unbeaten Howard Davis, too, in the first fight. It was already looking grim for Davis and The Wacko Twins, and two years later, Davis made his way to a Glasgow ring in pink shorts (yes, pink) and received one of the worst receptions a visiting fighter has surely ever received in Britain.

[Nile4000]

I also remember these guys (some did go onto win a belt)

Tyrone Crawley
Frankie Warren
Tony Lopez (his rivalry with John John Molina was good)
Tyrone "The Harlem Butcher" Jackson
Vinny Pazienza had a couple Network fights before his title fight against Haugen. Fought Harry Arroyo and Robert(?) Elizondo. The first fight with Haugen was the last fifteen round championship ever aired on TV.
I remember watching Mitch Green's pro debut on NBC's Tommorow's Champions.
Harry Arroyo had a few network fights himself.
Michael Olajide
Tony Baltazar
Duane Thomas

Mitch Green could've been champion. I remember Tony's fight with Howard Davis Jr.Had a great left hook and really clocked Howard bad.

[Nile4000]

Interesting, Joe. Stanton nearly beat an unbeaten Howard Davis, too, in the first fight. It was already looking grim for Davis and The Wacko Twins, and two years later, Davis made his way to a Glasgow ring in pink shorts (yes, pink) and received one of the worst receptions a visiting fighter has surely ever received in Britain.

Surprised that Howard would even wear Pink trunks.If he had Ray Leonard management, he probably would have won some type of title.I could see him beating Kenty, and under the right circumstances, Arguello, if the situation was right.

[bennie]

I can't agree with Davis-Arguello, Nile. Alexis would have exposed his chin.

[BoxBuzz]

Ed Mahone.

[Seamus]

We had a heavyweight champion that wore pink trunks. And to be honest that didn't look as bad as some of Camacho's outfits.

Someone mentioned Charlie Nash. He fought at the 72 Olympics and easily won his first 2 bouts, but got stopped by the eventual Gold medal winner. 72 was a rough year for Nash. His 19 yr old brother Willie was murdered by British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday in Derry along with 12 others including John Duddy's uncle John "Jackie" who was 17 at the time.

In a short career, Nash did manage to beat Ken Buchanan.

[bennie]

We had a heavyweight champion that wore pink trunks. And to be honest that didn't look as bad as some of Camacho's outfits.

Someone mentioned Charlie Nash. He fought at the 72 Olympics and easily won his first 2 bouts, but got stopped by the eventual Gold medal winner. 72 was a rough year for Nash. His 19 yr old brother Willie was murdered by British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday in Derry along with 12 others including John Duddy's uncle John "Jackie" who was 17 at the time.

In a short career, Nash did manage to beat Ken Buchanan.

An old Buchanan, Seamus, and I have to say Kenny was robbed. Even Harry Mullan, a Derry man, thought Ken won it. The 'win' earned Charlie a shot at Jim Watt. Charlie put the iron-jawed Watt down in the first with a lovely right hook. Then Jim got going and really hammered Charlie.
Nash once beat up a young McGuigan in sparring.

[Nile4000]

I can't agree with Davis-Arguello, Nile. Alexis would have exposed his chin.

Strong possibility, Bennie, but Davis always seemed to get up for the most part when floored.

[bennie]

I can't agree with Davis-Arguello, Nile. Alexis would have exposed his chin.

Strong possibility, Bennie, but Davis always seemed to get up for the most part when floored.

Davis nearly beat the heavy handed Rosario, so you have a point. I just think Arguello, over 15 rounds, would have come from behind to nail the gifted but badly managed Davis. That guy was a real waste of talent.