RIP Saoul Mamby

[scorpio83]

If anyone not heard the news, former WBC Super Lightweight Champion Saoul Mamby passed away at the age of 72.

RIP Champ

[bennie]

This is very sad news. I grew up with Saoul and the man always represented a touch of class inside and outside the ring and proved a fine world champion with a number of successful defences to his credit. He is also remembered for taking Roberto Duran the full 10 rounds at a time when Duran was the most feared fighter in the world. Duran made a point of visiting Mamby in his dressing room after the fight and told him he had the makings of a world champion. Mamby later stopped a faded Esteban DeJesus in defence of his world title, a man of course who had beaten Duran.
Mamby was not a particularly exciting fighter to watch but he made the very best of his ability and was well-respected in the game. Nobody can say a bad word about him.

[elmersalsa]

Was he from Jamaica? RIP, champ! You was a good champion.

[Onetimeonly]

Was he from Jamaica? RIP, champ! You was a good champion.

Lol, he was from new York. Underrated fighter, very tough.

[Controversial]

Had his last pro fight aged 60, still a record I think. Only lost one fight by stoppage out of 34 defeats and bizarrely that was a 1st round defeat, albeit he was 46 at the time !!

One tough and fit dude. RIP

[dalcumly]

in 1994 Henry Wharton had just lost on points to Nigel Benn for the WBC super middleweight title after basically giving away the first 4 rounds before putting Benn down.
Wharton's new manager Mickey Duff brought in Saoul Mamby to assist with Henry's training for a match against Chris Eubank for the WBO version of the title. Mamby had fought in the Vietnam war and visited Jamaica on his return. He then returned to boxing winning the WBC light welter title in 1980. When Mamby came to Leeds in 1994 he was still fighting at the age of 47.
Henry said that the experience of working with Mamby was like opening a book for the first time, he was learning something on each page.
Wharton always struggled to make the weight and Mamby had an unusual method. He told Wharton's trainer to have him lie on a warm bath with dissolved 'molasses'. Being British no one in the camp knew what molasses were. An old lady at a local shop in Leeds said that it was simply treacle. Gary Atkin, Wharton's trainer and friend bought tins of 'Golden Syrup' !!!!
Mamby was in Wharton's corner on 26 October at Leeds Town Hall for his defence of the Commonwealth title.
For some unknown reason Mamby left the camp and returned to New York soon after and wasn't around for the Eubank fight.
You can read the rest about Mamby, and there is more, in the Wharton biography ' Henry's Dream ' on amazon.

[funso banjo baby]

seem to remember he was a champion at two weights?
pretty good achievement in the golden era

I had him in the same bracket as the likes of Kalule and kalamby decent performers at world level inevitably overshadowed by the legends

[Ambling Alp II]

Specifically remembering watching him beat DeJesus, as well as the the two close loses to Haley. I remember being surprised many years later to learn that he was still fighting and had not retired!

[Nile4000]

Good fighter, may have beaten Pryor had they fought, definitely would have beaten Arguello, not sure about Kenty and Davis jr.

[Duran1970]

Pryor and Arguello wax mamby

[Nile4000]

Good fighter, may have beaten Pryor had they fought, definitely would have beaten Arguello, not sure about Kenty and Davis jr. RIP Saoul. Think that was Larry Holmes' friend as well.

[Nile4000]

Pryor and Arguello wax mamby

Think Saoul has enough experience to trouble both, especially Alexis.