Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's & early 1970's

Caractacus
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Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's & early 1970's

Post by Caractacus »

Who is all still around who fought professionally back then ?
Last edited by Caractacus on 14 Dec 2023, 17:09, edited 1 time in total.
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

About 5 years ago,someone over at the Cyberboxing Zone had asked if there was anyone still alive
who had fought Rocky Marciano.
Someone posted that Joe Dominic was still around but wasn't able to confirm it.
They said he was around 80-90 years old and living in New Jersey if I remember right.
(I also remember some posters on the thread were surprised to hear that Jimmy Bivens was still around at that point)
Joe Dominic was active as a fighter from 1948-1950.
He had fought Bernie Reynolds,RoLand LaStarza,Tami Mauriello and Rocky Marciano (all in 1949)
Joe Dominic had also did an exhibition with Joe Louis around that time.
Anyone here have any more info about him such as the year he was born ?
You would think that the people who did the biographies on Rocky Marciano in the last few years would know
if he was still around.
writehooks
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by writehooks »

George Chuvalo, who turned pro in April of 1956, recently celebrated his 80th birthday (Sept. 12, 1937).
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

I far as I can tell all of these guys are still around.
Brian London (turned pro March 1955)
Roy "Cut N Shoot" Harris (turned pro April 1955)
Albert Westphal (turned pro May 1956)
Pete Rademacher (turned pro August 1957)
Doug Jones (turned pro August 1958)
Karl Mildenberger ( turned pro October 1958)
Gerhard Zech (turned pro December 1959)
Last edited by Caractacus on 12 Oct 2017, 13:15, edited 2 times in total.
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

Billy Walker (turned pro March 1962)
James J. Beattie (turned pro November 1962)
Tony Doyle (turned pro June 1963)
Chuck Wepner (turned pro August 1964)
Juergen Blin (turned pro October 1964)
Mike Bruce (turned pro November 1964)
Dave Zyglowicz (turned pro April 1965)
Boone Kirkman (turned pro April 1966)
Jose King Roman (turned pro June 1966)
Alvin Blue Lewis (turned pro June 1966)
Jack O'Halloran (turned pro September 1966)
Roy Tiger Williams (turned pro October 1966)
Last edited by Caractacus on 11 Oct 2017, 17:18, edited 5 times in total.
scorpio83
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by scorpio83 »

Does anyone forget that Brian London is still living at 83?
evrenb
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by evrenb »

George foreman
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

scorpio83 wrote:Does anyone forget that Brian London is still living at 83?
wasn't sure since I remembered reading that he stopped doing his daily laps a few years ago.
(Brian London turned pro March 1955,which would make him the oldest HW contender alive so far as to when he turned pro on this list)
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

Joe Bugner (turned pro December 1967)
Terry Daniels ( turned pro February 1969)
George Foreman (turned pro June 1969)
Richard Dunn (turned pro July 1969)
Ron Stander (turned pro August 1969)
Randy Nueman (turned pro August 1969)
Earnie Shavers (turned pro November 1969)
scorpio83
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by scorpio83 »

Caractacus wrote:I far as I can tell all of these guys are still around.
Brian London (turned pro March 1955)
Roy "Cut N Shoot" Harris (turned pro April 1955)
Albert Westphal (turned pro May 1956)
Pete Rademacher (turned pro August 1957)
Karl Mildenberger ( turned pro October 1958)
Gerhard Zech (turned pro December 1959)
I forgot that you mentioned Brian London because I read it too fast. :doh:
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

BTW I'm not sure if it was noted at this forum but last August was the 60th anniversary that Pete Rademacher had fought
for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.(against Floyd Patterson)
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

anyone left ? (other then Chuck Wepner, George Foreman and Joe Bugner
writehooks
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by writehooks »

George Chuvalo turned 86 in September. Afflicted with severe dementia, he's been residing in a Toronto care facility for the past six years. No longer able to speak and barely able to move, he has no memory of who he is or what he accomplished. He lost three sons and his first wife to drugs and suicide, but his surviving son and daughter spend time with him almost every day. I consider myself blessed to count him as a close friend for nearly 40 years, and to have co-authored his 2013 autobiography, Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life.
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

That seemed to come all the sudden.
the same thing seemed to happed to Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom.
Controversial
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Controversial »

Caractacus wrote: 06 Dec 2023, 17:56 anyone left ? (other then Chuck Wepner, George Foreman and Joe Bugner
writehooks wrote: 07 Dec 2023, 03:09 George Chuvalo turned 86 in September. Afflicted with severe dementia, he's been residing in a Toronto care facility for the past six years. No longer able to speak and barely able to move, he has no memory of who he is or what he accomplished. He lost three sons and his first wife to drugs and suicide, but his surviving son and daughter spend time with him almost every day. I consider myself blessed to count him as a close friend for nearly 40 years, and to have co-authored his 2013 autobiography, Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life.
Joe Bugner is also in a care home due to dementia, he also has no recollection of his boxing career
pound per pound
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by pound per pound »

Controversial wrote: 07 Dec 2023, 18:01
Caractacus wrote: 06 Dec 2023, 17:56 anyone left ? (other then Chuck Wepner, George Foreman and Joe Bugner
writehooks wrote: 07 Dec 2023, 03:09 George Chuvalo turned 86 in September. Afflicted with severe dementia, he's been residing in a Toronto care facility for the past six years. No longer able to speak and barely able to move, he has no memory of who he is or what he accomplished. He lost three sons and his first wife to drugs and suicide, but his surviving son and daughter spend time with him almost every day. I consider myself blessed to count him as a close friend for nearly 40 years, and to have co-authored his 2013 autobiography, Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life.
Joe Bugner is also in a care home due to dementia, he also has no recollection of his boxing career
Larry Holmes has dementia too.

Foreman is doing well. He is one of the few older fighters doing well
Controversial
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Controversial »

pound per pound wrote: 11 Dec 2023, 07:02
Controversial wrote: 07 Dec 2023, 18:01
Caractacus wrote: 06 Dec 2023, 17:56 anyone left ? (other then Chuck Wepner, George Foreman and Joe Bugner
writehooks wrote: 07 Dec 2023, 03:09 George Chuvalo turned 86 in September. Afflicted with severe dementia, he's been residing in a Toronto care facility for the past six years. No longer able to speak and barely able to move, he has no memory of who he is or what he accomplished. He lost three sons and his first wife to drugs and suicide, but his surviving son and daughter spend time with him almost every day. I consider myself blessed to count him as a close friend for nearly 40 years, and to have co-authored his 2013 autobiography, Chuvalo: A Fighter's Life.
Joe Bugner is also in a care home due to dementia, he also has no recollection of his boxing career
Larry Holmes has dementia too.

Foreman is doing well. He is one of the few older fighters doing well
Yeah I created the post about Holmes having dementia. Foreman seems to be doing well, there’s footage of him whacking the heavy bag aged 74 on YouTube
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

Chuck Wepner is 84 years old. How is he doing these days ?
Controversial
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Controversial »

Caractacus wrote: 13 Dec 2023, 13:57 Chuck Wepner is 84 years old. How is he doing these days ?
He seems to be doing well, found a short clip of him talking in 2022

wouter
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by wouter »

Controversial wrote: 11 Dec 2023, 07:19Foreman seems to be doing well, there’s footage of him whacking the heavy bag aged 74 on YouTube
He's doing okay, but the one hitting the bag is not Foreman.
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Controversial »

wouter wrote: 14 Dec 2023, 07:23
Controversial wrote: 11 Dec 2023, 07:19Foreman seems to be doing well, there’s footage of him whacking the heavy bag aged 74 on YouTube
He's doing okay, but the one hitting the bag is not Foreman.
Ah ok, yeah just rewatched it and notice he goes out of shot. There is footage of him aged 69 though although without the same power lol

evrenb
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by evrenb »

Dave Zyglewicz died this year...
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

Randy Neumann ( who turned pro in 1969,, and who fought Jerry Quarry, Duane Bobick, Chuck Wepner and Jimmy Young)
Is 75 years old and still alive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Neumann
evrenb
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by evrenb »

Billy Walker and Jack Ohalloran
Caractacus
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Re: Living HW contenders from the 1950's/1960's

Post by Caractacus »

btw
Jack O'Halloran is 80 years old
and Billy Walker is 84 yrs old.
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