Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

Carmen Basilio

[kikibalt]

Sugar Ray Robinson and Carmen Basilio

[kikibalt]

Bob Satterfield

[kikibalt]

Big John Tate

[Randyman]

Ricky "Hitman" Hatton continues his American saga in Las Vegas on Saturday night with a 12-rounder against brash New Yorker Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi.
Home boy Ricky has boxed four of his last five fights in the States and lacked the sparkle he shows here but this time American Floyd Mayweather is in his corner, one of the game's best, or certainly best-known, trainers and a man whose own son dismantled Hatton in 10 one-sided rounds in Las Vegas last December, for Hatton's only loss in 45 fights. For the first time in a long time, we ought to see some Hatton improvement.
True, Malignaggi is no Floyd Mayweather Junior, with only five career knockouts to his name, but the 27-year-old from Brooklyn is quick and clever and has the ability to box rings round an opponent. Plus, he has only one loss himself (in 26). Malignaggi will undoubtedly test Hatton and the defensive lapses, the stamina issues and the real lack of versatility we have seen from Ricky recently, which led to the Brit's big decision to leave trainer Billy "The Preacher" Graham after 11 long years.
Graham was with Hatton from the very start and masterminded Hatton's fantastic win over Kostya Tszyu on a memorable night in Manchester in June 2005, when Hatton crowded the ageing but dangerous Russian, wearing him down and never giving him the room to unload his crunching shots. Tszyu was ultimately pulled out by Aussie trainer Johnny Lewis at the end of the 11th round, exhausted and behind on all three cards. Lewis showed the same compassion and intelligence shown by Eddie Futch in the Thrilla in Manila 30 years earlier. All round, it was the biggest boxing night in Britain for a long, long time.
Since that night, however, Hatton has largely disappointed, moving up and down the weights and suffering to Mayweather Junior and struggling against the unremarkable likes of Carlos Maussa, Luis Collazo and Juan Urango, although he still came through those struggles and is unquestionably division No. 1 at light-welterweight (the Mayweather pasting was up at welterweight). Ricky did look good against Mexican veteran Jose Luis Castillo in four rounds last year in Las Vegas, which he ended with a lovely left hook underneath, and punched out a comprehensive 12-round decision over Sacramento veteran Juan Lazcano in Manchester earlier this year, despite a couple of late wobbles - but they were old men, in truth, and the 30-year-old Hatton clearly needed a change of personnel and a change of personnel has been made. Who knows? Malignaggi might just suffer the same fate as poor old Tszyu.
Malignaggi and Hatton had a good look at each other when they fought on that Manchester show in May where Hatton, a phenomenal ticket-seller in his home city, outworked Lazcano in front of a crowd of 55,000 (yes, 55,000). Even after he was hurt in the eighth and 10th rounds, Hatton outworked Lazcano, and one judge gave him every round. As for Malignaggi, he disappointed on the way to a 12-round split decison over ageing former victim Lovemore Ndou of Australia, although he broke his right hand in the middle rounds, an injury which is said to have healed well. Nonetheless, it was a poor showing. Malignaggi does have a history of trouble with the hand (broken four times now). Flashy Paulie is a brave guy, a tough guy. He suffered terrible facial injuries in a 12-rounder with Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto in Madison Square Garden in June 2006, including a broken cheekbone, and also suffered two knockdowns, but stuck it out to the bitter end and a wide points defeat. It was a beating. Malignaggi came back last year with a sharp win over decent Bahamian Edner Cherry and picked up the IBF title made vacant by Hatton (and since relinquished in turn) with a sparkling decision over Ndou in the first fight. He outscored Cameroon strongman Herman Ngoudjo earlier this year, prior to the heavy Ndou rematch. Malignaggi actually looks to have benefitted from the brutal Cotto experience and that will hold him in good stead for his biggest fight since, for this fight, although the superfit, relentless, body-punching Hatton would have thumped the likes of Cherry, Ndou and Ngoudjo, no doubt.
Will he thump Malignaggi? The Italian-American showed against Cotto he can soak up an opponent's biggest punches, so we can expect him to stick around as much as he sticks and moves. Malignaggi's speed and slickness poses the biggest threat to Hatton's campaign of improvement, and his sharp counters could bust up the visitor, but it is hard to overlook his five meagre knockout wins, five in seven years as a pro, on top of all those hand problems. Hatton will be determined to impress his new trainer, and with his legendary workrate, and hopefully some new finer touches, he will.
He wears down Malignaggi on the way to a late stoppage.
An interesting match on the undercard pairs Ricky's younger brother with Ricky's former opponent over 10 welterweight rounds, namely Matthew Hatton against Ben Tackie.
Ricky routed Tackie in a 12-rounder in Manchester in December 2004, without ever budging the rock-like Ghanaian, who has never been stopped. Tackie is 35 now, however, and represents a 'name' on the records of up-and-comers. Alfonso Gomez and Kendall Holt have both licked him in recent years but Hatton - Matthew, that is - might struggle in the early rounds before his fitness and workrate win through. Tackie still 'has a go' when he can. His head might also play a part, given Matthew tends to mark. Above all, Matthew is no Ricky. It will be tough for him.

Paulie certainly has been brash in the past and I never particularly cared for him one way or the other but from the past few interviews I have seen with him, including cohosting ESPN's Friday Night Fights a while back, he seems to be maturing as a person. He does posses some good skills and has showed a big heart, especially in his fight with Miguel Angel Cotto, in which he lost a 12 round UD, and took a terrific beating. He also showed a capacity to comeback from defeat, winning his last four fights, and seems none the worse from the loss to Cotto. I like that in a fighter.

I can't imagine what Ricky Hatton would bring to the table that Paulie hasn't already faced, though he's certainly a better puncher than the light hitting Paulie. Hatton suffered his own setback a year ago when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the 10th round of a scheduled 12 rounder. He didn't take the beating that Paulie took against Cotto but he was stopped. Weigh that against Paulie's beating against Cotto that went the distance. It has the making's of an interesting fight. I don't think that Paulie can stop Ricky but I do think he can outbox him and that's what he will do. Paulie by unanimous decision.

[Expug]

Its an interesting fight.
Im gonna check this one out.
It wont be easy for Ricky to outhustle Paulie as Paulie stays pretty active also.

The intangibles in this fight are, just how much Guinness Ricky consumed between this fight and his last one.And just how ridiculous and distracting will Paulies hairstyle be.

[Randyman]

Its an interesting fight.
Im gonna check this one out.
It wont be easy for Ricky to outhustle Paulie as Paulie stays pretty active also.

The intangibles in this fight are, just how much Guinness Ricky consumed between this fight and his last one.And just how ridiculous and distracting will Paulies hairstyle be.

Those are two important considerations in this fight and should not be taken lightly. The solution of course, is for Ricky to consume enough Guinness, so as not to notice Paulie's hairdo. Paulie, for his part, needs to avoid getting caught up in one of Ricky's belches. Potent stuff.

Randy

[Expug]

Didnt Paulie have to get a haircut between rounds in a recent fight?
It was causing him problems. (checkout this icon its appropriate)

I can probably speak for all of us here when I say its the only time any of us have seen this occur in a prizefight.
And between all of us posting on this thread, we have seen a few fights.

[dagosd2000]

MIA'S NO SAINT,JOHN

She was sitting between Tommy Morrison and George Chuvalo. She was sitting very stiff looking straight ahead. She didn't smile. In back of her were her Playboy pictures . Her cheeks were puffy. I don't know if it was from fighting or maybe the effects of plastic surgery.She was wearing pink.
"I'm sorry,but she looks out of place here,"I said to Big John.
"I'm with you. "
I didn't see anyone ask her for an autograph or pose with her for a picture. Later that night at the banquet she came out in a stunning dress. Then there was a line waiting to be seen with her.
"John, you think of all the fighters out there that had their hands broken trying to punch their way to be a contender?"
"How 'bout all the pugs that had their heads broken trying just to go the distance?"
"It certainly is a sport that's unforgiving."
"Well,"said Big John,"she knew how to parlay that centerfold into getting on national TV."
"It was a lead pipe cinch. She knew what she was doing."
All this time me and Big John were looking at her. She hadn't moved. Everyone was filing by her. Maybe they didn't know what to say to her. What was your hardest fight,or gee you're pretty. It both sounded dumb.

Like I said though,at the banquet she drew attention. She wasn't sitting at a table with a bunch of expugs signing autographs. She was dressed to the nines at a ballroom. It was a fit. Now they wanted a picture. Go ahead . Put your arm around her. She was all smiles now.

Before the ceremony began the color guard presented arms for the Flag Salute. As they played the Star Spangled Banner my eye caught her at the table with all the ex fighters that were going to be honored. She was sitting down during the Flag Salute. After the Salute,I tapped John on the shoulder.
"Did you catch Miss Playboy? She was sitting down during the National Anthem."
"What was up with that?",asked John.
""Got me.I could never figure her out anyway."

[Expug]

MIA'S NO SAINT,JOHN

She was sitting between Tommy Morrison and George Chuvalo. She was sitting very stiff looking straight ahead. She didn't smile. In back of her were her Playboy pictures . Her cheeks were puffy. I don't know if it was from fighting or maybe the effects of plastic surgery.She was wearing pink.
"I'm sorry,but she looks out of place here,"I said to Big John.
"I'm with you. "
I didn't see anyone ask her for an autograph or pose with her for a picture. Later that night at the banquet she came out in a stunning dress. Then there was a line waiting to be seen with her.
"John, you think of all the fighters out there that had their hands broken trying to punch their way to be a contender?"
"How 'bout all the pugs that had their heads broken trying just to go the distance?"
"It certainly is a sport that's unforgiving."
"Well,"said Big John,"she knew how to parlay that centerfold into getting on national TV."
"It was a lead pipe cinch. She knew what she was doing."
All this time me and Big John were looking at her. She hadn't moved. Everyone was filing by her. Maybe they didn't know what to say to her. What was your hardest fight,or gee you're pretty. It both sounded dumb.

Like I said though,at the banquet she drew attention. She wasn't sitting at a table with a bunch of expugs signing autographs. She was dressed to the nines at a ballroom. It was a fit. Now they wanted a picture. Go ahead . Put your arm around her. She was all smiles now.

Before the ceremony began the color guard presented arms for the Flag Salute. As they played the Star Spangled Banner my eye caught her at the table with all the ex fighters that were going to be honored. She was sitting down during the Flag Salute. After the Salute,I tapped John on the shoulder.
"Did you catch Miss Playboy? She was sitting down during the Flag Salute."
"What was up with that?",asked John.
""Got me.I could never figure her out anyway."

The Mia St John story reminds me of an old Chinese saying.
"Theres alot of noise on the stairs, but noone came into the room."

All color , no picture.

[dagosd2000]

MIA'S NO SAINT,JOHN

She was sitting between Tommy Morrison and George Chuvalo. She was sitting very stiff looking straight ahead. She didn't smile. In back of her were her Playboy pictures . Her cheeks were puffy. I don't know if it was from fighting or maybe the effects of plastic surgery.She was wearing pink.
"I'm sorry,but she looks out of place here,"I said to Big John.
"I'm with you. "
I didn't see anyone ask her for an autograph or pose with her for a picture. Later that night at the banquet she came out in a stunning dress. Then there was a line waiting to be seen with her.
"John, you think of all the fighters out there that had their hands broken trying to punch their way to be a contender?"
"How 'bout all the pugs that had their heads broken trying just to go the distance?"
"It certainly is a sport that's unforgiving."
"Well,"said Big John,"she knew how to parlay that centerfold into getting on national TV."
"It was a lead pipe cinch. She knew what she was doing."
All this time me and Big John were looking at her. She hadn't moved. Everyone was filing by her. Maybe they didn't know what to say to her. What was your hardest fight,or gee you're pretty. It both sounded dumb.

Like I said though,at the banquet she drew attention. She wasn't sitting at a table with a bunch of expugs signing autographs. She was dressed to the nines at a ballroom. It was a fit. Now they wanted a picture. Go ahead . Put your arm around her. She was all smiles now.

Before the ceremony began the color guard presented arms for the Flag Salute. As they played the Star Spangled Banner my eye caught her at the table with all the ex fighters that were going to be honored. She was sitting down during the Flag Salute. After the Salute,I tapped John on the shoulder.
"Did you catch Miss Playboy? She was sitting down during the Flag Salute."
"What was up with that?",asked John.
""Got me.I could never figure her out anyway."

The Mia St John story reminds me of an old Chinese saying.
"Theres alot of noise on the stairs, but noone came into the room."

All color , no picture.

She looked like a Chatty Cathy Doll waiting for someone to pull the string so she could say something.

[Randyman]

Its an interesting fight.
Im gonna check this one out.
It wont be easy for Ricky to outhustle Paulie as Paulie stays pretty active also.

The intangibles in this fight are, just how much Guinness Ricky consumed between this fight and his last one.And just how ridiculous and distracting will Paulies hairstyle be.

Those are two important considerations in this fight and should not be taken lightly. The solution of course, is for Ricky to consume enough Guinness, so as not to notice Paulie's hairdo. Paulie, for his part, needs to avoid getting caught up in one of Ricky's belches. Potent stuff.

Randy

All joking aside, the real intangibles are what cannot be seen until the fight starts. It's what's inside a man. Last Saturday at Champions Sports bar we were talking about heart. Both of these guys fight with heart despite the difference in styles. Both guys have proven they can take it. All things being equal it will be the heart that will settle matters between these two.That's what is going to make this an interesting fight.

By fighting each other both men are fighting the biggest names since their respective losses to Cotto and Mayweather Jr. Both men have something big to prove. I expect an action fight. That's more important to boxing than who wins, though both guys probably feel otherwise. 2008 has been a good year for boxing. This should add to it.

Randy

[bennie]

Didnt Paulie have to get a haircut between rounds in a recent fight?
It was causing him problems. (checkout this icon its appropriate)

I can probably speak for all of us here when I say its the only time any of us have seen this occur in a prizefight.
And between all of us posting on this thread, we have seen a few fights.

In the Ndou fight, yes, which happened to take place in front of 55,000 not far from my own dootstep. His hair extensions had come loose. Frankly, Paulie made himself a laughing stock and I want Hatton to give him another trim and I think he will.

[bennie]

Big John Tate

Big John looked the part for a while. Shame the way it fell apart for him.

[bennie]

Photos and captions by Dan


Frank, this is Rick and Monica with Danny and Bonnie Lopez and their granddaughter.
I believe that's the Lopez's son over Monica's shoulder. His band played at the President's
dinner, which is where this was taken the night before the banquet.


This is some of the group meeting up at Champions, a watering hole in the hotel.
Pops looks pissed. I think he was annoyed that I ordered him up a 7-UP rather
than a bottle of suds.


Ever see a chain reaction before? Yaqui Lopez hits Pops, Pops hits
Brian and Roger ends up wearing Brian's coffee.

Can you imagine copping one from Danny Lopez's son? Pops looks like he could throw a good shot, too.

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Rick Farris


WBHOF Bronze sculpter Steven Harpst, Carlos Ortiz, Rick Farris and John Bardelli

[kikibalt]

Photos and Caption by Rick Farris


Boxing Historian and author Chuck Johnston talks with Orlando De La Fuente
at 2008 WBHOF banquet.


Randy, Ed, Brian, Mario and Dan.

[kikibalt]

RSR Looks Back at Frank Bruno Vs Tim Witherspoon
By Geoff “The Professor” Poundes


If muscles won boxing titles, then Frank Bruno was the greatest heavyweight of all time. Unfortunately for Frank, they don’t. They don’t hurt either, and Frank made about as good a use of his sculptured physique as any. In fact, when the big guy was plying his trade the heavyweights were just beginning to turn to fat, so that when the likes of Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson turned up, and could really fight, they generally put the blubber-boys to the sword.

Frank just wasn’t quite good enough to get that done, but his persistence and infectious personality endeared him not only to the British fight public, but crossed over into genuine affection from the nation as a whole.

It was for that reason that on July 19, 1986, Frank was pitched into battle with the reigning WBA Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon. “Terrible Tim” was one of those fat heavyweights that Frank, by dint of physique alone, should have seen off. Bruno’s stock in the UK guaranteed a huge audience for his first tilt at a title, and 50,000 hopeful souls packed into London’s Wembley Stadium to see “our Frank” take on the hulking American. As if to emphasize the “Battle of the Atlantic” strap-line, punters were introduced to “Our ‘Enry” - Henry Cooper and to his nemesis Muhammad Ali in the pre-fight instructions. The two old warriors met centre-ring and shook hands to tumultuous applause, in remembrance of their two encounters in London in the sixties.

The difference in the two physiques of the main protagonists was startling as the two men stripped for action – Bruno a glistening sculpted Adonis in gloves, Witherspoon a fleshy and slack-muscled hulk. An examination of the two men’s records to this point in their careers, however, gave an indication of what was to come. Bruno came to the fight on the back of a one round demolition of highly-capable Gerrie Coetzee and with a string of early knockouts of….well, nobodies. Frank had stepped up in class to take on future titlist James “Bonecrusher” Smith a couple of years earlier and had been crushed in the tenth round. Witherspoon, on the other hand, had mixed with and beaten the likes of Reynaldo Snipes, James Tillis, Greg Page, the aforementioned Smith, and Tony Tubbs. In addition he’d dropped a split decision to Pinklon Thomas, and given Larry Holmes, the foremost heavyweight of the day, more trouble than he could handle before dropping a controversial 12 round decision. Most observers had Witherspoon winning the fight.

Thus there was a significant and wide gap in each man’s fistic pedigree when the first bell sounded. Unfortunately it was too wide a gap to plug with muscle alone, and Frank knew he was in a fight early on as the two men swapped jabs in the first round, and wrestled around the ring in the 2nd. Bruno did manage to land a right which momentarily had the Champion looking disorganized, but Witherspoon was quickly back to his rhythm.

Rounds three and four looked good for the big Briton, as he cuffed Witherspoon round the head with clubbing rights and a long left jab that carried considerable weight and had Witherspoon holding on and at times confused. But Tim had been around a bit, and knew his stuff, and late in the fourth, he came out of a Bruno flurry and waved the muscleman back in, saying “You can’t hurt me.”

Round 5 and 6 sees the pace slowing. Bruno’s packed in muscle was never conducive to prolonged stamina or durability, and he’s starting to blow a little. Witherspoon is just plain not in the best condition of his life, and consequently the two of them begin to swing a little with the punches, and hold when the punches miss and they find themselves up close. Bruno is doing better than expected in the clinches, though, and confounding the critics who felt that he could only throw long punches in straight lines, from the shoulder, and couldn’t throw short punches.

But Witherspoon was the seasoned pro, and in the seventh he crashed a right to Bruno’s head, and had big Frank holding on. He was not snapping out the jab now – it was falling short, with Witherspoon exploiting the gap over the top when Bruno failed to get his hands back into position. Frank ends the round with blood seeping from his nose, and his confidence seeping out into the Wembley night.

It’s to Frank’s credit that he contested the next two rounds on equal terms. Sure, he shipped some punishment as would a man who was struggling to lift his arms, but he gave as good as he got, and even found the strength at the end of the ninth to land an effective left hook which had Witherspoon hurt. The Wembley crowd roared “Bruno! Bruno,” and the energized fighter lifted his arms at the end of the round in acknowledgement.

Those that were close enough to the Britisher’s corner were less optimistic. Frank is bleeding heavily from the nose, and his face and left eye are beginning to swell, and his breath is coming in great swathes. The tenth has Frank grimly determined to hang with the tiring American, but his timing was gone the way of his stamina, and the writing was on the wall.

In the fateful eleventh round Witherspoon brought the fight home. A series of uneducated over-the-top rights are enough to send Bruno backwards, where a following right and left club him into a squatting position in one corner of the ring. For good measure, Witherspoon catches Frank on the side of the head while he’s in the position, and referee Rodriguez and trainer Terry Lawless simultaneously decide they’ve seen enough and call the whole thing off.

As Bruno was helped back to his corner, plainly a beaten man, the London crowd vented its displeasure at who knows what, and sent nefarious objects into the ring, recalling the shameful night in London when Alan Minter got beaten up by Marvin Hagler, only for the home crowd to react by showering the ring with whatever they had to hand.

There were many of us back then who felt that the fight might be the end for Frank Bruno. He confounded us all by taking his career through a painful defeat to Lennox Lewis, and two poundings by the dynamite fists of Mike Tyson. In between the Tyson losses however, Bruno did manage to pick up the WBC Heavyweight Title by beating Oliver McCall, again in London and almost ten years on from the Witherspoon affair: a triumph of will over substance if ever there was one.

One thing’s for certain, however - it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.

[bennie]

RSR Looks Back at Frank Bruno Vs Tim Witherspoon
By Geoff “The Professor” Poundes


If muscles won boxing titles, then Frank Bruno was the greatest heavyweight of all time. Unfortunately for Frank, they don’t. They don’t hurt either, and Frank made about as good a use of his sculptured physique as any. In fact, when the big guy was plying his trade the heavyweights were just beginning to turn to fat, so that when the likes of Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson turned up, and could really fight, they generally put the blubber-boys to the sword.

Frank just wasn’t quite good enough to get that done, but his persistence and infectious personality endeared him not only to the British fight public, but crossed over into genuine affection from the nation as a whole.

It was for that reason that on July 19, 1986, Frank was pitched into battle with the reigning WBA Heavyweight Champion Tim Witherspoon. “Terrible Tim” was one of those fat heavyweights that Frank, by dint of physique alone, should have seen off. Bruno’s stock in the UK guaranteed a huge audience for his first tilt at a title, and 50,000 hopeful souls packed into London’s Wembley Stadium to see “our Frank” take on the hulking American. As if to emphasize the “Battle of the Atlantic” strap-line, punters were introduced to “Our ‘Enry” - Henry Cooper and to his nemesis Muhammad Ali in the pre-fight instructions. The two old warriors met centre-ring and shook hands to tumultuous applause, in remembrance of their two encounters in London in the sixties.

The difference in the two physiques of the main protagonists was startling as the two men stripped for action – Bruno a glistening sculpted Adonis in gloves, Witherspoon a fleshy and slack-muscled hulk. An examination of the two men’s records to this point in their careers, however, gave an indication of what was to come. Bruno came to the fight on the back of a one round demolition of highly-capable Gerrie Coetzee and with a string of early knockouts of….well, nobodies. Frank had stepped up in class to take on future titlist James “Bonecrusher” Smith a couple of years earlier and had been crushed in the tenth round. Witherspoon, on the other hand, had mixed with and beaten the likes of Reynaldo Snipes, James Tillis, Greg Page, the aforementioned Smith, and Tony Tubbs. In addition he’d dropped a split decision to Pinklon Thomas, and given Larry Holmes, the foremost heavyweight of the day, more trouble than he could handle before dropping a controversial 12 round decision. Most observers had Witherspoon winning the fight.

Thus there was a significant and wide gap in each man’s fistic pedigree when the first bell sounded. Unfortunately it was too wide a gap to plug with muscle alone, and Frank knew he was in a fight early on as the two men swapped jabs in the first round, and wrestled around the ring in the 2nd. Bruno did manage to land a right which momentarily had the Champion looking disorganized, but Witherspoon was quickly back to his rhythm.

Rounds three and four looked good for the big Briton, as he cuffed Witherspoon round the head with clubbing rights and a long left jab that carried considerable weight and had Witherspoon holding on and at times confused. But Tim had been around a bit, and knew his stuff, and late in the fourth, he came out of a Bruno flurry and waved the muscleman back in, saying “You can’t hurt me.”

Round 5 and 6 sees the pace slowing. Bruno’s packed in muscle was never conducive to prolonged stamina or durability, and he’s starting to blow a little. Witherspoon is just plain not in the best condition of his life, and consequently the two of them begin to swing a little with the punches, and hold when the punches miss and they find themselves up close. Bruno is doing better than expected in the clinches, though, and confounding the critics who felt that he could only throw long punches in straight lines, from the shoulder, and couldn’t throw short punches.

But Witherspoon was the seasoned pro, and in the seventh he crashed a right to Bruno’s head, and had big Frank holding on. He was not snapping out the jab now – it was falling short, with Witherspoon exploiting the gap over the top when Bruno failed to get his hands back into position. Frank ends the round with blood seeping from his nose, and his confidence seeping out into the Wembley night.

It’s to Frank’s credit that he contested the next two rounds on equal terms. Sure, he shipped some punishment as would a man who was struggling to lift his arms, but he gave as good as he got, and even found the strength at the end of the ninth to land an effective left hook which had Witherspoon hurt. The Wembley crowd roared “Bruno! Bruno,” and the energized fighter lifted his arms at the end of the round in acknowledgement.

Those that were close enough to the Britisher’s corner were less optimistic. Frank is bleeding heavily from the nose, and his face and left eye are beginning to swell, and his breath is coming in great swathes. The tenth has Frank grimly determined to hang with the tiring American, but his timing was gone the way of his stamina, and the writing was on the wall.

In the fateful eleventh round Witherspoon brought the fight home. A series of uneducated over-the-top rights are enough to send Bruno backwards, where a following right and left club him into a squatting position in one corner of the ring. For good measure, Witherspoon catches Frank on the side of the head while he’s in the position, and referee Rodriguez and trainer Terry Lawless simultaneously decide they’ve seen enough and call the whole thing off.

As Bruno was helped back to his corner, plainly a beaten man, the London crowd vented its displeasure at who knows what, and sent nefarious objects into the ring, recalling the shameful night in London when Alan Minter got beaten up by Marvin Hagler, only for the home crowd to react by showering the ring with whatever they had to hand.

There were many of us back then who felt that the fight might be the end for Frank Bruno. He confounded us all by taking his career through a painful defeat to Lennox Lewis, and two poundings by the dynamite fists of Mike Tyson. In between the Tyson losses however, Bruno did manage to pick up the WBC Heavyweight Title by beating Oliver McCall, again in London and almost ten years on from the Witherspoon affair: a triumph of will over substance if ever there was one.

One thing’s for certain, however - it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.

There is a funny story about this fight. Both the BBC and ITV (our major channels) screened it 'delayed'. Well, obviously, many millions of people avoided the result on the Saturday night, tuned in on the Sunday morning to watch it - and this stupid woman on ITV introduced it by saying, "...and now for Frank Bruno's world title defeat to Tim Witherspoon"
Meltdown.

[kikibalt]

Photo and caption by Rick Farris


In honor of Uncle John and his boxrec amigos, Dan Hanley sings "Danny Boy". Pops and Rick join in on the harmony. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Armando Muniz then broke into a solo of "Guadalajara", then fights broke out. Or something like that . . .

-Rick

[kikibalt]

Joe "Old Bones" Brown

[bennie]

Photo and caption by Rick Farris


In honor of Uncle John and his boxrec amigos, Dan Hanley sings "Danny Boy". Pops and Rick join in on the harmony. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Armando Muniz then broke into a solo of "Guadalajara", then fights broke out. Or something like that . . .

-Rick

Group hug.

[kikibalt]

Paddy "Billygoat" DeMarco

[bennie]

[kikibalt]

Charley Scott