Hvywt Charley Norkus photos.. Friends and Foes

[CNorkusJr]

Here is a post that I wrote for my friends in the "Classic American West Coast Boxing" thread.
To read other great stories about boxing and California living, Go to top or bottom of page and click on "Boxers of the Past"-then scroll up to the "Classic Amer. West Coast Boxing" link to open. page 612,613

Danny Nardico vs. Charley Norkus 1954

Danny was a light heavyweight who wanted to fight the big guys so he tried to move up in weight. At his increased weight- He still had the necessary speed to compete with the bigger guys. If there was a fault it was in his defense. When he got tagged-he got mad, and this caused him to be a bit wild in the ring with his punches. This opened him up for more shots, but he was a very dangerous fighter to face in the ring. He possessed knockout power in the heavy division but the damage he took made for ferocious fighting and lots of connecting haymakers by both fighters.
He was 3rd ranked Lt-Heavy(gained lbs for the Norkus tilt though.) who was promised a fight with Rocky Marciano in Jan 54. Rocky's manager Al Weill called my father in along with Ghee Leico (Norkus mgr & trainer) and said he wanted my father to go down to Miami and fight Nardico first. My father was used by Weill to be a "policeman" for Rocky at that time. Rocky feared no man, but all opponents had to prove their ring worth to get a shot at him.

The fight was not on TV. As stated earlier on my dads thread here- TV cameras were on hand to televise the Maxim-Moore fight the following week in Miami Orangebowl. The TV people asked Chris Dundee if they can film the first Norkus/Nardico fight to have the TV people get a reading on lighting and various lens shots of fighters. It was only meant to be filmed 3 Rds.
The director was a knowledgble fight fan. What he witnessed was big. He ordered more tape be brought in and the entire fight was captured with no sound. The fight was so big (Ring Magazines runner-up Fight of the Year 1954) that Big Fights Inc, had it overdubbed and was televised later that summer. Danny knew that Marciano was out of the question after the fight.
However, Mad Sq Garden Productions saw big money in an instant rematch-2 months later same place. It was on National TV. It was the first time the Miami Bch Aud was Sold out with numerous actors and baseball stars ringside.
The managers of both fighters asked the Fla. Comm to allow a 3x knockdown rule be enforced for this fight. It was NOT granted. Both fighters didnt want to get into another Pier Six Brawl like the last one. It was relatively a much calmer fight with Norkus on top again going the distance.
Notes: Both fighters were former Marines.My dad said that he thinks that is why there was alot of agressiveness on Danny's part. Also- Danny was lined up for a title shot. He put it all out there till the end. He couldn't ruffle my dad up to be too wild so he, Danny -my father said- was the only fighter to curse at him throughout the entire fight- which my father stated pissed my father off to no end and hence the agressiveness of my dad till the end. The film does not do the first fight justice.With few fight fans in the arena rooting for my dad (Danny was from Tampa)- it was a very bloody battle.
Miami Herald after fight: Norkus had a new fan come up to him in a white suit after the fight. It was blotted with blood from both fighters from the
brawl that just transpired. "Hey Norkus" the fan exclaimed "I'm never going to get this suit cleaned. It from the best fight I ever seen". Later it was learned that the fan sat in the 3rd row ringside.
My father said Danny was not the same again. He tried contacting him but to no avail. I can tell you personally that, over the years, the two have been connected by that fateful night. That one fight is still very much written about in todays boxing journals. My father received fan mail right up until his death in 1996 and with out a doubt-the most mentioned subject in the letters.
In 1985 The Miami Sentinel ( I gotta look up the right name of paper) held a a poll in which it asked Miamians and surrounding area what the most memorable Florida sports events that ever taken place. 1985 mind you.
# 1 Dolphins undefeated Super Bowl year. #2 Ali- Liston. #3 Norkus-Nardico first fight.
2005 interview with Angelo Dundee: Most Favorite fight he ever saw.
Norkus/ Nardico 1. (Angelo was my fathers cutman in his corner during the 2nd fight on TV.
God Bless you Danny Nardico. May you Rest In Peace.

Charlie & Danny before their first fight

My father got up after a solid right by Danny (First Fight).


Last one, Rematch photo

[CNorkusJr]

Two Pictures from Dec. 2010 Ring 8 luncheon in NY.

Joe Frazier and I.
Joe remembered my father well during our conversation.



Portion of Ring 8's dais (L-R)
Emile Griffith,Leon Spinks,Marvis and Joe Frazier

[CNorkusJr]

Here is photo of Charley with good friend and fellow Long Islander, Joe Miceli.
Probably taken in Stillman's Gym. 1950's.

[orbtastic]

Just to say I've downloaded a few of your dad's fights - Simmons, Nardico I/II & LaStarza and look forward to watching them. There's the Charles fight knocking about too but I can't seem to get it.

[CNorkusJr]

Two of the Greatest Boxing Film Collectors - both are personal friends to me ,and who I recommend getting any Norkus fight from are:

http://www.Ringwise.com
Kurt Notimier from Edina,Minnesota
visit site for listings of 1,000's he has on hand.
Email him for requests [email protected]

Or-and completely reliable:
www.sweetfights.com
Jarrod Marshall

[CNorkusJr]

Originally Posted by jakkups
Charley Norkus vs Danny Nardico I
Auditorium
Miami Beach, Florida
United States


This fight ended in a KO and had a total of 8 knockdowns. Need I say more? Enjoy!

[CNorkusJr]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ANECF1RJ

Download will be offered about 45 seconds after you click link. Hit "regular download-Free)Then will take about 5 minutes to download using approx. 988 MB of space. Media Player will play the video.

The above is the download link to the first Nardico-Norkus fight in Miami Beach ,FLA in January 1954. It is the full fight-NO Sound (not the shorter 5 min HL film which was dubbed and widely circulated).All knockdowns included.

Charley Norkus is the taller of the two men and is coming out of the corner to the left of the screen.Both men were bleeding heavily by the 3rd Rd.
This fight was Not televised. It was being taped as the cameras were getting ready to show the Joey Maxim-Archie Moore fight in the Orange Bowl the following week. TV production crew used this fight to adjusts their lenses getting ready for that fight. Hence the changing lens scenes and darker-lighter contrasts.
Full fight.

More on Danny Nardico and this fight can be found at the top of this page (5).

[Scottrf]

He was mentioned in passing in A.J. Leibling's 'Sweet Science' in reference to his fight with Tommy Jackson.

[Brutu]

Here is a link to an action photo of Tommy Harrison vs Charlie Norkus
October.20.1952.


http://books.google.com/books?id=ILsDAA ... pg=PA29&dq

[CNorkusJr]

Here is a link to an action photo of Tommy Harrison vs Charlie Norkus
October.20.1952.


http://books.google.com/books?id=ILsDAA ... pg=PA29&dq

A big Thank You to scott and Brutu for the heads up on both articles. Very kind of you to add such information and link to the picture. (A picture I have not seen before.)

The Tommy Harrison -Charley Norkus fight.

Charley was scheduled to fight Roland LaStarza in the Providence,RI Auditorium on Oct 20,1952. When Roland pulled out with cuts he suffered in the previous fight with Rocky Jones, Tommy Harrison, a 177 lb heavy and chief sparmate for Rocky Marciano's fights with Harry "Kid" Matthews & Jersey Joe Walcott was substituted into the Main Event. 10 Rds.
Rocky Marciano was on hand to referee one of the Pre-lims, Willie Wilson vs. Jeff Dyer.
Wilson got the SD after 8 Rds with Rocky being the tie breaker.
Rocky was also scheduled to work in Harrison's corner that night, but Rocky changed his mind after being worked out during his reffing duties. It was his first appearance in the Providence area after his winning the Heavy title. The crowd of 1,340 was under what was expected after announcing Rocky would be at the card.
When the Harrison -Norkus fight started Harrison took an early lead by beating Norkus to the punches. Norkus took the 3rd round & 5th rd, but the other 3 rds were working to be in Harrisons favor.
In the eighth Rd my father said he peppered Harrison with left hooks and felt he swiped the 8th rd. My father said, between Rds, Ghee Laico-mgr,said to him that your in Rhode Island and that you will probably need a KO to get the dec.. My father responded in the 9th Rd with solid lefts and then a right cross that dropped Harrison. Tommy Harrison rose up on the count of nine and Norkus went on the attack again. Harrison fought back gamely and countered with some shots of his own. The crowd was now on its feet and expecting big things in the 10th. The two men gave them their money worths. Harrison threw the more punches than Norkus but all accounts had Norkus's punches carrying more of the "sting". It ended with both on their feet and the crowd going wild over the last two power Rds.
Both fighters were evenly matched going into the ring, but Harrison's early Rds won over the scorecard and got the Split Decision. Ref Sharky Buonanno saw it Norkus, Judges Ed Jansen and Dick Cotter gave Harrison the 6-4 edge.
Some of the info above came from the "The Providence Journal" newspaper.

[CNorkusJr]

Weigh-in in San Francisco, 1954 Charlie Powell vs. Charley Norkus
Powell was 6'3 212 lbs. Norkus 6'0 193 lbs

[CNorkusJr]

Archie Moore at 196 lbs vs Charley Norkus 193 lbs in San Francisco Auditorium in May 1958.My father went the distance with Moore who was 171-21-9 at the time.Moore UD 10 Rds. My father's record was 32-16 at the time, and only fought 4 more times after this fight.
My father always stated that Archie was the toughest opponent he faced.
His peek-a-boo style defense had a huge effect on my father not landing the head shots that was his primary attack on his opponent. Archie's punches definetly wilted my father away over the length of the fight as can be seen here.

[hhascup]

Great material my friend!

[CNorkusJr]

Great material my friend!

Thanks Henry. Glad you check the site out for time to time.
I posted some Henry Wallitsch stories on the "Classic Amer.West Coast Boxing" thread at the top of this Boxrec Forum today. You might find them interesting.

[CNorkusJr]

A photo from the archives of the Chicago Tribune.

My father with Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson use to train in Stillman's Gym in NY on 8th ave.
Dempsey would come in and talk to the "kids" who were training there. Its just about the only thing that brought the gym to a practical standstill for the few minutes as he addressed the crowd. Dempsey only did this just a few times as he knew that the boxers would rather be training after loosening up. The boxers also knew they could always walk over to his restaurant on Broadway and meet him just about anytime.

When my father was slated to fight Jackson in MSG in 1954, he sent word that he wanted the two fighters to come to his restaurant for pre-fight meal and photo-op before their fight that same evening in MSG.
Both my father & Jackson were native New Yorkers and were good reps of the Heavyweight Division then.The two weighed in at the Garden, took promo shots and went to Dempseys.

Here we see the Great Jack Dempsey demonstrating his "Manassas Mauler" to fighters Norkus & Jackson as Lou Nova, former top heavy contender looks on.



My father found himself in the company of Jack Dempsey a few times over the years. They were good friends and Jack told my mother that he always thought my father was a talented heavyweight who could hit hard. Here a 8x10 picture signed for my mother and father from Jack. Probably around early 1960's.
It says " To my friends Charlie & Marge Norkus Lots of Luck Pals, Jack Dempsey"

[CNorkusJr]

My father had a great history with Roland LaStarza throughout the 50's though they only met once in the ring in 1954.
Though my father trained in New Jersey for a few years in the beginning of his career, in 1951 he was moving up in the heavy division with some KO's logged in. With talk of him fighting on the bigger stages in New York, he started training at Stillmans gym about 1951.
LaStarza was already in there and held court to his followers. My father watched as the older LaStarza would train. They became friends very fast and would kid each other about getting together in the ring one day and who would win.
On Nov 9th,1951 LaStarza was originally scheduled to fight Dan Bucceroni, but LaStarza had the flu and fight was postponed until Dec 21. At that time my father was added to undercard fighting James J Parker who KO'd my father. My father was out for almost 30 seconds before coming too. LaStarza lost to Bucceroni as Main Event.

My father was scheduled to meet Roland in Main Event on Oct 20,1952 in Providence RI.
Rocky Marciano was going to be ref, and this would be his first appearance back in Providence area since winning the title. LaStarza had facial cuts from his previous fight and cancelled, Tommy Harrison was substituted against my father instead.Marciano did not ref,Harrison won split Dec.

The two finally met in Cleveland arena in Dec 1954 on National TV. A charity show for The News Toyshop Fund helping poor children. Tixs were, $3,$6,$8,$10 and patron $15.
The fight sold out.Att:9,112. Roland came in at 3-2 favorite. Both fighters trained at Euclid Gym when they got to Cleveland.
Angelo Curley-cutman was in my fathers corner with Ghee Leico his mgr.
A lackluster fight with my father getting the nod in the end. Pictures and articles next page.

[CNorkusJr]

click on the below link to read newspaper article on fight.

http://i54.tinypic.com/21mxc47.jpg



here is youtube link for Norkus-LaStarza fight. Rds 7-10 only No Sound.
Norkus in white trunks-LaStarza in black
Norkus UD 10 Rds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrDwKI0ZVCY

[CNorkusJr]

Charley with Gil Clancy and Ray Arcel, Billy Graham sitting in background.
Downtown Athletic Club about 1982 ?


One of Boxings Great Trainers passed away-Gil Clancy. Gil worked with George Foreman,Gerry Cooney, Jerry Quarry amongst others. Gil will be remembered most for his 20 year career with Champion Emile Griffith.

Charley and Gil were friends out of Queens, NY. Gil growing up in The Rockaways while Charley hailed from Bellrose,NY. Gil, 6 years Charlie's senior, would work out of Queens PAL before going into the Army. Charley trained in Woodhaven,Queens entering the NY Golden Gloves in 1945 & 1946 before going into the Marines. It was in Queens,NY that Charley first met Gil. Gil did not work with Charley,but they saw each other along the amateur route.

Gil resided in Malverne NY during much of his later life,and we lived just 20 mins.away.
Charley saw Gil many times over the years, but one such trip was my first meeting with Gil Clancy.
Training Jerry Quarry for his fight with Joe Alexander at The Nassau Coliseum in May,1974,
Gil had Jerry training under a large white tent set up just outside the former John Peel Room
at The Island Inn in Westbury,Long Island.
Charley called up Gil and asked if he can bring me and meet Jerry Quarry at his training session. Gil said sure. Playing hooky out of high school that day,my father brought me to his training camp. Gil called my father and I past the fee collectors (about $3.00 or $5.00 I believe at that time) and sat and watched Jerry work the heavy and speed bags.
He received great applause after each turn on the bags from the 100-150 fans in attendance. Gil then had Jerry Quarry come over and greet my father and I. It was a short greeting with hands shakes at the end and we wished him well. The group "The Fifth Dimension" were on hand also and the group took promo shots together.
Jerry got into the ring to spar with a few guys (I cant remember who). Afterwards when the session ended,my father talked to Gil at length, as my father had just gotten his referreeing license in NYS and was discussing business.

Gil was one of the best in the business and would surely be missed by the boxing community.

[CNorkusJr]

Two former Heavyweight Contenders of different eras talk things over at Stillman's Gym.

Abe Simon & Charley Norkus

[CNorkusJr]

After Charley's fight with Ezzard Charles in 1955, he changed Mgrs/trainers.
Marty Sampson (a former ranked middleweight from the 1930's &1940's) bought his contract.
Marty would lead Charley into bouts with Archie Moore in San Francisco, a rematch with Charlie Powell, Joe Rowan in NYC and a Miami fight with Willie Pastrano.
The Moore,Rowan,Pastrano fight all televised. Powell II ??

Here is Charley and new mgr Marty Sampson in San Francisco.
The second picture is Marty Sampson against unknown taken in Miami Beach in 1958 before Pastrano/Norkus fight.



Marty Sampson on left (below)

[CNorkusJr]

Charley & Joey Giardella

[CNorkusJr]

Posted this one before.
Billy Graham,Charley,Tony Marvin with Rocky Graziano on the Martha Raye Show.


New picture.
Here is another shot taken of Graziano & Marvin by my father after the show.

[raylawpc]

A photo from the archives of the Chicago Tribune.

My father with Tommy "Hurricane" Jackson use to train in Stillman's Gym in NY on 8th ave.
Dempsey would come in and talk to the "kids" who were training there. Its just about the only thing that brought the gym to a practical standstill for the few minutes as he addressed the crowd. Dempsey only did this just a few times as he knew that the boxers would rather be training after loosening up. The boxers also knew they could always walk over to his restaurant on Broadway and meet him just about anytime.

When my father was slated to fight Jackson in MSG in 1954, he sent word that he wanted the two fighters to come to his restaurant for pre-fight meal and photo-op before their fight that same evening in MSG.
Both my father & Jackson were native New Yorkers and were good reps of the Heavyweight Division then.The two weighed in at the Garden, took promo shots and went to Dempseys.

Here we see the Great Jack Dempsey demonstrating his "Manassas Mauler" to fighters Norkus & Jackson as Lou Nova, former top heavy contender looks on.



My father found himself in the company of Jack Dempsey a few times over the years. They were good friends and Jack told my mother that he always thought my father was a talented heavyweight who could hit hard. Here a 8x10 picture signed for my mother and father from Jack. Probably around early 1960's.
It says " To my friends Charlie & Marge Norkus Lots of Luck Pals, Jack Dempsey"

I think Jack Dempsey had a bit of the politician in him. I have his autograph from 1973 in a scrapbook that says, "To my friend Tom. Lots of luck Pal, Jack Dempsey." Every Dempsey autograph I've seen reads the same way. I guess he didn't want anybody to be able to say he showed any favoritism to anyone.

[CNorkusJr]

Agreed Tom, I think if Jack had a nickel for every hand he shook at his restaurant in NYC, not only would he be the millionaire that he was many times over, but he probably could have been mayor for a long time too.

I have seen a few Dempsey personalized autographs over the years in which he sent the same salutation. It does take on a charm of its own compared to the standard, "Best Wishes"
or the favorite amongst boxers including my father, "Keep Punchin'".

[CNorkusJr]

Recently an opponent of my father passed away in Tacoma,Washington.
Pat McMurtry was a top contender who packed a wallop with his punching skills.
My father fought 6'4'' Pat McMurtry in 1958 in Tacoma Washington,going the distance of 10 Rds,but losing a UD. Pat was the 1952 US Marine Heavyweight Champion-a title my father held in 1948.
Newspaper articles at the time stated that this was the first time in Heavyweight Boxing history that two former US Marine Champions ever faced each other in the ring.
Here are some photos from the fight, held in an outdoor stadium (Cheney Field) under the lights.Norkus in light green trunks which appear to be white in photos.