kikibalt wrote:I hear that boxing promoter Lorraine Chargin is real sick with terminal cancer...
PRESS RELEASE-Cambria CA, March 19, 2010 - After having been involved within the "sweet science" for over five decades and having seen hundreds of prize fighters battle their way to the top of the boxing world, Lorraine Chargin’s career within the sport is coming to an end due to a terminal battle with cancer.
It’s been an ongoing struggle that has undoubtedly taken it’s physical toll on the woman known as "boxing mom" by some and "dragon lady" by others. While the physical pain endured in fighting cancer has been excruciating to say the least, Lorraine’s spirit has remained assuredly strong throughout the process.
Lorraine states, "Yes there’s been a lot of pain involved in this process but that’s life. Life can be cruel at times but we just have to learn to deal with it. I very much appreciate all the support we’ve received through this tough time from people I didn’t even know might show it. While the flowers and cards are extremely lovely and very much appreciated, I’m requesting that any would-be senders instead make a donation of any amount to the Connecticut Junior Republic."
Connecticut Junior Republic
http://www.ctjuniorrepublic.org/
Hedy Barton, Director of Development
Ph: 860-567-9423
Lorraine continues, "My mother and I have supported this charity for years and have seen the many positive effects of the organization. It’s a non-profit company that helps troubled youths become positive contributors to their communities. We must remember that many fighters have come from troubled backgrounds that merely needed some guidance to shape their lives positively so giving back to this organization is very important to me. I appreciate the very kind gestures by the public but would like to see any potential future gifts to be presented to this organization."
Here is a very brief bio on Lorraine Chargin and her involvement within boxing:
As a teenager growing up in New Haven, Connecticut Lorraine Chargin was warned by her father never to walk down Church Street. This street was where the local boxing gym was located and he had many concerns about her somehow becoming involved in the sweet science or a practitioner of thereof. Little did he know that not only would she becomeintimately involved in the sport he was fearful of, she would ultimately contribute a lifetime of achievement to this tumultuous sport.
Growing up in the Depression era as one of fourteen siblings, Lorraine developed a work ethic that would carry over for decades upon decades within boxing. She started working when she was a mere 8 years old and hasn’t stopped ever since.
Lorraine first met her husband and future hall-of-fame promoter Don War-a-week Chargin in 1957. He proceeded to invite her to a fight card he had produced at Oakland, California. While Don offered to purchase her ticket and treat her as a special guest, Lorraine stated, No thank you, I’ll purchase my own ticket Don. Nothing in life is for free.
It’s been an exciting and fulfilling marriage ever since.
Lorraine’s first experience becoming involved in the logistics of boxing promotions was in the Gene Fullmer-Dick Tiger bout which took place in 1962 in San Francisco, California. When Don caught wind that he’d need a strong, stern woman in order to deal with the stress he immediately employed Lorraine in order to perform the publicity work.
In the late mid 60’s through the mid 80’s, Lorraine not only worked at the Olympic Auditorium as building manager, she also served as the lead promoter for the various Sacramento shows that took place. Being competitive by nature, at times Lorraine would borrow fighters from her husband Don in Los Angeles, in order to produce the most compelling match-ups possible in Northern California.
With a staff comprising of virtually just two people in Don and Lorraine, it was an extremely busy time for the promotional firm and had ultimately taken it’s toll on Don in 1972 in which he suffered a heart attack.
I had thoughts of giving up the business altogether. The Olympic had us working virtually 24 hours, 7 days a week. Don threatened to quit following his heart attack but I said no because it was his passion. It was at this point that I reallybecame immersed in boxing.
Following the closing of the Olympic Auditorium, Lorraine delved into real estate although she was still intimately involved in boxing assisting in the nitty gritty of the sport as she likes to call it. All press passes, ticket sales, documentation, and paperwork needed to go through Lorraine for each and every Chargin produced show.
As for her proudest moment in boxing, Lorraine states, That’s easy. When Loretto Garza became a world champion, I wept. I believe that to truly become a champion you must carry yourself as such both inside and outside of the ring. He was just such a sweet heart.
While the show continued on from Las Vegas to Sacramento for Lorraine Chargin, she’s never lost sight of what’s the most important aspect of her life.
Lorraine states, It’s all about us, our lives together and our marriage. The strongest thing is the life both Don and I live together. We each come from families that are very family oriented. If there’s no love, there’s no family. We’ve seen so many people come and go in boxing. It has been a great trip, Don and I are so different being that our egos aren’t so great. You have to put your life in proper perspective.
As for her outlook on boxing today- I think boxing today is good. I see a future for it. It’s different. The people in boxing that feel that there’s no future are very self absorbed. There’s been people before us and people after us.
As for her peers within the sport - I know what people say about me, the only thing that counts is that as long at the end of the day they respect me.
It will unquestionably be a tough pill to swallow when Lorraine’s battle with cancer claims one of boxing’s classiest individuals. Her contribution to the sport will be an extremely difficult act to duplicate as she was an extremely, dedicated hard-worker by nature and a fighter at heart.
Boxing is not only a better sport because of Lorraine but at it’s core simply a better place because of Lorraine Chargin.
Here is the information to make donations to the Connecticut Junior Republic:
Connecticut Junior Republic
550 Goshen Road
P.O. Box 161
Litchfield, Connecticut 06759
http://www.ctjuniorrepublic.org/
Hedy Barton, Director of Development
Ph: 860-567-9423
