Vintage Montana Boxing

[Chuck1052]

Al Webster, a middleweight from Billings who was active during the 1920s and 1930s, had a number of bouts with black boxers. They include:

April 10, 1925- Charley Long, Casper, Wyoming.........................W-10
April 23, 1925- Charley Long, Casper, Wyoming........................TKO-5
February 2, 1927- Jack McVey, Newark, New Jersey..................TKO by 5
January 25, 1928- Walcott Langford, Billings, Montana....................W-10
April 20, 1928- Charley Long, Denver, Colorado......................TKO-10
May 17, 1928- Walcott Langford, Winnipeg, Canada.................KO-10
July 4, 1930- Ham Jenkins, Missoula, Montana.........................L-12
July 22, 1930- Ham Jenkins, Billings, Montana............................L-10
September 6, 1930- Ham Jenkins, Colorado Springs, Colorado........L (SD)-10

Note- I rank the mentioned black fighters as follows:

1. Jack McVey
2. Ham Jenkins
3. Walcott Langford
4. Charley Long

- Chuck Johnston

[Chuck1052]

Ham Jenkins was a very capable black fighter from Colorado who had his share of wins while facing quite a few good fighters in his career during the 1920s and 1930s. Unfortunately, he became blind shortly after his career ended. In 1946, Jenkins and his seeing-eye dog were hit by a car, resulting in the dog being killed. According to the news item, the driver of the car offered to pay $100. for a new dog.

- Chuck Johnston

[Chuck1052]

According to his record on the BoxRec website, Ritchie Fontaine fought a number of Filipino boxers, including Bobby Mars, Eddie Guanco, Joe Calder, Ros Dumaguilas, Gene Espinosa, Battling Young Listo and Ray Mayo. Fontaine also fought another boxer who must've a Filipino, one with the ring name of "Battling Pinoy."

Fontaine had seven known bouts with Tony Chavez, who was active in California for much of his career.



June 20, 1935- Ritchie Fontaine W-10 Tony Chavez, Missoula, Montana
Sept. 11, 1935- Tony Chavez W-8 Ritchie Fontaine, San Francisco, California
Oct. 2, 1935- Ritchie Fontaine W-10 Tony Chavez, Missoula, Montana
Oct. 30, 1935- Tony Chavez W-10 Ritchie Fontaine, San Francisco, California
Dec. 17, 1937- Ritchie Fontaine W-10 Tony Chavez, Hollywood, California
Jan. 1, 1939- Ritchie Fontaine W-10 Tony Chavez, Hollywood, California
April 14, 1939- Tony Chavez W-10 Ritchie Fontaine, Hollywood, California

- Chuck Johnston

[klompton]

Greb and Flowers were not administered by the same anasthesiologist. That is a myth created by Dan Daniel to sell magazines.

The photo of Greb and Shade is not of them signing articles to fight as has been commonly reported. It is of them recieving their pay for their fights on July 2, 1925. Greb and Shade were never signed to fight. There was talk of a fight but it never came off.

[actjac]

Former heavyweight contender Joe "The Boss" Hipp was born on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. During his career he always gave mention to his roots. He had a fight or two in Butte, Montana as well.
A side note: in his 10th pro fight Hipp fought and defeated Marvin Camel. (60 pound weight difference) in Hipp's adopted state of Washington..

[Norm]

Former heavyweight contender Joe "The Boss" Hipp was born on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. During his career he always gave mention to his roots. He had a fight or two in Butte, Montana as well.
A side note: in his 10th pro fight Hipp fought and defeated Marvin Camel. (60 pound weight difference) in Hipp's adopted state of Washington..

In 2009, Joe Hipp was honored with induction to the American Indian Hall of Fame.

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2009-05- ... r-comments

[Norm]

a lucky day for me in 1985, meeting WBA Lightweight Champion Livingstone Bramble in uptown Columbia Falls.

[Norm]

World Light-heavyweight Champion Bob Foster signs autographs for fans in Missoula, Montana on April 4, 1970 following a successful title defense by 4th round TKO over Roger Rouse of Anaconda, MT.

[Norm]

Montana's Marvin Camel

[Norm]

'vintage' as of July 20, 2011.... hello from Glacier National Park in NW Montana

[Norm]

On December 13, 1983, Marvin Camel won the vacant IBF Cruiserweight belt by 5th round TKO over Roddy MacDonald in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I recently received this message from Marvin Camel after he looked at this picture on boxrec.com:

"Yes my Friend that punch won me The International Boxing Federation Title. I still claim Mr.McDonald as my friend.

The Champ Marvin Camel"

[greynotsoold]

I am currently living in Butte, so this thread is quite a treat. The corner where Stanley Ketchel lived, the building long gone, is now a parking lot, with wrought iron figurines and a sign, dedicated to the ladies that once worked there, in Butte's infamous red-light district. The LeCoure family is very prominent in Butte boxing. Bob, in addition to promoting pro and semi-pro boxing, fought, and his sons did as well. The current Butte amateur program is filled almost entirely with kids with LeCoure some where in their name.

[Norm]

This is the best collection of photos of Marvin Camel that I'd ever seen:

http://pinterest.com/rcamel/marvin-camel/?timeline=1

[Chuck1052]

Norm, thanks for posting the link to the great photos of Marvin Camel.

- Chuck Johnston

[Norm]

Norm, thanks for posting the link to the great photos of Marvin Camel.

- Chuck Johnston

You're very welcome Chuck!

[Chuck1052]

After doing quite a bit of research while using various records on the genealogical website, Ancestry.com, I believe that I found death dates for the following Montana fighters: Ike Hayes, Mose LaFontise, Sid LaFontise, Montana Jack Sullivan, Montana Dan Sullivan, Eddie Shelton, John Trochie, Walter Rooney, Frankie Monahan, Marine Ranieri and Frankie Wine.

- Chuck Johnston

[Norm]

A return of boxing to Montana:

http://www.examiner.com/article/rebirth ... vember-9-1

Friday, November 9, 2012
6:00 pm
At The Fairgrounds
Kalispell Montana
Promoter: Burton Boxing


Adam Axelson (debut) Missoula vs Joe Brokenrope (2-4-1) Billings
4 rounds

Jesse Uhde (2-2) Kalispell vs Dave Courchaine (1-2) Spokane
4 rounds

Olanrewaju "Larry" Durodola 10-1 from Nigeria vs Louis Monaco 16-37-5
6 rounds

Chauncy Welliver (53-7-5) Heavyweight vs Bridger Bercier out of Great Falls, MT
8 rounds

[Norm]

World Light-heavyweight Champion Bob Foster signs autographs for fans in Missoula, Montana on April 4, 1970 following a successful title defense by 4th round TKO over Roger Rouse of Anaconda, MT.

Bob Foster had a long business relationship with Missoula promoter Elmer Boyce.

[Norm]

Professional boxing continues it's resurgence in Montana:

THE H-TOWN EAGLES & TOWNSEND MMA PRESENT; TOWNSEND FIGHT NIGHT II FEATURING; *THE WBC USA HEAVYWEIGHT TITILE FIGHT, CHAUNCY WELLIVER- WASHINGTON, 55 WINS & 8 LOSSES W/ 22 K.O.'S VS. HASSAN CHITSAZ-IRAN, 24 WINS & 1 LOSS W/24 K.O.'S

*MONTANA WELTERWEIGHT TITILE FIGHT, DURAN CAFERRO, H-TOWN, 9 WINS & 1 LOSS W 7 K.O.'S VS. REYMUNDO HERNANDEZ- KANSAS CITY, 20 PRO FIGHTS W/ 6 K.O.'S

*BATTLE OF THE UNDEFEATED, JOHN ELLIS JR- CALIFORNIA, 3 WINS & NO LOSSES, W/ 3 K.O.'S VS. ROHIT SINGH- NEW ZEALAND, 6 WINS & NO LOSSES W/ 6 K.O.'S

PLUS SEMI-PRO FIGHTS TROY SHARRETTE, TOWNSEND VS. DANIEL PRATT, HELENA MORE LINE UPS TBA SAT MAY 17TH @ 7 PM TOWNSEND FAIRGROUNDS

TABLES $200 (SEAT 10) / ADV TICKETS- $15 AVAILABLE AT THE EAGLES LODGE IN HELENA FOR MORE INFO CALL 459-2270 IN TOWNSEND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BETSY / THE FISHTAIL / THE BUNKHOUSE / SILO'S BAR & GRILL

[Norm]

Resurrecting the Legend of Marvin Camel

A conversation with writer Brian D’Ambrosio about his new book, “Warrior in the Ring,” which details the life and legend of Native American world champion boxer Marvin Camel

http://flatheadbeacon.com/2015/01/02/re ... vin-camel/

[Norm]

Montana Lawmakers To Consider Boxing Regulation

"Last year, the state boxing program went into debt, causing regulators to get laid off. Without regulation, Montanans can hold boxing matches, but they aren’t sanctioned and don’t count towards national scores."


http://mtpr.org/post/montana-lawmakers- ... regulation

[BoxBuzz]

Ouch.....that hurts.

[Norm]

Caferro, Campas, Gonzalez all post wins in Three Forks

August 23, 2015 5:15 pm • Gazette Staff
(0) Comments

THREE FORKS -- Duran "Junior" Caferro, Luis Ramon "Yory Boy" Campas, Daniel Gonzalez, Anthony Sullivan and Jacob Szilasi all won professional boxing matches at the rodeo grounds here Saturday.

In the main event, Helena's Caferro (14-1-0, 11 knockouts), won by retirement at 150 pounds against Omar Avelar (3-15) of the Lummi Reservation, in Washington. Avelar did not come out for the fourth round.

The 27-year-old Caferro scored a knockdown in the third round after a barrage of punches that ended with a body shot. Caferro retained his Montana Welterweight Title.

Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/sports/more/ ... z3jnBdZgM7

[actjac]

Joe "The Boss" Hipp was born on the Blackfeet Reservation at Browning, Montana. He boxed a couple of times in Butte and fought and defeated a fellow southpaw and Montana Native American former cruiserweight titlist Marvin Camel in 1989. Joe reresented the entire Northwest living and boxing first out of Yakima and then moved to Eugene, Oregon where he had several fights and held training camp for his world heavyweight title fight in 1995....later he lived in Federal Way, Washington til the end of his career.

[Norm]

Joe "The Boss" Hipp was born on the Blackfeet Reservation at Browning, Montana. He boxed a couple of times in Missoula and fought and defeated a fellow southpaw and Montana Native American former cruiserweight titlist Marvin Camel in 1989. Joe reresented the entire Northwest living and boxing first out of Yakima and then moved to Eugene, Oregon where he had several fights and held training camp for his world heavyweight title fight in 1995....later he lived in Federal Way, Washington til the end of his career.

Yes, and if memory serves right, Joe Hipp gave a pretty good effort in his title shot against Bruce Seldon in a high profile bout.

Now a young Cheyenne Native American is reviving professional boxing in Montana. Duran Caferro is inspiring a new generation of young boxers in the state.