Shocking Rocky Lockridge story.

[Old bones Ian]

Really not a good time for Lockridge, he has been homeless for 10 years, drug and alcohol problems. very sad to see him like this.
I remember him boxing over here beating Barry Michael for the IBF title, Rocky was a really good come forward boxer, had a punch and a great chin.

http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2009/0 ... _lock.html

[bennie]

Lou Duva said Lockridge was the cutest fighter he ever handled. I remember Rocky played the drums in a band in his early years as a boxer, just as Scott "The Pink Panther" Walker played the piano adeptly. For either man it wasn't enough.
Walker killed himself when his boxing career came to an end and Lockridge has never got over boxing either.

[bennie]

I'm still trying to come to terms with this shocking story posted by Ian, the facts, photos - everything. Lockridge was still sucking his dummy (as opposed to a crack pipe) when he pushed Eusebio Pedroza to the wire in a 15-round crack at the WBA featherweight title in the States in the early 1980s. The boxing world could not believe his performance, then Juan Laporte 'did' him in two rounds, which just goes to show how freakish some results can be. Rocky later proved every bit as sturdy as his name.
Rocky moved up to super-featherweight, outclassed Boza over 10 rounds (yes, Boza), lost a closish one to Julio Cesar Chavez in Monte Carlo (points), took out Roger Mayweather in one round, outmuscled Barry Michael over here (eight rounds) and was robbed against Wilfredo Gomez after 15 rounds in Puerto Rico (he ruined Gomez). McGuigan certainly wanted no part of him. I would hail him the third best super-featherweight of the 1980s, behind Chavez and Nelson - and not far behind.
I remember when there was a bomb scare at Windsor when he forced the rugged Michael to bail out on his stool (and quit the game), the place had to be evacuated. The fighters stayed put.

[RLewis]

I'm still trying to come to terms with this shocking story posted by Ian, the facts, photos - everything. Lockridge was still sucking his dummy (as opposed to a crack pipe) when he pushed Eusebio Pedroza to the wire in a 15-round crack at the WBA featherweight title in the States in the early 1980s. The boxing world could not believe his performance, then Juan Laporte 'did' him in two rounds, which just goes to show how freakish some results can be. Rocky later proved every bit as sturdy as his name.
Rocky moved up to super-featherweight, outclassed Boza over 10 rounds (yes, Boza), lost a closish one to Julio Cesar Chavez in Monte Carlo (points), took out Roger Mayweather in one round, outmuscled Barry Michael over here (eight rounds) and was robbed against Wilfredo Gomez after 15 rounds in Puerto Rico (he ruined Gomez). McGuigan certainly wanted no part of him. I would hail him the third best super-featherweight of the 1980s, behind Chavez and Nelson - and not far behind.
I remember when there was a bomb scare at Windsor when he forced the rugged Michael to bail out on his stool (and quit the game), the place had to be evacuated. The fighters stayed put.

I remember that night in Windsor. The place was evacuated shortly before the main event and I was standing out on the street with Lockridge and Barry McGuigan. They were just keeping Lockridge warm as he was ready to go.

Very sad story but just shows the dangers facing all fighters when they have no plan for after their career.

[Old bones Ian]

Yes its very sad Bennie, My first knowledge of Lockridge was when he won the title and defended it against Kamel Bou-Ali , i was about 13 years old.
Was a fan since then, there was nothing to dislike about Rocky, he fought with his heart alot of the time, breaking the other guy. As you say he pushed a prime Chavez close, not many could of done that.
His 2 fights with Lopez were superb, first was ring fight of the year in 1988, i remember them being on ITV over here. Wins over Mayweather, Bou-Ali, Knight and it should of been a win against Gomez. Guys with a less sterling career have got into the IBHOF, so why not Rocky.

Unfortunatly it looks like this story will end sadly, i just can't see him getting himself straight.

best remember him like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcYHe4Xj4I

[bennie]

I'm still trying to come to terms with this shocking story posted by Ian, the facts, photos - everything. Lockridge was still sucking his dummy (as opposed to a crack pipe) when he pushed Eusebio Pedroza to the wire in a 15-round crack at the WBA featherweight title in the States in the early 1980s. The boxing world could not believe his performance, then Juan Laporte 'did' him in two rounds, which just goes to show how freakish some results can be. Rocky later proved every bit as sturdy as his name.
Rocky moved up to super-featherweight, outclassed Boza over 10 rounds (yes, Boza), lost a closish one to Julio Cesar Chavez in Monte Carlo (points), took out Roger Mayweather in one round, outmuscled Barry Michael over here (eight rounds) and was robbed against Wilfredo Gomez after 15 rounds in Puerto Rico (he ruined Gomez). McGuigan certainly wanted no part of him. I would hail him the third best super-featherweight of the 1980s, behind Chavez and Nelson - and not far behind.
I remember when there was a bomb scare at Windsor when he forced the rugged Michael to bail out on his stool (and quit the game), the place had to be evacuated. The fighters stayed put.

I remember that night in Windsor. The place was evacuated shortly before the main event and I was standing out on the street with Lockridge and Barry McGuigan. They were just keeping Lockridge warm as he was ready to go.

Very sad story but just shows the dangers facing all fighters when they have no plan for after their career.

Michael stayed put, then. I honestly couldn't remember which fighter so I said both (hoping someone from the Times wasn't reading). You and I both know, Ron, who made the phone call.

[bennie]

Yes its very sad Bennie, My first knowledge of Lockridge was when he won the title and defended it against Kamel Bou-Ali , i was about 13 years old.
Was a fan since then, there was nothing to dislike about Rocky, he fought with his heart alot of the time, breaking the other guy. As you say he pushed a prime Chavez close, not many could of done that.
His 2 fights with Lopez were superb, first was ring fight of the year in 1988, i remember them being on ITV over here. Wins over Mayweather, Bou-Ali, Knight and it should of been a win against Gomez. Guys with a less sterling career have got into the IBHOF, so why not Rocky.

Unfortunatly it looks like this story will end sadly, i just can't see him getting himself straight.

best remember him like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcYHe4Xj4I

Lockridge always seemed to have a touch of smartness about him, much like his stablemate and fellow world champion Johnny Bumphus, who also went off the rails for years and years (although he has dragged himself back from the dead and much kudos to Johnny for that). Tim Mo once told me that in-your-face brawlers are brainy outside the ring and intelligent boxers are as thick as pig s hit. That is a mass generalisation (and obviously disrespectful, but I'm only quoting), but there might be something in what he said.

[Old bones Ian]

Barry Michael the boxer who Rocky beat up to win the title, has shown true sportsmanship by donating $5000 to Rocky , who is currently in re-hab.

Barry took part in a charity boxing fun match against a radio DJ in Melbourne.
Funny video of the event in the link.

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic ... -k9am.html

[bennie]

Barry Michael the boxer who Rocky beat up to win the title, has shown true sportsmanship by donating $5000 to Rocky , who is currently in re-hab.

Barry took part in a charity boxing fun match against a radio DJ in Melbourne.
Funny video of the event in the link.

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic ... -k9am.html

I was stunned when Rocky claimed that the biggest purse he received was $200,000 for fighting Julio Cesar Chavez. I thought he would have got much more for fighting Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez in Puerto Rico, Harold "Shadow" Knight in Atlantic City, Tony "The Tiger" Lopez in San Francisco... These were dangerous dudes.
Gomez threatened to kill his own trainer, who was about to pull him out of the 15-round Lockridge war.

[reggaereggae]

Yes its very sad Bennie, My first knowledge of Lockridge was when he won the title and defended it against Kamel Bou-Ali , i was about 13 years old.
Was a fan since then, there was nothing to dislike about Rocky, he fought with his heart alot of the time, breaking the other guy. As you say he pushed a prime Chavez close, not many could of done that.
His 2 fights with Lopez were superb, first was ring fight of the year in 1988, i remember them being on ITV over here. Wins over Mayweather, Bou-Ali, Knight and it should of been a win against Gomez. Guys with a less sterling career have got into the IBHOF, so why not Rocky.

Unfortunatly it looks like this story will end sadly, i just can't see him getting himself straight.

best remember him like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxcYHe4Xj4I

Lockridge always seemed to have a touch of smartness about him, much like his stablemate and fellow world champion Johnny Bumphus, who also went off the rails for years and years (although he has dragged himself back from the dead and much kudos to Johnny for that). Tim Mo once told me that in-your-face brawlers are brainy outside the ring and intelligent boxers are as thick as pig s hit. That is a mass generalisation (and obviously disrespectful, but I'm only quoting), but there might be something in what he said.

Ok a little extreme and harsh but I can se what he's getting at. it takes a certain mindset to be a full on fighter, emotional and complicated...