Classic American West Coast Boxing

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The Acid Test

When it looked like no one was going to beat Sugar Ray Robinson in the beginning he was matched with Fritzie Zivic in Madison Square Garden. This was in October of 1941. Zivic had had close to 150 fights and was the guy who stopped the whirlwind Henry Armstrong in his tracks to win the welterweight title. Henry tried again but was TKO'd by Zivic that validated his dominance of of Hammerin' Hank at that time.Zivic then fought some non title fights and then lost the championship to Freddie Cochrane..

Zivic, a very crafty fighter who knw every trick in the book above and below the belt,was the one many of the anti Robby league figured to give Sugar Ray a good cuffing. But Robinson out boxed the Croat from Pittsburg PA, and then three months later they met again in The Garden and Robinson stopped him. Now everybody knew that Robinson was for real..

Zivic had four other brothers who were fighters.In the tough Ninth Ward were the Zivic family lived it was either be a fighter or work in the steel mill. Fighting was more to their liking.Fritzie Zivic was one of those guys who beat everybody and lost to everybody. He later lost a decision to Armstrong but this was after he had given up the title. He went back and forth with La Motta and Charlie Burley. He wasn't timid about fighting guys bigger than him.He's in the IBHOF with 65 losses showing on his record. .How many of those fights were on the level is anyone's guess.When Zivic fought Kid Azteca for the umpteenth time in 1947 both boys had had more than 430 combined fights under their belts.He fought during a time when Charley Burley and Billy Conn were also competing for bragging rights in the their native Pittsburg. It must have been hell working in those steel mills.


Sugar Ray Robinson

[goose 5]

Broke Eddie Booker's undefeated streak, too !

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The Hook

I was listening to Mike Mazurki,the former grappler later turned actor, talk about Mae West on The Mike Douglas Show. He said that Mae West had a thing about men with broken noses.She may have had a thing with women with broken noses too, because Mae swung both ways, but Mazurki never went there.Anyway, Mazurki had a sniffer that looked like it was chiseled out of granite so I figured Mike got to know Mae West about as close as one can get.

Mae West hired the ex bantamweight champ,Chalky Wright as her chauffer.I'm sure it wasn't because Chalky aced his driver's test at the DMV.Chalky had one of those noses that traveled around his pan like Mazurki's.I'm sure Mike and chalky also were equipped below the belt that warranted the biggest jockstrap in the sporting goods store too. Anyway, if I had known Mae West it probably would have something more Plutonic.But who knew with her.Rumor was she went to the hardware store and bought "Open For Business" signs and pasted them on all her body orifices.

Yesterday I yakked about Fritzie Zivic. Now there was a guy with a nose you could have hung your Sunday going to church suit on.. When I got done with my spiel I knew I had somewhere a painting I did of him. Sure enough I did, but it was a front shot.It didn't do the guy justice,didn't capture his personality.So this morning I did I side profile.It was more like it.

Painting Fritzie Zivic from the front would be like painting Mae West from the neck up.I wonder if she ever ran across 'ol Fritzie?


Fritzie Zivic.Now there's a hook that would have got Mae West off for sure.

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Sir Henry Cooper,the only British boxer ever knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (or any monarch for that matter)

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I knew a woman, year ago, who had a thing for long noses; mine didn't qualify.

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Lazy Bones

Archie Moore would always say "Old fighters get lazy." He was probably using himself as an example.But it's true.It makes sense.A fighter who has had a good run sooner or later slows has to slow down.

It's hard to say when Moore began showing his age. He was probably 40 years old when he won the light heavyweight title from Joey Maxim in 1952.After beating Maxim he fought more non title fights than putting his title on the line.He had had around 160 fights under his belt when he won the championship.But now he had to begin a new life.Like so many talented big men of that eras he thought he could easily outbox Rocky Marciano to be the first light heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight crown.

After getting beaten down by Marciano, Moore fought eleven times with only one defense;a KO of Yolande Pompey in England. Within that eleven fight journey was two wins over Howard King (who was like his sparring partner),and a fella who was making his pro debut,Roy Shire.Shire was a wrestler. There's a tip off right there that More was picking his spots.The other fighters on that eleven fight menu weren't what you'd call contenders.

After Marciano hung up his gloves, Moore and Floyd Patterson were matched together for the vacant title. For Jim Norris and his crew to pick Cud D'Amato and his kid Patterson as qualifiers is a mystery. Patterson's only quality fighter on his resume was Joey Maxim who he lost to in a 6 rounder. Moore could have beaten Joey blindfolded.The fight between Moore and Patterson was staged in Chicago,as crooked a fight town as there ever was.Moore was favored.He stunk up the house.The Outfit stuck it to the bookies,and Floyd Patterson ,with his manager guru D'Amato finding soft touches, sank the heavyweight division into a deep six.That's when Moore should have made his exit.

But Doc Kearns could get fights for his fighter like no other and Moore kept up the dog and pony show.Moore won 22 of his next 25 fights until he was finally put to rest by Cassius Clay. Moore had made a misguided attempt to train Clay at his facility in Ramona he named The Salt Mine in the foothills of San Diego.That effort was a bigger flop than the Edsel.

Archie Moore probably couldn't have lasted as long as he did if he didn't know how to cut a few corners. You can't say he really burned out. It was more like he had no more gas left in his tank.


Where Archie Moore trained Cassius Clay.I wonder if Archie was driving an Edsel at the time.

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Who Are You Trying To Kid?

So the other day Canelo Alvarez says he won't fight Gilberto Ramirez if Ramirez beats Dimitri Bivol because now Canelo's saying he doesn't want to fight another Mexican because somehow that would be anti patriotic..Gimme a break. Alvarez built his rep fighting Mexican fighters.He had no qualms about fighting Chavez Jr,and now he doesn't want to fight Ramirez ,if he wins against Bivol, because Ramirez is a compadre,a carnal.Ever hear of such horse s--t?

Alvarez knows he can never beat Bivol because the guy's too strong for him. Alvarez hit him with his best shots and didn't phase him.So if Ramirez beats Bivol then everyone in Mexico(and the rest of the world) is gonna' want to see Alvarez fight Ramirez.Makes sense.But Saul figures if Ramirez wins against Bivol then Ramirez must be a strong dude,even stronger than Bivol,and Saul ain't ever gonna' be stronger than he is right now.If anything, he's gonna' get weaker with age.So no one is buying that line about Alvarez's sudden nationalistic bent on fighting foreigners only.

I"ve never seen Ramirez fight but I hope he wins against Bivol. If he does win it will put the onus on Alvarez to get in the ring with Ramirez.Everybody would be watching that one.I'm sure in Mexico they couldn't care less about Alvarez's position of not fighting one of his countrymen.Besides,if Alvarez lose against GGG it's a mute point anyway.


Canelo Alvarez

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Mexico's Greatest

What's left of the aficianado fight fan in Mexico still discusses who is the greatest Mexican fighter.

Going back in time, the first Mexican champion was Juan Zurita who won what was considered the lightweight championship from Sammy Angott in 1944.Zurita was part of that famous Mexican triad-Baby Casanova,Joe Conde,and Zurita-that went around and around fighting each other in Mexico for national championships. Casanova had pretty good success with a young Henry Armstrong but it was Zurita who emerged as the first world champ.He fought some non title fights until he lost the title to Ike Williams a year later.

During that same period Kid Azteca was making his mark fighting everybody everywhere but he never won a world championship nor was given the opportunity despite fighting over 250 times.

IN 1934 another very active Mexican fighter,Baby Arizmendi won the New York version of the featherweight title by decisioning Mike Belloise.But Arizmendi didn't win the world championship from Henry Armstrong in their title fight even though Arizmendi had beaten Armstrong before when no title was on the line.

In the 1952 Lauro Salas decisioned Jimmy Carter for the lightweight championship but lost it back to Carter later in the year..

All the above Mexican fighters were not shy about stepping into the ring.All left their marks and were admired in their country.It was a crapshoot to pick the best of te lot.But it wasn't until the advent of the Mexican bantamweight surge in the late 60's and 70's that Mexico started talking about separating the men from the boys.

When Ruben Olivares began blazing a trail upward through the 118 pound class, and finally winning the title KO ing LIonel Rose that the aficianados were chanting "He's our greatest." Olivares was undefeated in over 61 fights and had knocked out everybody. He looked unbeatable. But then he gets his head handed to him by Chucho Castillo, who had lost previously to Olivares,and now the division gets thrown into a meat grinder of Mexicans like Olivares,Castillo,Rafael Herrera,Rodolfo Martinez ,and a slew of foreigners.El Puas moved up in weight but his success wasn't like before. However,when he was finally through with sport he was still considered in the country as the the best homegrown product to ever lace on the gloves.That was untll Julio Cesar Chavez hi the scene.

Chavez ,like Olivares, cut a swathe through the lighter divisions winning them all and almost all by knockout.He had so many title belts it was hard to count them .Then in San Antonio ,Texas he fought Pernell Whitaker for the welterweight chamionship and was given a "gift" draw. The invincibility tag had worn off.Later down the road Frankie Randall gave him fits,and then the worst happened-he was stopped twice by the Chicano ,Oscar De La Hoya.Julio is still mentioned as being Mexico's finest but the tone is somewhat muted.

Now Mexico has Canelo Alvarez..Granted, he lost to Mayweather fair and square but everybody else had followed suit. Instead of floundering Alvarez bounced back in fine fashion.Today, his name is often mentioned as being the best of all time in Mexico.Canelo got better after the loss to Mayweather and it looked like he might exit as undefeated champ. But he moved up in weight to fight Dmitri Bivol and was outgunned. It wasn't close. Now Bivol is going to make something out of a Mexican rivalry and is going to fight Mexico's undefeated Gilberto Ramirez.If Roman wins Mexico might proclaim him as the best ever..Canelo will get second billing.

Yesterday I wrote that Canelo won't fight Ramirez if he beats Bivol.Something about Canelo doesn't want to fight another Mexican.It would be unpatriotic in a sense;brother against brother.I can't read minds but if I could I'd bet the farm that Canelo wants Ramirez to lose.Secong billing means you're not the greatest anymore.


Juan Zurita

P.S. I should have also mentioned Salvador Sanchez.But I've never heard him talked about across the border as being the greatest Mexican fighter. Many say he could have been but the rub is that he didn't fight enough times.

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Mexican Independence Day In The USA

The rubber match between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadly Golovkin will be in Las Vegas as usual on Mexico's Independence Day. But it's par for the course for the top Mexican fighters to fight outside of Mexico for th big purses.But then again there's so many Mexicans all over the place in the United States it's almost like fighting in their back yard,or at least their neighbor's backyard.

I'll do my usual and go to Tijuana to watch the fight.I haven';t decided where. It's free down there where up here it costa more than a full tank of gas,at least in the state of California.

GGG will have a crowd behind him Saturday night. at the T Mobile Arena.That's where the other two fights were held. They respect him in Mexico. He's a tough guy and Mexico likes tough guys.Flashy guys,especially black fighters with the flash, aren't received as well as the tough guys.

But I remember one black tough guy they didn't like in Mexico-the featherweight champ ,Davey Moore.I think it was because Moore never showed any affinity towards Mexican fighters or Mexico.I saw him fight Kid Irapuato in the downtown bullring and give him a trouncing.The aficianados were so upset the They chased Moore out of the ring before they could put his robe on him.Somehow he got out to the street and hailed a cab to the border.

However,with GGG the Mexicans kind of like. There's a lot of Mexicans that are picking him.That should be enough motivation for Canelo to get the eye of the tiger.I don't care who wins. It should be a tremendous fight. If those two are wise they should call it a career when it's over.They're both first ballot Hall Of Famers.


GGG

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It Rolls Off The Tongue Easier

There's still a lot of Americans that think Cinco De Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day. September 16 is Mexican Independence Day celebrating Mexico's independence from Spain. Cinco De Mayo celebrates a battle that the Mexican army fought against the French forces in the battle of Puebla.in 1862.

But Americans have a problem pronouncing Diez y Seis de Septiembre ,or Fiestas Patrias. Cinco de Mayo rolls off the tongue easier. But you'd be surprised how many Mexicans,especially the younger generation,don't know the history of either. They way they look at it is that both dates give good reason to have a party.

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Boy

When I think of Nino Valdez I think of a fighter who never reached his potential. Born in Cuba, and fighting in the U.S. before Castro came to power, I thought if Valdez ever got in the ring with Rocky Marciano,Valdez had a good shot at beating him.

Most of the time during the 50's Valdez was ranked in the top ten in the heavyweight division.The first time I saw him fight on TV was against Hurricane Jackson in 1954..He simply overwhelmed him.Valdez was like a lot of those famous Cuban heavyweights,pro and Olympian-big , fast hands ,good footwork,and knockout power in either hand.The trainers were good in Cuba and when he finally settled in the U.S. he was an accomplished fighter.

It was around this time that there was talk of Valdez and Marciano getting to know each other better.But Marciano's camp(Al Weill) said they couldn't come to terms.I wonder.

Also trying to get Marciano into the ring was Archie Moore. Moore and Valdez fought outside in Las Vegas for some trumped up version of a heavyweight title with Moore emerging victorious after 15 rounds.The lone judge was ex champ Jimmy Braddock who reffed the fight.Moore said that during the fight he'd maneuver Valdez into position where he was facing the sun most of the time in order to tire him out.

After the Moore fight(that was the second time they had fought.Archie was two for two against Valdez) Valdez got together in Chicago with the Outfit's charge,Bob Satterfield. But everything was above board with this one. Satterfield answered everything Valdez had to offer outworking him and won the decision.

It was up and down for Valdez after that.He lost twice to Eddie Machen,beat Mike De John two times,crushed Pat McMurtry in less than 2 minutes in The Garden("That Valdez is an animal" said Pat afterwards in the ring),and Valdez gets KO'd in his next fight by Charley Powell in Miami weighing 30 pounds heavier than his previous fight with McMurtry..Valdez's next to last fight was with Sonny Liston and that loss eliminated him for good for any title shot.

Valdez wanted to get into the ring with Floyd Patterson but Cus D'Amato said "No." He knew Floyd had weak whiskers.Valdez, though at the end of his rope, could still punch so the fight was never made.

By this time Castro had outlawed professional fighting in Cuba saying pro sports exploited athletes. Like Castro never exploited anyone in his life.Valdez never returned to his homeland to visit his family.He said that was his biggest regret.


Nino Valdez

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Can't Tell Me He didn't Draw The Color Line

Jack Dempsey Couldn't fight in New York after the proposed fight with Harry Wills fell through;Dempsey saying that Harry got his money up front and that he got stiffed. Never added up with me.Dempsey nixed behind the deal sub rosa so he wouldn't have to fight Wills.Jack knew he was stale as poorhouse cake from inactivity and fighting run of the mill pugs. They yelled that he drew the color line but then showed them the contact.(See,it's all in black nd white) Jack never fought in New York again.

Dempsey handled Max Baer and thought Maxie was the greatest fighter since he was ,but after Baer beat Carnera for the title he laid a big fat egg against Jimmy Braddock. Dempsey thought Baer had enough left in him to beat Joe Louis and there was Baer in front of a full house in Yankee Stadium taking a ten count from Arthur Donovan looking up at him resting on one knee.

Dempsey was happy that Max Schmeling caught Joe Louis on a night when Joe was on the golf course more than working in the gym. For the rematch you'll never guess who Dempsey picked to win. He was still wiping the egg off his face after the fight was long over.

There's a video on Youtube of Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis on some talk show. Joe was still fighting. The time was December 1951. The emcee asked both guys who they picked in the big fight between Joey Maxim and Ezzard Charles.Joey was O for 2 against Charles going into the fight so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure Dempsey's pick. Of course Joe went with Charles.After it was over Jack got the towel again to wipe that familiar egg off his face.

In 1952 Rex Layne and Ezzard Charles fought deep in Laynes' Mormon stomping grounds of Ogden ,Utah. They had fought before;Rex taking a shellacking getting stopped.The referee and sole judge was Jack Dempsey.The fight was lined up for ten rounds. Jack had Layne the winner after the fight went the distance. Scoring:2 rounds for Layne,i round for Chasrles,7 even.PU.

In that video that I mentioned in the 4th paragraph,Dempsey and Louis are asked by the emcee how they would have fought each other.Both men are standing inside a ring. Joe Louis may have seemed slow at times, and people and the press took racial potshots at him all the time, but when Joe showed how he would have fought Dempsey you could see the earnestness in Joe's manner.Louis would have loved to have gotten that guy in the ring. But then again Dempsey would have found a way out.

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It Was Different Back Then

Getting to think about what I last posted.It was different back then.Blacks were second rate citizens. Forget what Lincoln did for them. Freeing blacks just made it harder on them. Now that they were free were they going to knock on the white man's door and pick up his daughter for a date,or even worse-marry them? That was the rub. White men thought that their women would be threatened by the black man. That's what racism is all about.Men protecting their women from another race of men.The darker the more dangerous.

So when Jack Dempsey was asked who'd win between Joey Maxim and Ezzard Charles, he answered Maxim. Maybe deep down inside he didn't really think so,but maybe he felt he had to side with the white guy or he'd be accused of being a n----r lover.It was different back then.

The war started changing things,at lest on paper but not in hearts..But blacks that joined the army or the navy were mess boys still.The marines shut the door on them altogether. Truman integrated the services but he felt he had to. When Marciano beat Joe Walcott it was a second coming.But then he retired and it was two blacks fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world.A lot of the white American boxing fans turned to something else.Yeah,Johansson came along but he was a Swede. The Klitschkos hit the scene much later but they were Ukrainians.(Isn't that a commie? )Now there's Fury, but he lives across the pond.

Muhammad Ali caught the imagination of the young American,especially the rebel.Then later it was Mike Tyson who personified the visceral thug that was gathering an insensitive, primal following.

Things are different today. Tyson Fury talks about masturbation as part of his training regimen. Tyson yelled at white reporters calling then faggots.Joe Louis had to fight a fighter everyone associated with being a Nazi before he had the crowd behind him yet he still had to use the colored washroom.

Things were different back then but it's just as bad ,only in a different way.


Jack Dempsey

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The Kid From Canada

Art Hafey's base of operations was right here in San Diego. Burke Emery,who was from Canada and training fighters in San Diego,called on Hafey to come down to sunny San Diego ,along with fellow countryman Ronnie Wilson wanting to see if they could leave an imprint.I thought Hafey would one day win the featherweight championship.

I'd watch Hafey train at the Coliseum with Emery standing over him showing Art how to get the most leverage into his left hook. Hafey had what you'd say a compact body. HIs main weapon was that left hook. He'd bring it up from his side and if he caught his opponent with it either in the gut or on the jaw the fight would soon be over.

With Ken Norton fighting in bigger venues against the top men in the heavyweight division he was absent from San Diego most of the time. Art Hafey took over as being the star attraction.He was left hooking his way through everyone they put in front of him,.It was just a matter of getting him a title shot.

Around the mid 1970's Bobby Chacon,David Kotey,Ruben Olivares,Danny Lopez,and Alexis Arguello were either wearing the featherweight crown or in the hunt.Hafey was riding right alongside them.When Burke risked taking Art down to Monterrey, Mexico To fight Ruben Olivares I thought the two had bitten off more than they could chew. Ruben was the NABF 125 champ but didn't put his title on the line.Neither was Olivares in the best shape, however Hafey was,and let his left hook do the talking.One of Art's hooks dug deep into Ruben's panza causing him to spit his mouthpiece halfway across the arena. They could have counted him out with a calendar.

They paired the two for the rematch into the LA Forum with Ruben offering his belt for bait. In one of the worst decisions ever the judges gave Olivares the decision.Hafey had Olivares hanging on for dear life.RIchard Steele only gave Hafey two of the rounds out of 12.Goes to show you the clout Olivares still had in LA..

After that robbery Hafey was still considered valuable property.Burke then took another gamble and brought Art down to Nicaragua to fight the upcoming Alexis Arguello.Art had trouble with Alexis' height and reach(as he would later with Danny Lopez)and was stopped in 5 rounds.

After losing to Arguello Hafey fell out of contention. He fought a lot of so so guys with good results until he met up with Danny Lopez at The Forum.Art got the hell beat out of him.It was his last fight.

I saw him at The California Boxing Hall Of Fame Ceremony when he got inducted.He came down from Canada.He said that he had been experiencing nerve pain the last year he was fighting.He gave a lot of credit to Burke Emery for teaching him how to throw that left hook.Rick Farris wanted to induct Art into his West Coast Boxing Hall Of Fame a few years back but Rick told me that Art's got the dementia along with muscle disease.He couldn't make it to LA.Maybe luck wasn't on Art Hafey's side when he needed it, but you can't say he didn't give the fans their money's worth.


Art Hafey cutting loose.

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All Business And No Pleasure

When i was talking about Art Hafey yesterday I didn't mention that although Art gives credit to his trainer Burke Emery for his fistic development, he blames Emery for mishandling his career. Both fellas' came from Canada.Along with Hafey under Emery's wing was his fellow Canadian Ronnie Wilson.He was another fighter who was trained by Emery ,yet when it came to lining up fights Wilson was rushed.

Art's brother ,Lawrence,didn't come down to San Diego with his brother.He might have gotten more recognized like Art but then again when it all came out in the wash he might have been better off staying up north. In Hafey's case it was a matter of letting him continue to fight when he had sustained a brain injury. Hafey said that his fight with Rodolfo Moreno,though he won by KO,Hafey had sustained a brain hemorrhage.He said the side effects have lasted to this day.

In Wilson's case he was what they call a "bleeder". It got to the point that just about every fight he was in he would get cut up around the eyes.He lost many fights due to this problem. Instead of giving it the proper time to heal,Wilson would be fighting again in a few weeks.

It makes you wonder what's gong on with the ring physicians who ae supposed to be examining these fighters before they step into the ring,Are they just not thorough?Or are they inept? Or are they bought off by the promoters?

After Benny Paret fought a brutal draw with Federico Thompson, Paret complained to his manager,Manual Alfaro that he was having terrible headaches.Alfaro told him that all fighters get headaches. You know what happened later when he fought Emile Griffith. Even though the Mayo Clinic said Muhammad Ali was OK to fight Larry Holmes,after seeing Ali's performance it makes you wonder about the integrity of these pre fight examinations.

How about all the fighters who have these these enormous losing records ,getting knocked out continually,and yet are allowed to continue fighting.

Who in their right mind would protest if boxing was banned? The promoters?'Nuff said.

Benny Paret

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The Real Reason

I dropped by Champs just now and Jeff the bartender called me out on my post about banning boxing.
"How could you have criticized Castro for banning professional boxing saying it exploited fighters when today you said they should ban boxing here?"
"Castro was a phony SOB. He didn't care one way or another about boxing exploiting fighters.He knew if he kept pro boxing legal in Cuba all the fighters would leave and try to make money here. Then he get screwed out of raking in any dough.To seal the deal he didn't allow anyone to leave the country.WHat fighter in his right mind wats to fight for free?"
"But how about amateur fighting?"
They should take a close look at it.Some of these fighters have a hundred amateur fights.That don't do them any good.What's the point? A brain hemorrhage doesn't care if you're getting paid or not."


Davey Moore.A world champion who died after fighting Sugar Ramos.How many other sports,except motor car racing, can make the claim of drivers dying on the racetrack?It it hasn't happened since Dale Earnhardt died on the track in 2001.You can only do so much to protect fighters from getting hurt in boxing.Speed racing has much more leeway.And besides, racecar drivers don't wind up punchy.

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All He Wanted To Be Was A Fighter

Charlie Powell had an up and down career as a fighter.When it became apparent that he'd never be the heavyweight champion it was mostly down.But Powell didn't start out right away as a fighter. At San Diego High School in the late 40's he lettered in baseball,track,and football. He could run the 100 yard dash in under 10 seconds on his Adonis frame standing over 6 feet tall and weighting 210 pounds.He could toss a shot put 57 feet. He played a year of minor league baseball.The Harlem Globetrotters wanted to give him a look on what may have been at the time the best team in basketball. When he was 19 years old he went straight out of high school and started as a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first 49er to be awarded a game ball for sacking All Pro quarterback Bobby Layne of the Detroit Lions 9 times. But with al that said,Powell had his heart set on being a fighter.

Powell made his pro debut in 1953.Suey Welch got him the fights and Gorilla Jones taught him the trade.He started off undefeated in his first twelve fights before Charlie Norkus stopped him in 7 rounds in San Francisco. Then it became up and down time.In 1954 Powell split his time between football and boxing.He said it had a negative effect on both careers.He'd have to gain weight to play football and cut down to fight.

Charlie Powell's most significant win was a KO of top contender Nino Valdes in Nino's neck of the woods , Miami. But there was something strange about that fight.Valdes weighed in 30 pounds over his normal fighting weight.But that fight put Powell back in the mix.But in Powell's next going he lost to Roy Harris ,and then went to Mike DeJohn's hometown of Syracuse,New York and was bombed out in 47 seconds of the 1st round.The fight smelled of a fix..It was the quickest KO of a televised fight

Powell was then on a road to being the set up guy. Floyd Patterson and Cassius Clay had no problem with him.Powell was still mixing football with fighting.He played on the Oakland Raiders with his brother Art who was an All Pro wide receiver.

What I remember fondly of Charlie Powell was that he was a gentleman. Married to the same woman and raised a family,I'd see him and his brothers Art and Jerry(Jerry was the youngest brother and was an All Section MVP playing football for Lincoln High School).They would be seen together at just about every function in San Diego recognizing local athletes.They were always nattily attired and soft spoken.

I saw Charlie when he was inducted into the California Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2013.I talked to him for a bit and asked him how his brothers were getting along.The following year attending a family reunion in San Diego he died of a heart attack at the age of 82.

You know they talk about JIm Thorpe as being the greatest all round athlete ever .I'd put Charlie Powell right up there with him.

Charlie Powell

Charlie Powell and Mike DeJohn.No Academy Award for Charlie for this one

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Carne Asada Tacos

Something was in the air last night in Tijuana and it wasn't just the smell of tacos cooking on the carts from all the street vendors.That aroma smells pretty good.Makes your mouth water. No,it was something else.

I drove down to Tijuana like I said I would to watch the Canelo fight with GGG.The last time they fought every place that had the fight on the screen in town was mobbed.But last night it was different.They always have these two squared off on Mexican Independence Day and last night was no exception. There were plenty of people in the street but it seemed like they were just milling around.

I go to watch the fights at my usual spot The Hotel Nelson on the corner of 1st and Revolution Streets. Inside at the bar they have the fights on the tube but I like sitting outside in the patio area where they have some tables where you can order food and watch the fight on the big screen. But for some reason the bar was closed so there was no other place but to sit outside.As I walked towards the hotel I thought I'd have to squeeze in to find a table. But to my surprise there was only a handful of people sitting down.Lots of people roaming around outside but they didn't even poke there noses in that patio area to watch the fight or at least keep tabs on it.

The waitress came over and I ordered five carne asada tacos and a Coke.They can say what they want about Tijuana but it's the taco capital of the world.Any kind of taco you want they've got it like no other place on earth.

When the fight started there wasn't much excitement at least from where I was sitting.Not even the people working at the hotel came around to see what was happening. Across the street from the Nelson on the other side of 1st Street is where the Coahuila starts,the red light district.You could hear the music blasting from the sound systems inside all the cantinas and see girls standing out front but I didn't see any of them get approached.They looked bored snapping their gum with their fingers and leaning against the walls. Nor did I see anyone going inside any of the those bars. Lots of people around but not much action.People in TJ just don't have a lot of disposable income.

I got out a piece of paper and a pencil to score the fight. I quit counting after the 8th round.GGG fought like Samson with a crew cut.His power was gone.He tried working his jab but that was about it. He looked tired, just trying to hang in there.Canelo had him on his heels clubbing him around but neither man could stagger the other.There were no knockdowns.I thought Canelo might stop him later but he kind of took his foot off the gas.Two of the judges had it 115-113.The other 116-112.If I were the King Of Boxing I'd make sure that trio would never judge a fight again.

When it was over I paid my bill and tipped the waitress.I got out of there for less than 5 bucks. Can't say that the night was a total disappointment.

[dagosd2000]

Whatever IS For The Best Is Hard To See

I was glancing at the "What's Next For Golovkin?" thread. Something like 60% of the votes cast want to see him retire.I don't know what he'll do but I hope he does. Maybe he wants to go out a winner and he'll fight a no name guy. But that's as far as he should go.Fighters don't catch lightning in a bottle. He can't beat the cream of the crop anymore because he's fallen out of that bracket.It was hard to see how Roy Jones Jr. wound up after losing to Tarver.GGG should have enough money.If he doesn't it's on him and he won't make enough to keep going and putting his health on the line.These guys who want him to continue are not thinking what's best for Golovkin.I can't figure what they're thinking about.


Carmen Basilio,a great fighter who fought too long

[Chuck1052]

On the Turner Classic Movies channel tonight with Eddie Muller as the host, there were two early 1950s films with a Mexican American theme, The Lawless and The Ring. Muller had discussions of both films with a film historian who has written a book about Hispanic actors. Lalo Rios, an American actor who was born in Mexico, had roles in both films. As result, Rios featured prominently in the conversations of Muller and the film historian.

- Chuck Johnston

[dagosd2000]

On the Turner Classic Movies channel tonight with Eddie Muller as the host, there were two early 1950s films with a Mexican American theme, The Lawless and The Ring. Muller had discussions of both films with a film historian who has written a book about Hispanic actors. Lalo Rios, an American actor who was born in Mexico, had roles in both films. As result, Rios featured prominently in the conversations of Muller and the film historian.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck,Thanks a ton for that.I saw that on TCM. I was going to put in my two cents tomorrow but I'll toss in a penny right now.The Ring especially grabbed me.To get this out of the way.How about that young Rita Moreno who played Tommy's girlfriend?What a heartbreaker

That film is classic film noir and has great footage of LA back in the day(early 50's).The message runs true about fighters who don't know their limitations and think they are better than they are.I know that historian wanted to bring in the Chicano/Mexican aspect of discrimination ,but let's face it: fighters of all races in LA were in the same barrel back then. You either made it or you got counted out.Art Aragon, who played himself in the movie and took it easy for a few rounds on Tommy when he was forced into taking him on as a last minute replacement,was peaking in 1952. Eight years later he was getting punched around and washed up.The movie held up for me until the end when Rita Moreno told Tommy if he wanted to continue fighting she'd be in his corner.I remember Bobby Chacon's wife taking her life when she saw that Bobby wouldn't stop fighting despite the beatings he was taking late in his career.Not hard to see that maybe happening to Lalo Rios and Rita Moreno down the road.


Art Aragon after getting the crap beat out of him by Carmen Basilio. A few years later Basilio would have the crap beat out of him by Gene Fullmer. A few years later Dick Tiger would beat the crap out of Fullmer.Crappy sport that boxing.

[goose 5]

Hi Roger: Do you believe the stories about Aragon and Marliyn Monroe or are the hype ?

[dagosd2000]

The More You Fight The Easier It Gets

Jack Britton and Ted Kid Lewis fought each other 20 times;Sam Langford and Harry Wills 23 times;Benny Leonard and Johnny Dundee 8 times;Jack Johnson and Joe Jeanette 10 times;Ray Robinson and Jake La Motta 6 times;Ezzard Charles and Joey Maxim 5 times;Archie Moore and Harold Johnson 5 times;Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi 6 times; Holman Williams and The Cocoa Kid 14 times.These guys fought each other so many times it got to be a habit.But that was only a handful of examples of how fighters became familiar with each other in the ring. After awhile they must have thought about it as a part of life.

Ray Robinson would fight La Motta and three weeks later they're fighting again.There was such rapidity that they didn't have time in between to build a case of nerves. Sometimes you'd lose but it wasn't the end of the world. But back then fighters made about as much money in a fight to pay a month's rent and take the wife out for a night on the town. Monday, you were back in the gym. Your manager would have something else ,lined up again so the cycle continued.

Today it's different.The boys I mentioned above are Hall Of Famers.They were doing all right in the money department but compared to what the top guys make today is next to nothing. Rocky Marciano made 2 million dollars fighting.Deontay Wilder made that much putting on a Darth Vader costume.Yeah,I know with inflation like it is now it all balances out -NOT!

The other night Canelo was guaranteed 10 million and GGG 8. Today,you make that kind of dough and you don't fight each other again in three weeks.You're lucky if you fight again in six months. it's that down time that can kill a fighter. Look what happened to Duran after he beat Leonard?He got lazy,drunk, and fat and then had to rehab himself to pretend looking like a fighter four months later in the rematch.Bobby complained he didn't have enough time in between the fights.Bulls--t.

The first thing Canelo said after Saturday's fight is that his hand needs surgery and he'll be out a year. How does he know that? Sounds like the pressure got to him and he's all let down. You make 10 million and you sure don't want to see or smell a boxing gym for a while.

Canelo will come down to earth.He'll want to fight again.But who? He's O and 1 against Bivol. He'd get another 10 million(or more) if he opted for that one.Or he could fight a guy like Jermell Charlo(I don't know).Maybe only 5 million for that .As for GGG, he might retire.But then he'd think about all those millions he'd lose out on.But then again he'll have plenty of time in between to think it over.


Rocky Marciano

[dagosd2000]

Something They Don't Want To Talk About

No fighter wants to admit he took a dive.Name one? It would be like a woman admitting that she was a prostitute.It's not so much that a fighter fears what would happen to him if he gets on the stand and spills his guts.A fighter goes in the tank thinking he'll get a bigger fight down the road and of course, the wise guys kick in a little extra dough in his till.Fighters don't cross the wise guys, or their careers are over. No more fights.No more money.They don't get their legs broken or wind up in the East River floating face down. Then the heat would get involved and they don't want that.

If you've ever read Raging Bull,the alleged written account of Jake La Motta's life,he explains that before the Billy Fox fight he sustained a kidney injury in training.He even went to the doctor to get a hand written excuse. He showed it at the commission hearing. La Motta was never convicted of taking the dive,but everyone knew.

The guy taking the flop is the guy who's in on it..His opponent is unaware of what's going on.In case of a fighter who won't take a dive like Carmen Basilio, they get to his manager and to the referee.For instance when Basilio put is title on the line against Johnny Saxton in Chicago(home of the Outfit)Carmen's managers,Johnny De John and Joe Netro, were in hock to the bookies for a lot of money. As the fight went on the referee,Frank Gilmer,wouldn't let Basilio work inside and separated the two fighters constantly.Basilio lost the decision but smelled a rat.He knew about how his mangers were always owing to the man, and was frustrated the way Gilmer reffed the fight.Basilio hated fighting in Chicago because he thought he always got stiffed there.He never won a fight in The Windy City losing to Chuck Davey ,Billy Graham, Ray Robinson,and of course Saxton. .

Benny Leonard dropped Jack Britton in the 13th round of Leonard's quest for Britton's welterweight championship.Then, while Jack was on a knee taking a count ,Leonard walked over and clubbed him one.He was DQ'd on the spot. Benny was the odds on favorite to beat Britton,but accordning to Manny Seamon who was with Leonard in the dressing room before the fight,Leonard got the call on the phone to throw the fight.Sure,Benny was mad.
"I'm in great shape and besides, all my friends are betting on me to win ."
So what does Leonard do?He fouls Jack when he's on a knee.Leonard knows that all bets are off on a disqualification.

I used to work with a guy,Earl Anderson. who was a close friend and sparring partner of Irish Bob Murphy.When Murphy went to New York to fight Joey Maxim for Joey's light heavyweight title, this guy went with Murphy. Anderson told me that he was in the dressing room when Murphy started warming up. Murphy then was told he was wanted on the telephone.When Murphy got back he began breaking all the furniture in the place going crazy.Irish Bob then went out and stunk up the ring for 15 rounds.The smart boys laid their money down on Maxim and cleaned up on the 5 to 7 odds that were in Murphy's favor.

My friend James " The Heat" Kinchen was in a peculiar fight at the end of his career.(Here's a guy who got robbed against Tommy Hearns,Iran Barkley,and James Shuler-all SD losses)James went up to fight the undefeated Virgil Hill in Virg's hometown of Bismark,North Dakota. I never asked James about this fight.To tell the truth I didn't want to know.

[dagosd2000]

The Fight That Killed Boxing In Chicago



After this farce Chicago didn't see another major fight until Tunney fought Dempsey 27 years later.(And then Al Capone tried to reach work his influence having Dempsey "win" the rematch,the 3rd fight on the level. Dempsey knew he was shot and didn't bite.Dempsey was approached by Capone in my grandfather's restaurant,The Bella Napoli, where Capone ate his spaghetti every nihght) Gans went 42 rounds with Battling Nelson outside in the middle of the desert,and then you look at this.Gans had 7 pounds on McGovern.


My grandfather,Diamond Joe Esposito, throwing a party for Jane Addams' orphan kids ,who lived at Hull House across the street, in the Bella Napoli.