BoxRec

At the back end of last year I joined The London Ex Boxers Assoc but not having been a boxer only a life long fan i was a bit embarrassed to go to any meetings finally I bit the bullet & went along last month, I was made most welcome & will be attending again tomorrow (Sunday) their meetings are held in The William Blake pub in old st London I was surprised how many people attended there was close to 150 they took over the whole pub.
I spent a couple of hours talking to some of my hero's I can't wait to get back there.I know you have similar groups on the west coast & maybe this is a question for Charlie are there any such groups in NY

CNorkusJr wrote:You post great pictures Bennie. Many I never seen before and they are not the usual standard shots,but more intimate, personal perspectives of the fighters. Much appreciated by me and the rest of the gang here at CWCB.
You are and have been a great source for these shots ! Thanks.

I agree, great photos. Thanks, Bennie.

While at Bobby's visiting Tony I found the book, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, and damn, I can't put it down, seen the movie more then once, its a classic, but it don't compare to the book. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961....

telboy66 wrote:At the back end of last year I joined The London Ex Boxers Assoc but not having been a boxer only a life long fan i was a bit embarrassed to go to any meetings finally I bit the bullet & went along last month, I was made most welcome & will be attending again tomorrow (Sunday) their meetings are held in The William Blake pub in old st London I was surprised how many people attended there was close to 150 they took over the whole pub.
I spent a couple of hours talking to some of my hero's I can't wait to get back there.I know you have similar groups on the west coast & maybe this is a question for Charlie are there any such groups in NY

Thanks for the info on London's Boxing group. If I should make it across the pond some day, I'll liked to visit and say hello. For years and right up until the time of his passing in 1996. my father, Charley Norkus , received some of the nicest fan-mail I have ever read from England. It would seem he had a huge following in England and would (as with all his mail) would reply a note with answers to their many questions and a personalized autograph 8 x 10.
You might be interested to note that I recently met up with an old friend of my dads boxing days, Hvwt Henry Wallitsch who'd spar with my dad. He informed me that in 1958 as my dads career was finishing up, both sat down and hammered out an idea that was interesting.
In Stillmans Gym in NY, they were looking into a European tour of fighters from the 1940's & 50's. Fighters like Cesar Brion, Roland LaStarza, Joe Miceli,Billy Graham, Carlos Ortiz, Jake Lamotta,Charlie Fusari,Ernie Durando,Frankie Gennaro, my dad and Henry, and others. They would circuit the British Isles, France, Germany and Italy and put on exhibition fights in each location followed by a meet and greet session before or after. All those fighters expressed that they have received huge amount of fan-mail over the years from Europe and thought the trip would be a huge success and the tour would pay for itself as well as pocket a few bucks for each fighter as well,as well as seeing Europe as a tourist too. My father had this idea and it was in its planning stage when he was shot twice while in NYC. He survived, but unfortunetly the idea did not.

Yes, In New York- there are ring Veteran Orgs. One of which I am a member and my father was one of its first members in 1955, still exists.
Throughout the 1950's United States- with Boxing the USA's second most popular sport only behind baseball- About 90 Veteran Ring Organizations popped up in most of the major cities. These were for active fighters as well as former fighters from that area. Some fighters joined 2 or more diff. locations. Monthly meetings were held as well as fund raisers. The general premise motto was "Boxers helping Boxers". Money raised would help indigent fighters or pay medical bills or food bills for some in those areas. They need not be a member, just a former boxer to receive help. This is still the main cause of the remaining handful of Ring Orgs. left in the country.
As you can imagine, with less boxing, less membership over the years many of these orgs folded. There are still ,what I am told, about 25 of them left around the country. All have numbers after the word "Veteran Boxers Assn Ring # " signifying their location. In NYC there is Ring # 8. Phildelphia area Ring 1, Boston Ring #4 , New Jersey has several Ring Orgs.,etc etc. Each meeting is attended by 150 + members and guests and many former great champs show up at various nights. Some make it each meeting as Vito Antuefermo and Iran Barkley does here in NY.You can search "Veteran Boxers Ring Organizations" in your browser for more info.
Whether you boxed 3 rounds in your entire career or 590 Rds. all are welcome as is others who are non-boxers or guests. All welcome. Dues are $10 a year and includes a huge hot dinner meal before each meeting.(at least here in NY). All the hot boxing topics are discussed as well as videos as needed. I never saw a boxer deny an autograph or picture opportunity here either. Its a comfortable feeling for all.
Also my dad was Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing HOF in 1996. There too they hold monthly meetings and all are welcome to attend. Their induction ceremony will be held this THurs nite Nov 11th in Lodi,New Jersey.
It is attended by over 500 people and they induct about 15 people each year. Boxers, Officials, Writers,Trainers, etc etc as long as they did something with their career in New Jersey at some point. One of Thurs. honorees is Virgil Hill, and pro fighter of the year is Thomas Adamek.

Set for Dec is a fight between Adamek and Vinny Maddalone,Queens NY Hvwt, and longtime member od Ring #8.
The fight will be held in Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey.
If Maddalone can keep up with Adamek it will be a great fight.

kikibalt wrote:While at Bobby's visiting Tony I found the book, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, and damn, I can't put it down, seen the movie more then once, its a classic, but it don't compare to the book. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961....

It's a great book and a great movie. A young Robert Duvall plays Boo Radley. Gregory Peck portrayed Atticus Finch.
I agree with you, Frank. I read it in school. Classic.

CNorkusJr wrote:

telboy66 wrote:At the back end of last year I joined The London Ex Boxers Assoc but not having been a boxer only a life long fan i was a bit embarrassed to go to any meetings finally I bit the bullet & went along last month, I was made most welcome & will be attending again tomorrow (Sunday) their meetings are held in The William Blake pub in old st London I was surprised how many people attended there was close to 150 they took over the whole pub.
I spent a couple of hours talking to some of my hero's I can't wait to get back there.I know you have similar groups on the west coast & maybe this is a question for Charlie are there any such groups in NY

Thanks for the info on London's Boxing group. If I should make it across the pond some day, I'll liked to visit and say hello. For years and right up until the time of his passing in 1996. my father, Charley Norkus , received some of the nicest fan-mail I have ever read from England. It would seem he had a huge following in England and would (as with all his mail) would reply a note with answers to their many questions and a personalized autograph 8 x 10.
You might be interested to note that I recently met up with an old friend of my dads boxing days, Hvwt Henry Wallitsch who'd spar with my dad. He informed me that in 1958 as my dads career was finishing up, both sat down and hammered out an idea that was interesting.
In Stillmans Gym in NY, they were looking into a European tour of fighters from the 1940's & 50's. Fighters like Cesar Brion, Roland LaStarza, Joe Miceli,Billy Graham, Carlos Ortiz, Jake Lamotta,Charlie Fusari,Ernie Durando,Frankie Gennaro, my dad and Henry, and others. They would circuit the British Isles, France, Germany and Italy and put on exhibition fights in each location followed by a meet and greet session before or after. All those fighters expressed that they have received huge amount of fan-mail over the years from Europe and thought the trip would be a huge success and the tour would pay for itself as well as pocket a few bucks for each fighter as well,as well as seeing Europe as a tourist too. My father had this idea and it was in its planning stage when he was shot twice while in NYC. He survived, but unfortunetly the idea did not.

Yes, In New York- there are ring Veteran Orgs. One of which I am a member and my father was one of its first members in 1955, still exists.
Throughout the 1950's United States- with Boxing the USA's second most popular sport only behind baseball- About 90 Veteran Ring Organizations popped up in most of the major cities. These were for active fighters as well as former fighters from that area. Some fighters joined 2 or more diff. locations. Monthly meetings were held as well as fund raisers. The general premise motto was "Boxers helping Boxers". Money raised would help indigent fighters or pay medical bills or food bills for some in those areas. They need not be a member, just a former boxer to receive help. This is still the main cause of the remaining handful of Ring Orgs. left in the country.
As you can imagine, with less boxing, less membership over the years many of these orgs folded. There are still ,what I am told, about 25 of them left around the country. All have numbers after the word "Veteran Boxers Assn Ring # " signifying their location. In NYC there is Ring # 8. Phildelphia area Ring 1, Boston Ring #4 , New Jersey has several Ring Orgs.,etc etc. Each meeting is attended by 150 + members and guests and many former great champs show up at various nights. Some make it each meeting as Vito Antuefermo and Iran Barkley does here in NY.You can search "Veteran Boxers Ring Organizations" in your browser for more info.
Whether you boxed 3 rounds in your entire career or 590 Rds. all are welcome as is others who are non-boxers or guests. All welcome. Dues are $10 a year and includes a huge hot dinner meal before each meeting.(at least here in NY). All the hot boxing topics are discussed as well as videos as needed. I never saw a boxer deny an autograph or picture opportunity here either. Its a comfortable feeling for all.
Also my dad was Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing HOF in 1996. There too they hold monthly meetings and all are welcome to attend. Their induction ceremony will be held this THurs nite Nov 11th in Lodi,New Jersey.
It is attended by over 500 people and they induct about 15 people each year. Boxers, Officials, Writers,Trainers, etc etc as long as they did something with their career in New Jersey at some point. One of Thurs. honorees is Virgil Hill, and pro fighter of the year is Thomas Adamek.

Set for Dec is a fight between Adamek and Vinny Maddalone,Queens NY Hvwt, and longtime member od Ring #8.
The fight will be held in Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey.
If Maddalone can keep up with Adamek it will be a great fight.

Charlie, your father was shot twice? What happened?

MEMORIES WITH MLADINICH: Charley Norkus
By Robert Mladinich




Although onetime heavyweight contender Charley Norkus of New York more than held his own against such championship caliber fighters as Willie Pastrano, Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles, it was through no fault of his own he never got to fight Rocky Marciano, who went on to retire as the only undefeated heavyweight champion in history.

The April 26, 1952, issue of the Syracuse Post Standard reported that the Norkus-Marciano bout, which was scheduled to take place on May 26th of that year, was cancelled because of a 30 day suspension that had been handed down to Marciano by Rhode Island boxing commissioner Charley Reynolds.

The future heavyweight champ had been charged with “deception” during an exhibition tour in which he sparred with his brother, Louis Marchegiano, who fought under the pseudonym Pete Fuller.

“My father fought a lot of great fighters,” said Charley Norkus Jr., a retired New York City firefighter. “But he would have loved to have fought Marciano. Their styles were well-suited for each other.”

Between 1948 and 1959, Norkus compiled a record of 33-19 (19 KOs) against some very formidable competition. Although he lost to the aforementioned champions, as well as Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson, Pat McMurtry, and Roy “Cut and Shoot” Harris, he beat such notables as Roland LaStarza, Cesar Brion, and Charley Powell, who also beat Norkus in the latter’s second to last fight.

What old-timers remember more than anything, however, are Norkus’s thrilling back-to-back bouts against Danny Nardico in 1954 in Miami Beach.

Boxrec.com describes the first encounter as “a thriller, with eight knockdowns,” six of which were scored by Norkus. For the second fight, just two months later, a sellout crowd of 4,500 jammed into the Miami Beach Auditorium. This time the hard-punching Norkus, who esteemed columnist Bill Gallo once described as having a “low hands style, always with that great left hook ready to unload,” stopped Nardico in the ninth round.

According to Norkus’s biography in the journal for his posthumous 1996 induction into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, “[The] rematch on national TV had no knockdowns, but was a toe to toe fight with Norkus the victor again.”

What was probably Norkus’s biggest knockout is one that few people even know about. In the 1962 film “Splendor in the Grass,” Norkus and Billy Graham, who many consider the “uncrowned welterweight champion” after getting robbed against Kid Gavilan in 1950, rough up and “knock out” a young Warren Beatty during a New Year’s party scene.

If you listen closely, says the younger Norkus, you’ll hear his father say, “Okay Charley, had enough?”

As an actor, the multi-talented senior Norkus also appeared in the films “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” “The Hustler,” Breakfast at Tiffanys” and “West Side Story.”

Born in Queens in 1928, Norkus was a standout athlete in swimming, diving and pole vaulting. He first entered a boxing gym at the age of 16, and like so many other kids of the era was immediately hooked. Within months he was competing in the Golden Gloves tournament, losing in the 1944 and 1945 finals.

According to his son, his father and a group of his friends dropped out of Jamaica High School to join the Marine Corps prior to the end of World War II.

When his superiors learned that he was an accomplished boxer, Norkus began competing on the Marine Corps team and he soon won a title. Out of the ring, he earned a World War II Campaign Medal.

Norkus later lost a decision to Coley Wallace, who owned an amateur victory over Marciano, in the 1948 Olympic Trials. He wound up going to London as an Olympic alternate.

Later that year he turned pro in New Jersey, where he quickly became a fan favorite. Norkus was as honest of a fighter as the day is long, and he never gave anything less than a superlative effort in everything he did both in and out of the ring.

While still active, he was one of the founding members of the Veteran Boxers Association, Ring 8, in New York, the venerable organization that was formed in 1954 to help indigent boxers.

The organization held its annual holiday luncheon on January 10th. This year’s honorees were boxers Mark Breland and Vinny Maddalone, journalist Bill Gallo, Drs. Jerry Lynn and Michael Schwartz, trainer Pete Brodsky, and Ring 8 board member Tony DiPippo. Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was Bobby Goodman.

Among the luminaries in attendance were actors Paul Sorvino, Burt Young and Frank Albanese of “The Sopranos” and boxing figures Larry Holmes, Gerry Cooney, Vito Antuofermo, Tommy Gallagher, Henry Wallitsch, Randy Neumann, Larry Stanton, Arthur Mercante Jr., Joe Dwyer, Jill Diamond, and the younger Norkus.

At the event, Norkus Jr. said his father was smart enough to know when it was time to leave the rigors of boxing as a competitor behind. That is exactly what he did in February 1959, even though he had won his final bout by 10 round decision in a place that was most dear to him.

His victory over Waban Thomas took place in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, one of the places Norkus had been assigned while on active duty in the USMC.

“My father was a sensible man,” said Charley Jr. “He was in Ingemar Johansson’s camp as a sparring partner, but he realized at that stage of his career he was there to build up the careers of other fighters. He knew where that was going, so he got out. But he had saved enough of his ring earnings to buy a house for his family.”

Living on Long Island, Norkus began working as a liquor salesman. He moonlighted as a bouncer at place called the Frolic Café, which was located around Seventh Avenue and West 50th Street in Manhattan. One night, in July 1959, he threw out a patron who had been harassing a female customer.

Not long afterwards, the guy returned. This time he was packing heat. As Norkus tried to bounce him out a second time, the gunman, who eight months earlier had been paroled after serving 21 years for killing his wife, opened fire. Although Norkus was shot three times, he decked the culprit with a right hand as he was going down.

The parolee was quickly arrested and sentenced to a long prison term. He died at Sing Sing in the mid 1980s. Norkus was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors said his tremendous physical condition enabled him to pull through.

He went on to live a very full and happy life, and was always ready to lend a hand when needed. While working as a liquor salesman, Jake LaMotta asked Norkus if he could help him out.

Norkus helped get the Raging Bull a route in Manhattan that included the legendary saloon Toots Shor’s. According to Charley Jr., because LaMotta was a champion and his father was a contender, the caste system resulted in LaMotta not being able to just do his business in such establishments and leave. Everybody, it seemed, wanted to buy the champ a drink, and the champ didn’t know how to decline.

Norkus, on the other hand, was extremely responsible and always knew where to draw the line between work and play. Maybe the Marine Corps taught him that, or perhaps it was just his nature or his upbringing, but he was squared away in all aspects of his personal and professional life.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Norkus was a well known referee in the New York area. He was the third man in the ring for bouts featuring the likes of Mike Tyson, Buddy McGirt, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Gerry Cooney and Renaldo Snipes.

He supported his family, acted in films, was recognized by the Downtown Athletic Club as a “boxing great” in 1978, and honored by the New York City Detectives Association for numerous altruistic endeavors a few years later.

This writer remembers him well during my early days on the boxing beat. Whether speaking to a young journalist or a fighter, Norkus was extremely respectful and benevolent. You only had to be around him for a minute to realize what a nice man he truly was.

One night in a Long Island dressing room, he and Graham, both of whom had worked a card as referees, were changing into their street clothes and chatting with me, a journalist in my early twenties, as if I was the most important guy in the room.

I wish I had memorialized the conversation, or committed it to memory, because I don’t remember what it was about. What I do vividly recall was how these two fine men with such rich boxing pedigrees were so quickly dispelling every negative boxing stereotype I’d been told to watch out for.

Norkus passed away from gall bladder cancer at the age of 68 in March 1996. During a life that was fully lived and greatly appreciated by all who had the pleasure of knowing him, his son said there was one final irony.

“On the day my father died, we were informed that he was elected into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame,” said Charley Jr. “That meant the world to me, and it would have meant the world to him if he had been there to experience it himself.”

Charlie Powell - Charlie Norkus bout mentioned here:
---------------------------------------------------------------


"The King" takes on best athlete in CIF-SS history ... now that's no easy task
By Fred Robledo



Who was the best athlete in CIF-Southern Section history? We mentioned two candidates - Bonita High School's Glenn Davis and Bishop Amat's Pat Haden - in last week's column. Readers have submitted a few more. (To continue, click thread)
Several "nominated" Citrus High School's Billy Kilmer. No question, Kilmer was an outstanding high school athlete, a star in football, basketball and baseball. Still, many of Kilmer's most impressive accomplishments came while playing at Citrus College, and then at UCLA.

Others called or wrote with the name Jackie Robinson. Jackie was a very good high school athlete, but he really came into his own at Pasadena Junior College and UCLA.

Robinson is also one of that rare breed, someone who played at the professional level in three sports. In Jackie's case, he played pro football before serving in the Army in WWII and played pro basketball after his discharge in 1945. For his baseball exploits, check out his plaque at Cooperstown.

Then there is a name brought up by Glendora's Warren Bowen.

"One of the most amazing and gifted athletes was Charlie Powell," Bowen wrote. "The reports of his exploits were truly astounding."

Turns out Powell is still very much with us, alive and well at 78 and living in Altadena.

As for his athletic accomplishments, well, I will let you be the judge. It should be known at the top that Powell - like Robinson - is one of those rare three-sport pros. And Powell's trifecta is perhaps the most remarkable of any athlete.

Powell, who prepped at San Diego High, was CIF-SS football Player of the Year in 1950. In basketball, he was good enough to be an all-league center and talented enough to be offered a contract by the Harlem Globetrotters. In track, he was a sub 10-second man in the 100-yard dash and put the shot 57-feet, 9-inches - still a San Diego school record. In baseball, he was also all-league.

After graduation, he signed with Bill Veeck and the St. Louis Browns and played one season, 1952, with the Stockton Ports of the California League.

He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL and in his NFL debut, as a defensive end, sacked All-Pro quarterback Bobby Layne four times.

He played from 1952 to 1957 with the 49ers. He also played in 1960 and 1961 with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League.

But the third component of Powell's professional career is the most compelling.

From 1953 to 1965, he boxed professionally. In the late 1950s, he was ranked in the Top 10 in the world in the heavyweight division.

At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he was one of the most feared men in the ring.

The late Mickey Davies, matchmaker at the Olympic Auditorium in the 1960s and 1970s, once told me that Charley was the most impressive physical specimen he had ever seen.

"If Charley would have concentrated on boxing and had the type of handling that Angelo Dundee gave (Muhammad) Ali, he would have been a world champion," Davies said. "He was bigger than Ali, stronger than Ali, more athletic than Ali and hit a hell of a lot harder.

"But there's a big difference between being in shape to play football and being in shape to fight a top-ranked boxer. I don't think Charley ever really got into shape to box. And his handlers put him in a couple fights he just wasn't ready for."

Probably the biggest misstep in Powell's boxing career came in 1954. Powell started his career undefeated in 12 fights. He then signed to meet Charley Norkus, a veteran of 36 pro fights, in a nationally televised main event.

Powell knocked Norkus down in the first round, but couldn't put him away. Norkus then resorted to roughhouse tactics and eventually wore Powell down, winning by technical knockout in the seventh round.

Powell's career never quite recovered.

Still, he had his moments. The best came in 1959, again in a nationally televised bout. Powell upset Nino Valdes, at the time ranked second in the world. Valdes carried a 46-16-3 record into the bout, expected to be a tune-up for a title shot. Instead, Powell took it to him, eventually knocking out the Cuban in the eighth round.

That put Powell back in the title picture. He fought top-ranked Roy Harris in 1959 in Harris' hometown of Houston, with the winner to get a shot at Floyd Patterson. Harris, 25-1 going into the fight, was awarded a narrow decision, a fight most ringside observers (other than the judges) felt Powell had won.

From there, it was tough for Powell to land bouts. Most in the division avoided him. By the time he finally landed a bout with Cassius Clay in 1963, Powell was well past his prime. Clay knocked him out in the third.

Powell finally fought Floyd Patterson in 1964, but Patterson took him out in six. Powell's last fight was in 1965.

He retired with a 25-11-3 record, 17 knockouts, and at least as many "might-have-beens."

In later years, Powell became an accomplished golfer. He was also elected to the San Diego Sports Hall of Fame.

And, on any list of best prep athletes in SoCal history, he has to rate more than a mention.

Rick and Frank, you might remember trainer Pat Ruggiero from the Main Street Gym. He sent me these photos. I thought they might stir some old memories.


Mike Nixon, Pat Ruggerio, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ralph Gambina


Pat Ruggerio and Bobby Chacon


Pat Ruggerio working the David Sotelo vs Art Hafey fight
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California-April 15, 1976


AL SILVANI, FRANK SINATRA, HANK SANICOLA, RALPH Gambina and CISCO ANDRADE, 1950's


Pat Ruggierio and Ralph Gambina


Ralph Gambina and heavyweight John Baca at the Main Street Gym 1970's- Baca was trained by Ruggiero


Patrick Ruggiero and Sylvester Stallone at the main Street Gym during the filming of Rocky-1976


This last photo of Sylvester Stallone and me has been posted before but this is a much clearer photo and shows more background detail. That's Pat Ruggiero to my right.

kikibalt wrote:While at Bobby's visiting Tony I found the book, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, and damn, I can't put it down, seen the movie more then once, its a classic, but it don't compare to the book. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961....

Loved the movie but never read the book. I'll have to put that on my long list of books to read.

In 1959, Charley was finishing his career as a Pro fighter. His mgr. Marty Sampson
was still looking for TV money bouts but they pretty much ran their course. Charley's wife Marge, put some of his earnings away from time they got married in 1954 to now. I,Charley Jr, came along in 1957 and we were renting a nice house in Pt. Washington, Long Island in which Charley returned to in 1954 when he got married.

Charley was 31 years old, had a handful of side jobs to help make ends meet, one of which was bartending and bouncing in NYC and Long Island.
In a place called the Frolic Cafe, located at 711 7th Ave, NY,NY.(nr 50th St) ( Just a block or two from the middle of Times Square), Charley along with former fighter and friend Paddy Flood, plied their trade on various weekends. The Frolic was the type a joint that had some midtown regulars as well as a few tourists who stopped in when they saw the 8x10's of the two boxers taped to the front window "inviting them in to meet and greet". Still, it was a Times square dive that required the services of a bouncer on duty until closing.
At 2 am in the early morn of Sept 2,1959, an obviously intoxicated man named Emanual Trevisano, also aged 31 of 92nd street, uptown entered and began to harass the female hanger-ons. Charley along with Paddy escorted the man to the door and had to be physically remove him to the street. Just another guy who had too much elsewhere and had to be ousted.

He returned at 4am just as the few remaining patrons were gathering their things to leave and Charley was putting up the bar stools. Paddy was on a bathroom break.
Mr Trevisano entered and as Charley started walking to the door to keep him out, he pulled out a .38 caliber pistol and got off two shots hitting Charley in the groin and thigh. Charley managed to hit his assailant with a right cross and knocked him to the floor. Paddy Flood, now running from the back, picked up a beer bottle and hit the guy over the head knocking him out cold.

Charley, conscious and losing lots of blood laid on the floor. Two policeman walking a beat nearby reached the scene and summoned an ambulance. A ambulance from Roosevelt Hosp (9th ave and 59th St) with a surgeon on board responded. Removed hastily, Charley underwent surgery 4 hours, removing the bullets. One bullet traveled from the thigh and around to his back and was removed there. Another, by the groin was just a few centimeters from his femoral artery , which if hit, could prove very well fatal. He bled profusely but survived. The doctors on staff all agreed that if he wasnt in the athletic shape he was in, it would have been a different story.
Emanual Trevisano, was out on parole just 8 months, after serving 9 years for manslaughter for killing his wife. He was re-arrested on a host of charges which sent him back to Sing Sing Prison, NY for the remainder of his life. Later on when asked by a news reporter, he said he was not a boxing fan, nor did he ever hear of my father, or know who the man he shot by name or know he was a fighter. We got word that he passed away in 1985 in prison.
My father never fought again nor did he bounce/bartend in NYC again. Here is photo and caption.



Thanks Rick for posting Mlandinich article and Powell article. The Marciano story should read that my dad had a arm injury which cancelled first Marciano bout,but subsequent bout with Rocky was cancelled due to Rocky's suspension as reported.Gino Buenvino was substituted for my father for the first fight against Rocky held in Providence ,RI.. Rocky and my father signed a contract to fight 2 months later to make up for the cancelled fight, but Rocky had a contract to fight Bernie Reynolds first. Rocky was suspended for 30 days starting after the conclusion of Reynolds fight and that had my fathers fight cancelled once again. It was never made up. My father chased after Rocky ever since, and Rocky offered my father a verbal title shot promise (no written contract) if he can get by Ezzard Charles in 1955. Charley Norkus took Ezzard the distance ,but lost the fight handedly.

The above story on my fathers shooting appears on my dads Boxrec forum page and is correct.

Jets
Sanchez

That was a great game. Great come back!

Randyman wrote:

kikibalt wrote:While at Bobby's visiting Tony I found the book, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, and damn, I can't put it down, seen the movie more then once, its a classic, but it don't compare to the book. It won a Pulitzer Prize in 1961....

Loved the movie but never read the book. I'll have to put that on my long list of books to read.

You have to read the book Randy.......

Rick Farris wrote:Jets
Sanchez

That was a great game. Great come back!

Randyman wrote:Rick and Frank, you might remember trainer Pat Ruggiero from the Main Street Gym. He sent me these photos. I thought they might stir some old memories.


Mike Nixon, Pat Ruggerio, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ralph Gambina


Pat Ruggerio and Bobby Chacon


Pat Ruggerio working the David Sotelo vs Art Hafey fight
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California-April 15, 1976


AL SILVANI, FRANK SINATRA, HANK SANICOLA, RALPH Gambina and CISCO ANDRADE, 1950's


Pat Ruggierio and Ralph Gambina


Ralph Gambina and heavyweight John Baca at the Main Street Gym 1970's- Baca was trained by Ruggiero


Patrick Ruggiero and Sylvester Stallone at the main Street Gym during the filming of Rocky-1976


This last photo of Sylvester Stallone and me has been posted before but this is a much clearer photo and shows more background detail. That's Pat Ruggiero to my right.

I used to see John Baca train in the golden gloves gym here in Vegas about 1982 he was a lot heavier when I saw him than he was in this picture, I also saw him fight once at Caesars Palace, he was on the undercard of Mike Dokes vs Mike Weaver ''The infamous stop the fight'' where Mike Weaver got shafted by ref Joey Curtis.

Rick you posted about Charlie Powell, he is the only pro football player that I can think of who ever ended up making it to the top ten, all the football players turned fighter's I can think of sucked.

DOES MARTY DENKIN CONTROL CALIFORNIA BOXING?
September 20th, 2010 By Pedro Fernandez


Marty Denkin
BOXING IN CALIFORNIA AT DANGEROUS CROSSROAD?

San Francisco, CA- To some boxing officials in California, it is akin to a diagnosis of Cancer. I’m talking about the feeling that newly appointed Executive Officer George Dodd, the man that’s in charge of California boxing, is a puppet and that referee/judge Marty Denkin is pulling the strings. Denkin, now in his mid 70s, has gotten more major assignments since Dodd came aboard earlier this year than what can be considered reasonable. In the past, California’s Executive Officers have either squashed Marty like a bug, or bowed to his self-perceived power. It seems clear as to which direction Dodd has chosen.

BARRED IN NEVADA & TARGET OF CRIMINAL PROBES
Denkin probably has the longest tenure of any California referee or judge. That being the case, he has never been allowed to work in Nevada! Doesn’t this alone speak volumes about their opinion of Marty, who was the subject of criminal probes involving bribery, boxing, and the receiving of gifts?

WAS THE WOLF PROBING THE HEN HOUSE?

Although cleared in a series of inquiries, Marty resurfaced when he spearheaded an investigation into the 2002 fixed fight involving Joey Torres and Perry Williams. Marty’s final determination was that it was “not fixed.” I guess Marty felt, damn the obvious, as well as the hundreds of screaming people that thought so and called the LA TV station as the fight aired live!

DENKIN PROVED WORTHLESS AS INVESTIGATOR

The damning evidence showing Marty Denkin’s ineptitude was that after he declared that the obviously fixed fight wasn’t fixed, (did he even watch the videotape?) the FBI came up with an audio tape of trainer Sean Gibbons choreographing and rehearsing just how to throw the fight beforehand with both Williams and Torres.

IS MARTY REASON WHY PAT GOT FLAGGED?

People have blamed me for referee Pat Russell not getting the Executive Officer position here in California in at least one of his two attempts. In hindsight, Russell had, or should I say has the qualifications and he would have made a better choice than a lot of people who have applied for and gotten the job.

DENKIN LEGACY: THE “WORST BREATH” IN BOXING?

That being said, believe it or not, Denkin has a reputation in boxing that might be construed by some as “seedy.” I personally think that Denkin is what prevented Russell from getting the EO slot. That’s right, I said it. It is my feeling that Russell being joined at the hip with Denkin, this is what twice cost Pat the gold!

DODD SHOULD CALL RICHARD ASAP!


California Boxing Boss George Dodd
Nobody rendered Marty impotent more effectively that ex-E.O. Richard Decuir. He flat out told Marty that, “I’m running the state, not you.” In closing, having met E.O. George Dodd and watched his actions now for about six months, it appears to me that he sees California boxing about as clearly as the nearly blind Mr. Magoo, pictured here in Dodd’s place.!

ONE MORE THING FOLKS!

Watch out for the backlash from one writer who either hates me or is getting Gay sexual favors from some southern California officials, but I expect him to come after me over Denkin. There won’t be any discounting or dismissing, no attempt to refute anything I am saying here, it’ll instead be an all out personal attack on yours truly. To that all I can say is the fixed fight in Macau, the so-called Forum protection racket, I can go on. Truth be told, there’s a lot of garbage hidden under a house in West Covina, CA!

kikibalt wrote:

Rick Farris wrote:Jets
Sanchez

That was a great game. Great come back!

They are killing me with these last minute heroics !
First in Denver, now in Detroit.
Its the first time I can ever remember a 300+ lb. linebacker try to kick the extra point-AND IT FAILED !
That one play left the door wide open for the Jets to FLY through.

THEHAMMER321 wrote:Rick you posted about Charlie Powell, he is the only pro football player that I can think of who ever ended up making it to the top ten, all the football players turned fighter's I can think of sucked.

My father had tremendous respect for Charlie Powell before their 1954 bout. My father knew of his football exploits but word got back to my father here in NY that Charlie was the real deal as a up and coming fighter undefeated (11-0) was to be dealt with seriously.My father ramped up his traing routine and brought in tall (6'3, 6'5) sparmates. My father was in the midst of a great 1954 year and a loss to Powell would be a big setback.
What my father told me was "that Suey Welch was taking my father lightly as an opponent, calling him a washed up journeyman fighter and expect Powell to go through Norkus easily".
My father believed these words that his trainer Ghee Leico told him and the intensity grew to fight Powell. After the fight in San Francisco, my father said Powell had great skill and punched hard. My father had a tough a chin as anyone. He also found out that Suey Welch might not have spoken those words, but rather a ploy by Ghee Leico to get my father worked up to battle Powell harder.
This fight and the first Nardico fight, are the two Norkus fights that I wish are posted on Youtube. If anyone can post on youtube DVD fights, please PM me and I'll be happy to send you DVDs of the fights to post. Serious takers only.

Note: I edited my post above on comments made on the Mlandinich article.

Charlie, I met Charlie Powell's brother Art, who was also a pro football player, he and Duane Thomas of the early seventies Dallas Cowboys, were signing autographs in Walmart and I stopped by and talked to Art Powell and I remember asking him was he also a fighter and he said ''no that was my brother Charlie'' I told him that I had heard of his brother being a fighter in the 1950s, Art Powell was a real nice guy when I spoke to him.

CNorkusJr wrote:In 1959, Charley was finishing his career as a Pro fighter. His mgr. Marty Sampson
was still looking for TV money bouts but they pretty much ran their course. Charley's wife Marge, put some of his earnings away from time they got married in 1954 to now. I,Charley Jr, came along in 1957 and we were renting a nice house in Pt. Washington, Long Island in which Charley returned to in 1954 when he got married.

Charley was 31 years old, had a handful of side jobs to help make ends meet, one of which was bartending and bouncing in NYC and Long Island.
In a place called the Frolic Cafe, located at 711 7th Ave, NY,NY.(nr 50th St) ( Just a block or two from the middle of Times Square), Charley along with former fighter and friend Paddy Flood, plied their trade on various weekends. The Frolic was the type a joint that had some midtown regulars as well as a few tourists who stopped in when they saw the 8x10's of the two boxers taped to the front window "inviting them in to meet and greet". Still, it was a Times square dive that required the services of a bouncer on duty until closing.
At 2 am in the early morn of Sept 2,1959, an obviously intoxicated man named Emanual Trevisano, also aged 31 of 92nd street, uptown entered and began to harass the female hanger-ons. Charley along with Paddy escorted the man to the door and had to be physically remove him to the street. Just another guy who had too much elsewhere and had to be ousted.

He returned at 4am just as the few remaining patrons were gathering their things to leave and Charley was putting up the bar stools. Paddy was on a bathroom break.
Mr Trevisano entered and as Charley started walking to the door to keep him out, he pulled out a .38 caliber pistol and got off two shots hitting Charley in the groin and thigh. Charley managed to hit his assailant with a right cross and knocked him to the floor. Paddy Flood, now running from the back, picked up a beer bottle and hit the guy over the head knocking him out cold.

Charley, conscious and losing lots of blood laid on the floor. Two policeman walking a beat nearby reached the scene and summoned an ambulance. A ambulance from Roosevelt Hosp (9th ave and 59th St) with a surgeon on board responded. Removed hastily, Charley underwent surgery 4 hours, removing the bullets. One bullet traveled from the thigh and around to his back and was removed there. Another, by the groin was just a few centimeters from his femoral artery , which if hit, could prove very well fatal. He bled profusely but survived. The doctors on staff all agreed that if he wasnt in the athletic shape he was in, it would have been a different story.
Emanual Trevisano, was out on parole just 8 months, after serving 9 years for manslaughter for killing his wife. He was re-arrested on a host of charges which sent him back to Sing Sing Prison, NY for the remainder of his life. Later on when asked by a news reporter, he said he was not a boxing fan, nor did he ever hear of my father, or know who the man he shot by name or know he was a fighter. We got word that he passed away in 1985 in prison.
My father never fought again nor did he bounce/bartend in NYC again. Here is photo and caption.



Thanks Rick for posting Mlandinich article and Powell article. The Marciano story should read that my dad had a arm injury which cancelled first Marciano bout,but subsequent bout with Rocky was cancelled due to Rocky's suspension as reported.Gino Buenvino was substituted for my father for the first fight against Rocky held in Providence ,RI.. Rocky and my father signed a contract to fight 2 months later to make up for the cancelled fight, but Rocky had a contract to fight Bernie Reynolds first. Rocky was suspended for 30 days starting after the conclusion of Reynolds fight and that had my fathers fight cancelled once again. It was never made up. My father chased after Rocky ever since, and Rocky offered my father a verbal title shot promise (no written contract) if he can get by Ezzard Charles in 1955. Charley Norkus took Ezzard the distance ,but lost the fight handedly.

The above story on my fathers shooting appears on my dads Boxrec forum page and is correct.

Great post, Charley.

General Patton Memorial Museum
Chiriaco Summit, Ca.

According to his biography on Wikipedia, Jackie Robinson lettered in four sports (baseball, football, basketball, track-and-field) and excelled at tennis while attending Muir High School in Pasadena. While attending Pasadena J.C., Robinson set a school record in the long jump with a mark of 25' 6-1/2".

Robinson is the only athlete to letter in four sports (baseball, football, basketball, track-and-field) at UCLA. In fact, he was a major cog on the UCLA football, basketball and track-and-field teams. During 1940, He won the long jump event with a mark of 24' 10-1/4'' in the NCAA outdoor meet. Ironically, his weakness sport at UCLA may have been baseball.

- Chuck Johnston

kikibalt wrote:General Patton Memorial Museum
Chiriaco Summit, Ca.

Patton & Olympic Auditorium Photographer Theo Ehret . . .

You must be home, Frank. I recall passing the Patton Museum driving to & from Arizona a few years ago.
Do you remember Olympic Auditorium house photographer, Theo Ehret?
Theo was General Patton's private driver during WW2. Ehret wasn't an American soldier, but a young German citizen.
Patton liked his driver so much, he arranged American Citizenship for Theo and his wife after the war.
Ehret had grown up working in his uncle's photo lab in Germany. He was a talented photographer and brilliant in the lab.
He came to L.A. after the war, bought some rental units in the Echo Park area, just below Dodger Stadium, and has lived there ever since.
Theo is around 90 years old, still sharp and a great source of legendary photos taken at the 18th & Grand arena starting in 1969.

Charlie . . . Thanks for sharing the info on the shooting.
What a tough man your father was. That was validated frequently during his boxing career, but seeing the photo of him lying on the floor, the look in his eyes.
He had to be in tremendous pain, look at him, his head up, no emotion.
If I could show that photo to my grandfather he'd say, "That's a Marine". A Marine and much more.
I'm becoming a Charlie Norkus fan about a half century too late.