Naw,it's a Mexican or Chicano who looks like one of those dudes that are in a gang. I'll show you some in February.raylawpc wrote:What's a Cholo? If its the Spanish word for "Swede," then I don't think I want to have lunch with Roger when I'm in San Diego in February. . .dagosd2000 wrote:IF IT AIN'T FIGHTIN',WHAT IS IT?
Jack Dempsey once said that stepping into a ring with boxing gloves and a referee ain't fightin'? I always admired the Manassa Mauler,but I don't catch his drift with that comment.
What brings this to mind is today I got into a fight,or somethin'. I was driving up from downtown to go to my grand daughter's Flamenco recital.I was going to watch her, and then drive her home. I'm across the street in my car at the stop sign. I go to proceed and pulling in front of me is this guy on a bike. It was a 4 way stop and this dude ran his stop sign and on top of it was on the wrong side of the street. He's a big fat cholo dude riding one of those bikes with the big butterfly handlebars. He's got a shaved head,tatoos all over,sun glasses,and this is what gets me,he's got to be over 30.You think he'd gotten that shit out of his system.
Well I almost knock him over. He keeps his balance and starts yellin' at me. I snapped. I mean this idiot was in the wrong. I put the the car in park right there at the light and sprang out of the door. The fat cholo dude gets off the bike and starts throwing his hands up like he's throwing gang signs. He's still shooting his mouth off as he's flailing his arms and cussing me out.
I grabbed him by the shirt with both hands and put my my left foot behind his heel. I threw him down in the middle of the street and let fly two right hands across his face. What do you think this punk does? He starts crying! I let him up and give him a kick right in the seat of his pants. He says I'm crazy and he then gets on his bicycle and rides away.
I brush myself off and look around. There must have been a hundred people who gathered around to watch the melee. My grand daughter and her Flamenco teacher are part of the audience. I get back in my car and park. My grand daughter and her teacher asked what happened. I didn't want to get into it with them because while I was taking care of this guy,I reinjured my hip. The adrenilin was going so fast I didn't feel anything. However now it was hurting. Hurting so bad I thought I was going to pass out.
I told my grand daughter to call her Daddy to come pick her up and take her home. I managed to drive back to my place as I'm cussing out the pain in my hip. I'm thinking what if that dude would have been tougher? I mean the whole thing didn't last 20 seconds. Notice I called it a "thing",not a fight. I'm confused after what Dempsey said.
Maybe Jack Dempsey would have called it a fight. I don't know. If boxing ain't fightin' according to Jack Dempsey,what the hell did Willard think he was doing with Jack at Toledo? Going to the senior prom?
Classic American West Coast Boxing
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dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Last edited by dagosd2000 on 27 Oct 2008, 21:49, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bennie, do you know what Chris is up to these days?bennie wrote:Not sure myself, really. Kevin is Kevin. RIP.Randyman wrote:Bennie, I recieved the following comment on this article, which I posted on my site. it's from the daughter of Kevin Finnegan, Lele Finnegan. I thought you might be interested. I'm not sure what to make of it, if she was upset or what.bennie wrote:Former British and European middleweight champ Kevin Finnegan has been found dead in his flat in West London at the relatively young age of 60.
In the context of today's boxing scene, with 'world' titles seemingly given away, it is incredible to think this man never got a sniff at a world title shot. The younger brother of the better-known Chris licked the likes of Bunny Sterling, Tony Sibson, Gratien Tonna, Jean Claude Bouttier, Frankie Lucas, gave "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler a real war in the first of two fantastic efforts in the States in 1978 (both stopped on cuts, just two months apart) and looked desperately unlucky in the second of three 15-round classics with Alan Minter, who staggered home to a debatable decision in 1976.
Quite simply, Kevin Finnegan was gifted.
After his five wars with Minter and Hagler, both of whom went on to win the undisputed world middleweight title, Finnegan enjoyed a glorious, totally unexpected twilight to his career. In 1979 he outboxed Sibson over 15 rounds for the British title - just after "Sibbo" had destroyed "The Animal" Lucas - and then avenged a defeat to the ferocious Gratien Tonna with another magnificent boxing display in 1980 in France to lift the European title (his points loss to Tonna in the mid-1970s possibly cost him a shot at Carlos Monzon) and picked up a couple of nice paydays abroad in defence of the European belt. Finnegan fought well in his very last fight with Matteo Salvemini in Italy in September 1980, flooring the local man with a beautiful counter right, but Salvemeni proved a bit too energetic and took the points.
Sadly, Kevin, from Iver in Buckinghamshire, struggled in vain to find any meaning to his life once his career ended as he wandered around aimlessly, getting drunk and sleeping rough in a park in Uxbridge, although he clearly owned a property, where he was found by police.
Marvin Hagler always said Finnegan gave him his hardest fight. What a boxer, what a character, what an epitah.
"My father never "wandered around aimlessly"; after he retired from boxing he explored the paint canvas, colour, light form, medium. He also loved to walk, he loved to paint. He loved nature and as an artist he loved watching the seasons change, the colour of the trees the migration of the birds.....
But he was loved and involved with his family, watching his grandchildren grow, laughing and playing and being the crazy granddad he was.... he was also a free sprit... untamed and unique. He never slept on a park bench..... ?
Why would you when you have a thousand homes’ to choose from plus your own bed? He would however stop and talk, sit with people, he loved life, he loved people and he will be sadly missed by many."
Randy
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Thanks, Randy, but how about the car?.... ;;-)Randyman wrote:Frank, I think back to that post of Eva Mendes when you said that you had your own Eva mendes at home. You weren't kidding. You have a beautiful wife Frank.kikibalt wrote:
Thats Connie at Hoover Dam, we were on our way home from Las Vegas after one of Tony's fights, took a side trip to
see the dam. that was in 1984.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Floyd Mayweather, JR. Chronicles: Diego Corrales
By Eileen Teran
Ringside Report.
On January 20, 2001, WBC Super Flyweight Champion Floyd Mayweather, JR., 24-0, 18 KO’s, was set to fight the highly regarded, and undefeated world class boxer Diego Corrales, 33-0, 27 KO’s. Both fighters had the distinction of never having been knocked down or out in their professional careers. Corrales was considered to be one of the best punchers in the game at this point.
As is Mayweather’s custom, there were plenty of insulting words in the run-up to the fight with his opponent, this one more bitter than most. The boxers threw verbal jabs for months to the tune of Mayweather ripping Corrales as a wife beater due to his upcoming trial date from charges filed by his wife. Corrales was “jaw jackin” about the “Floyds” dysfunctional father/son relationship. It was a well known sore spot for Mayweather, who had recently shown his father the door as his manager and trainer. Needless to say, both boxers were looking forward to getting in there and taking the other one to task.
Analysts believed Mayweather had the speed advantage, while Corrales had the power advantage. Mayweather’s uncle Jeff, Floyd SR.’s brother, worked his corner this night. He was coming off a very stale last showing where he looked ordinary, against the journeyman, Emanuel Burton in October of the previous year.
By when it came down to fight time, you could tell that “Pretty Boy” Floyd was all business. He looked like a man on fire in there, while Corrales’s plan of trying to get Mayweather to “stop and fight” never materialized. Mayweather started out quick, using his jab very effectively and winning most of the rounds in the first half of the fight.
Corrales wasn’t throwing many punches and Mayweather was using his good, fast combinations to score a lot of points. Corrales was shooting for the body, but seemed to be unable to counter Mayweather’s speed or get his offense really going. Corrales continually walked forward right at Mayweather without jabbing or threatening him, and Mayweather was giving him quite a licking on the way in.
Mayweather used a lot of elbows, his excellent defense, and was making Corrales miss while firing jabs, right hand leads, and then good body shots. He was breaking Corrales down physically and mentally. Early in the seventh round, Mayweather connected with a left hook that knocked Corrales down early. He hit Corrales twice on his way down, too. Corrales appeared ok after getting up, but was totally ineffective and endured an absolute onslaught in round 7.
Corrales would go down twice more in this same round, the second time from a heavy right hand, and the third after taking a lot of punches in the corner. In that disastrous round for Corrales, Mayweather hit him 39 out of the 50 times he tried to. Corrales threw five punches, only landing three.
This was the difference in the fight, as Mayweather eventually ended up with an incredible punch statistic, landing more punches than Corrales threw all night. He kept Corrales to landing an average of six punches a round.
Corrales’s grit and determination got him through the next two rounds, while Mayweather continued to pepper him with jabs and body shots, smiling at his opponents’ attempts to put something together against the champion. In the tenth round, Mayweather pushed Corrales, who was clearly on his last legs, to the mat and was warned for pushing. Corrales followed Mayweather around the ring, but was not throwing any punches at him.
At 1:32 in the round, Mayweather connected with a short left hook that put Corrales down again. He got up, but was put back down from back-to-back right hands and his corner finally threw in the towel putting an end to the wreckage. Incredibly, Corrales was really upset with them for stopping it, and he shoved his stepfather who was also his trainer, Ray Woods, when he got back to his corner for stopping the fight.
The night clearly belonged to Mayweather. It was very obvious that he gets “up” for his big fights, and when he is focused, he’s a very difficult guy to beat inside the ring. This is the night that Floyd became “Money” Mayweather with the finest fight of his career up until that point. By winning, and winning explosively the way he did, he earned himself a purse of $1.75 million, but more importantly, he earned a six-fight $15 million contract extension from HBO. Money Mayweather had arrived.
Mayweather said after the fight that Roy Jones, JR., spoke to him just before he went out to take on Corrales and told him, “These 48 minutes here will determine the rest of your life.” Mayweather says that stuck in his head and he went out and put it all on the line.
Again, Mayweather demonstrated that he is a master at getting into his opponent’s heads before they even step into the ring with him. He put on a vintage performance and in so doing, commanded and received the respect he had been long craving.
Corrales was gracious in defeat, and waxed philosophical, even embracing Mayweather after the beat down, despite saying he wouldn’t do that before the fight. Mayweather connected on 220 of 414 punches, while Corrales landed 60 out of 205. Many people expected this to be a close, tightly contested match, not the one sided beating with five knock downs that they saw. At the time of the stoppage, Mayweather was ahead by a wide margin on all three of the scorecards, leading by the official tallies of 89-79, 90-79, and 90-78.
Before January 20, the super flyweight division looked deep, exciting, and loaded with talent. After the beating Mayweather unleashed on the incredibly brave Corrales, Mayweather distinguished himself within the division and set himself apart. People were not lining up to meet him in the ring.
Floyd would fight two more fights in this weight class, defending his WBC title, which he held for more than three years, for a total of eight times successfully.
Sadly, Diego Corrales would only to live six more years after this fight, as he was involved in a three car accident near his home in Las Vegas, in May of 2007. He was riding on a motorcycle and tried to pass a car at a very high speed and hit the car in front of him. He was thrown far from his motorcycle and died instantly. He was 29 years old.
By Eileen Teran
Ringside Report.
On January 20, 2001, WBC Super Flyweight Champion Floyd Mayweather, JR., 24-0, 18 KO’s, was set to fight the highly regarded, and undefeated world class boxer Diego Corrales, 33-0, 27 KO’s. Both fighters had the distinction of never having been knocked down or out in their professional careers. Corrales was considered to be one of the best punchers in the game at this point.
As is Mayweather’s custom, there were plenty of insulting words in the run-up to the fight with his opponent, this one more bitter than most. The boxers threw verbal jabs for months to the tune of Mayweather ripping Corrales as a wife beater due to his upcoming trial date from charges filed by his wife. Corrales was “jaw jackin” about the “Floyds” dysfunctional father/son relationship. It was a well known sore spot for Mayweather, who had recently shown his father the door as his manager and trainer. Needless to say, both boxers were looking forward to getting in there and taking the other one to task.
Analysts believed Mayweather had the speed advantage, while Corrales had the power advantage. Mayweather’s uncle Jeff, Floyd SR.’s brother, worked his corner this night. He was coming off a very stale last showing where he looked ordinary, against the journeyman, Emanuel Burton in October of the previous year.
By when it came down to fight time, you could tell that “Pretty Boy” Floyd was all business. He looked like a man on fire in there, while Corrales’s plan of trying to get Mayweather to “stop and fight” never materialized. Mayweather started out quick, using his jab very effectively and winning most of the rounds in the first half of the fight.
Corrales wasn’t throwing many punches and Mayweather was using his good, fast combinations to score a lot of points. Corrales was shooting for the body, but seemed to be unable to counter Mayweather’s speed or get his offense really going. Corrales continually walked forward right at Mayweather without jabbing or threatening him, and Mayweather was giving him quite a licking on the way in.
Mayweather used a lot of elbows, his excellent defense, and was making Corrales miss while firing jabs, right hand leads, and then good body shots. He was breaking Corrales down physically and mentally. Early in the seventh round, Mayweather connected with a left hook that knocked Corrales down early. He hit Corrales twice on his way down, too. Corrales appeared ok after getting up, but was totally ineffective and endured an absolute onslaught in round 7.
Corrales would go down twice more in this same round, the second time from a heavy right hand, and the third after taking a lot of punches in the corner. In that disastrous round for Corrales, Mayweather hit him 39 out of the 50 times he tried to. Corrales threw five punches, only landing three.
This was the difference in the fight, as Mayweather eventually ended up with an incredible punch statistic, landing more punches than Corrales threw all night. He kept Corrales to landing an average of six punches a round.
Corrales’s grit and determination got him through the next two rounds, while Mayweather continued to pepper him with jabs and body shots, smiling at his opponents’ attempts to put something together against the champion. In the tenth round, Mayweather pushed Corrales, who was clearly on his last legs, to the mat and was warned for pushing. Corrales followed Mayweather around the ring, but was not throwing any punches at him.
At 1:32 in the round, Mayweather connected with a short left hook that put Corrales down again. He got up, but was put back down from back-to-back right hands and his corner finally threw in the towel putting an end to the wreckage. Incredibly, Corrales was really upset with them for stopping it, and he shoved his stepfather who was also his trainer, Ray Woods, when he got back to his corner for stopping the fight.
The night clearly belonged to Mayweather. It was very obvious that he gets “up” for his big fights, and when he is focused, he’s a very difficult guy to beat inside the ring. This is the night that Floyd became “Money” Mayweather with the finest fight of his career up until that point. By winning, and winning explosively the way he did, he earned himself a purse of $1.75 million, but more importantly, he earned a six-fight $15 million contract extension from HBO. Money Mayweather had arrived.
Mayweather said after the fight that Roy Jones, JR., spoke to him just before he went out to take on Corrales and told him, “These 48 minutes here will determine the rest of your life.” Mayweather says that stuck in his head and he went out and put it all on the line.
Again, Mayweather demonstrated that he is a master at getting into his opponent’s heads before they even step into the ring with him. He put on a vintage performance and in so doing, commanded and received the respect he had been long craving.
Corrales was gracious in defeat, and waxed philosophical, even embracing Mayweather after the beat down, despite saying he wouldn’t do that before the fight. Mayweather connected on 220 of 414 punches, while Corrales landed 60 out of 205. Many people expected this to be a close, tightly contested match, not the one sided beating with five knock downs that they saw. At the time of the stoppage, Mayweather was ahead by a wide margin on all three of the scorecards, leading by the official tallies of 89-79, 90-79, and 90-78.
Before January 20, the super flyweight division looked deep, exciting, and loaded with talent. After the beating Mayweather unleashed on the incredibly brave Corrales, Mayweather distinguished himself within the division and set himself apart. People were not lining up to meet him in the ring.
Floyd would fight two more fights in this weight class, defending his WBC title, which he held for more than three years, for a total of eight times successfully.
Sadly, Diego Corrales would only to live six more years after this fight, as he was involved in a three car accident near his home in Las Vegas, in May of 2007. He was riding on a motorcycle and tried to pass a car at a very high speed and hit the car in front of him. He was thrown far from his motorcycle and died instantly. He was 29 years old.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Team Darchinyan in LA
by Edgar Gonzalez
Photo credit: Theresa Vazquez
Photo Description: Team Darchinyan at Doubletree Hotel - Carson, CA.
Vic Darchinyan (Center)
(Los Angeles, CA) Monday, October 27 – IBF Super Flyweight Champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan and team arrived in Los Angeles from Las Vegas, California, for his upcoming battle for the historic three-belt 115-pound world championship unification against WBC/WBA Super Flyweight Champion Cristian Mijares.
The exciting showdown is being co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and KO Entertainment and will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with a 12-round super middleweight special attraction between top-10 contenders Andre Dirrell vs. Victor Oganov.
by Edgar Gonzalez
Photo credit: Theresa Vazquez
Photo Description: Team Darchinyan at Doubletree Hotel - Carson, CA.
Vic Darchinyan (Center)
(Los Angeles, CA) Monday, October 27 – IBF Super Flyweight Champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan and team arrived in Los Angeles from Las Vegas, California, for his upcoming battle for the historic three-belt 115-pound world championship unification against WBC/WBA Super Flyweight Champion Cristian Mijares.
The exciting showdown is being co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment, Gary Shaw Productions and KO Entertainment and will air live on SHOWTIME beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) with a 12-round super middleweight special attraction between top-10 contenders Andre Dirrell vs. Victor Oganov.
-
dagosd2000
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 8638
- Joined: 01 Sep 2007, 03:31
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
THE RING CARD GIRLS
When the thread was in its infant stages,I posted a story of how I went to the fights with my son at an old Roller Derby rink out in North Park about 5 miles outside of downtown San Diego. I can't remember too much about the fights,but I remember the Ring Card Girls. That night they were Ring Card Girls. The rest of the week they were waitresses at a local steak house. The way their outfits crawled up their asses ,I always ordered the Rump Roast. After hours ,instead of serving meat loaf,they'd take you to the No Tell Motel and made sure your meat didn't loaf.
They always cracked me up those girls. They weren't too bright,but they always seemed happy and a little goofy. Between fights they'd dance in the ring girating their tight little rump roasts. You couldn't help but like it. Then they'd strut their stuff between rounds holding up the ring cards. I think they were dreaming to land in the big time like in Vegas or Atlantic City.
That night at the fights me and my son,who was 14 years old,were sitting right behind the girls, second row. The girls turned around and began talking to us. Dingy broads,but I'd take them over the ones that have to have it their way all the time. I often wondered how they wound up doing what they were doing. Runaways. No father figure. Molested. Shit,maybe some of all of that and stuff I hadn't thought of.
Well I excused myself to go to the snack bar and when I came back to my seat,Little Miss Tenderloins was sitting next to my son. I waited for her to clear to the ring and then sat down. My son had a puzzled look on his face. He handed me a piece of paper.
"She wants us to call her and her friend after the fights."
"Son,let me handle this."
I put the piece of paper in my pocket. After the last bout I drove back home with my son. He never mentioned the the piece of paper with the phone number.
Years later I'd tell this story at parties. However I never told anybody that I didn't throw away that piece of paper.
When the thread was in its infant stages,I posted a story of how I went to the fights with my son at an old Roller Derby rink out in North Park about 5 miles outside of downtown San Diego. I can't remember too much about the fights,but I remember the Ring Card Girls. That night they were Ring Card Girls. The rest of the week they were waitresses at a local steak house. The way their outfits crawled up their asses ,I always ordered the Rump Roast. After hours ,instead of serving meat loaf,they'd take you to the No Tell Motel and made sure your meat didn't loaf.
They always cracked me up those girls. They weren't too bright,but they always seemed happy and a little goofy. Between fights they'd dance in the ring girating their tight little rump roasts. You couldn't help but like it. Then they'd strut their stuff between rounds holding up the ring cards. I think they were dreaming to land in the big time like in Vegas or Atlantic City.
That night at the fights me and my son,who was 14 years old,were sitting right behind the girls, second row. The girls turned around and began talking to us. Dingy broads,but I'd take them over the ones that have to have it their way all the time. I often wondered how they wound up doing what they were doing. Runaways. No father figure. Molested. Shit,maybe some of all of that and stuff I hadn't thought of.
Well I excused myself to go to the snack bar and when I came back to my seat,Little Miss Tenderloins was sitting next to my son. I waited for her to clear to the ring and then sat down. My son had a puzzled look on his face. He handed me a piece of paper.
"She wants us to call her and her friend after the fights."
"Son,let me handle this."
I put the piece of paper in my pocket. After the last bout I drove back home with my son. He never mentioned the the piece of paper with the phone number.
Years later I'd tell this story at parties. However I never told anybody that I didn't throw away that piece of paper.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
There was a fighter named Mickey Cohen who fought out of Denver during the 1920s.
- Chuck Johnston
- Chuck Johnston
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
One of my favorite light-heavy's.kikibalt wrote:
-Rick Farris
Last edited by Rick Farris on 28 Oct 2008, 00:00, edited 2 times in total.
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Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Nice little clip of Bodell's bout with Jerry Quarry on YouTube. It was one of those nights when Jerry must have had a hot date waiting at ringside. He made quick work of Bodell, as Jerry had the explosive power to do when he put his mind to it. Earnie Shavers fared no better, and even "Smokin" Joe had to hold on tight during the opening round of his first bout with Quarry in 1969. When Jerry's engine was running hot at the opening bell, watch out!kikibalt wrote:
-Rick Farris
-
Rick Farris
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 7200
- Joined: 15 Feb 2008, 16:04
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
kikibalt wrote:Rick Farris wrote:kikibalt wrote:Randy, Rick,
Did you guys ever go to the Big Oaks Lodge, when fighters used to train there? its on Bouquet Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, there was at one time some big name fighters training there, maybe even Jerry and Mike Quarry.
Frank, I didn't discover that place until the 80's, when we used it as a film location for a "Highway To Heaven" TV episode. It wasn't much when I saw it. A small, rotting ring out back, a heavy bag hanging from a tree. And a little bar inside the Lodge. A blond-haired former heavyweight managed the place, didn't bother to get his name, but I'd seen him somewhere, at some time. I believe it was Hap Navarro who told us the camp was once run by Baron Von Stumme, who had long sought a heavyweight contender/champ. Was that once Willie Orner's camp? I think Orner's was elsewhere?
-Rick
No, it was not Orner's, Orner's was in San Jacinto, Soper's was in Ojai, and there was also a camp in Gillman Hot Springs.
I worked out at Gilman Hot Springs with Ruben Navarro. The Massacre Canyon Inn, where we trained and lived, is currently a Scientology retreat. I was also there in 1973, with Mel Epstein and Mike Nixon. They did a story on the training camp for Boxing Illustrated while we were there. The Quarry brothers were also there. When the reporter asked the bitter Epstein about what he thought of the San Jacinto camp, Mel barked . . ."It's CRAP! Whats this, a Golf course? A figher doesn't need golf, it'll ruin him. It's all wrong, and TV? Firp never had a TV in camp, he chopped wood! And they got a God damn bar in there, and that means broads. This isn't a training camp, it's a brothel, that's why they're here. Now, if you want to write about a real training camp, there was a place in Butte, Montana back in the thirties . . ."
The writer ran for his life.
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
His chin wasn't great but his strength probably let him down, more than anything. He always seemed to fight like Scully's greatest amateur of all time, pawing, rather than snapping the shots out. Some fighters develop strength-wise, like Leonard; others, like Breland, stay the same.Randyman wrote:Mark Breland: Though a good decent fighter with a good career, he never quite reached his expected potential. I'm not sure why.kikibalt wrote:
Mark Breland
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bodell was 'gone' by the time he fought Quarry, Rick (not that he would ever have beaten Quarry). He had just walked into Joe Bugner for 15 rounds and licked him, but took the best out of himself in the process. Bodell's fights were never dull. Even his last fight against Danny McAlinden at the Aston Villa football ground provided plenty of thrills and spills for a big crowd.Rick Farris wrote:Nice little clip of Bodell's bout with Jerry Quarry on YouTube. It was one of those nights when Jerry must have had a hot date waiting at ringside. He made quick work of Bodell, as Jerry had the explosive power to do when he put his mind to it. Earnie Shavers fared no better, and even "Smokin" Joe had to hold on tight during the opening round of his first bout with Quarry in 1969. When Jerry's engine was running hot at the opening bell, watch out!kikibalt wrote:
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Chris is doing OK, I believe, Ray, although I last saw him in 2000, on the box, when he was talking about Audley Harrison's Olympic success. He still had that same loveable rogue approach to life.
When 'real' fighters like Chris and Kevin Finnegan retire, nobody replaces them.
When 'real' fighters like Chris and Kevin Finnegan retire, nobody replaces them.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I always thought that Breland was over-rated as a pro, imo, he was like Chuck Davey before him a T.V made (T.V darling) fighter.Randyman wrote:Mark Breland: Though a good decent fighter with a good career, he never quite reached his expected potential. I'm not sure why.kikibalt wrote:
Mark Breland
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I wonder what he is doing these days. He dabbled in movies while he was fighting and looked pretty good.kikibalt wrote:I always thought that Breland was over-rated as a pro, imo, he was like Chuck Davey before him a T.V made (T.V darling) fighter.Randyman wrote:Mark Breland: Though a good decent fighter with a good career, he never quite reached his expected potential. I'm not sure why.kikibalt wrote:
Mark Breland
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
That Marciano record is ghostly. Joe Calzaghe is trying to break it now (he is 45-0).kikibalt wrote:
Larry Holmes vs Michae' Spinks
Ominous.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Rick, Mel talked about Butte, Montana until he was blue in the face and my ears were falling off. That was one place he kept with him, where ever he went. Did he ever talk about the Anaconda Copper Mine wars? He made me read a book once on the subject. Funny thing is, is that it really was interesting. I can't remember anything now, it's been so long but there was a time, just by listening to Mel, that I was almost an expert in Butte, Montana.Rick Farris said:
I worked out at Gilman Hot Springs with Ruben Navarro. The Massacre Canyon Inn, where we trained and lived, is currently a Scientology retreat. I was also there in 1973, with Mel Epstein and Mike Nixon. They did a story on the training camp for Boxing Illustrated while we were there. The Quarry brothers were also there. When the reporter asked the bitter Epstein about what he thought of the San Jacinto camp, Mel barked . . ."It's CRAP! Whats this, a Golf course? A figher doesn't need golf, it'll ruin him. It's all wrong, and TV? Firp never had a TV in camp, he chopped wood! And they got a God damn bar in there, and that means broads. This isn't a training camp, it's a brothel, that's why they're here. Now, if you want to write about a real training camp, there was a place in Butte, Montana back in the thirties . . ."
The writer ran for his life.
-Rick Farris
Massacre Canyon Inn, that name brings back a lot of good memories. My parents would occasionally take us to Massacre Canyon Inn for a weekend getaway back in the 60's. My father was a golfer so it was right up his alley. It was actually a pretty cool place.
Randy
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
You know, I spotted McAlinden in the crowd at the historic King's Hall in Belfast in 2006. I went over and said hello, and he was thrilled at being recognised, and not a bit punchy (he had quite a lot of wars). It's great when that happens.bennie wrote:Bodell was 'gone' by the time he fought Quarry, Rick (not that he would ever have beaten Quarry). He had just walked into Joe Bugner for 15 rounds and licked him, but took the best out of himself in the process. Bodell's fights were never dull. Even his last fight against Danny McAlinden at the Aston Villa football ground provided plenty of thrills and spills for a big crowd.Rick Farris wrote:Nice little clip of Bodell's bout with Jerry Quarry on YouTube. It was one of those nights when Jerry must have had a hot date waiting at ringside. He made quick work of Bodell, as Jerry had the explosive power to do when he put his mind to it. Earnie Shavers fared no better, and even "Smokin" Joe had to hold on tight during the opening round of his first bout with Quarry in 1969. When Jerry's engine was running hot at the opening bell, watch out!kikibalt wrote:
-Rick Farris
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I asked Randy to 'pull' those offending lines on Kevin, for anyone who is interested.Randyman wrote:Bennie, I recieved the following comment on this article, which I posted on my site. it's from the daughter of Kevin Finnegan, Lele Finnegan. I thought you might be interested. I'm not sure what to make of it, if she was upset or what.bennie wrote:Former British and European middleweight champ Kevin Finnegan has been found dead in his flat in West London at the relatively young age of 60.
In the context of today's boxing scene, with 'world' titles seemingly given away, it is incredible to think this man never got a sniff at a world title shot. The younger brother of the better-known Chris licked the likes of Bunny Sterling, Tony Sibson, Gratien Tonna, Jean Claude Bouttier, Frankie Lucas, gave "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler a real war in the first of two fantastic efforts in the States in 1978 (both stopped on cuts, just two months apart) and looked desperately unlucky in the second of three 15-round classics with Alan Minter, who staggered home to a debatable decision in 1976.
Quite simply, Kevin Finnegan was gifted.
After his five wars with Minter and Hagler, both of whom went on to win the undisputed world middleweight title, Finnegan enjoyed a glorious, totally unexpected twilight to his career. In 1979 he outboxed Sibson over 15 rounds for the British title - just after "Sibbo" had destroyed "The Animal" Lucas - and then avenged a defeat to the ferocious Gratien Tonna with another magnificent boxing display in 1980 in France to lift the European title (his points loss to Tonna in the mid-1970s possibly cost him a shot at Carlos Monzon) and picked up a couple of nice paydays abroad in defence of the European belt. Finnegan fought well in his very last fight with Matteo Salvemini in Italy in September 1980, flooring the local man with a beautiful counter right, but Salvemeni proved a bit too energetic and took the points.
Sadly, Kevin, from Iver in Buckinghamshire, struggled in vain to find any meaning to his life once his career ended as he wandered around aimlessly, getting drunk and sleeping rough in a park in Uxbridge, although he clearly owned a property, where he was found by police.
Marvin Hagler always said Finnegan gave him his hardest fight. What a boxer, what a character, what an epitah.
"My father never "wandered around aimlessly"; after he retired from boxing he explored the paint canvas, colour, light form, medium. He also loved to walk, he loved to paint. He loved nature and as an artist he loved watching the seasons change, the colour of the trees the migration of the birds.....
But he was loved and involved with his family, watching his grandchildren grow, laughing and playing and being the crazy granddad he was.... he was also a free sprit... untamed and unique. He never slept on a park bench..... ?
Why would you when you have a thousand homes’ to choose from plus your own bed? He would however stop and talk, sit with people, he loved life, he loved people and he will be sadly missed by many."
Randy
http://boxing-ring.blogspot.com
Family is family.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Boza sparking Melvin Paul here at: http://uk.youtube.com/user/ohyeah445
I remember they threw Paul in with Vinny Paz shortly afterwards and Paz also sparked him in two, and everyone was saying what a great fighter Paz is (well, mainly Paz and his team). Hello! Boza finished Paul.
I remember they threw Paul in with Vinny Paz shortly afterwards and Paz also sparked him in two, and everyone was saying what a great fighter Paz is (well, mainly Paz and his team). Hello! Boza finished Paul.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Dave Sands drives American Harry Brimm into the ropes.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Dave Sands record.
Birth Name Ritchie
Country Australia
Global Id 24688
Birthplace Burnt Ridge,New South Wales.
Division Middleweight
Born 1926-02-04
Died 1952-08-11
Stance Orthodox
Height 179cm
Career Record © www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1952-07-09 Jim Woods Wagga Wagga, Australia W KO 4
Australian Heavyweight Title
1952-05-09 Al Bourke Melbourne, Australia W KO 5
Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title
Australian Middleweight Title
1952-03-31 Chub Keith Sydney, Australia W TKO 14
1952-02-08 Ron Toohey Melbourne, Australia W TKO 10
1951-11-13 Yolande Pompey Harringay, United Kingdom L TKO 7
1951-10-30 Henry Brimm Buffalo, USA W KO 10
1951-10-03 Bobo Olson Chicago, USA W UD 10
1951-08-20 Doug Miller Birmingham, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1951-07-10 Mel Brown Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1951-02-10 Henry Bray Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1951-02-05 Irvin Steen Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1951-01-12 Boy Brooks Melbourne, Australia W PTS 12
1950-12-14 Don Mullett Wellington, New Zealand W PTS 12
1950-09-04 Alf Gallagher Sydney, Australia W PTS 15
Australian Heavyweight Title
1950-08-07 Henry Brimm Sydney, Australia W KO 2
1950-05-12 Boy Brooks Singapore W PTS 10
1950-04-21 Boy Brooks Singapore W KO 4
1950-03-20 Bobo Olson Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1949-10-11 Pete Mead Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1949-09-06 Dick Turpin Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 1
Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title
1949-07-05 Robert Villemain Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1949-06-03 Jan de Bruin Newcastle, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1949-05-16 Jackie Jones Newcastle, United Kingdom W KO 1
1949-04-19 Lucien Caboche Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1949-04-04 Tommy Yarosz Harringay, United Kingdom L PTS 10
1949-02-18 Antoine Toniolo Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
1948-12-17 Tommy Prince Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1948-10-09 Len Dittmar Melbourne, Australia W TKO 5
1948-09-27 Doug Brown Sydney, Australia W TKO 1
1948-08-27 Billy Myers Griffith, Australia W PTS 12
1948-06-26 George Allen Newcastle, Australia W TKO 6
1948-06-12 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1948-04-19 Jackie Marr Auckland, New Zealand NC NC 7
1948-04-10 Don Mullett Petone, New Zealand W PTS 12
1948-03-27 Jackie Marr Petone, New Zealand W PTS 12
1948-03-06 Doug Rollinson Petone, New Zealand W KO 1
1948-02-07 Alabama Kid Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1947-11-29 Alex Buxton Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1947-11-24 George Allen Sydney, Australia W TKO 9
1947-10-13 George 'Wildcat' Henry Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-09-08 George 'Wildcat' Henry Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-08-06 O'Neill Bell Sydney, Australia W KO 2
1947-05-31 George Allen Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
1947-05-03 Emory Jackson Melbourne, Australia NC NC 7
1947-04-14 Emory Jackson Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-03-24 Art Lind Sydney, Australia W TKO 7
1947-02-14 Emory Jackson Sydney, Australia L PTS 12
1946-11-30 Alf Gallagher Sydney, Australia W KO 3
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-11-23 Jackie Marr Melbourne, Australia D PTS 12
1946-10-12 Jack Johnson Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-08-24 Jack Johnson Sydney, Australia W TKO 4
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-06-07 Jack Kirkham Brisbane, Australia W KO 5
Australian Middleweight Title
1946-05-11 Jack Kirkham Sydney, Australia W TKO 12
Australian Middleweight Title
1946-03-02 Jimmy Brunt Sydney, Australia W TKO 1
1946-01-26 Alex Buxton Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1945-12-27 Tommy Colteaux Sydney, Australia W KO 1
1945-11-24 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1945-10-20 Max Cameron Newcastle, Australia W TKO 11
1945-08-11 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia W KO 5
1945-07-07 Tom Laming Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1945-06-16 Herb Broom Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1945-05-10 Max Cameron Sydney, Australia W KO 6
1945-05-05 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1945-03-29 Max Cameron Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1945-03-03 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1945-02-03 Jack Brander Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1944-12-16 Jackie Marr Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-12-01 Jimmy Grey Brisbane, Australia W KO 8
1944-11-18 Jackie Marr Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-10-21 Max Cameron Newcastle, Australia W TKO 3
1944-09-23 Tom Laming Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1944-09-02 Jackie Day Newcastle, Australia W TKO 5
1944-08-05 Jimmy Grey Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-07-15 Bob Coglan Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-06-30 Dal Conway Brisbane, Australia W TKO 4
1944-06-02 Bill Bayliss Brisbane, Australia W KO 2
1944-05-13 Doug Brown Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-04-15 Doug Brown Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-04-01 Jack Mitchell Newcastle, Australia W TKO 12
1944-02-25 John Buchanan Kempsey, Australia W KO 2
1944-02-05 Jack McNamee Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-01-22 Bobby Clarke Newcastle, Australia W KO 6
1943-12-18 George Cook Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1943-11-27 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1943-11-20 George Cook Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1943-10-23 Bobby Rivers Newcastle, Australia W TKO 8
1943-09-11 Cliff Bowen Newcastle, Australia W TKO 2
1943-08-21 Ken McDermott Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1943-08-14 Ken McDermott Newcastle, Australia W TKO 11
1943-07-17 Eddie Truxel Newcastle, Australia W PTS 6
1943-07-03 Bill Warren Newcastle, Australia W PTS 8
1943-06-19 Snowy Stephens Newcastle, Australia W PTS 6
1943-06-12 Len Baker Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-12-05 Ted Hazel Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-12-04 Jimmy Clements Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-12-03 Frank O'Neill Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-12-02 Claude Wainwright Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-12-01 Johnny Duggan Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-11-30 Skip McGowan Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-11-29 Jim Fields Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-11-28 Fred O'Reilly Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-11-27 Jim Ryan Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-11-26 Clarrie Connolly Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-11-25 Gunner Wilkinson Newcastle, Australia L TKO 4
1941-09-23 Cec Burr Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-09-20 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia W PTS 4
1941-09-16 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia L PTS 4
1941-09-13 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-08-26 Paddy Chapman Newcastle, Australia W TKO 4
1941-08-16 Leo Con Corrigan Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
Record to Date
Won 97 (KOs 63) Lost 10 Drawn 1 Total 110
Birth Name Ritchie
Country Australia
Global Id 24688
Birthplace Burnt Ridge,New South Wales.
Division Middleweight
Born 1926-02-04
Died 1952-08-11
Stance Orthodox
Height 179cm
Career Record © www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1952-07-09 Jim Woods Wagga Wagga, Australia W KO 4
Australian Heavyweight Title
1952-05-09 Al Bourke Melbourne, Australia W KO 5
Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title
Australian Middleweight Title
1952-03-31 Chub Keith Sydney, Australia W TKO 14
1952-02-08 Ron Toohey Melbourne, Australia W TKO 10
1951-11-13 Yolande Pompey Harringay, United Kingdom L TKO 7
1951-10-30 Henry Brimm Buffalo, USA W KO 10
1951-10-03 Bobo Olson Chicago, USA W UD 10
1951-08-20 Doug Miller Birmingham, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1951-07-10 Mel Brown Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1951-02-10 Henry Bray Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1951-02-05 Irvin Steen Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1951-01-12 Boy Brooks Melbourne, Australia W PTS 12
1950-12-14 Don Mullett Wellington, New Zealand W PTS 12
1950-09-04 Alf Gallagher Sydney, Australia W PTS 15
Australian Heavyweight Title
1950-08-07 Henry Brimm Sydney, Australia W KO 2
1950-05-12 Boy Brooks Singapore W PTS 10
1950-04-21 Boy Brooks Singapore W KO 4
1950-03-20 Bobo Olson Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1949-10-11 Pete Mead Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1949-09-06 Dick Turpin Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 1
Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight Title
1949-07-05 Robert Villemain Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1949-06-03 Jan de Bruin Newcastle, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1949-05-16 Jackie Jones Newcastle, United Kingdom W KO 1
1949-04-19 Lucien Caboche Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1949-04-04 Tommy Yarosz Harringay, United Kingdom L PTS 10
1949-02-18 Antoine Toniolo Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
1948-12-17 Tommy Prince Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1948-10-09 Len Dittmar Melbourne, Australia W TKO 5
1948-09-27 Doug Brown Sydney, Australia W TKO 1
1948-08-27 Billy Myers Griffith, Australia W PTS 12
1948-06-26 George Allen Newcastle, Australia W TKO 6
1948-06-12 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1948-04-19 Jackie Marr Auckland, New Zealand NC NC 7
1948-04-10 Don Mullett Petone, New Zealand W PTS 12
1948-03-27 Jackie Marr Petone, New Zealand W PTS 12
1948-03-06 Doug Rollinson Petone, New Zealand W KO 1
1948-02-07 Alabama Kid Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1947-11-29 Alex Buxton Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1947-11-24 George Allen Sydney, Australia W TKO 9
1947-10-13 George 'Wildcat' Henry Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-09-08 George 'Wildcat' Henry Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-08-06 O'Neill Bell Sydney, Australia W KO 2
1947-05-31 George Allen Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
1947-05-03 Emory Jackson Melbourne, Australia NC NC 7
1947-04-14 Emory Jackson Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1947-03-24 Art Lind Sydney, Australia W TKO 7
1947-02-14 Emory Jackson Sydney, Australia L PTS 12
1946-11-30 Alf Gallagher Sydney, Australia W KO 3
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-11-23 Jackie Marr Melbourne, Australia D PTS 12
1946-10-12 Jack Johnson Melbourne, Australia W TKO 1
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-08-24 Jack Johnson Sydney, Australia W TKO 4
Australian Light Heavyweight Title
1946-06-07 Jack Kirkham Brisbane, Australia W KO 5
Australian Middleweight Title
1946-05-11 Jack Kirkham Sydney, Australia W TKO 12
Australian Middleweight Title
1946-03-02 Jimmy Brunt Sydney, Australia W TKO 1
1946-01-26 Alex Buxton Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1945-12-27 Tommy Colteaux Sydney, Australia W KO 1
1945-11-24 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1945-10-20 Max Cameron Newcastle, Australia W TKO 11
1945-08-11 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia W KO 5
1945-07-07 Tom Laming Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1945-06-16 Herb Broom Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1945-05-10 Max Cameron Sydney, Australia W KO 6
1945-05-05 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1945-03-29 Max Cameron Sydney, Australia W PTS 12
1945-03-03 Al Walker Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1945-02-03 Jack Brander Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1944-12-16 Jackie Marr Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-12-01 Jimmy Grey Brisbane, Australia W KO 8
1944-11-18 Jackie Marr Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-10-21 Max Cameron Newcastle, Australia W TKO 3
1944-09-23 Tom Laming Newcastle, Australia W KO 7
1944-09-02 Jackie Day Newcastle, Australia W TKO 5
1944-08-05 Jimmy Grey Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-07-15 Bob Coglan Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1944-06-30 Dal Conway Brisbane, Australia W TKO 4
1944-06-02 Bill Bayliss Brisbane, Australia W KO 2
1944-05-13 Doug Brown Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-04-15 Doug Brown Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-04-01 Jack Mitchell Newcastle, Australia W TKO 12
1944-02-25 John Buchanan Kempsey, Australia W KO 2
1944-02-05 Jack McNamee Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1944-01-22 Bobby Clarke Newcastle, Australia W KO 6
1943-12-18 George Cook Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1943-11-27 Billy Myers Newcastle, Australia L PTS 12
1943-11-20 George Cook Newcastle, Australia W PTS 12
1943-10-23 Bobby Rivers Newcastle, Australia W TKO 8
1943-09-11 Cliff Bowen Newcastle, Australia W TKO 2
1943-08-21 Ken McDermott Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1943-08-14 Ken McDermott Newcastle, Australia W TKO 11
1943-07-17 Eddie Truxel Newcastle, Australia W PTS 6
1943-07-03 Bill Warren Newcastle, Australia W PTS 8
1943-06-19 Snowy Stephens Newcastle, Australia W PTS 6
1943-06-12 Len Baker Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-12-05 Ted Hazel Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-12-04 Jimmy Clements Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-12-03 Frank O'Neill Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-12-02 Claude Wainwright Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-12-01 Johnny Duggan Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-11-30 Skip McGowan Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-11-29 Jim Fields Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-11-28 Fred O'Reilly Newcastle, Australia W KO 3
1941-11-27 Jim Ryan Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-11-26 Clarrie Connolly Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
1941-11-25 Gunner Wilkinson Newcastle, Australia L TKO 4
1941-09-23 Cec Burr Newcastle, Australia W KO 2
1941-09-20 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia W PTS 4
1941-09-16 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia L PTS 4
1941-09-13 Eddie Roebuck Newcastle, Australia W KO 4
1941-08-26 Paddy Chapman Newcastle, Australia W TKO 4
1941-08-16 Leo Con Corrigan Newcastle, Australia W KO 1
Record to Date
Won 97 (KOs 63) Lost 10 Drawn 1 Total 110
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Is the Heavyweight Division Ready for a Hayemaker: David Haye Zeroes in on Monte Barrett
By Geoff Poundes
Ringside Report
Let’s not fool ourselves – heavyweight boxing is in a state of disrepair. We, who adore this sport of ours, are desperate to find a shining knight who can bring life to boxing’s flagship division, and, whether we like it or not, the reflected glory of a glamorous Heavyweight Champion shines down on the rest of boxing. No, the Klitschko brothers are neither glamorous, nor are they shining examples of the fistic art. Lest we forget that heavyweight boxing is an art, I give you Muhammad Ali, James J.Corbett, Jack Johnson, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, as just a few examples of big men who won the richest prize exhibiting grace and ring craft, and the kind of silky skills that the Klitschko boys are foreign to.
It is perhaps enlightening to note that until 11th October this year, many of us had placed our faith in the restoration of the division at the club feet of one Peter Samuel, forgetting that the Nigerian’s reputation was largely based on two closely fought encounters with James Toney, who was touching 40 at the time and weighing 97 pounds above his ideal fighting weight. Sure, Toney is as proficient a performer as any that has entered a ring, but 97 pounds overweight? Samuel was of course cruelly exposed by the better (or least worst) of the Klitschko brothers over 8 lop-sided rounds, when he surrendered, literally and metaphorically, his title and probable career. Some are now lauding Vitali as the messiah he at one time promised to be, but he’s 37 and actually not that great when faced with a man who’s not a (relative) pint-sized robot stuck in first gear.
Which brings us to David “The Hayemaker” Haye, a 27 year old from London, England, who operates with a ready smile and a flair for PR. Haye has fashioned himself into a new type of Heavyweight – one who takes no prisoners in or out of the ring. Inspired, no doubt, by Oscar De La Hoya’s “Golden Boy,” he’s out to take the UK by storm with his “Hayemaker Promotions,” and go up against the likes of long-term British promoters allegedly and Frank Maloney in the world of business. It helps that he’s flashy, good-looking, intelligent and charismatic. However, having made his name in the cruiserweight ranks, he’s given himself a two-fold problem: first, how to transfer a knockout punch at 200 pounds into a knockout punch at 230 plus, and second, how to concentrate 100% on doing so while being the face and draw of a fledgling commercial enterprise.
What’s more, despite Haye carrying all before him at Cruiserweight, he hasn’t made it without bumps in the road. He was knocked down and stopped by Carl Thompson in his 11th professional outing and again knocked down and almost senseless by Jean Marc Mormeck in a fight he eventually won to carry off the WBA and WBC Cruiserweight Titles in 2007. Now, both Thompson and Mormeck were clearly punchers at the weight, and respectable fighters in their own right – but seasoned on-lookers are nonetheless troubled by what appears to be a susceptibility round the whiskers. His stamina also, which hasn’t been tested significantly over the longer route, may well find itself properly examined at the heavier weight.
Haye, of course, will point to a 21-1, 20 KO’s, record as proof that his chin and lungs are sound at cruiserweight, where he’s operated almost exclusively in his 7 years as a professional (he had a brief excursion up to heavyweight in April 2007 to mete out a 1 round defeat to little-known Tomasz Bonin). Now he’s gone a step further, and announced that on November 15th he’s going to step between the ropes with reputable American Monte “2-Gunz” Barrett at the 02 Arena in London’s Docklands. With refreshing and too-rare candor Haye acknowledges the risk he’s taking:
“He’s definitely going to test my chin,” accepted Haye. “At some stage in the first couple of rounds I’m going to get a couple of guns bouncing off my chin. How am I going to react? Some people think I’ll fall on the floor and go to sleep. I think I’ll be able to tough it out. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when I get hit solidly by a genuine heavyweight punch on the chin. It’s going to happen. You can’t go swimming and not get wet. It’s going to be interesting and I’m looking forward to it.”
A heavyweight who’s prepared to take a punch on the chin? The Klitschko brothers are doubtless shaking in their size 14’s at the prospect of swapping blows with such an adversary, but Monte Barrett is no stranger to a fight. A professional for 12 years, Barrett has shared a ring with some of the big names, and twice challenged for a version of the heavyweight title: the lesser talented of the Klitschko twins, Wladimir (Lost TKO 7) Greg Page (W10), Tim Witherspoon (W10), Hasim Rahman (L12), and the 7 feet 2 inch giant Nikolay Valuev (Lost KO11). Sure, Witherspoon and Page were over 40 when Barrett beat them, but they remain impressive names on the record. More persuasively, Barrett has won his last three contests by early KO, and in his last fight in June this year he put the much-touted Tye Fields to sleep in less than a round, and he has no doubts as to the outcome on November 15th:
“I’m happy that David stepped up (to fight me) because he had so many opportunities to fight lots of other guys. He’s chosen to fight me and I’m the most dangerous of them all. On November 15, you’ll see why I’m the most dangerous. I’m the most focused and the hungriest. David is 10 years my junior and my girlfriend is 10 years my junior. The difference between her and David is she likes it when I spank her ass!”
Haye should be congratulated for stepping up and putting that “ass” on the line, in his first meaningful heavyweight fight. He’s taken himself off to training camp in Cyprus to gain the weight he needs in the most scientific and productive manner possible, and he’s deadly serious when he calls out the Klitschko’s and the Valuev’s and states that it’s his destiny to become the poster-boy Heavyweight Champion we’re all crying out for.
Of course, we’ve heard it all before. Heavyweight history is littered with glittering champions-to-be who came unstuck when they stepped up to the big time. Wladimir himself went into a fight with Ross Puritty in 1998 sporting a 24-0 record and got himself knocked out in 11 rounds; our own Frank Bruno came unstuck in his 22nd fight when he was knocked out by James “Bonecrusher” Smith back in 1984. Does anyone remember Duane Bobick, a highly fancied Minnesota Heavyweight from the seventies who built a 37-0 record before stepping into the ring with “over-the-hill” puncher Ken Norton, and was blasted out in less than three minutes. In fact Norton himself had attracted much attention as an up-and-comer when in 1970 he took a 17-0 tab into a fight with Jose Luis Garcia, a fighter whose record was littered with early knockout wins, and got himself stopped in 8 rounds.
These are cautionary tales that David Haye would do well to consider. He’s taking on a puncher, at a weight that he has little or no experience of, with a chin that appears less than concrete and questionable stamina, and with the world looking on in expectation and hope. It’s a lot to place on the shoulders of the young man.
As a businessman, he’s made a sterling choice; as guardian of all that can be good about boxing, he’s made a sterling choice. As a fighter making his way in the world, he may be taking a risk too far – can he carry his punch against a man who will come into the ring close to 230 pounds? Can his chin withstand the punch of a man who consistently fells foes heavier than 230 pounds? Can his lungs carry him through 8, 9,10 rounds or more against a weightier opponent.
Most fighters with as much at stake would desire more certainty around their big-time debut. Not David Haye:
“I haven't wasted my time with fighters I'm odds-on to beat. The networks, the Americans, the casinos, they're not interested in that. They love my high-risk strategy. I put it on the line – like nobody else in boxing does.”
The pay-off, or otherwise, comes November 15th.
By Geoff Poundes
Ringside Report
Let’s not fool ourselves – heavyweight boxing is in a state of disrepair. We, who adore this sport of ours, are desperate to find a shining knight who can bring life to boxing’s flagship division, and, whether we like it or not, the reflected glory of a glamorous Heavyweight Champion shines down on the rest of boxing. No, the Klitschko brothers are neither glamorous, nor are they shining examples of the fistic art. Lest we forget that heavyweight boxing is an art, I give you Muhammad Ali, James J.Corbett, Jack Johnson, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, as just a few examples of big men who won the richest prize exhibiting grace and ring craft, and the kind of silky skills that the Klitschko boys are foreign to.
It is perhaps enlightening to note that until 11th October this year, many of us had placed our faith in the restoration of the division at the club feet of one Peter Samuel, forgetting that the Nigerian’s reputation was largely based on two closely fought encounters with James Toney, who was touching 40 at the time and weighing 97 pounds above his ideal fighting weight. Sure, Toney is as proficient a performer as any that has entered a ring, but 97 pounds overweight? Samuel was of course cruelly exposed by the better (or least worst) of the Klitschko brothers over 8 lop-sided rounds, when he surrendered, literally and metaphorically, his title and probable career. Some are now lauding Vitali as the messiah he at one time promised to be, but he’s 37 and actually not that great when faced with a man who’s not a (relative) pint-sized robot stuck in first gear.
Which brings us to David “The Hayemaker” Haye, a 27 year old from London, England, who operates with a ready smile and a flair for PR. Haye has fashioned himself into a new type of Heavyweight – one who takes no prisoners in or out of the ring. Inspired, no doubt, by Oscar De La Hoya’s “Golden Boy,” he’s out to take the UK by storm with his “Hayemaker Promotions,” and go up against the likes of long-term British promoters allegedly and Frank Maloney in the world of business. It helps that he’s flashy, good-looking, intelligent and charismatic. However, having made his name in the cruiserweight ranks, he’s given himself a two-fold problem: first, how to transfer a knockout punch at 200 pounds into a knockout punch at 230 plus, and second, how to concentrate 100% on doing so while being the face and draw of a fledgling commercial enterprise.
What’s more, despite Haye carrying all before him at Cruiserweight, he hasn’t made it without bumps in the road. He was knocked down and stopped by Carl Thompson in his 11th professional outing and again knocked down and almost senseless by Jean Marc Mormeck in a fight he eventually won to carry off the WBA and WBC Cruiserweight Titles in 2007. Now, both Thompson and Mormeck were clearly punchers at the weight, and respectable fighters in their own right – but seasoned on-lookers are nonetheless troubled by what appears to be a susceptibility round the whiskers. His stamina also, which hasn’t been tested significantly over the longer route, may well find itself properly examined at the heavier weight.
Haye, of course, will point to a 21-1, 20 KO’s, record as proof that his chin and lungs are sound at cruiserweight, where he’s operated almost exclusively in his 7 years as a professional (he had a brief excursion up to heavyweight in April 2007 to mete out a 1 round defeat to little-known Tomasz Bonin). Now he’s gone a step further, and announced that on November 15th he’s going to step between the ropes with reputable American Monte “2-Gunz” Barrett at the 02 Arena in London’s Docklands. With refreshing and too-rare candor Haye acknowledges the risk he’s taking:
“He’s definitely going to test my chin,” accepted Haye. “At some stage in the first couple of rounds I’m going to get a couple of guns bouncing off my chin. How am I going to react? Some people think I’ll fall on the floor and go to sleep. I think I’ll be able to tough it out. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when I get hit solidly by a genuine heavyweight punch on the chin. It’s going to happen. You can’t go swimming and not get wet. It’s going to be interesting and I’m looking forward to it.”
A heavyweight who’s prepared to take a punch on the chin? The Klitschko brothers are doubtless shaking in their size 14’s at the prospect of swapping blows with such an adversary, but Monte Barrett is no stranger to a fight. A professional for 12 years, Barrett has shared a ring with some of the big names, and twice challenged for a version of the heavyweight title: the lesser talented of the Klitschko twins, Wladimir (Lost TKO 7) Greg Page (W10), Tim Witherspoon (W10), Hasim Rahman (L12), and the 7 feet 2 inch giant Nikolay Valuev (Lost KO11). Sure, Witherspoon and Page were over 40 when Barrett beat them, but they remain impressive names on the record. More persuasively, Barrett has won his last three contests by early KO, and in his last fight in June this year he put the much-touted Tye Fields to sleep in less than a round, and he has no doubts as to the outcome on November 15th:
“I’m happy that David stepped up (to fight me) because he had so many opportunities to fight lots of other guys. He’s chosen to fight me and I’m the most dangerous of them all. On November 15, you’ll see why I’m the most dangerous. I’m the most focused and the hungriest. David is 10 years my junior and my girlfriend is 10 years my junior. The difference between her and David is she likes it when I spank her ass!”
Haye should be congratulated for stepping up and putting that “ass” on the line, in his first meaningful heavyweight fight. He’s taken himself off to training camp in Cyprus to gain the weight he needs in the most scientific and productive manner possible, and he’s deadly serious when he calls out the Klitschko’s and the Valuev’s and states that it’s his destiny to become the poster-boy Heavyweight Champion we’re all crying out for.
Of course, we’ve heard it all before. Heavyweight history is littered with glittering champions-to-be who came unstuck when they stepped up to the big time. Wladimir himself went into a fight with Ross Puritty in 1998 sporting a 24-0 record and got himself knocked out in 11 rounds; our own Frank Bruno came unstuck in his 22nd fight when he was knocked out by James “Bonecrusher” Smith back in 1984. Does anyone remember Duane Bobick, a highly fancied Minnesota Heavyweight from the seventies who built a 37-0 record before stepping into the ring with “over-the-hill” puncher Ken Norton, and was blasted out in less than three minutes. In fact Norton himself had attracted much attention as an up-and-comer when in 1970 he took a 17-0 tab into a fight with Jose Luis Garcia, a fighter whose record was littered with early knockout wins, and got himself stopped in 8 rounds.
These are cautionary tales that David Haye would do well to consider. He’s taking on a puncher, at a weight that he has little or no experience of, with a chin that appears less than concrete and questionable stamina, and with the world looking on in expectation and hope. It’s a lot to place on the shoulders of the young man.
As a businessman, he’s made a sterling choice; as guardian of all that can be good about boxing, he’s made a sterling choice. As a fighter making his way in the world, he may be taking a risk too far – can he carry his punch against a man who will come into the ring close to 230 pounds? Can his chin withstand the punch of a man who consistently fells foes heavier than 230 pounds? Can his lungs carry him through 8, 9,10 rounds or more against a weightier opponent.
Most fighters with as much at stake would desire more certainty around their big-time debut. Not David Haye:
“I haven't wasted my time with fighters I'm odds-on to beat. The networks, the Americans, the casinos, they're not interested in that. They love my high-risk strategy. I put it on the line – like nobody else in boxing does.”
The pay-off, or otherwise, comes November 15th.