Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Rest in Peace . . . Tom Bosley.

I was working on the Paramount lot in 1978-79, there to do feature films, American Gigolo, Escape From Alcatraz, Star Trek-I.
The film business was booming in the late 70's at all the major studios. All produced their own motion pics and TV productions.
30 min. sit-coms were becoming popular again, with shows like Happy Days, Taxi, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley were filmed at Paramount.

During my lunch breaks I'd wander off the stage I was working on and visit friends who were working on the sit-coms.
In those days, sit com's easy pace and light hours made it a perfect "end of career" job for vet lighting techs. I'd visit a few.
A friend of mine was the lighting dimmer board operator on Happy Days, which would film before a live audience every friday evening.
I'd been in the business a few years, but I had never done a live audience gig. I wanted to see how it worked.
One thursday, I stop by stage 24 during a break, and I watched the cast rehearse, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Ron Howard, Henry Winkler were working in this scene. They break and I'm introduced to Tom Bosley by the Director of Photography.

I was introduced as a former boxer, the cameraman knew the actor loved boxing.
We sat and talked for a good ten minutes. What a nice man, and what a knowledgeable fan.
He was a fan of Randy Shields, and thought Hedgeman Lewis would have become a world champ, had it not been for Jose Napoles.
I remember him saying this, and he was pretty right on.

However, to guys like us who work on film sets, we respect those who are human beings and this man was truly the leading actor on the set, not the Fonz or Howard. He was treated with a much deserved respect and I saw him work, for just a few minutes. I didn't know sit coms, but I knew actors, and this guy was one of the best.

I never worked with Tom Bosley, and I rarely watched Happy Days, but I know Tom Bosley knew a little bit about L.A. boxing & boxers. And I know his rep in town, and on the Paramount lot in days gone by.

One of the good guys has passed, may God bless his soul.

Trivia question: What world boxing champion was "knocked out" by Chachi on "Happy Days?"

Mando Muniz.

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick, you mentioned Kevin Dobson earlier, I bought a boxed set of the entire Kojak series last year and was just watching the first season again yesterday, the series ran 1973-1978,I am a big fan of all the 1970s cop shows like Barretta,Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five O, I am the same way about T.V and movies as I am about boxing, I never watch anything on T.V unless it's made pre 1980, I guess you could say I live in the past.

[bennie]

Henry Harris, Al Weill and Roy "Cut-N-Shoot" Harris
Presser for Harris fight with Floyd Patterson
1958

Harris looks like a welterweight.

[bennie]

Rick, you mentioned Kevin Dobson earlier, I bought a boxed set of the entire Kojak series last year and was just watching the first season again yesterday, the series ran 1973-1978,I am a big fan of all the 1970s cop shows like Barretta,Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five O, I am the same way about T.V and movies as I am about boxing, I never watch anything on T.V unless it's made pre 1980, I guess you could say I live in the past.

Kojak is the best.

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie which Fire stations in NY did you serve at,I have visited a couple when in NY since 9/11 to pay our respects to those that gave their lives on the tragic day.
One which I was told were the first crew on site Engine 7 Battalion 1 Ladder 1, The last time I was in NY I went down to the station at Hells Kitchen at both My wife & I were made very welcome, the are without doubt a brave bunch of guys

Thank You Telboy for your kind remarks. I have friends in Eng. 7 and they were one of several firehouses who responded to the inital call that day.
Eng 7 was also one of the first engines to get there during the truck-bombing of the first attack on the WTC a few years earlier.
Hells Kitchen was a area at which I worked in. There are primarily 3 firehouses in this area. E.34 & L.21 near the Javits center off of 11th Ave.
Rescue 1 on 43 rd St. I worked my whole career (20 years) at Eng 54, Ladder 4, Batt 9 on 8th Ave at 48 St.. We were just steps from Times Square and the Theatre District. The house motto is "Never Missed A Performance". I was assigned to Ladder 4 for 12 years than drove the Chief of the 9th Batt for remaining 8 years. We were and still are the busiest firehouse in all of the 5 boros of NYC. Combined all 3 units responds to an average of 17,000 alarms a year. An average 24 hour shift can see 20-30
alarms for each man. Not all fires mind you, auto acc,water leaks
elect. emergencies,subway incidents, you name it we did it.
On 9-11-2001 all 15 men working in the firehouse lost their lives that morning. Ladder 4 was opening up the elevator doors with the jaws of life
to get to trapped people in the lobby of the South Tower (first to collapse).
E54 was assigned to the Marriot hotel to remove occupants starting from the top floor down when it too was crushed. Batt 9 chief and his driver (Batt Aide) were on the 70th floor of south tower and rising when last heard from. We usually have 13 men working a shift. 2 men jumped on the trucks while off duty in the firehouse and responded voluntarily to go. They too died. To date we have identified remains of 8 of 15 firefighters from my house, others are still not ID'd or were ever found.The city still has thousands of bone fragments that DNA could not match. Those parts are to be entombed in the memorial that is being erected at the present day construction site. There are still arguments today from families of the 2,700+ victims not wanting that done in hopes of later identifying those parts to all those missing for some kind of personal closure in the future. Quite a few firefighters died that day who were off duty but responded anyway.I was sitting in a Saturn Car-dealership on long island watching my car get repaired (alternator) when the planes attacked. I needed my car to get in.(Train travel stopped). I got to my firehouse at 4 pm that afternoon and immediately responded to site with equipment.
My firehouse always welcomed visitors, from all parts of the world.
The trick is to catch us if we are in our quarters, and not out at alarms, inspections, or girl watching in Central Park .

[THEHAMMER321]

Rick, you mentioned Kevin Dobson earlier, I bought a boxed set of the entire Kojak series last year and was just watching the first season again yesterday, the series ran 1973-1978,I am a big fan of all the 1970s cop shows like Barretta,Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five O, I am the same way about T.V and movies as I am about boxing, I never watch anything on T.V unless it's made pre 1980, I guess you could say I live in the past.

Kojak is the best.

Thanks Bennie, I am not alone then.

[raylawpc]

Rest in Peace . . . Tom Bosley.

I was working on the Paramount lot in 1978-79, there to do feature films, American Gigolo, Escape From Alcatraz, Star Trek-I.
The film business was booming in the late 70's at all the major studios. All produced their own motion pics and TV productions.
30 min. sit-coms were becoming popular again, with shows like Happy Days, Taxi, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley were filmed at Paramount.

During my lunch breaks I'd wander off the stage I was working on and visit friends who were working on the sit-coms.
In those days, sit com's easy pace and light hours made it a perfect "end of career" job for vet lighting techs. I'd visit a few.
A friend of mine was the lighting dimmer board operator on Happy Days, which would film before a live audience every friday evening.
I'd been in the business a few years, but I had never done a live audience gig. I wanted to see how it worked.
One thursday, I stop by stage 24 during a break, and I watched the cast rehearse, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Ron Howard, Henry Winkler were working in this scene. They break and I'm introduced to Tom Bosley by the Director of Photography.

I was introduced as a former boxer, the cameraman knew the actor loved boxing.
We sat and talked for a good ten minutes. What a nice man, and what a knowledgeable fan.
He was a fan of Randy Shields, and thought Hedgeman Lewis would have become a world champ, had it not been for Jose Napoles.
I remember him saying this, and he was pretty right on.

However, to guys like us who work on film sets, we respect those who are human beings and this man was truly the leading actor on the set, not the Fonz or Howard. He was treated with a much deserved respect and I saw him work, for just a few minutes. I didn't know sit coms, but I knew actors, and this guy was one of the best.

I never worked with Tom Bosley, and I rarely watched Happy Days, but I know Tom Bosley knew a little bit about L.A. boxing & boxers. And I know his rep in town, and on the Paramount lot in days gone by.

One of the good guys has passed, may God bless his soul.

Trivia question: What world boxing champion was "knocked out" by Chachi on "Happy Days?"

Mando Muniz.

Although he'll always be a champ to me, Mando was never a world champion.

[Rick Farris]

Rick, you mentioned Kevin Dobson earlier, I bought a boxed set of the entire Kojak series last year and was just watching the first season again yesterday, the series ran 1973-1978,I am a big fan of all the 1970s cop shows like Barretta,Streets of San Francisco, Hawaii Five O, I am the same way about T.V and movies as I am about boxing, I never watch anything on T.V unless it's made pre 1980, I guess you could say I live in the past.

We had a lot of top TV shows in production at Universal when I broke into the business and I worled on most at one time or another. It was a great time on that lot . . . Kojak, Baretta, Quincy, Rockford Files, Adam-12, Emergency, Marcus Welby MD, Switch, MacMillan & Wife, Battlestar Galcatica, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Buck Rogers, and many more. Those were just a few of Universal's productions, add in Warner Bros, Paramount, MGM, Lorimar, Disney and we had a lot going on, not to mention a town full of major feature production. Today, things are much different. I miss the old days :( .

[bennie]

Trivia question: What world boxing champion was "knocked out" by Chachi on "Happy Days?"

Mando Muniz.

Although he'll always be a champ to me, Mando was never a world champion.

Carlos Palomino.

[kikibalt]

Golden State Boxers Gathering

http://www.myboxingfans.com/2010/10/gol ... gathering/

[raylawpc]

Mando Muniz.

Although he'll always be a champ to me, Mando was never a world champion.

Carlos Palomino.

Nope.

[THEHAMMER321]

Although he'll always be a champ to me, Mando was never a world champion.

Carlos Palomino.

Nope.

Since I associate you with Sean O`grady, it must be him.?

[telboy66]

Thanks Charlie next time I'm in NY I will try to visit your old firehouse in what remains my favorite city

[raylawpc]

Carlos Palomino.

Nope.

Since I associate you with Sean O`grady, it must be him.?

You got it Paul!

[raylawpc]

Charlie which Fire stations in NY did you serve at,I have visited a couple when in NY since 9/11 to pay our respects to those that gave their lives on the tragic day.
One which I was told were the first crew on site Engine 7 Battalion 1 Ladder 1, The last time I was in NY I went down to the station at Hells Kitchen at both My wife & I were made very welcome, the are without doubt a brave bunch of guys

Thank You Telboy for your kind remarks. I have friends in Eng. 7 and they were one of several firehouses who responded to the inital call that day.
Eng 7 was also one of the first engines to get there during the truck-bombing of the first attack on the WTC a few years earlier.
Hells Kitchen was a area at which I worked in. There are primarily 3 firehouses in this area. E.34 & L.21 near the Javits center off of 11th Ave.
Rescue 1 on 43 rd St. I worked my whole career (20 years) at Eng 54, Ladder 4, Batt 9 on 8th Ave at 48 St.. We were just steps from Times Square and the Theatre District. The house motto is "Never Missed A Performance". I was assigned to Ladder 4 for 12 years than drove the Chief of the 9th Batt for remaining 8 years. We were and still are the busiest firehouse in all of the 5 boros of NYC. Combined all 3 units responds to an average of 17,000 alarms a year. An average 24 hour shift can see 20-30
alarms for each man. Not all fires mind you, auto acc,water leaks
elect. emergencies,subway incidents, you name it we did it.
On 9-11-2001 all 15 men working in the firehouse lost their lives that morning. Ladder 4 was opening up the elevator doors with the jaws of life
to get to trapped people in the lobby of the South Tower (first to collapse).
E54 was assigned to the Marriot hotel to remove occupants starting from the top floor down when it too was crushed. Batt 9 chief and his driver (Batt Aide) were on the 70th floor of south tower and rising when last heard from. We usually have 13 men working a shift. 2 men jumped on the trucks while off duty in the firehouse and responded voluntarily to go. They too died. To date we have identified remains of 8 of 15 firefighters from my house, others are still not ID'd or were ever found.The city still has thousands of bone fragments that DNA could not match. Those parts are to be entombed in the memorial that is being erected at the present day construction site. There are still arguments today from families of the 2,700+ victims not wanting that done in hopes of later identifying those parts to all those missing for some kind of personal closure in the future. Quite a few firefighters died that day who were off duty but responded anyway.I was sitting in a Saturn Car-dealership on long island watching my car get repaired (alternator) when the planes attacked. I needed my car to get in.(Train travel stopped). I got to my firehouse at 4 pm that afternoon and immediately responded to site with equipment.
My firehouse always welcomed visitors, from all parts of the world.
The trick is to catch us if we are in our quarters, and not out at alarms, inspections, or girl watching in Central Park .

A very wise man once said, “A hero is a person who, when he hears gunshots fired, runs toward the sound and not away from it.” There were many heroes on 9/11 in NYC.

[Rick Farris]

Charlie which Fire stations in NY did you serve at,I have visited a couple when in NY since 9/11 to pay our respects to those that gave their lives on the tragic day.
One which I was told were the first crew on site Engine 7 Battalion 1 Ladder 1, The last time I was in NY I went down to the station at Hells Kitchen at both My wife & I were made very welcome, the are without doubt a brave bunch of guys

Thank You Telboy for your kind remarks. I have friends in Eng. 7 and they were one of several firehouses who responded to the inital call that day.
Eng 7 was also one of the first engines to get there during the truck-bombing of the first attack on the WTC a few years earlier.
Hells Kitchen was a area at which I worked in. There are primarily 3 firehouses in this area. E.34 & L.21 near the Javits center off of 11th Ave.
Rescue 1 on 43 rd St. I worked my whole career (20 years) at Eng 54, Ladder 4, Batt 9 on 8th Ave at 48 St.. We were just steps from Times Square and the Theatre District. The house motto is "Never Missed A Performance". I was assigned to Ladder 4 for 12 years than drove the Chief of the 9th Batt for remaining 8 years. We were and still are the busiest firehouse in all of the 5 boros of NYC. Combined all 3 units responds to an average of 17,000 alarms a year. An average 24 hour shift can see 20-30
alarms for each man. Not all fires mind you, auto acc,water leaks
elect. emergencies,subway incidents, you name it we did it.
On 9-11-2001 all 15 men working in the firehouse lost their lives that morning. Ladder 4 was opening up the elevator doors with the jaws of life
to get to trapped people in the lobby of the South Tower (first to collapse).
E54 was assigned to the Marriot hotel to remove occupants starting from the top floor down when it too was crushed. Batt 9 chief and his driver (Batt Aide) were on the 70th floor of south tower and rising when last heard from. We usually have 13 men working a shift. 2 men jumped on the trucks while off duty in the firehouse and responded voluntarily to go. They too died. To date we have identified remains of 8 of 15 firefighters from my house, others are still not ID'd or were ever found.The city still has thousands of bone fragments that DNA could not match. Those parts are to be entombed in the memorial that is being erected at the present day construction site. There are still arguments today from families of the 2,700+ victims not wanting that done in hopes of later identifying those parts to all those missing for some kind of personal closure in the future. Quite a few firefighters died that day who were off duty but responded anyway.I was sitting in a Saturn Car-dealership on long island watching my car get repaired (alternator) when the planes attacked. I needed my car to get in.(Train travel stopped). I got to my firehouse at 4 pm that afternoon and immediately responded to site with equipment.
My firehouse always welcomed visitors, from all parts of the world.
The trick is to catch us if we are in our quarters, and not out at alarms, inspections, or girl watching in Central Park .

A very wise man once said, “A hero is a person who, when he hears gunshots fired, runs toward the sound and not away from it.” There were many heroes on 9/11 in NYC.

Of all the people in the world, none I respect more than FDNY.
My Cousin, Randy Woodside, went to N.Y. with Nicolas Cage to work on the movie, "World Trade Center".
He came back with amazing stories of simple human decency and American heroism.
Just from his posts and our on-line friendship, I truly value & respect Charlie Norkus.
Man, you really did your father (and America) proud!

[Rick Farris]

Golden State Boxer’s Gathering
by Michele Chong

Fighters meet in Hollywood


Each and every Tuesday a group of loyal enthusiasts of the sweet science gather in Hollywood. Many of the gentlemen are warriors of yesteryear. Several are trainers from the golden age of pugilism. Others are current boxers, coaches, promoters, journalists, historians, and filmmakers who share the one common thread of boxing.

Welcome to the weekly meeting of the Golden State Boxer’s Association (GSBA), a dedicated group of men and women who support the sport. They also believe in honoring the fighters, both amateur and pro, who were born, bred, reside or fought in California.

I visited with the organization during a special showing where boxing historian and former fighter Rick Farris treated the guests to a screening that showcased interviews he and his associates, writer Dan Hanley, former amateur slugger-cinematographer Greg Patterson and film maker Lance Dickinson had previously conducted at boxing events. The three subjects that were featured on this particular day were former WBC Lightweight Champ Mando Ramos (who passed away in 2008), former WBC Lightweight titlist Rodolfo “El Gato” Gonzalez, and Hall of Fame judge and referee Gwen Adair.

For Farris, paying tribute to the boxers–the heralded athletes of the past–is a labor of love. Rick is also a writer on a very popular forum board on BoxRec. “We have the largest boxing forum,” he told me at the luncheon. “It’s the Classic American West Coast Boxing forum.” The ex-pug currently works in the film industry but still maintains close ties to his fellow fighters and has been a big part of the L.A. boxing community for years.

Joining Farris, Patterson, Gonzalez and Adair were legendary promoter/publicist and California Boxing Hall of Fame’s Don Fraser, ex-fighters Bobby Chacon, Allen Syers, Jerry Williams, Danny Valdez, Georgie Garcia, Mando Ramos’ widow Sylvia and father Ray Ramos, Rick Farris’ dad Bill Farris, the World Boxing of Hall of Fame’s Executive Treasurer Josie Arrey-Mejia along with a roomful of other fight aficionados in attendance.

President Larry Montalvo and his wife Elsa, along with Vice President Bill Dempsey Young and his wife Linda, and the GSBA committee hold fundraising events and awards ceremonies throughout the year to recognize not only the gladiators, but also their families. Recent banquets have included boxing’s “Father and Son” awards and a “Tender Heart: Women Behind the Boxers” function.

The Tuesday meetings always have a warm and relaxed atmosphere where ex-fighters can regale visitors with tales of past bouts, where current boxers can meet their boyhood heroes face to face, where fight fans can analyze weekend matchups, and where old friends can reconnect while making new acquaintances too.

While a couple of the guys’ gaits have slowed down considerably, their faces still light up, eyes sparkling when they remember the glory days long before boxing was a primarily a business, way before Pay-Per-View buys dictated who fought who, during a less political era before the alphabet craze of infinite belts and championship titles came to be.

Back when boxing was just boxing. Pure and simple.

These former champions and contenders from the squared circle can tell you what it was really like. They lived it. And while most of them are at the age where their days of being carded while buying beer have ceased a while ago, the men are still very fit and athletic. And all remain just as exuberant as they probably were when they were climbing through the ropes while in the peak of their careers.

Don FraserI always love hearing the stories about battles in the infamous Olympic Auditorium or recollections of the fierce sparring wars at famed gyms whose doors have been closed long ago. I’m all ears as these men relive what boxing was really like back then. I’m lucky to listen to the main principals of that era as they vividly relive the history that comes to life in their colorful retellings.

One of the other highlights of these weekly get-togethers is the impromptu show and tell sessions when members bring vintage magazines, photographs, books, mementos and more from a unique time in boxing. You never now what souvenirs you’ll see. On this Tuesday, Josie Arrey-Mejia brought two poignant tomes with her, cookbooks authored by boxing veteran Stacy White, who just passed away last month.

I also took a look at some collectible magazines and posters that everyone was checking out. Staring back from the covers of a few now-defunct publications were Ezzard Charles, Sonny Liston, Cassius Clay, a then-touted future star Boone Kirkman, and other blasts from the past.

And while admiring all the memorabilia is always something I enjoy, nothing compares to listening to these flesh-and-blood brawlers as they recall their own stories about their time inside the four corners. These boxers offer an invaluable treasure trove of memories that only they can tell; and their remembrances are clear as a bell.

Chatting with British lightweight Allen Syers and his former stablemate “Smiling” Jerry Williams, the two were walking time capsules as they told me funny anecdotes about their fightin’ days. Syers is from Liverpool and he said Jimmy Lennon Sr. would introduce him as “The Beatle.” Both spoke with revered tones of the storied Olympic Auditorium, where Jerry described, “There’s nothing else like it. The atmosphere was incredible. We would all go and sit together in the boxers’ section. It was great!”
No matter what, you can never take their memories away from these power punchers. And as the memories came flooding back, the two also agreed why they are so passionate about the sport, “There’s nothing else like boxing; it can all change in the blink of an eye.”

Syers, who came up from South Orange County to join his peers, said he still loves boxing but also adds he is glad to be part of it, “Back when it was a sport–not just a business.”

His pal, who was given his moniker because on the rare occasions when he was knocked down, he would perpetually bounce back up with a big grin, thus the always “Smiling” Jerry Williams was born. As the two men shared tales with me, I can only imagine how great their golden age of boxing was then. But while I see how much it meant to them then, I can also feel how much it still means to them now.

For many involved with this association, their memories and careers are respected and honored. Each champ remembered and revered. Many come from a time when becoming a champion wasn’t as easy as it is now. With so many sanctioning bodies, there are a boatload of “paper champions” who may–or may not have–really fought the best opposition to earn those championship belts.

“Smiling” Jerry says when he was an up-and-comer, he was surrounded by many champs who really were the toughest hombres around–willing to fight anyone.

“These guys who fought were REAL champs,” the mustachioed Williams says with a wistful air. “This was back when being a champion really meant something.”

That is one of the things that the Golden State Boxer’s Association does best. President Montalvo and his officers ensure that these former and current champions know how much they mean to those who follow boxing.
After all, once a champ…always a champ.

[CNorkusJr]

Thank You All for your kind words and thoughts. I feel very lucky and Blessed for being here and being able to be part of this forum. I do believe in God, long before 9-11, and feel he had a guiding hand in watching over me during my career and in life today. My parents I can Thank them for that too.
My dad was proud I became a firefighter and my mom worried alot. She passed away just 60 days before 9-11 occurred and I feel she would not be able to handle the stress of me working in the FDNY after that. She and my father both watched over me since their passing. I was raised in a house in which you respect others before you worry about yourself.I'll be retired now for 5 years in December, and had hoped to work for another 10-15 years longer but my lungs say otherwise. I enjoy life very much and the wonderful people I call friends, which include all of you here in the forum. You all have great stories to tell and pictures to post and I hang on every word. (Though
I am not quite sure I'd eat everything you guys post in the meal pictures ).
If any of you wish to visit New York now or in the future, or possibly come as a group, I offer a standing invitation to all of you to contact me pre-visit( longer the better-so I know I'll be around and set some stuff up) and I'd be most happy to escort you around (if you wish) to give you the famous $10 tour of former boxing locales and firehouse visit. I can suggest nice restaurants, plays or musicals of interests, and what I feel can be a great suggestion on Manhattan or Long Island hotels.If you time it right, I belong to Ring #8 Veteran Boxing Assn and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of fame which have monthly meetings that you can go too with me. Both orgs. have annual dinners, NJBHOF has their induction in mid -Nov every year, Ring 8 in Dec annual Holiday luncheon. This year Ring 8 honorees & guests that are coming Joe & Marvis Frazier,Tony DeMarco,Iran Barkley,Emile Griffith,Junior Jones, Vito Antuofermo, Mark Medal and Mickey Ward. Angelo Dundee, I just heard backed out due to his wifes health problems in their Florida home.
Tickets are close to being sold out for this year, but there always next year too. They always have big names appear.
Standing Offer- write me at: [email protected]
Chuckyluv is a knickname given to me many years ago by my brother firefighters after bringing a different girl to each annual dinner for about 7 straight years. I finally picked one out and married her 4 years ago.
And yes -she kicks my arse.

[bennie]

Former ABA lightweight finalist, Gary Rogers, has passed away at the age of 47 after a 15-rounder with every demon you dare to mention.
The Stoke hard man, the Johnny Tapia of the Potteries, survived five comas before finally succumbing to liver failure a few days ago. "He was skin and bone," said ex-pro Clinton Campbell. The rugged, uncomplicated Rogers never turned pro and lacked great ability but he tore into his opponents and refused to let up. "He just didn't let me work," said Campbell, who was forced to retire after two rounds - and Campbell didn't get stopped.
Rogers, one of a large fighting family and the life and soul of any amateur boxing dressing room, won his fights on sheer exuberance, toughness and aggression. It was in 1983 that he walked through established operators like Ivan Kemp, Davey Moore, Freddie Brazil, Tony Graham and Neil Haddock (two rounds) on the way to an unlikely Wembley appearance against Liverpool's Kenny Willis, elder brother of Olympic star Tony.
Willis looked a lock to outbox the raw newcomer and he landed a sharp right hand in the opening two rounds but Gary kept on coming and looked close to stopping an exhausted and bewildered Willis in the third and last round, when the referee did his thing and gave Rogers a warning for careless headwork, buying Willis some precious time. Rogers turned to his corner as he was being warned as if to say, "I don't f ucking believe this!" His chance had gone, and I can still see the reaction of Willis as the verdict and the ABA title went his way. It was one of a man who had just seen deep inside himself, one of joy, exhaustion and, most of all, relief.
Gary Rogers was a tough, tough man. "Gary lived and breathed boxing," said his father, Derek. This born fighter never got over boxing.

[kikibalt]

Alejandro Lavorante vs Zora Folley

[bennie]

David Haye no longer fears 12 rounds. The right-hand-happy cruiserweight who punched himself out against Carl Thompson developed strength and strength of character as he filled out to heavyweight a couple of years ago. All of a sudden the gangling youngster looked different, all of a sudden the 30-year-old Haye was different, and he chased off a Russian behemoth by the name of Nikolai Valuev to win the WBA heavyweight title last year in Germany, wobbling Valuev in the 12th and last round with a big left hook and taking a unanimous decision. The new David Haye had arrived.
Audley Harrison landed his own big left in the 12th and last round to win the European heavyweight title against Michael Sprott earlier this year in London. The new Audley Harrison? 'Oh yes,' say his long-suffering fans, when we had a virtual replica of Harrison's infamous 12-rounder with Julius Francis many moons ago (and there was more than one moon on the night) as Harrison waited and waited to pull the trigger, then waited some more. Southpaw Harrison only unloaded when he was sure his opponent posed absolutely no threat to him, flooring an overweight, exhausted Francis in the final round to seal a snoozefest of a decision and flattening the tired little Sprott to seal a knockout and a shot at Haye on November 13 in Manchester. Be careful what you wish for.
Harrison, who is 39 next week, faces a man who no longer grows tired, who no longer relies on just the big right hand, who no longer wants to be friends. David Haye is the heavyweight champion of the world and this, for him, is another annoying, marking-time affair like his 10-round stoppage of John Ruiz in Manchester in April, when Haye refused to allow a notorious stinker in the Harrison mould do his thing, busting up the challenger, flooring him four times and punching him to a slow standstill.
I can see the same happening next month. Harrison will run and run and run (he calls it boxing) as Haye picks the big shots, floors him every time he gets through, and forces a stoppage in the middle rounds after yet another knockdown.

[BoxBuzz]

I know this can't be the first time this has appeared in this thread. Hope you don't mind the repeat performance.....

I did like Warren Zevon


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCpdkbo-_co


Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon

From Youngstown, Ohio, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini
A lightweight contender, like father like son
He fought for the title with Frias in Vegas
And he put him away in round number one

Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon

When Alexis Arguello gave Boom Boom a beating
Seven weeks later he was back in the ring
Some have the speed and the right combinations
If you can't take the punches it don't mean a thing

Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon

When they asked him who was responsible
For the death of Du Koo Kim
He said, "Someone should have stopped the fight, and told me it was him."
They made hypocrite judgments after the fact
But the name of the game is be hit and hit back

Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon
Hurry home early - hurry on home
Boom Boom Mancini's fighting Bobby Chacon




.

Had Boom Boom met Bobby
when they were both in their prime,

There may have been a different rhythm
There would have been a different rhyme.

But the undisputed world champion
Will forever and always be ....

one man and one man only
who goes by the name of Father T.

[THEHAMMER321]

I have always wondered why some fighters have a devastating loss like Mike Tyson, and are never the same even though he was only 21,where as Joe Louis had the loss to Max Shcmelling and became a better fighter, it was a learning experience, not the end of the world, I think the guys with the big ego's are more effected by a loss, also the sign of the times, in the old days a fighter fought many more times trying to get a title shot that was in no way guaranteed no matter who you beat, fighters didn't have time to dwell on a loss they were right back in there sometimes even before the cuts healed, some people say athletes have gotten better, and that may be true but there is nothing that can take the place of hunger and desire.

[THEHAMMER321]

Was just looking up some old time fighters, was surprised to see Jimmy Bivins still alive at 90, Bivins fought many of the top Heavy's and Lightheavy's of the 40s and 50s and was never given a title fight despite being ranked the number one heavyweight contender at one time.

[kikibalt]

Watching a classic movie on TCM, 'Tortilla Flat' with Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr & John Garfield.....