revporl wrote: ↑04 May 2018, 04:28
Ali Vs Dunn I think. Ali knocking a really pale bloke over again and again, it must have been Dunn! I would have been 5. I spent the next 5 years watching Ali looking like he was losing but actually winning, remember Spinks fights vividly and cried when he fought Larry Holmes. So yeah, it was my dads obsession with Ali that got me into the sport.
He of the "flat nose and big heart!" I remember that well. Dunn seemed like the favourite uncle. Very likable, and extremely hittable.! My late father did the same!
Hagler was for me, from the moment I saw him, what I thought all boxers should be like.
Honestly loved everything about the bloke I was 12 years old it was the way he fought and his mean and moody persona, he hooked me into boxing for sure.
That said after that when I saw Sugar Ray Leonard fight, he (SRL) became my favourite....and still is to this day.
But yeh, first fight for me that I can honestly remember is Hearns v Hagler.
Crazyboy wrote: ↑04 May 2018, 09:50
bit of a cliché one, but it was hearns v hagler
Hagler was for me, from the moment I saw him, what I thought all boxers should be like.
Honestly loved everything about the bloke I was 12 years old it was the way he fought and his mean and moody persona, he hooked me into boxing for sure.
That said after that when I saw Sugar Ray Leonard fight, he (SRL) became my favourite....and still is to this day.
But yeh, first fight for me that I can honestly remember is Hearns v Hagler.
That is some Freakin' fight to remember...could've been downhill from there as compared to the rest!!!!
I can remember fights from about 1985, - Finbar vs Taylor, I can remember the build up to Hagler vs Hearns.... I remember seeing Bruno in clips and on TV - but the first fight I can remember of him was vs Witherspoon - remember that night well.
Some things are vivid, remember not being allowed to stay up to watch Finbar vs Cruz - but my dad knowing I'd be awake so told me the result.
Then Tyson came along and I pretty much remember most fights from Tyson vs Berbick really well.
Crazyboy wrote: ↑04 May 2018, 09:50
bit of a cliché one, but it was hearns v hagler
Hagler was for me, from the moment I saw him, what I thought all boxers should be like.
Honestly loved everything about the bloke I was 12 years old it was the way he fought and his mean and moody persona, he hooked me into boxing for sure.
That said after that when I saw Sugar Ray Leonard fight, he (SRL) became my favourite....and still is to this day.
But yeh, first fight for me that I can honestly remember is Hearns v Hagler.
That is some Freakin' fight to remember...could've been downhill from there as compared to the rest!!!!
I know right and yes, pretty much haha.......just being honest though...it genuinely is the first fight I can actually remember
josco wrote: ↑03 May 2018, 21:04
Memory is fading a bit but I do recall Bruce Woodcock vs Joe Baksi for what was deemed to be the heavyweight title. Roy Ankrah ( the human ŵindmill) taking Ronnie Clayton”s Empire featherweight crown remains a shocker of a memory even now.
I don't have any memory, buy I did look it up. Woodcock was the British HW Champ.
Wowzers!, I thought I went back a ways with Ali-Spinks 1.
Baksi is a forgotten man in the States, but he was probably the best white heavyweight in the world for a few years back then. I guess he made enough of an impression on the UK to be immortalized in rhiming slang. In fairness to Woodcock, the Joe Baksi that wrecked him in '47 would have had a decent chance against Joe Louis (post war version).
Crazyboy wrote: ↑04 May 2018, 09:50
bit of a cliché one, but it was hearns v hagler
Hagler was for me, from the moment I saw him, what I thought all boxers should be like.
Honestly loved everything about the bloke I was 12 years old it was the way he fought and his mean and moody persona, he hooked me into boxing for sure.
That said after that when I saw Sugar Ray Leonard fight, he (SRL) became my favourite....and still is to this day.
But yeh, first fight for me that I can honestly remember is Hearns v Hagler.
That is some Freakin' fight to remember...could've been downhill from there as compared to the rest!!!!
I know right and yes, pretty much haha.......just being honest though...it genuinely is the first fight I can actually remember
My point was simply this. Your first remembrance is one of the all time great fights. It's difficult to top it!
I also remember the Frazier/Foreman first fight. I was a bit older (a whopping 10 or 11). I remember Cosell saying the thought Foreman would Kill him (Frazier). At the time, I had little knowledge of Foreman and had no idea what Frazier was dealing with.
Post fight when asked what his biggest mistake was, Frazier said (signing the contract.) He said he had no idea how powerful Foreman was.
oogiebe wrote: ↑08 May 2018, 14:35
I also remember the Frazier/Foreman first fight. I was a bit older (a whopping 10 or 11). I remember Cosell saying the thought Foreman would Kill him (Frazier). At the time, I had little knowledge of Foreman and had no idea what Frazier was dealing with.
Post fight when asked what his biggest mistake was, Frazier said (signing the contract.) He said he had no idea how powerful Foreman was.
Yes, Cosell was one of the few journalists who not only predicted a Foreman victory but correctly envisioned a massacre.
But Howard also predicted that Foreman would end Ali's career.
So even a self-proclaimed genius like Cosell couldn't get them all right.
harry1980 wrote: ↑09 May 2018, 16:42
Mike Tyson v Frank Bruno in 1989.
Although it was Tyson’s defeat to Buster Douglas that really sticks in my mind more than any other.
That's interesting that the Douglas fight sticks in your mine more than the others. I imagine it's because you didn't Iron Mike in his prime. I always think of Donnie Long. IDK why.
Ali v Dunn for me too.
Then Ali v Spinks, not sure of it was 1 or 2.
I'm guessing they must have shown replays or highlights on Grandstand or something because I was only 4 or 5 and no way would I have been able to watch them live.
Then there is a foggy and hazy gap for me. I can vaguely remember the 1980 Moscow Olympic Boxing and being confused because Stevenson won and my mum and dad had previously told me that the man off the TV, Ali was the best.
Then by 1982/83 I have clear memories of Bruno and McGuigan, Kirkland Lang etc.
I still don't understand why nobody films small hall boxing on a Saturday and then broadcasts it mid-week like they used to on Mid-week Sports Special and Sportsnight.
I really thought allegedly would do something like that.
My understanding is that the preventitive costs comes from live satellite rental etc.
I have a brilliant HD hand held Canon video camera that cost £2k. It's not a million miles from broadcast quality.
Obviously they would want a better camera than that and a sound guy, but it wouldn't cost much to film.
We miss out on cracking area title bouts, some British titles that I would love to see on the TV.
I was aware of my father watching boxing every so often when I was a kid but didn’t really pay much attention until the first Tyson - Bruno fight. That bout is responsible for getting me into boxing, after that the British middleweight/super middleweight scene with Benn, Eubank; etc got me hooked...
Dave "Boy" McCauley vs Fidel Bassa - I was about 14.
It was an incredible battle - well worth a YouTube if you've never seen it.
I went from casual sports fan to hardcore boxing nut during that fight.
Dave "Boy" McCauley vs Fidel Bassa - I was about 14.
It was an incredible battle - well worth a YouTube if you've never seen it.
I went from casual sports fan to hardcore boxing nut during that fight.
Two great wars and although I very much liked Duke McKenzie I was pleased to see Dave finally win a title after having been in with Bassa twice and taken so many lumps; kind of felt he had paid his dues and a belt was owing.
I can remember McGuigan v Pedroza despite the fact that I was supposed to be a wee poorly boy at the time and had been off school the week before.
I proberly saw other fights first but the one that sticks out the most was Bruno v McCall. I remember the later rounds when Bruno was knackered just hoping he didn't get knocked out. I couldn't watch. I was only young.
I proberly saw other fights first but the one that sticks out the most was Bruno v McCall. I remember the later rounds when Bruno was knackered just hoping he didn't get knocked out. I couldn't watch. I was only young.
