Blues boxers

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 09 Aug 2004, 15:29

I know, and I swear (swere), we had a few blues players who boxed professionally in the past, don't we?
Champion Jack Dupree, Johnny Copeland, Willie Dixon, etc...
How come we don't we have any records of anybody of them?
I just got off a gig with Long John Baldry, who claims Jack Dupree stepped away from his piano playing, dancing and doing his foot-work show, rather than doing his blues-piano show, in England , soon as they hired black acts in UK, back in the 50's.
Then came Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, and other performers, who made it to the media's
Is there somebody out there who can confirm, or deny this?
TOLI

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 10 Aug 2004, 04:39

Dixon had about 3 pro fights according to his autobiography, fighting as James Dixon around Chicago in the early 40's. I don't know whether the others were PRO fighters.

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 10 Aug 2004, 11:41

I'm no expert but I would assume either they were fighting amateur or the pro fights they fought were in such obscure locales and low key that the papers never picked up on them and thus people only know about them through word of mouth.

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 10 Aug 2004, 15:40

Johhny Copeland was a Texas blues player with an official status as a former pro boxer. He died, but his daughter Shemekia Copeland is doing great as an artist. She told me she went on boxing tours with her dad, as well as blues tours, in the Chitlin' Circuit, however very young.
There's a Johnny Copeland record in the RRB 1978 edition that may fit. Problem is, the picture shows a white guy.
Can anybody confirm if JC, who went 35-43-1 was a white guy?
He's listed as from St. Louis, but fought mostly in Texas.
Conclusion; I think we have an alias problem with most of them boxers/blues players.
Thank you

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 14 Aug 2004, 02:14

palais...the johnny copeland with that record was white. i saw him fight a few times in cincinnati. a get off the floor guy , looking as if he was out and then come roaring back....kind of like gatti in that respect. very very exciting fighter. he fought on an undercard against larry stanton and they stole the show. i also saw him get kayoed by aaron pryor.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 14 Aug 2004, 02:16

...ezzard charles played bass...more jazz than blues...and sat in with jazz groups a lot. i understand he also engaged in a few professional boxing matches.

Professor X · Post by **Professor X** » 14 Aug 2004, 02:47

James Brown boxed professionally, with 16 fights, I believe. I'll have to look it up to be sure. But for now, I know that he trained with Beau Jack and acted as a sparring partner for Sugar Ray Robinson. James Brown has educated hands (and feet, of course).

Bo Diddly (Elias McDaniel) acquired that very name as a boxer in his youth.

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 14 Aug 2004, 05:06

Jacleem - Thank you! I thought so to. :)
Professor X - Very interesting! I didn't know Diddley and Brown did some boxing. :)

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 04 Sep 2004, 15:43

Cab Calloway, great blues-entertainer of the (40's)-50's.
Cab Calloway, PA?, pro welter/middle in 1945-46.
A coincidence?

------------

Must be an alias "ring-name".

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 10 Sep 2004, 02:42

...cab the bandleader singer was so famous that while the boxer may have had the same name, it's more likely that he took it as a colorful moniker...maybe as a tribute.

i might as well get a little tribute in here to a fellow i knew slightly (very slightly)and was a favorite entertainer of mine. cab calloway was a pioneer and influenced such disparate singers as little richard and danny kaye in terms of showmanship and style...and there are a lot of others..but hey..this is a boxing forum....

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 10 Sep 2004, 02:49

Jaclem - You're right!
THE Cab Calloway was in showbusiness and never had to fight for it.
I realize that.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 10 Sep 2004, 15:34

Hello folks!!!

I also read that Motown mogul Berry Gordy was a boxer before making music history in the 60s. Also I read that Rock & Roll and Blues singer Jackie Wilson was a boxer.

Others to mind that were boxers before entertainers: Billy Joel and Tony Danza

Palais · Post by **Palais** » 10 Sep 2004, 16:15

Very interesting Elmersalsa!
Thank You!
I'll let y'all know why I'm posting this subject, sooner or later.