REAL LIFE 'GRUDGE MATCH'

[HomicideHenry]

In the spirit of the boxing-comedy 'GRUDGE MATCH' with Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro I thought it would be kind of humorous and respectful to remember some matches that actually took place many years after the fact, when fighters were in their primes.

The majority on this list, along with YouTube links, happen to be exhibition matches rather than professional bouts, but still interesting never the less. Enjoy!



Billy Conn vs. Joe Louis III (1948, Exhibition Bout 6 rounds)
Note: Conn/Louis also had an exhibition in 1942, so technically this would have been Conn/Louis IV
http://sports.mearsonlineauctions.com/L ... ryid=44295

Jack Johnson vs. Joe Jeanette (WW2 War Bonds Event, Exhibition Bout 3 rounds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqod-seL8gw

Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Willie Pep II (Rematch from the amateurs; Exhibition Bout)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYlrqhQJ0dY

Rocky Graziano vs. Tony Zale IV (Exhibition Bout)
Unfortunately cannot find pics on Google, or videos on YouTube but have seen this match featured on RING magazine sometime during the passed year.

Azumah Nelson vs. Jeff Fenech III (Professional Bout)
Sadly this fight isn't on YouTube at all

Max Baer vs. Primo Carnera II (1952; Four Round Exhibition Bout; Declared a 'DRAW')
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/cbzforum ... 8-Max-Baer


John L. Sullivan vs. Paddy Ryan IV (Exhibition Bout)*
http://www.aoh61.com/history/boxing_ima ... llivan.gif


And so and so forth, what others can you all list?



*Note: Their first bout was in 1882, and their last in 1897 a period of 15 years. Sullivan would defend (successfully) his title against Ryan also, before Sullivan's unsuccessful tour of Australia as an actor.

[Tinnie]

Barry Micheal - Lester Ellis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymGiFE0Gs-s

Al"Bummy" Davis - Fritzie Zivic http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MA ... /index.htm

Holmes - Berbick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1XOm4vfZB4


.....shame there was never a Duran - Buchanan 2.... that would have been one helluva grudge match while it lasted

[sweetsci]

Muhammad Ali - Doug Jones exhibition - October 1966

Was it filmed?

A quick Google search got me this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CASSIUS-CLAY-MU ... 0518362602

[delisa]

Here's a classic -- well worth researching --

Waban Thomas vs. Neil Wallace -- these two guys hated each other and fought a rematch 20 years later! Wallace I think in his 50s by then.

THE 20-YEAR GAP in bouts was later bettered(?) by Holmes v Weaver II, some 21 years later!


-- Mike

[delisa]

Longest Gap Between Return Bouts:

22 Years, 5 months: Larry Holmes vs. Mike Weaver -- -- Holmes repeats kayo of Weaver

20 Years, 1 month -- Waban “Tugboat” Thomas vs. Neil Wallace:
Waben Thomas kayoed Neil Wallace twice in 1957; In Dec 1977, Wallace and Thomas were rematched, Wallace winning by KO. (Thomas’s career highlights: losses to Charlie Norkus and Buster Mathis!)

16 years, 3 months – Jeff Fenech W 10 Azumah Nelson – majority win for Fenech who returns after 12 years

10 years, 4 months -- Maske w 12 Hill, reversing L12 from 1996.


OTHERS?

[HomicideHenry]

Thanks for the contributions DeLisa!

[dr_devious]

Two British grudge matches are Kaylor v Christie and Benn v Eubank, two very bitter rivalries at the time

[pbchron]

From BOXING DIGEST Nov./Dec. 1998

"Never in history was there a more bitter fistic feud than the one that raged in Philly between Bob Montgomery and Trenton's Ike Williams. Monty handed Williams such vicious beating in January 1944 that many of the 14,807 at Convention Hall turned away from the brutality in the twefth and final session, when Bob unleashed his final assault that knocked out Ike and avenged his best friend Johnny
Hutchinson, stopped by Williams the previous November."

"Interest in a return go, for the undisputed world lightweight title, had the whole town buzzing after Williams won the NBA crown in 1945. On August 4, 1947, Ike got his revenge, knocking Monty out in six rounds before a crowd of thirty thousand in Philly's Municipal Stadium."

*Williams and Montgomery never "buried the hatchet."

[TheWigwam]

Longest Gap Between Return Bouts:

22 Years, 5 months: Larry Holmes vs. Mike Weaver -- -- Holmes repeats kayo of Weaver

20 Years, 1 month -- Waban “Tugboat” Thomas vs. Neil Wallace:
Waben Thomas kayoed Neil Wallace twice in 1957; In Dec 1977, Wallace and Thomas were rematched, Wallace winning by KO. (Thomas’s career highlights: losses to Charlie Norkus and Buster Mathis!)

16 years, 3 months – Jeff Fenech W 10 Azumah Nelson – majority win for Fenech who returns after 12 years

10 years, 4 months -- Maske w 12 Hill, reversing L12 from 1996.


OTHERS?

Roy Jones Jr and Hopkins, fought in 1993 and a few years ago I believe (2010?)

[pbchron]

The Kentucky Rosebud and John Henry Johnson were bitter rivals who had bad blood between them when they fought three fights in Philadelphia in 1897 (2) and 1900. They ran across each other in a Philly tap-room in June 1915 where they engaged in a nasty argument that was overheard by Broadway A.C. boxing promoter Herman Taylor. The promoter persuaded them to settle their dispute at his club. They boxed on June 28, 1915 before an overflow crowd, with Rosebud winning. They were rematched January 27, 1916 again at the Broadway but still were unable to settle their dispute. Finally they boxed at the National A.C. for Jack McGuigan (who out bid other promoters) to settle matters. Kentucky Rosebud was 63 years old and John Henry Johnson was a mere youngster of 50.

[raylawpc]

Tom Sharkey and Jim Jeffries boxed a series of exhibitions on the Vaudeville circuit during the 1920s.

[ThatOne]

Saw the movie... Stallone is still in incredible shape. Even as characters it hard to envision DeNiro's character beating Stallone's character in a fight.