Enrique Diaz Quesada was a Cuban filmmaker who had his first crack at international exposure on April 5th, 1915. He had been commissioned by two producers (Pablo Santos and Jesus Artigas) to take his camera to the Oriental Park in Havana, also known as The Marianao Racetrack and shoot the Heavyweight championship bout between Jack Johnson and Jess Willard.
Johnson had agreed to the shooting with Santos and Artigas (who were also promoters) on one condition: That he be granted exclusive rights to the film in the U.S.
However, a few hours before the fight there was a disagreement in the terms of the contract and Johnson pulled out. Diaz Quesada was told then by the promoters that he was to proceed with the shooting of the match from a distance that would assure that he was not to be spotted by Johnson or anyone related to him.
This he did by placing his camera on the grandstand bleachers, well far from ringside. From that spot, Diaz filmed most of the twenty six rounds that the fight lasted, switching angles from time to time. Zoom lenses had not yet been developed so the small figures of Johnson and Willard were later enhanced and upgraded at a studio that Santos and Artigas owned and the fight was shown the very next day at an outdoor cinema in Havana.
Johnson was furious, because the film showed him motioning to his second to ask his wife Lucille Cameron to leave at the end of the 25th round. The next round, he was laying placidly on the canvas shielding his eyes from the blazing tropical sun with both gloves.
In true American fashion, Johnson sued Santos and Artigas for half a million pesos. Cuban Judge Alberto Ponce later dismissed the claim on the grounds that the printed tickets sold that afternoon did not specifically prohibit the use of cameras or similar devices.
The film called “The Johnson and Willard fight” was not shown in the U.S, but eleven copies were sold in England.
The Marianao Racetrack was confiscated by Fidel Castro after the 1959 Revolution and later demolished. A housing project and a few socialist billboards now stand in the site of the most controversial fight in the history of boxing.
An afternoon in Havana
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Dave1armedTua
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- Joined: 01 Apr 2003, 22:29
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Dave1armedTua
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 204
- Joined: 01 Apr 2003, 22:29
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Dave1armedTua
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 204
- Joined: 01 Apr 2003, 22:29
There is a difference between an opinion and one of many accounts of the fight. The story is actually my translation of a Cuban website with early century anecdotes.terap wrote:
Bottom line---There is a DIFFERENCE between a momentary STILL photo and the actual sequence of what went on in this instance.
http://www.lajiribilla.cu/2002/n72_sept ... moria.html
Thanks for pointing out the gap that always separates myth from fact. That was the whole point of this thread.
VERY INTERESTING PIECE. SANTOS& ARTIGAS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRO BOXING IN CUBA IN 1915-1925. THEY PROMOTED MANY OF THE EARLY CUBAN STARS- LALO DOMINGUEZ, ENRIQUE PONCE DE LEON AND JACK COULLIMBER.
I'M CURRENTLY COMPLETING A BOOK -IN SPANISH- ON THE HISTORY OF CUBAN BOXING THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF SUMMER.
I SEE YOU ARE IN MIAMI AS I AM AND A FELLOW CUBAN EXILE. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL OR CALL ME 305-552-0427. I AM ENRIQUE ENCINOSA OF RADIO MAMBI.
I'M CURRENTLY COMPLETING A BOOK -IN SPANISH- ON THE HISTORY OF CUBAN BOXING THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED AT THE END OF SUMMER.
I SEE YOU ARE IN MIAMI AS I AM AND A FELLOW CUBAN EXILE. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MY EMAIL OR CALL ME 305-552-0427. I AM ENRIQUE ENCINOSA OF RADIO MAMBI.
That explains Terap's baffleness to the story of the Santos Artigas film that had to be enhanced.enrique wrote:SOMETHING ELSE - THE SANTOS ARTIGAS FILM WAS NOT THE ONE JACOBS BOUGHT. THERE WERE TWO FILMS - THE OFFICIAL PROMOTION FILM AND THE SANTOS ARTIGAS...
And although he did not contend it I'd also like to make clear that Fidel castro is indeed a commie.
Enrique, I sent you an email and I also left a message on your answering machine. Hope to hear from you soon.
1. THERE WERE TWO FILMS OF THE FIGHT. THE FIRST ONE -THE JACOBS ONE IS A FULL FILM OF THE FIGHT. THE SANTOS & ARTIGAS FILM WAS -ACCORDING TO OLD TIMERS AND ASSORTED PRESS CLIPPINGS - A POSSIBLE PIRATE (SOME ARRANGEMENT ON THE SIDE WITH THE PROMOTER OR OFFICIALS) VERSION OF THE FIGHT, TAKEN FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND ONLY A FEW MINUTES LONG. THE SANTOS & ARTIGAS FILM ONLY SHOWED A FEW OF THE ROUNDS.
2. THE CUBAN COMMUNIST PAPER INTERNET ARTICLE IS NOT BELIEAVLE THAT SHOWED JOHNSON SIGNALLING HIS WIFE. THIS IS IMPROBABLE DUE TO THE DISTANCE OF THE SHOTS AND THE FACT THAT THE FILM ITSELF WAS BUT A FEW MINUTES LONG.
3. THE SANTOS ARTIGAS FILM WAS SHOWN IN HAVANA THEATERS AND LATER DID A NATIONAL TOUR IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN CUBA. I HAVE BEEN TOLD -BUT HAVE NOT VERIFIED- THAT THE SANTOS ARTIGAS CIRCUS SHOWED THE FILM AT EVERY TOWN THEY STOPPED.
4. ALTHOUGH THE SANTOS ARTIGAS FILM WAS NOT LONG, THE NEW CONCEPT OF MOVING PICTURES AND THE DRAMA OF THE FIGHT MADE IT A MUCH TALKED ABOUT FILM AT THE TIME.
5. JOHNSON COMPLAINED THAT HE WAS LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SINCE THE CIRCUS PROMOTERS DID NOT PAY HIM A DIME.
6. SANTOS & ARTIGAS CIRCUS PROMOTIONS FOUND THE FIGHT SUCH A PROFITABLE DEAL THAT THEY BECAME PROMOTERS FOR ALMOST A DECADE. EARLY CUBAN STARS -BLACK BILL, LALO DOMINGUEZ, ENRIQUE PONCE DE LEON- ALL FOUGHT IN THEIR PROMOTIONS. SANTOS ARTIGAS ALSO BECAME A BOOKING AGENT, SENDING CUBAN FIGHTERS TO SPAIN AND BOOKING SPANISH FIGHTERS IN HAVANA.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT JOHNSON WAS STOPPED FOR REAL AND THE ARM MOVEMENT WAS A REFLEX I HAVE SEEN BEFORE....BUT TAKE YOUR PICK. THAT FIGHT IS LIKE THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION. YOU CAN ARGUE ALMOST ANY THEORY WITH SOME LOGICAL SUPPORT.
2. THE CUBAN COMMUNIST PAPER INTERNET ARTICLE IS NOT BELIEAVLE THAT SHOWED JOHNSON SIGNALLING HIS WIFE. THIS IS IMPROBABLE DUE TO THE DISTANCE OF THE SHOTS AND THE FACT THAT THE FILM ITSELF WAS BUT A FEW MINUTES LONG.
3. THE SANTOS ARTIGAS FILM WAS SHOWN IN HAVANA THEATERS AND LATER DID A NATIONAL TOUR IN DIFFERENT CITIES IN CUBA. I HAVE BEEN TOLD -BUT HAVE NOT VERIFIED- THAT THE SANTOS ARTIGAS CIRCUS SHOWED THE FILM AT EVERY TOWN THEY STOPPED.
4. ALTHOUGH THE SANTOS ARTIGAS FILM WAS NOT LONG, THE NEW CONCEPT OF MOVING PICTURES AND THE DRAMA OF THE FIGHT MADE IT A MUCH TALKED ABOUT FILM AT THE TIME.
5. JOHNSON COMPLAINED THAT HE WAS LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SINCE THE CIRCUS PROMOTERS DID NOT PAY HIM A DIME.
6. SANTOS & ARTIGAS CIRCUS PROMOTIONS FOUND THE FIGHT SUCH A PROFITABLE DEAL THAT THEY BECAME PROMOTERS FOR ALMOST A DECADE. EARLY CUBAN STARS -BLACK BILL, LALO DOMINGUEZ, ENRIQUE PONCE DE LEON- ALL FOUGHT IN THEIR PROMOTIONS. SANTOS ARTIGAS ALSO BECAME A BOOKING AGENT, SENDING CUBAN FIGHTERS TO SPAIN AND BOOKING SPANISH FIGHTERS IN HAVANA.
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT JOHNSON WAS STOPPED FOR REAL AND THE ARM MOVEMENT WAS A REFLEX I HAVE SEEN BEFORE....BUT TAKE YOUR PICK. THAT FIGHT IS LIKE THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION. YOU CAN ARGUE ALMOST ANY THEORY WITH SOME LOGICAL SUPPORT.
Early Cuban Stars
About Bill – if you look up a CBZ article I wrote called “Sellout Moe and the Jewish Heavyweight”- you will find a lot of data on Bill, who was the first Cuban to fight for a world title. He was an excellent boxer, very fast, and became blind from syphillis, comitting suicide in New York at a young age.
Lalo Domínguez was a southpaw who became Cuba’s first local hero. He was a tricky boxer and fair puncher and scored quite a few wins in his first years in the pros. He later on became one of Cuba’s top boxing trainers and died in the sixties of a heart attack while training fighters in a Habana gym.
Ponce was from a city in Cuba called Cienfuegos. He was a good boxer who was very popular in Cuba and became one of the first quality globe-trotters in the country. He fought Tommy Freeman and also fought in Europe.
Another interesting pioneer of Cuban boxing was Mike Castro, who learned to box as an amateur and pro in the U.S., then became Cuban Flyweight Champion, promoted his own shows and other cards, managed and trained top Cuban fighters –including Black Bill- and later on was a top referee in Cuba and boxing comissioner in the 1940’s.
Castro was the flyweight champ of Cuba at the time Black Bill was fighting and it’s posible they “split” the title. Bill was billed as flyweight champ of Cuba –particularly when traveling outside the island- while Bill defended something called “Junior Flyweight” title inside Cuba and Castro kept defending the flyweight belt.
I believe that both men being linked as trainer/promoter and boxer, decided to split the title and never met inside the ropes.
Lalo Domínguez was a southpaw who became Cuba’s first local hero. He was a tricky boxer and fair puncher and scored quite a few wins in his first years in the pros. He later on became one of Cuba’s top boxing trainers and died in the sixties of a heart attack while training fighters in a Habana gym.
Ponce was from a city in Cuba called Cienfuegos. He was a good boxer who was very popular in Cuba and became one of the first quality globe-trotters in the country. He fought Tommy Freeman and also fought in Europe.
Another interesting pioneer of Cuban boxing was Mike Castro, who learned to box as an amateur and pro in the U.S., then became Cuban Flyweight Champion, promoted his own shows and other cards, managed and trained top Cuban fighters –including Black Bill- and later on was a top referee in Cuba and boxing comissioner in the 1940’s.
Castro was the flyweight champ of Cuba at the time Black Bill was fighting and it’s posible they “split” the title. Bill was billed as flyweight champ of Cuba –particularly when traveling outside the island- while Bill defended something called “Junior Flyweight” title inside Cuba and Castro kept defending the flyweight belt.
I believe that both men being linked as trainer/promoter and boxer, decided to split the title and never met inside the ropes.
Enrique,
Now that the subject of early cuban fighters has come up I'd appreciate it if you can clarify a few things about the man whoe introduced the sport to the island, the Chilean John Budinich.
In another thread about John Lester Johnson I mentioned that when Johnson was in Cuba in 1915 he fought Budinich (knocking him out in 4) an reportedly the first Cuban heavyweight champ, Anastasio Peñalver (KO in 2).
I looked up Johnson's record in BOXREC and I also see that he fought Dave Mills and Bill Scott that same year in Havana. Now, although the date for the Budinich fight is not certain I had heard and read that Johnson fought Budinich first (in January-February) and then Peñalver. Also other sources (Revista Bohemia-pre 1959) say that the Peñalver bout took place at the improvised "Stadium" (where the Hotel Nacional now stands) in February. BOXREC has it as 03-31-1915.
Also, is it true that Peñalver threatened to throw rocks at Johnson after he had been knocked out?
What ever happened to Budinich? It is known that he dissapeared from Cuba as mysteriously as he came, and I read in a piece by Miguel peña Cabrera on Cubaencuentro.com that he joined the French Army in WWI and fought against the germans in 1918.
Now that the subject of early cuban fighters has come up I'd appreciate it if you can clarify a few things about the man whoe introduced the sport to the island, the Chilean John Budinich.
In another thread about John Lester Johnson I mentioned that when Johnson was in Cuba in 1915 he fought Budinich (knocking him out in 4) an reportedly the first Cuban heavyweight champ, Anastasio Peñalver (KO in 2).
I looked up Johnson's record in BOXREC and I also see that he fought Dave Mills and Bill Scott that same year in Havana. Now, although the date for the Budinich fight is not certain I had heard and read that Johnson fought Budinich first (in January-February) and then Peñalver. Also other sources (Revista Bohemia-pre 1959) say that the Peñalver bout took place at the improvised "Stadium" (where the Hotel Nacional now stands) in February. BOXREC has it as 03-31-1915.
Also, is it true that Peñalver threatened to throw rocks at Johnson after he had been knocked out?
What ever happened to Budinich? It is known that he dissapeared from Cuba as mysteriously as he came, and I read in a piece by Miguel peña Cabrera on Cubaencuentro.com that he joined the French Army in WWI and fought against the germans in 1918.
Here's what I have on Budinich- the fight dates on box rec I got from Melchor Rodriguez -a 78 year old super boxing buff here in Miami who helps me with a lot of research and has obtained some clippings from Diario de La Marina of 1915- I'll introduce you to him soon. This is the Budinich story from an article I published a couple of years ago, but since I wrote it I came up with more exact dates for the fights.
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Few men in history have laid claim to being pioneers that launched boxing in a nation. There was James Figg in England, proprietor of the first boxing academy making prizefighting the rage of the Fancy in the British Isles. There was old-timer Bobby Dobbs, instrumental in popularizing boxing in Germany in 1910.
And there was John Budinich.
Even boxing historians shrug at the mention of the name. John Budinich is a forgotten name in ring annals, yet he was a trailblazer whose sketchy life deserves to be told.
Budinich was born in Chile, sometime in mid 1880's. He left South America while a teen, working on merchant boats until he reached New York. The Chilean had a basic knowledge of English that improved with practice. Budinich worked as a waiter in New York and Philadelphia while learning the fight game. The Chilean claimed to have fought several no-decision under-card bouts in both cities, even working as a sparing partner for Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.
In 1910, John Budinich went south to Havana. He was a compact middleweight with a likeable personality and a modest amount of cash, enough to rent a building, equip a gym and advertise a boxing academy.
Boxing in Cuba was non-existent. In 1898 a Cuban lightweight named Emilio Sanchez boxed several professional bouts in New York but never fought in his own country.
Although boxing was not yet practiced, it was well covered by Havana newspapers and tabloids of the time. The list of journalists that had covered fights even included Jose Marti, the great Nineteenth Century writer and Cuban nationalist, who was a ringside correspondent at the Sullivan-Ryan bare-knuckle contest.
Budinich must have been an intelligent businessman. In a land without trainers or organized boxing, he provided a desired need. Whether his claims of ring experience were true or not, Budinich did possess enough pro skills and ring knowledge to be an adequate instructor. Within weeks his boxing school was packed with eager young men willing to pay gym fees and private lessons. The group of hopefuls included longshoremen, construction workers, blacksmiths and a group of well-bred university students, the young sportsmen of Havana's society set.
The Chilean evidently possessed some social skills, for within weeks of his arrival he was appointed boxing instructor at the "Vedado Tennis Club," teaching the aristocracy how to jab. With a prosperous gym and a salary at the country club, the enterprising prelim fighter was ready for the next step in his career as a boxing impresario.
In order for boxing to progress, there had to be fights and paying audiences. Budinich became a promoter, running amateur shows in dance halls or private homes with large courtyards. His simon-pure shows were intended to build up a skill level that would help launch pro careers. Often, he would also referee.
In 1912, after promoting several amateur cards to small audiences, Budinich announced his first pro boxing show at the Payret Theater in downtown Havana. Since he was the only experienced pro in Cuba, Budinich announced that he would not only promote, but also fight in the main event bout.
The Chilean was a good boxing teacher and a clever entrepreneur, but not a good matchmaker. Perhaps the ease with which he handled his inexperienced students in the gym made him over-confident of his own ability. Instead of picking a soft opponent, Budinich brought Jack Ryan to Havana. Ryan was a seasoned welterweight who had traded leather with top fighters, including the magnificent Joe Gans. It took Ryan two rounds to knock out Budinich.
The Chilean did not despair. In 1915 he once again headlined his own main event. Once again, his matchmaking was dismal. The opponent was a tough black heavyweight named John Lester Johnson, a body puncher with solid skills, destined to break Jack Dempsey's ribs in a future bout. Johnson stopped Budinich in four with a wicked body shot.
Budinich decided to stick to training and promoting. He continued to promote, even touring several cities in Cuba with a crew of young fighters. One of his prospects was a heavyweight named Anastasio Penalver, proclaimed as the new "Heavyweight Champion of Cuba," based on a few victories over other raw novices. John Lester Johnson returned to Havana in 1915 and was matched to fight Penalver in a main event bout.
The Johnson-Penalver fight was stopped in the second round, towel thrown in by corner as Johnson pummeled the Cuban. Penalver was not gracious in defeat, causing an incident after the end of the fight card. The Cuban threatened Johnson, using a stone as weapon.
In five years Budinich had successfully introduced a sport in a nation. Although none of his students attained international acclaim or contender status, Budinich did train a crop of good local heroes, several becoming trainers after hanging up the gloves. Victor Achan a fair bantamweight, Mike Febles who also practiced jiu-jitsu, and lightweight slugger Tomas Galiana were Budinich alumni who went on to become well-known trainers in Cuba.
By 1915, although other gyms had opened and an American named Brandt was new competition in the promotional level, the Chilean was doing well. Budinich was not wealthy but his income was enough to live in modest comfort. There was the gym and the local pros he managed, plus his country club salary and a small profit from promoting boxing shows at small venues.
The Chilean had a sense of adventure and the great epic of the time was taking place in Europe, where men were fighting in bloody trenches and tiny planes engaged in aerial combat over a war torn land. So John Budinich, then in his early thirties, sold his gym, quit his training job and announced he was off to France, to wear the Kepi Blanc of the French Foreign Legion
The country club promised him a job upon his return and Budinich gracefully stated that as soon as the war against the Boche concluded, he would return to continue training and promoting.
John Budinich never returned to Cuba. The last news received in Havana was a letter in 1918, in the last months of the war, when the Chilean promised once more to return to training and promotions. After the letter, nothing more was heard from John Budinich. Most likely he died in some forgotten barricade, like Allan Seeger. Had he survived the war it is likely he would have returned to Havana, where he was a local celebrity. The boxing pioneer disappeared in history but it is likely that his bones now rest in some war memorial graveyard in France.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Few men in history have laid claim to being pioneers that launched boxing in a nation. There was James Figg in England, proprietor of the first boxing academy making prizefighting the rage of the Fancy in the British Isles. There was old-timer Bobby Dobbs, instrumental in popularizing boxing in Germany in 1910.
And there was John Budinich.
Even boxing historians shrug at the mention of the name. John Budinich is a forgotten name in ring annals, yet he was a trailblazer whose sketchy life deserves to be told.
Budinich was born in Chile, sometime in mid 1880's. He left South America while a teen, working on merchant boats until he reached New York. The Chilean had a basic knowledge of English that improved with practice. Budinich worked as a waiter in New York and Philadelphia while learning the fight game. The Chilean claimed to have fought several no-decision under-card bouts in both cities, even working as a sparing partner for Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.
In 1910, John Budinich went south to Havana. He was a compact middleweight with a likeable personality and a modest amount of cash, enough to rent a building, equip a gym and advertise a boxing academy.
Boxing in Cuba was non-existent. In 1898 a Cuban lightweight named Emilio Sanchez boxed several professional bouts in New York but never fought in his own country.
Although boxing was not yet practiced, it was well covered by Havana newspapers and tabloids of the time. The list of journalists that had covered fights even included Jose Marti, the great Nineteenth Century writer and Cuban nationalist, who was a ringside correspondent at the Sullivan-Ryan bare-knuckle contest.
Budinich must have been an intelligent businessman. In a land without trainers or organized boxing, he provided a desired need. Whether his claims of ring experience were true or not, Budinich did possess enough pro skills and ring knowledge to be an adequate instructor. Within weeks his boxing school was packed with eager young men willing to pay gym fees and private lessons. The group of hopefuls included longshoremen, construction workers, blacksmiths and a group of well-bred university students, the young sportsmen of Havana's society set.
The Chilean evidently possessed some social skills, for within weeks of his arrival he was appointed boxing instructor at the "Vedado Tennis Club," teaching the aristocracy how to jab. With a prosperous gym and a salary at the country club, the enterprising prelim fighter was ready for the next step in his career as a boxing impresario.
In order for boxing to progress, there had to be fights and paying audiences. Budinich became a promoter, running amateur shows in dance halls or private homes with large courtyards. His simon-pure shows were intended to build up a skill level that would help launch pro careers. Often, he would also referee.
In 1912, after promoting several amateur cards to small audiences, Budinich announced his first pro boxing show at the Payret Theater in downtown Havana. Since he was the only experienced pro in Cuba, Budinich announced that he would not only promote, but also fight in the main event bout.
The Chilean was a good boxing teacher and a clever entrepreneur, but not a good matchmaker. Perhaps the ease with which he handled his inexperienced students in the gym made him over-confident of his own ability. Instead of picking a soft opponent, Budinich brought Jack Ryan to Havana. Ryan was a seasoned welterweight who had traded leather with top fighters, including the magnificent Joe Gans. It took Ryan two rounds to knock out Budinich.
The Chilean did not despair. In 1915 he once again headlined his own main event. Once again, his matchmaking was dismal. The opponent was a tough black heavyweight named John Lester Johnson, a body puncher with solid skills, destined to break Jack Dempsey's ribs in a future bout. Johnson stopped Budinich in four with a wicked body shot.
Budinich decided to stick to training and promoting. He continued to promote, even touring several cities in Cuba with a crew of young fighters. One of his prospects was a heavyweight named Anastasio Penalver, proclaimed as the new "Heavyweight Champion of Cuba," based on a few victories over other raw novices. John Lester Johnson returned to Havana in 1915 and was matched to fight Penalver in a main event bout.
The Johnson-Penalver fight was stopped in the second round, towel thrown in by corner as Johnson pummeled the Cuban. Penalver was not gracious in defeat, causing an incident after the end of the fight card. The Cuban threatened Johnson, using a stone as weapon.
In five years Budinich had successfully introduced a sport in a nation. Although none of his students attained international acclaim or contender status, Budinich did train a crop of good local heroes, several becoming trainers after hanging up the gloves. Victor Achan a fair bantamweight, Mike Febles who also practiced jiu-jitsu, and lightweight slugger Tomas Galiana were Budinich alumni who went on to become well-known trainers in Cuba.
By 1915, although other gyms had opened and an American named Brandt was new competition in the promotional level, the Chilean was doing well. Budinich was not wealthy but his income was enough to live in modest comfort. There was the gym and the local pros he managed, plus his country club salary and a small profit from promoting boxing shows at small venues.
The Chilean had a sense of adventure and the great epic of the time was taking place in Europe, where men were fighting in bloody trenches and tiny planes engaged in aerial combat over a war torn land. So John Budinich, then in his early thirties, sold his gym, quit his training job and announced he was off to France, to wear the Kepi Blanc of the French Foreign Legion
The country club promised him a job upon his return and Budinich gracefully stated that as soon as the war against the Boche concluded, he would return to continue training and promoting.
John Budinich never returned to Cuba. The last news received in Havana was a letter in 1918, in the last months of the war, when the Chilean promised once more to return to training and promotions. After the letter, nothing more was heard from John Budinich. Most likely he died in some forgotten barricade, like Allan Seeger. Had he survived the war it is likely he would have returned to Havana, where he was a local celebrity. The boxing pioneer disappeared in history but it is likely that his bones now rest in some war memorial graveyard in France.
Thank you, Enrique.
My grandfather had told me about the Peñalver-Johnson post fight incident. It is great to hear that in fact happened and that it is well documented.
Also, I was aware that Martí was a correspondent for the Sullivan-Ryan bout, but all I have seen are excerpts of his account. Has it ever been reproduced in its entirety?
It is frustrating because most of the sources for this on the net come from Castro's Cuba and as such they are always manipulated and politicized.
For instance, every time they mention the Martí piece on the Sullivan-Ryan fight they quote him as proof that he was supposedly "abhorred" by professional boxing and found it morally repulsive to watch two men fight for money. So they try to sell amateur boxing's superiority over the professionals and like in everything else they manipulate the facts and pull out a decontextualized quote from Martí to prove their point.
Even inside isolated Cuba, though, real fans can't be fooled. Whenever I asked my grandfather what he though about Teofilo Stevenson and the amateurs he would reply without hesitating: "It's a bunch of BS"...Well, he actually used the Cuban equivalent: Eso es mierda...
Thanks again and looking forward to meet soon
My grandfather had told me about the Peñalver-Johnson post fight incident. It is great to hear that in fact happened and that it is well documented.
Also, I was aware that Martí was a correspondent for the Sullivan-Ryan bout, but all I have seen are excerpts of his account. Has it ever been reproduced in its entirety?
It is frustrating because most of the sources for this on the net come from Castro's Cuba and as such they are always manipulated and politicized.
For instance, every time they mention the Martí piece on the Sullivan-Ryan fight they quote him as proof that he was supposedly "abhorred" by professional boxing and found it morally repulsive to watch two men fight for money. So they try to sell amateur boxing's superiority over the professionals and like in everything else they manipulate the facts and pull out a decontextualized quote from Martí to prove their point.
Even inside isolated Cuba, though, real fans can't be fooled. Whenever I asked my grandfather what he though about Teofilo Stevenson and the amateurs he would reply without hesitating: "It's a bunch of BS"...Well, he actually used the Cuban equivalent: Eso es mierda...
Thanks again and looking forward to meet soon