Philadelphia vs Detroit.

[Grimm]

Byrd did not grow up nor train in the Detroit school of boxing.

He was born and started his career in the city of Flint. Same state, different place.

Toney on the other hand did not grow up in Detroit but learned boxing in Detroit gyms, thus you could call him a Detroit fighter.

I've met both of them and they claim Detroit.

[silkov]

Byrd did not grow up nor train in the Detroit school of boxing.

He was born and started his career in the city of Flint. Same state, different place.

Toney on the other hand did not grow up in Detroit but learned boxing in Detroit gyms, thus you could call him a Detroit fighter.

I've met both of them and they claim Detroit.

Then they were fibbing!...

[vagabundo55]

I'll tell ya what, Philly has the edge in terms of prestige and perceptions.
You can ask that question all around the world and Philadelphia gets the nod as the pinnacle of boxing geographics.

As a Mexican I have to say Philadelphia is the pinnacle of boxing geographics in the U.S. More so than Detroit. Philadelphia has always had at least one great fighter in the last 4 decades. So my vote goes to Philadelphia. Although currently i'd have to say Detroit has a few greats.

Ofcourse great fighters have come out of Detroit but more have come out of Philly... far more... you only need to go through the lists of champions to see that.
After Philly I'd put NewYork.

That's why I said Philadelphia has had better fighters. I'm just stating that Detroit has some great fighters right now as well, but Philly has had great fighters for the past 4 decades.

[silkov]

As a Mexican I have to say Philadelphia is the pinnacle of boxing geographics in the U.S. More so than Detroit. Philadelphia has always had at least one great fighter in the last 4 decades. So my vote goes to Philadelphia. Although currently i'd have to say Detroit has a few greats.

Ofcourse great fighters have come out of Detroit but more have come out of Philly... far more... you only need to go through the lists of champions to see that.

That's why I said Philadelphia has had better fighters. I'm just stating that Detroit has some great fighters right now as well, but Philly has had great fighters for the past 4 decades.

Phillys boxing history stretches right back to the 19th century.... 8)

[Grimm]

I'm not saying that you guy's are wrong, but I am going to defend Detroit forever and let this topic go on forever if it has to.

What about the Spinks brothers they are also from Detroit, Leon beat Muhammad Ali and Michael was one of the greatest lightheavyweights of all time.

I know it says they're from St.Louis but I don't know where they got that from, maybe it's their birthplace they are from Detroit.

[silkov]

I'm not saying that you guy's are wrong, but I am going to defend Detroit forever and let this topic go on forever if it has to.

What about the Spinks brothers they are also from Detroit, Leon beat Muhammad Ali and Michael was one of the greatest lightheavyweights of all time.

I know it says they're from St.Louis but I don't know where they got that from, maybe it's their birthplace they are from Detroit.

Just because we say Philly has the greater number of fighters doesn't mean we're attacking Detroit. You're too defensive Grimm...
Regarding the Spinks I read that Micheal and Leon both moved to Philly when they started their pro careers.

[Grimm]

I'm not saying that you guy's are wrong, but I am going to defend Detroit forever and let this topic go on forever if it has to.

What about the Spinks brothers they are also from Detroit, Leon beat Muhammad Ali and Michael was one of the greatest lightheavyweights of all time.

I know it says they're from St.Louis but I don't know where they got that from, maybe it's their birthplace they are from Detroit.

Just because we say Philly has the greater number of fighters doesn't mean we're attacking Detroit. You're too defensive Grimm...
Regarding the Spinks I read that Micheal and Leon both moved to Philly when they started their pro careers.

I didn't say that you were attacking Detroit. I'm just behind it.

I don't know where they went but they trained in Detroit.

[silkov]

I'm not saying that you guy's are wrong, but I am going to defend Detroit forever and let this topic go on forever if it has to.

What about the Spinks brothers they are also from Detroit, Leon beat Muhammad Ali and Michael was one of the greatest lightheavyweights of all time.

I know it says they're from St.Louis but I don't know where they got that from, maybe it's their birthplace they are from Detroit.

Just because we say Philly has the greater number of fighters doesn't mean we're attacking Detroit. You're too defensive Grimm...
Regarding the Spinks I read that Micheal and Leon both moved to Philly when they started their pro careers.

I didn't say that you were attacking Detroit. I'm just behind it.

I don't know where they went but they trained in Detroit.

I have an article in a 80s Ko mag in which Mike Spinks talks about how he and Leon went to Philedelphia at the start of their pro careers to train. Leon went there first and Mike followed. There was probably better sparring there as Philly was full of great heavies and Lightheavies at that time.
I found out recently that Sugar Ray Leonard used to train in Detroit with Hearns early on in their careers which was interesting.

[KOJOE90]

I found out recently that Sugar Ray Leonard used to train in Detroit with Hearns early on in their careers which was interesting.

Interesting indeed.

Whilst on this subject I read recently that Ali during his exile from Boxing sparred one round with a then unknow Kenny Norton. Watching from ringside was Nortons then trainer the late Eddie Futch who claimed he knew from that very moment that with more experience Norton could beat Ali.

[silkov]

I found out recently that Sugar Ray Leonard used to train in Detroit with Hearns early on in their careers which was interesting.

Interesting indeed.

Whilst on this subject I read recently that Ali during his exile from Boxing sparred one round with a then unknow Kenny Norton. Watching from ringside was Nortons then trainer the late Eddie Futch who claimed he knew from that very moment that with more experience Norton could beat Ali.

Yeah I read that story. You have that book 'Ringmasters'?..... great book eh!. Ali also sparred quite a bit with Bugner during his exile and Bug would lend him money etc... I read that this is one of the reasons that Ali always had a soft spot for Bug. Not many people know that Ali was dead broke because of his exile and all the court cases.

[KOJOE90]

Yeah I read that story. You have that book 'Ringmasters'?..... great book eh!.

Ah Mr Silkov you has spotten my lastest resource of juicey Boxing information.

Ali also sparred quite a bit with Bugner during his exile and Bug would lend him money etc... I read that this is one of the reasons that Ali always had a soft spot for Bug. Not many people know that Ali was dead broke because of his exile and all the court cases.

Ali also used Bugner and John Conteh as sparring partners when preparing for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis. I to have noticed that Ali always seemed to have a high opinion of Joe Bugner.

P.S. How cool would it be to have a tape of Ali & Conteh sparring?

[silkov]

Yeah I read that story. You have that book 'Ringmasters'?..... great book eh!.

Ah Mr Silkov you has spotten my lastest resource of juicey Boxing information.

Ali also sparred quite a bit with Bugner during his exile and Bug would lend him money etc... I read that this is one of the reasons that Ali always had a soft spot for Bug. Not many people know that Ali was dead broke because of his exile and all the court cases.

Ali also used Bugner and John Conteh as sparring partners when preparing for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis. I to have noticed that Ali always seemed to have a high opinion of Joe Bugner.

P.S. How cool would it be to have a tape of Ali & Conteh sparring?

That would have been something... Conteh vs Ali sparring. There was actually talk of Conteh fighting Ali round about 77 just before Conteh had all his problems. That is a good book isn't it, you can get a lot of interesting insights from books like that.

[silkov]

It was Ali who advised Conteh to go down to Lightheavy wasn't it. Interesting to think what may have happened if Conteh had stayed at Heavyweight and fought for the British title etc... Conteh vs Bugner?....

[KOJOE90]

Yeah I read that story. You have that book 'Ringmasters'?..... great book eh!.

Ah Mr Silkov you has spotten my lastest resource of juicey Boxing information.

Ali also sparred quite a bit with Bugner during his exile and Bug would lend him money etc... I read that this is one of the reasons that Ali always had a soft spot for Bug. Not many people know that Ali was dead broke because of his exile and all the court cases.

Ali also used Bugner and John Conteh as sparring partners when preparing for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis. I to have noticed that Ali always seemed to have a high opinion of Joe Bugner.

P.S. How cool would it be to have a tape of Ali & Conteh sparring?

That would have been something... Conteh vs Ali sparring. There was actually talk of Conteh fighting Ali round about 77 just before Conteh had all his problems. That is a good book isn't it, you can get a lot of interesting insights from books like that.

Its one of the best books I have read for a while. Picked it up for just a few quid on E-bay. Mint condition as well.

[silkov]

Ah Mr Silkov you has spotten my lastest resource of juicey Boxing information.
Ali also used Bugner and John Conteh as sparring partners when preparing for his fight with Al 'Blue' Lewis. I to have noticed that Ali always seemed to have a high opinion of Joe Bugner.

P.S. How cool would it be to have a tape of Ali & Conteh sparring?

That would have been something... Conteh vs Ali sparring. There was actually talk of Conteh fighting Ali round about 77 just before Conteh had all his problems. That is a good book isn't it, you can get a lot of interesting insights from books like that.

Its one of the best books I have read for a while. Picked it up for just a few quid on E-bay. Mint condition as well.

I got mine in a secondhand book shop for £2!... 8) .
One of the best buys I've had for a while boxing book wise.

[silkov]

Have you got 'In this corner'... its in a simular vein as 'Ringmasters' but instead it is the fighters telling their stories... another one of my favourite books!.

[KOJOE90]

Have you got 'In this corner'... its in a simular vein as 'Ringmasters' but instead it is the fighters telling their stories... another one of my favourite books!.

Yes mate. But I have not read it yet.

[KOJOE90]

It was Ali who advised Conteh to go down to Lightheavy wasn't it.

That what I heard to.

I have a clip on tape somewhere with Conteh & Ali talking it looks like they are on stage togther in a theater.

Anyway thay are joking and messing around for the cameras and Conteh did a great impersination of Ali it was very funny to watch.

Also seeing them togther you could really notice the size difference between them

[silkov]

It was Ali who advised Conteh to go down to Lightheavy wasn't it.

That what I heard to.

I have a clip on tape somewhere with Conteh & Ali talking it looks like they are on stage togther in a theater.

Anyway thay are joking and messing around for the cameras and Conteh did a great impersination of Ali it was very funny to watch.

Also seeing them togther you could really notice the size difference between them

Oh yeah, Conteh was too small for a heavy though I think he could have beaten quite a few of the lower tier heavies. A fight like Conteh vs Quarry would have been very interesting...

[vagabundo55]

Ofcourse great fighters have come out of Detroit but more have come out of Philly... far more... you only need to go through the lists of champions to see that.

That's why I said Philadelphia has had better fighters. I'm just stating that Detroit has some great fighters right now as well, but Philly has had great fighters for the past 4 decades.

Phillys boxing history stretches right back to the 19th century.... 8)

I realize this but I imagine we're talking about more modern boxing rules. Not the good ol' days.

[silkov]

Phillys boxing history stretches right back to the 19th century.... 8)

I realize this but I imagine we're talking about more modern boxing rules. Not the good ol' days.

I know what you mean. Detroit didn't really take off in a big way till the Hearns era.

[KOJOE90]

Oh yeah, Conteh was too small for a heavy though I think he could have beaten quite a few of the lower tier heavies. A fight like Conteh vs Quarry would have been very interesting...

Thinking about this some more, in 1976 I am sure Conteh would have given Ali a better fight than Jean-Pierre Coopman.

[silkov]

Oh yeah, Conteh was too small for a heavy though I think he could have beaten quite a few of the lower tier heavies. A fight like Conteh vs Quarry would have been very interesting...

Thinking about this some more, in 1976 I am sure Conteh would have given Ali a better fight than Jean-Pierre Coopman.

Yes, I think round about '77 he would have given a fading Ali a interesting fight. Ali would have been too strong but it would have been a decent fight while it lasted....

[Nile4000]

Definitely, Philly, and over a greater number of consistency in years.

[BoxBuzz]

You know I was going to post the "Phillyboxinghistory.com site" but it has dissapeared. Does anyone know where it went? It was a start at some great work on the subject. But it literally has dissapeared.