Don't be shy...

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 11 Jul 2005, 09:01

There's a lot of great posters on this site. I'm really pleased to be a part of the forum. There's also a lot of knowledge and experience of the fight game. So, come on, all the old-timers, and not-so-old-timers, share with us which famous names you've met, how you met them and what they were like.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy hearing about stories of you all meeting up with fighters (the greats and the not so greats), no story is too small...

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 11 Jul 2005, 11:19

Three years ago (i was 13) i met joe frazier. My girlfriends older brother ran a company that sold sports memorobelia and vintage photos..etc. and my girlfriend new how much i loved boxing so she brought me the day frazier was to come. Whenever i heard of the ali-frazier fights, i always find myself rooting for ali..i dunno why i mean i want to root for frazier because hes all-american nice guy...but i still wanted to root for ali i really dont know why..well anyway i met him and he talked to me for 3 hours.. he was such an interesting guy..he told me about his early fights and how in the beginning guys who were trying to make a name for themselves would cheat and foul, do anything to win..but he said his skills got him through that. Then we talked about ali. Frazier told me that he never liked ali, that he said some mean spirited things, and that it wasnt just a show for the cameras...he also told me,which im not sure if its true but ill take his word for it, that he made his peace with ali. well after all of that frazier signed about 15 things i had ready for him haha..then people were taking pictures so he arm wrestled me and let me win of course, then he got up and pretended to box me..we was a classy guy, soft spoken, funny, hard to understand but you cant blame him..he has a huge heart, that he was willing to show to me, some 13 year old kid that he could have just put off and ignored instead of spending hours with..i hope people dont overlook frazier just because ali was the premier boxer of the time..another era, like say now, and frazier would be dominant

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 11 Jul 2005, 12:22

About two years ago I had the GREAT pleasure of meeting the one and only Roberto Duran. I managed to spend a short period of time with him and through his translator ask him a few questions about his career. I was so nervous I could not believe I was talking with and shaking hands with the HANDS OF STONE!

After our chat he signed a picture for me and posed for photographes.

I found Roberto Duran to be a total gentleman he seemed in good houmor and health, the man is a class act.

I have also briefly met Richie Woodhall a few moments after he won his Commenwealth Light-Middleweight Championship, seemed like a really nice down-to-earth bloke. I used to live near Richie so I saw a lot of his early fights from ringside. On various undercards I also saw the like of Robert McKracken, Neville Brown (who I also breifly said hello to one night at one of these bills) and Henry Akinwande, great days.

Last year I met Carl Froch when he held an open-air training session, seemed like a good bloke and he signed a promo card for me.

Telford Pro Mickey Lerwell used to work the door of a pub I drank in, in Telford during the late 80's early 90's so I said hello etc to him many a time.

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 11 Jul 2005, 12:24

Thansk Rory...

That must have been a great experience. I'm green with envy (sorry no green emoticon). I love the Frazier-Ali fights but Joe was the smaller man and Ali always seemed to get refs that let him get away with things. I'm not trying to take anything away from Ali (got to be 1 or 2 all time heavy) but those fights were so evenly matched that there really wasn't that much between them, and yet Ali walks away with the plaudits and Joe is often overlooked. He was a classy guy though, as your story proves.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 11 Jul 2005, 12:28

Ali

"I bring out the best in every fighter I face, but I'll tell the world right now......Joe Frazier, he brings out the best in me"

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 12 Jul 2005, 04:07

Thanks KOJoe

I'd love to meet Duran. That's a great story. Where were you at the time and how did you get tio meet him? I think Duran is one of thopse few people who can truly transcend a sport.

Can anyone reccomend a biography?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 12 Jul 2005, 12:48

Ezzard wrote:Thanks KOJoeI'd love to meet Duran. That's a great story. Where were you at the time and how did you get tio meet him? I think Duran is one of thopse few people who can truly transcend a sport.?

It was in a Nightclub at one of those meet & greet type evening but it wasn't that busy so I managed to get time to ask him a few questions etc.

Ezzard wrote:Can anyone reccomend a biography?

Sorry cant help you with that one but a book on the great Latino fighters Duran, Chavez, Gomez, Zarate, Sanchez, Lopez etc would be great.

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 12 Jul 2005, 13:39

One of the best days of my life in boxing was when I met the great Carmen Basilio, here in Atlanta, GA. He came to a boxing show that weekend. It was around the summer of 1999. I was working in the hotel he was staying for the boxing show.

I remember that I was very NERVOUS to shake his hand. I could not believe that I shook the hand OF ONE OF THE MOST FEARLESS AND ROUGHEST FIGHTERS THAT EVER LIVED!!!

He looked old of course, but he always had a great sense of humor. At least of what I saw of him that day. It made my day. I told my coworkers that "You see that old man over there??? That man is Carmen Basilio, one of the toughest and greatest fighters that ever lived!!!" Of course, I expect my coworkers not to know who Basilio was.

He talked with the people around him (which were boxers) about his 2 figths with Sugar Ray Robinson and other fights. But it was a great pleasure to meet him.

Also in that same hotel, I met Meldrick Taylor that same year. He was still fighting and had to fight that weekend. He looked totally AWFUL. HE COULD NOT EVEN SPEAK WELL, due to the punches he received in the ring. he was surprised that I knew who he was.

In that same hotel, I met Livingstone Bramble...He gave me a hug. I also met Buck Smith and told him that "You know that you got more than 100 KOs???" He was amazed that I knew his boxing record. I have also seen the great Roberto Duran, but from a distance

dnahar32 · Post by **dnahar32** » 12 Jul 2005, 14:16

I met Muhummad Ali in a book signing in Atlanta. My dad and I got there at 8am in the morning for the noon signing and we were about the 50-60th in the line. No way I was going to be late for this, and my dad took off work to be there. While waiting with other Ali fans, we started going through his whole career and all he has accomplished. I talked with Thomas Hauser about Ali. I remember we were startled when one of the security people called us up. I thought we were going to win something. It turned out that there was a car accident in the family and my dad had to leave. It seemed like a bad sign...

The great thing about Ali was that we were told Ali might not be able to sign for us and that we would get pre-signed book plates. But Ali would have none of it. He signed for everyone (including every book for one guy who bought 20!), posed for pictures, and made nearly everyone laugh. I got an autographed book and a picture posing with Ali with my puny fist to his chin and him making faces at me. What a class act and a tremendous human being.

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 13 Jul 2005, 11:15

I met Bernard Hopkins, actually I was on my home from work and this girl at my job had just given me 2 8X10 glossy photos of Bernard Hopkins. Her boyfriend was a promoter and got his hands on them, she knew I was a big Hopkins fan so she gave them to me...anyway Im walking down Germantown Ave in Philly and I see Bernard riding down the ave, he had a ice blue Mercedes Benz with a tag in the front that said KO1. Anyway when I saw him I called out to him and to my surprise he pulled over, I walked over to his car and asked him to sign the photos and he signed both of them. He was really down to earth dude, he even chatted with me for a little while, great dude. This was before his fight with Tito but Im sure he is the same level headed dude now. I have also meant Joe Fraizer, Meldrick Taylor, Jimmy Young, Charlie choo choo Brown, Jimmy the bull Martin, Rodney Moore, Bugaloo Watts , David Reid and Rock and Tiger Allen and Kitten Howard.

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 13 Jul 2005, 11:22

Hey Shoeshien, that's an impressive collection of greats to have rubbed shoudlers with. Mind you, you do live in Philadelphia

so I guess you've got greats hanging out on street corners all over the city...

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 13 Jul 2005, 12:50

ShoeShine wrote: Jimmy Young,

You met Jimmy Young???????

Oh man, Jimmy is one of my favourites I was so upset when he passed away.

I have heard from a number of sources he was a great guy. Did you have time to chat with him and ask him any questions?

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 13 Jul 2005, 14:25

Ezzard wrote:Hey Shoeshien, that's an impressive collection of greats to have rubbed shoudlers with. Mind you, you do live in Philadelphia so I guess you've got greats hanging out on street corners all over the city...

Yes I was born and raised in philly, I meant most of those guys in various gyms in Philly, Charlie Choo choo Brown reffed one of my fights, Boogaloo Watts used to train me, Meldrick and I trained at Joe Fraziers gym...etc etc etc..

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 13 Jul 2005, 14:35

KOJOE90 wrote:
ShoeShine wrote: Jimmy Young,
You met Jimmy Young???????

Oh man, Jimmy is one of my favourites I was so upset when he passed away.

I have heard from a number of sources he was a great guy. Did you have time to chat with him and ask him any questions?

To be honest the first time I meant Jimmy Young I was like 10 and training at Jimmy Beechems boys club in West Philadelphia, he didnt look all that good...I didnt even recognize him ..he seemed a little down on his luck . He wasnt even driving he was riding a broken down bike..he had stopped by the gym to talk to Jimmy Beechem who was a great trainer in philly, he once fought SRR. Anyway Mr Young seem polite but he didnt look like a guy who was a great heavyweight at one time. I later meant him again at Joe Fraziers gym, his nephew Boogaloo Watts trained me there, he was a down to earth friendly guy...he had some problems though. I never really talked boxing with him .

Rory McCloskey · Post by **Rory McCloskey** » 13 Jul 2005, 14:39

my grandfather grew up down the street from braddock,during the time of "cinderella man" he said he would see braddock leave the house around 4am sometimes, to go find work at the docks or various other places, he use to walk over a dozen miles, and usually didnt get any shifts..my grandfather, who's hero was braddock, finally met him face to face and talked, at a deli in north bergen in what i beleive was 1960..my grandfather said he tried to pay for braddock's lunch. but he would have none of it, he instead paid for my grandfathers, gave him his telephone number, and they became good friends. my grandfather said he never saw a man he respected or adored as much, and said he mourned for weeks when braddock passed away in the mid 70's. my grandfather told me he could see braddock walking down the street everyday, and just about everyone had something good to say to him. id like to think that braddock had an affect on my life through my granfather, he use to keep a picture of his childhood hero and said it brought him the luck of the irish..i would give anything to meet with braddock and maybe now u guys will understand why i adore this guy, and the movie (which ive seen 6 times) isnt the only reason... braddock has his own website and it has some great pictures, and a great story of this hero of mine that website is..... http://www.jamesjbraddock.com i hope you visit it, read up on his amazing life story, look at some pics, and maybe start to realize that he was an inspiration to everyone who met him..

dan1030 · Post by **dan1030** » 13 Jul 2005, 16:06

Until a couple of years ago, Ray Mancini was a nearby neighbor of mine in Santa Monica, CA (amazing what rent control will do for putting an apartment I could afford close to a house he would buy).
I used to see him all the time at the local video store with his kids, or at a deli down the street. A lot of the local businesses had autographed pictures of him on their walls. Nice guy, always willing to talk to people, though I tried not to impose too much--I got the impression he was the type to never tell someone to go away and stop bugging him.

I also ran into Buster Douglas in a shopping mall just a couple of weeks after getting thrashed by Holyfield. I just contradulated him on a beautiful fight against Tyson and ignored his next one...

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 13 Jul 2005, 16:55

i have met and know former middleweight journeyman joe denucci of newton, ma. newton is right next door to my town in massachusetts. joe is also a friend of my dads. joe denucci is now the massachusetts state auditor.

JOE'S BIGGEST CLAIM TO FAME WAS FIGHTING A DRAW WITH former champ JOEY GIARDELLO. though the fight was in DENUCCI'S BACKYARD and joe always said that was the reason HE GOT THE DRAW!! when both he and emile griffith were past their primes, he lost a split decisions to him.

joe also managed to beat ralph tiger jones avenging an earlier loss to him.

i also have met mickey ward when he spoke to my wrestling club in lowell, ma.

i always wanted to meet shcmelling since he was the oldest fighter left at 99 but he sadly died.

i would like to meet sonny marciano and peter marciano. have an nice talk with them. i would also like to meet mike tyson, oscar de la hoya, roy jones, big george, DRUNK larry merchant. and others.

ShoeShine · Post by **ShoeShine** » 13 Jul 2005, 17:01

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote:i have met and know former middleweight journeyman joe denucci of newton, ma. newton is right next door to my town in massachusetts. joe is also a friend of my dads. joe denucci is now the massachusetts state auditor.

JOE'S BIGGEST CLAIM TO FAME WAS FIGHTING A DRAW WITH former champ JOEY GIARDELLO. though the fight was in DENUCCI'S BACKYARD and joe always said that was the reason HE GOT THE DRAW!! when both he and emile griffith were past their primes, he lost a split decisions to him.

joe also managed to beat ralph tiger jones avenging an earlier loss to him.

i also have met mickey ward when he spoke to my wrestling club in lowell, ma.

i always wanted to meet shcmelling since he was the oldest fighter left at 99 but he sadly died.

i would like to meet sonny marciano and peter marciano. have an nice talk with them. i would also like to meet mike tyson, oscar de la hoya, roy jones, big george, DRUNK larry merchant. and others.

How far do you live from Brocton?? Isnt that the town of Marciano and Hagler??

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 13 Jul 2005, 17:06

YEAH IT IS . i live in needham, ma which is directly next to newton. i live about 30 minutes away form brockton. i have cousins who live in brockton near james edgar playground. shes my age and doesnt know shit about boxing, doesnt know who the heavyweight champion is. but she knows who marvin hagler and rocky marciano are.

DOES GOODI PETRONELLI RUN A GYM IN BROCKTON?????

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 14 Jul 2005, 15:51

FOR WHAT ITS WORTH,

my grandfather did meet jersey joe walcott one time right before his first fight with marciano. he said he saw him in the car and went over to him and said "hello". they had a breif short exchange but one thing he siad he noticed about walcott was HIS HANDS WERE HUGE. he said his lands looked like bear paws next to his hands. HE SAID HE FELT BAD FOR NAY OPPONENT THAT HAD TO TASTE ONE OF WALCOTTS BIG FISTS.