Classic American West Coast Boxing

[kikibalt]

True story: my parents married on April 1, which over here is better known as April Fools' Day.
They didn't go the distance.

We here in the states to call April 1th, April Fools day. Sorry to hear about your parents not going the distance, but that's life, Bennie....

[Panzerfaust]

Happy Birthday, Frank, and Happy Anniversary to you and Connie!!

[Rick Farris]

True story: my parents married on April 1, which over here is better known as April Fools' Day.
They didn't go the distance.

We here in the states to call April 1th, April Fools day. Sorry to hear about your parents not going the distance, but that's life, Bennie....

I went the distance in just about every boxing match I had.
Marriages?
Let's just say I'm working on it.

[kikibalt]

Happy Birthday, Frank, and Happy Anniversary to you and Connie!!

Thanks Ram....

[kikibalt]

True story: my parents married on April 1, which over here is better known as April Fools' Day.
They didn't go the distance.

We here in the states to call April 1th, April Fools day. Sorry to hear about your parents not going the distance, but that's life, Bennie....

I went the distance in just about every boxing match I had.
Marriages?
Let's just say I'm working on it.

[Rick Farris]

I have read that Ad Wolgast drew the colorline at the time he won the world lightweight title.
It is ironic that one of his ring opponents, Earl France, may have been a black man who could pass for being white. France won a disputed decision over Wolgast in a ten-round bout staged in Phoenix, Arizona during 1919.

- Chuck Johnston

Thanks, Chuck. Disputed decision? Was it judging despute or a racial issue?

[raylawpc]

I have read that Ad Wolgast drew the colorline at the time he won the world lightweight title.
It is ironic that one of his ring opponents, Earl France, may have been a black man who could pass for being white. France won a disputed decision over Wolgast in a ten-round bout staged in Phoenix, Arizona during 1919.

- Chuck Johnston

Thanks, Chuck. Disputed decision? Was it judging despute or a racial issue?

Rick, I have short clippings of the fight from the Reno Evening Gazette and the Oakland Tribune. It was an unpopular decision booed by the crowd. Many thought Wolgast won at least six of the ten rounds. France apparently had a very big tenth round, which apparently influenced officials.

[raylawpc]

I wasn't lying about the iron and ironing board. I'll send you a photo when I pick it up for her. I'll get her the other gift, as well, but this one is almost like a gift to myself. For just a moment I was able to envision myself a "kept man". It's on the horizon

The romantic Christmas gifts went away after about our fifth anniversary. (However, that said, Linda and I got married on December 27th so we share something romantic on the anniversary.)

I'm sure you guys are still in love....

[Randyman]

My fight with Eduardo Barba was entered into the records. It ain't much but it's mine. Now I feel complete.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Thanks for the support!

Randy

[kikibalt]

My fight with Eduardo Barba was entered into the records. It ain't much but it's mine. Now I feel complete.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Thanks for the support!

Randy

Way to go Randy, congrats...

[Rick Farris]

My fight with Eduardo Barba was entered into the records. It ain't much but it's mine. Now I feel complete.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Thanks for the support!

Randy

Way to go Randy, congrats...

[raylawpc]

My fight with Eduardo Barba was entered into the records. It ain't much but it's mine. Now I feel complete.

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

Thanks for the support!

Randy

[Rick Farris]

The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Duane Bobick W Fred Houpe UD 10 10
Tom Bethea L Mike Quarry UD 10 10
Eduardo Barba W Randy De La O UD 6 6

[kikibalt]

(l.to r. Sugar Ray Robinson, Ernie Durando, Mrs. Vincent Impellitteri and Paddy Young)

Sugar Ray Robinson signs to Fight the Winner of Paddy Young v. Ernie Durando
for The New York Heart Fund

Signing at Gracie Mansion (Mayor's Residence) New York City

February, 29, 1952

[Randyman]

Thanks guys!

[Randyman]

I just got through watching "Old Yeller". It's probably been over thirty years since I've seen the movie. It's still a tearjerker.

[Randyman]

True story: my parents married on April 1, which over here is better known as April Fools' Day.
They didn't go the distance.

We here in the states to call April 1th, April Fools day. Sorry to hear about your parents not going the distance, but that's life, Bennie....

I went the distance in just about every boxing match I had.
Marriages?
Let's just say I'm working on it.

I think every marriage is a work in progress!
Randy

[Chuck1052]

In regards to Earl France, I think that just about everyone thought he was a white man at the time he was active as a fighter. It is only when I took a look at various records on Ancestry.com that I discovered that he may have been black.

While looking at records on Ancestry.com, I found that it was probable that his real name was Ulric Earl Vincent. I found an Ulric Earl Vincent or an Ulric (Ulrick) Vincent in the World War Draft Registration database, the U.S. Passport Applications database, the California Passenger Lists database, and in the U.S. Census databases of 1900, 1920, and 1930.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, there is an Ulric Vincent who was about a year old and living with his family in Iberia, Louisiana. According to the census, Ulric and all other members of his family are listed as being black. In the 1920 U.S. Census, there is an Ulric Vincent who was 21 years old and living with his family in Los Angeles. According to the census, Ulric and the rest of his family are listed as being white. All other records list Ulric (Ulrick) Vincent as being white.

- Chuck Johnston

[kikibalt]

The day I was born

Dec. 13: On this date in 1936

by Citizen Dan

…1936: The Packers were truly, indisputably world champions for the first time.

The Packers of the late 1920s and early ‘30s were the most dominant team of their era, finishing at the top of the fledgling National Football League three years in a row from 1929-31. But they had never been tested in a championship game.

The Boston Redskins would provide that challenge in the NFL’s fourth championship game, held at the Polo Grounds. (Redskins owner George Preston Marshall insisted that the game be moved to New York in order to draw a bigger crowd. Ticket prices ranged from 40 cents to $1.25.)

The Packers entered the game coming off an impressive 10-1-1 season in which they’d defeated the 7-5 Redskins twice. The Packers boasted a bruising offense led by QB Arnie Herber, super-rookie WR Don Hutson, and RBs Clark Hinkle and Johnny Blood.

Meanwhile, the Redskins’ attack was based mostly around the running of Cliff Battles, by far the team’s biggest offensive weapon until the arrival the following year of the great Sammy Baugh. Unfortunately for them, Battles would leave this game early with an injured knee.

The Packers asserted themselves early with a quick-strike scoring pass from Herber to Hutson, who’d turned the league on its head as its first true deep receiving threat. “The one-time Alabama Rose Bowler swerved to his left and just as he reached the 20-yard strip he was racing down the sidelines in full stride,” wrote Arthur Daley in the New York Times the next day. “Herber whipped the pigskin to the left flat zone, the pass just leading Hutson by the right margin.”

The Redskins responded with a 79-yard drive capped by a short rushing TD. But although Boston outgained Green Bay in the first half, all they had to show for it was a one-point deficit.

The Packers dominated play in the second half, holding the Redskins to 14 total yards in the final two quarters. They increased their lead with a 73-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 52-yard hookup between Herber and Blood that brought the ball to the Boston 8.

Overall, the Redskins completed only 7 of 27 passing attempts for a meager 38 yards and only crossed midfield twice in the second half. A blocked punt in the fourth quarter gave the Packers the ball on the Boston 2, and Bob Monnett’s touchdown clinched the game at 21-6 in favor of Green Bay.

It would be the first of three NFL championship games the Packers would win under founder and coach Curly Lambeau. Each winning Packer received $250 for winning the championship, while the Redskins had to settle for $180 apiece.



Arnie Herber (left) and Don Hutson

Dec. 13, 1936
Polo Grounds, New York
Attendance: 29,545

1 2 3 4 F
Packers 7 0 7 7 21
Redskins 0 6 0 0 6

GB: Don Hutson 48 pass from Arnie Herber (Ernie Smith kick)
BOS: Pug Rentner 2 run (kick failed)
GB: Milt Gantenbein 8 pass from Herber (Smith)
GB: Bob Monnett 2 run (Paul Engebretsen kick)

Trivia: What would have happened if the Packers and Redskins had played to a tie in the 1936 NFL Championship? The answer will appear in the Comments section tomorrow.

Answer: They would have played a rematch the following week. A rule dictating overtime play in championship games wasn’t established until 1941.

Boston Redskins

http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/wa ... skins.html

[bennie]

(l.to r. Sugar Ray Robinson, Ernie Durando, Mrs. Vincent Impellitteri and Paddy Young)

Sugar Ray Robinson signs to Fight the Winner of Paddy Young v. Ernie Durando
for The New York Heart Fund

Signing at Gracie Mansion (Mayor's Residence) New York City

February, 29, 1952

Sugar Ray is the only one who doesn't look like a boxer.

[bennie]

[raylawpc]

(l.to r. Sugar Ray Robinson, Ernie Durando, Mrs. Vincent Impellitteri and Paddy Young)

Sugar Ray Robinson signs to Fight the Winner of Paddy Young v. Ernie Durando
for The New York Heart Fund

Signing at Gracie Mansion (Mayor's Residence) New York City

February, 29, 1952

Sugar Ray is the only one who doesn't look like a boxer.

I don't think Mrs. Impellitteri looks much like a boxer. (P.S.: Mrs. Impellitteri was the wife of NYC's mayor.)

[CNorkusJr]

(l.to r. Sugar Ray Robinson, Ernie Durando, Mrs. Vincent Impellitteri and Paddy Young)

Sugar Ray Robinson signs to Fight the Winner of Paddy Young v. Ernie Durando
for The New York Heart Fund

Signing at Gracie Mansion (Mayor's Residence) New York City

February, 29, 1952

Thanks for posting this nice photo frank. I envy your photo collection.

Ernie and my dad were the best of friends starting in 1946 and lasted until Ernie's death in 1992.
Ernie was instrumental in getting my father to turn pro out of New Jersey in 1948. They both trained together and was managed by Abe Bressler with Ghee Leico taking over the trainer/mgr reins later on.
Starting when I was a young boy (we lived in NY by then) every so often we made the trip to Bayonne to see the Durandos' and have dinner. They would come to Long Island to see us too. Ernie has a son- Rocky Durando- who is a practicing dentist today. He and his wife Margie Durando had a daughter,Marie, who is a newspaper features writer the last time I met her in 2004.
Durando was old school and as tough a fighter as ever was. Another guy who was one of the nicest guys out of the ring too. After retirement he landed a job with admin. of the New Jersey State Troopers, Chuck Wepner does the same thing nowadays. Ernie was a few years older than my father and his career started earlier as a pro.
Here one from about 1949 Bayonne, NJ:
(L-R) George Holzman, Ernie, Charley Norkus


This one is 1948. Bayonne Navy Yard. My father(US Navy Squad) in training for 1948 Olympic trials. My father lost to Coley Wallace in Qtr-Finals at Boston Garden. My father was Heavy Weight Alternate to US Olympic Team.(London).That year Coley Wallace then lost to Norvel Lee, then Lee lost in his bid for the Gold at london.
Ernie Durando in background keeping an eye on my fathers routine.
Sparmate on left is Johnny White (US Navy Boxing trainer)

[Rick Farris]

In regards to Earl France, I think that just about everyone thought he was a white man at the time he was active as a fighter. It is only when I took a look at various records on Ancestry.com that I discovered that he may have been black.

While looking at records on Ancestry.com, I found that it was probable that his real name was Ulric Earl Vincent. I found an Ulric Earl Vincent or an Ulric (Ulrick) Vincent in the World War Draft Registration database, the U.S. Passport Applications database, the California Passenger Lists database, and in the U.S. Census databases of 1900, 1920, and 1930.

In the 1900 U.S. Census, there is an Ulric Vincent who was about a year old and living with his family in Iberia, Louisiana. According to the census, Ulric and all other members of his family are listed as being black. In the 1920 U.S. Census, there is an Ulric Vincent who was 21 years old and living with his family in Los Angeles. According to the census, Ulric and the rest of his family are listed as being white. All other records list Ulric (Ulrick) Vincent as being white.

- Chuck Johnston

You are a real historian.

[Rick Farris]

(l.to r. Sugar Ray Robinson, Ernie Durando, Mrs. Vincent Impellitteri and Paddy Young)

Sugar Ray Robinson signs to Fight the Winner of Paddy Young v. Ernie Durando
for The New York Heart Fund

Signing at Gracie Mansion (Mayor's Residence) New York City

February, 29, 1952

Something tells me she is the most dangerous person in the picture.


Sugar Ray is the only one who doesn't look like a boxer.

I don't think Mrs. Impellitteri looks much like a boxer. (P.S.: Mrs. Impellitteri was the wife of NYC's mayor.)

Something tells me she is the most dangerous person in the photo.