Three boxing obits last week: Schmeling, Wallace, V. LaMotta

crooked nose · Post by **crooked nose** » 08 Feb 2005, 00:05

Besides Max Schmeling, I noticed that Coley Wallace also passed away last week. He was known more for his physical resemblance to Joe Louis than for his own accomplishments. Also, sort of boxing related, Jake's ex-wife Vikki LaMotta passed away at age 75. Is Jake now the oldest living ex-champ?

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 08 Feb 2005, 16:51

..coley wallace got a lot of publicity when he started boxing because he bore a resemblance to joe louis, and played him the the movie about his life. the obit i read said he played louis twice, but i don't kno what the second movie would be. it also said he knocked out marciano in the amateurs. alas..if only that were true....he actually scored a decision. coley was what is often called a manager's heartrbreaker. looked great..had decent boxing skills and could punch. he just didn't have that extra something that's needed. also..his chin was suspect... he had what they used to call a "swan's neck"...long with no muscular back up. he was kayoed by a well-past-his prime jimmy bivins. in an earlier fight against an ordinary aaron wilson he was way behind in rounds but came on the last two or three and had wilson down in the last round and would have kayoed him if not for the bell. the new york judging rules at that time were by rounds, and in case of a tie supplementary point system was used. aaron was ahead on both rounds and points....and then came a peculiar decision. the referee explained that because of wallace's strong finish the rules allowed him to get the decision, which he did. i had never heard of this rule before or since..and i have a hunch it was made somewhere between rounds nine and ten...coley was really getting a big build up then.

he was later kayoed by ezzard charles, twice by bob baker...lost two more and retired.

addenda: whan publicizing the joe louis story he and loiuis came on the ed sulivan show and sullivan said he was a good actor and louis said "yes...he's a better actor than a fighter " and sullivan said "Hey..let's not have a fight right here."

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 10 Feb 2005, 14:42

Wallace was a good fighter not a great fighter. As a pro he was a journeyman but as an amateur he beat Marciano.

The oldest living champ is Al Hostak.

La Motta is the second oldest living champ.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 11 Feb 2005, 15:02

Jaclem wrote:..coley wallace got a lot of publicity when he started boxing because he bore a resemblance to joe louis, and played him the the movie about his life. the obit i read said he played louis twice, but i don't kno what the second movie would be.

He also played Joe Louis in Raging Bull.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908577/

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 11 Feb 2005, 16:14

..ko..thanks for the raging bull answer. i don't remember the picture that well, so thjis gives me a reason to check it out again.