Thanks Paul....THEHAMMER321 wrote:We are all rooting for you.kikibalt wrote:Thanks Charlie. When I get the results from today's tests, and if they come all come back okay, then I'll have a cigar and a glass of wine....CNorkusJr wrote: As always Frank, hope all is okay with this checkup.A think a big cigar and a drink is in order tommorrow afternoon around back of the house. LOL
CNorkusJr wrote:Bennie, Thanks for clearing up the info on the Haye-Klitschko fight for me (us).bennie wrote:You're not wrong, Frankie. Bring back 15-rounders, and all these novices would never be challenging for world titles.
The newspapers here in New York are terrible when it comes to reporting whats going on in the boxing world- especially if the fights are in other cities or countries. Only if fights are fought in New York, do we hear anything all about whats going on in the divisions.
A far cry from what it was in the 70's and before. Very sad. Today most of the up-to-date info must be ascertained by the folks on HBO or Showtime. Very sad again.
Thank you for your diligence on whats going on over there in England,Germany and such.
As boxing progressed into the 80's & 90's, my father, who was a heavy banger in his day, became very disenchanted at many of the fighters who called themselves fighters. He referee'd for 20 years here in New York, and was given primarily many of the heavyweight fights that were on the card. The NY commissioners like John Branca,Patterson,Torres & Randy Gordon knew he could handle the big heavies (many tipping the scales at 230 or better by now) and get in there to separate them if need be. He did a few fights of Mike Dokes, Renaldo Snipes and other local heavies. I would go with him on many of these nights and sit ringside to watch up close the precedings.
Though many of the fighters looked in shape, by the 6th or 7th round they were sucking air.When one fighter caught the other guy with a good punch, he would try to follow up,and tire himself out again. Many times, these guys would turn to my father and ask him to stop the fight as they would get the decision and he could go home with a fighters paycheck.The opponent was still throwing punches and could continue. By the 9th round both fighters were just walking the ring with nothing left in the tank.
My father would tell them to fight,but they did little.
This was very typical and my father was disenchanted with the way they wanted the fight the end early and they can go home a winner. We would discuss that each time in the car on the way home.
Two of the fights I am talking about are on DVD: Renaldo Snipes vs Terry Armstrong
and Snipes vs Lionel Washington. My father was ref for both.
Also Dokes vs KP Porter.
15 rounds - these guys were lucky to go 6 rds. without keeling over. My father never stopped them and sometimes caught hell from the commission for letting some fights go on,he knew the boxers tolerances,and probably of the way my father fought going the distance in many, he let them fight on till a clear winner.Things changed from the 50's, but he wanted the fighters to earn their money.And felt they owed it to the crowd too.
Jose Sulaiman has been the president of the WBC for over 30 years and he has given favorable ratings to many undeserving fighters in the past also, so it comes as no surprise to find JCC Jr at the top of the ratings, I guess the Chavez name sells and that's good enough for the WBC, forget that there are probably at least 15 fighters who should be rated higher, years ago I remember that the other alphabet organization WBA used to rate undeserving South American mostly Colombian fighters way to high, these clowns are gonna keep doing the same old thing as long as they keep getting big sanctioning fees.Rick Farris wrote:The WBC World Middleweight champ is Sergio Martinez. A deserving champion, no doubt.
I don't bother attempting to make sense of world ratings today. I never check them, for any reason.
I somehow got misdirected on the internet and found myself on a boxing site, the "world ratings" section.
I looked onto the page and saw the Middleweight division of the World Boxing Council. Martinez is the champ.
I might not recognize many of the contenders listed, but I reconized the name of the #1 contender.
The WBC's number-1 middleweight is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Is that the best we can do today? I'm not talking about Chavez, but the morons who try to sell such nonsense.
David Nelson . . .
No cigar or drink yet Paul, have to wait for the test results, maybe tomorrow....THEHAMMER321 wrote:So how did everything go yesterday Frank ? , hope you had your cigar and a drink.
Great post Rick.....Rick Farris wrote:David Nelson . . .
I was sorry to wake to the news of David Nelson's death.
Around 1980, Dave Nelson was a very good TV commercial producer/director and I worked on a series of Doublemint chewing gum commercials his company, Casa Blanca Productions, produced.
The Ozzie & Harriet Show went on the air in 1952, the year I was born.
I was reading in a David Nelson obit that the TV show was filmed in the Nelson's actual home in the Hollywood Hills.
That is a bit misleading as only several scenes for the TV series was filmed in the family's actual home, in the series earliest episodes.
Ozzie & Harris was filmed on Stage-5 of the Hollywood General Service Studios, which today is known as Hollywood Center Studios.
Hence the name of Ozzie's production company, "Stage Five Productions".
When I was breaking into the film industry, Universal rented the entire Hollywood General studio lot when their production log exceeded the sound stage space available at the Universal City lot. I'd work at that studio during the production of "Rich Man, Poor Man." There were a couple of bungalows that sat beside stage-5, that had once served as production offices for the Ozzie & Harriet show. Outside the offices was an old sign posted on the grass in front that read:
"Please Dont Litter" -Harriet
That sign stood for many years until Francis Ford Coppola bought the studio in 1980, and renamed it "Zeotrope Studios".
I went to the lot to work on "One from the Heart" with Francis, and noticed the sign had been removed.
Most of us grew up with Ozzie & Harriet, and I heard so many stories about the family from my family.
I remember when I met David Nelson, he came across a bit shy, quiet, a nice man, and a very good director.
Ozzie had taught David well, as the elder Nelson had directed many of the family's TV episodes.
Rest in Peace, David Nelson.
Thanks Bennie for another good report on British/UK boxing...keep them coming as they always make for a good read..bennie wrote:A cracking all-Ireland middleweight showdown between Limerick's Andy Lee and John Duddy of Derry takes place in the States on March 12 (St Patrick's week), scheduled for 10 rounds.
For Lee the fight represents his biggest test of his ability since a disastrous night three years ago when an unfancied Texan by the name of Brian Vera hammered him in seven rounds, also in the States, where southpaw Andy is largely based under the tutelage of Manny Steward. Lee has rebounded well with nine straight wins to take his record to 24-1 (18) but none of his victims really pushed him as he will be pushed by Duddy, an aggressive fighter out of New York who is no Bennie Briscoe and probably past his best but who always puts in a big effort and enjoys plenty of support.
Duddy was outscored in his last fight by Julio Cesar Chavez Junior seven months ago in Texas, having lost a split decision to the unheralded Billy Lyell previously. His unbeaten days well and truly behind him, the 31-year-old Duddy is rested, rusty or close to retirement - take your pick. Lee is undoubtedly the fresher of the two men at 28, the better boxer.
Nevertheless, the early rounds are fraught with danger for Lee as Duddy jumps off the blocks and goes for him. John whacks a bit and I am still unconvinced by Lee, who people assure me is lightning fast, a huge puncher, a gifted boxer, and so on and so forth. I just see a big, strong fighter who whacks a bit himself but lost to the first man who whacked him back, when he proved horribly open - and who hasn't fought anyone since, until now.
Duddy is also easy to hit as he ploughs forward but takes a good shot and will stick it out for the full 10 rounds if necessary, although Lee, the busier man, will do the 10 rounds better, even if he effectively punched himself out against Vera; his stamina has improved since then and his body work slows Duddy.
The fight goes two ways, barring cuts, and both men are bleeders: an early win for Duddy or a decision win for Lee. I plump for the latter outcome.
Thanks for this post. As I mentioned earlier in posts, I would imagine that this would be part of the "Irish Card" that Madison Square Garden puts on around the St Patricks Day fest here in NY every year. A bit early at March 12, but maybe the Garden has something else lined up.I saw Duddy a few times here in NY and no doubt he has seen better days. I will note though that he has changed management recently and seems a bit more determined in his workouts than in recent past.He was really disenchanted with his past management (I believe he accused them of stealing him blind) but with new guys, he is focused again.If his 31 yr old body can follow suit, then fine,and remains to be seen. I am not familiar with andy Lee, but under Steward I would think he is in fine shape. If both cut easily, then early stoppages might be in order, but you will have a battle on your hands as both are probably very determined to perform well in front of their kinfolk. If it goes to a close decision, look for Duddy to get the hometown nod.bennie wrote:A cracking all-Ireland middleweight showdown between Limerick's Andy Lee and John Duddy of Derry takes place in the States on March 12 (St Patrick's week), scheduled for 10 rounds.
For Lee the fight represents his biggest test of his ability since a disastrous night three years ago when an unfancied Texan by the name of Brian Vera hammered him in seven rounds, also in the States, where southpaw Andy is largely based under the tutelage of Manny Steward. Lee has rebounded well with nine straight wins to take his record to 24-1 (18) but none of his victims really pushed him as he will be pushed by Duddy, an aggressive fighter out of New York who is no Bennie Briscoe and probably past his best but who always puts in a big effort and enjoys plenty of support.
Duddy was outscored in his last fight by Julio Cesar Chavez Junior seven months ago in Texas, having lost a split decision to the unheralded Billy Lyell previously. His unbeaten days well and truly behind him, the 31-year-old Duddy is rested, rusty or close to retirement - take your pick. Lee is undoubtedly the fresher of the two men at 28, the better boxer.
Nevertheless, the early rounds are fraught with danger for Lee as Duddy jumps off the blocks and goes for him. John whacks a bit and I am still unconvinced by Lee, who people assure me is lightning fast, a huge puncher, a gifted boxer, and so on and so forth. I just see a big, strong fighter who whacks a bit himself but lost to the first man who whacked him back, when he proved horribly open - and who hasn't fought anyone since, until now.
Duddy is also easy to hit as he ploughs forward but takes a good shot and will stick it out for the full 10 rounds if necessary, although Lee, the busier man, will do the 10 rounds better, even if he effectively punched himself out against Vera; his stamina has improved since then and his body work slows Duddy.
The fight goes two ways, barring cuts, and both men are bleeders: an early win for Duddy or a decision win for Lee. I plump for the latter outcome.
Frank, I'm sorry you had to go through all that sh#t but I'm glad that despite it all you never lose your sense of humor.kikibalt wrote:My oncologist send me to see a urologist, I asked why, "just routine he said", since I didn't have an appointment with the urologist I had to wait a while, no problem, I had my note book computer to play with, finally my name is called, I'm put in a room, soon the door opens and a big black dude walks in, man!, this dude is big. He said hello and then he said:
"Drop'em" as he starts putting a latex glove on.
Man!, this guy hands are as big as Sonny Liston's.
"If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, you better use your pinkie" I said.
He started cracking up.
"Hey, its not funny, you know" I told him.
He did what I thought he was going to do, and no; he didn't use his pinkie
I'm still sitting here at Norris Cancer Center as I write this, I'm free to go, but I'm afraid to walk out because people are going to see that I'm walking like a duck......
Rick, what a great "Time Capsule" of an era. Educational too! Great post.Rick Farris wrote:To the Brits . . .
Thanks, Bennie. I agree with Frank, and I appreciate your morning reports on boxing in Great Britain.
I also appreciate Charlie Norkus East Coast reports, which include some great inside history on boxing in New York.
One thing I appreciated about growing up in boxing in Los Angeles, was seeing so many great boxers from afar who would come here to defend, or compete for world championships.
We had lots of East Coast guys fighting in L.A. and also the Brits.
At the Olympic Auditorium, The Forum, and the Main Street Gym was where they'd come to fight and train.
I'll never forget sitting close to ringside for the Jerry Quarry-Brian London match.
I think London's wife was tougher than he was. After London was stopped by Jerry at the Olympic, the Brit's wife took on Jerry's mother.
Jerry's mother was probaby tougher than her son, and luckily the fight (between the two women) was prevented by a strong police presence.
Then we had Alan Rudkin here to fight the great Ruben Olivares. Meeting Rudkin was a big deal to me, as I'd read of his career for many years.
Bennie, one of the best Brits to fight in L.A. moved here in the mid-60's, Allen Syers.
Syers was a tough, smart boxing, solid punching lightweight who was unbeaten in prelims here in the City of Angels.
My grandmum was British and I liked watching Allen fight on TV.
One thursday, Syers is opening the show on the undercard of the Joey Orbillo-Eddie Machen fight at the Olympic.
Before the fights began, I'd walk to the dressing room area hoping to get a peak at the fighters as they stepped out on their way to the ring.
I can't get into the dressing room, as there is a cop standing guard.
The cop was a good guy, and as Allen shadow boxed just inside the entrance to the dressing room, the boxer saw me watching and smiled at me.
I remember the fighter was wearing a pair of white "Lonsdale" trunks, with white boxing shoes.
I wished him luck, and he pulled me into the dressing room area.
Suddenly I was standing by the boxer, manager Jake Shagrue, bucket guys, athletic commission inspectors, etc.
The boxer told the commission inspector, "He's with me." When the boxer got the call to leave for the ring, I followed he and Shagrue down the aisle.
That night Allen Syers flattened a tall opponent named Davey White, in the first round!
In his next fight, Syers would be matched with another unbeaten prospect in Allen's first ten rounder.
The opponent was future world champ, Mando Ramos.
Allen fought Ramos hard, gave him a great fight before being stopped by the L.A. legend in the fifth round.
No disgrace losing to Mando Ramos. Syers and Mando were not strangers. In fact, they were friends and sparring partners.
Syers worked out at the Hoover Street Gym under Shagrue, and he sparred many, many rounds with Ramos, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Raul Rojas, Frankie Crawford, Eddie Pace, and Vicente Saldivar.
Shortly after winning the worlde featherweight title, Vicente Saldivar came to Los Angeles to defend his title against Raul Rojas, Syers was retained as a sparring partner.
After losing to Ramos, Syers was still a popular L.A. fighter who was likely on his way to world ranking, however, a work related injury left him unable to continue his boxing career. What a loss to boxing!
That was the last I saw of Allen Syers for more than four decades.
Just last year, I spoke with Allen Syers for the first time since that night in 1966 when he stood up for me and said "I was with him" at the Olympic.
We talked for hours. I learned that Allen had come up in Liverpool, and was friends with Alan Rudkin and others of the era.
He told of how when he first came to the States and fought at the Olympic, Jimmy Lennon Sr. introdced him as "The Beatle" based on his hailing from Liverpool. We spoke again recently at Don Fraser's party.
The regulars who post here and attend this years's CBHOF lunch will have a chance to meet Allen Syers. He's a wealth of boxing history!
Thanks again guys. Classic American West Coast Boxing includes boxers from around the world.
Bennie, I enjoy reading your articles. You have such a great way with words, to the point, no wasted words and very descriptive.bennie wrote:A cracking all-Ireland middleweight showdown between Limerick's Andy Lee and John Duddy of Derry takes place in the States on March 12 (St Patrick's week), scheduled for 10 rounds.
For Lee the fight represents his biggest test of his ability since a disastrous night three years ago when an unfancied Texan by the name of Brian Vera hammered him in seven rounds, also in the States, where southpaw Andy is largely based under the tutelage of Manny Steward. Lee has rebounded well with nine straight wins to take his record to 24-1 (18) but none of his victims really pushed him as he will be pushed by Duddy, an aggressive fighter out of New York who is no Bennie Briscoe and probably past his best but who always puts in a big effort and enjoys plenty of support.
Duddy was outscored in his last fight by Julio Cesar Chavez Junior seven months ago in Texas, having lost a split decision to the unheralded Billy Lyell previously. His unbeaten days well and truly behind him, the 31-year-old Duddy is rested, rusty or close to retirement - take your pick. Lee is undoubtedly the fresher of the two men at 28, the better boxer.
Nevertheless, the early rounds are fraught with danger for Lee as Duddy jumps off the blocks and goes for him. John whacks a bit and I am still unconvinced by Lee, who people assure me is lightning fast, a huge puncher, a gifted boxer, and so on and so forth. I just see a big, strong fighter who whacks a bit himself but lost to the first man who whacked him back, when he proved horribly open - and who hasn't fought anyone since, until now.
Duddy is also easy to hit as he ploughs forward but takes a good shot and will stick it out for the full 10 rounds if necessary, although Lee, the busier man, will do the 10 rounds better, even if he effectively punched himself out against Vera; his stamina has improved since then and his body work slows Duddy.
The fight goes two ways, barring cuts, and both men are bleeders: an early win for Duddy or a decision win for Lee. I plump for the latter outcome.
It doesn't get any better....Randyman wrote:Rick, what a great "Time Capsule" of an era. Educational too! Great post.Rick Farris wrote:To the Brits . . .
Thanks, Bennie. I agree with Frank, and I appreciate your morning reports on boxing in Great Britain.
I also appreciate Charlie Norkus East Coast reports, which include some great inside history on boxing in New York.
One thing I appreciated about growing up in boxing in Los Angeles, was seeing so many great boxers from afar who would come here to defend, or compete for world championships.
We had lots of East Coast guys fighting in L.A. and also the Brits.
At the Olympic Auditorium, The Forum, and the Main Street Gym was where they'd come to fight and train.
I'll never forget sitting close to ringside for the Jerry Quarry-Brian London match.
I think London's wife was tougher than he was. After London was stopped by Jerry at the Olympic, the Brit's wife took on Jerry's mother.
Jerry's mother was probaby tougher than her son, and luckily the fight (between the two women) was prevented by a strong police presence.
Then we had Alan Rudkin here to fight the great Ruben Olivares. Meeting Rudkin was a big deal to me, as I'd read of his career for many years.
Bennie, one of the best Brits to fight in L.A. moved here in the mid-60's, Allen Syers.
Syers was a tough, smart boxing, solid punching lightweight who was unbeaten in prelims here in the City of Angels.
My grandmum was British and I liked watching Allen fight on TV.
One thursday, Syers is opening the show on the undercard of the Joey Orbillo-Eddie Machen fight at the Olympic.
Before the fights began, I'd walk to the dressing room area hoping to get a peak at the fighters as they stepped out on their way to the ring.
I can't get into the dressing room, as there is a cop standing guard.
The cop was a good guy, and as Allen shadow boxed just inside the entrance to the dressing room, the boxer saw me watching and smiled at me.
I remember the fighter was wearing a pair of white "Lonsdale" trunks, with white boxing shoes.
I wished him luck, and he pulled me into the dressing room area.
Suddenly I was standing by the boxer, manager Jake Shagrue, bucket guys, athletic commission inspectors, etc.
The boxer told the commission inspector, "He's with me." When the boxer got the call to leave for the ring, I followed he and Shagrue down the aisle.
That night Allen Syers flattened a tall opponent named Davey White, in the first round!
In his next fight, Syers would be matched with another unbeaten prospect in Allen's first ten rounder.
The opponent was future world champ, Mando Ramos.
Allen fought Ramos hard, gave him a great fight before being stopped by the L.A. legend in the fifth round.
No disgrace losing to Mando Ramos. Syers and Mando were not strangers. In fact, they were friends and sparring partners.
Syers worked out at the Hoover Street Gym under Shagrue, and he sparred many, many rounds with Ramos, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Raul Rojas, Frankie Crawford, Eddie Pace, and Vicente Saldivar.
Shortly after winning the worlde featherweight title, Vicente Saldivar came to Los Angeles to defend his title against Raul Rojas, Syers was retained as a sparring partner.
After losing to Ramos, Syers was still a popular L.A. fighter who was likely on his way to world ranking, however, a work related injury left him unable to continue his boxing career. What a loss to boxing!
That was the last I saw of Allen Syers for more than four decades.
Just last year, I spoke with Allen Syers for the first time since that night in 1966 when he stood up for me and said "I was with him" at the Olympic.
We talked for hours. I learned that Allen had come up in Liverpool, and was friends with Alan Rudkin and others of the era.
He told of how when he first came to the States and fought at the Olympic, Jimmy Lennon Sr. introdced him as "The Beatle" based on his hailing from Liverpool. We spoke again recently at Don Fraser's party.
The regulars who post here and attend this years's CBHOF lunch will have a chance to meet Allen Syers. He's a wealth of boxing history!
Thanks again guys. Classic American West Coast Boxing includes boxers from around the world.
Randy, I need my sense of humor to make my life easier....Randyman wrote:Frank, I'm sorry you had to go through all that sh#t but I'm glad that despite it all you never lose your sense of humor.kikibalt wrote:My oncologist send me to see a urologist, I asked why, "just routine he said", since I didn't have an appointment with the urologist I had to wait a while, no problem, I had my note book computer to play with, finally my name is called, I'm put in a room, soon the door opens and a big black dude walks in, man!, this dude is big. He said hello and then he said:
"Drop'em" as he starts putting a latex glove on.
Man!, this guy hands are as big as Sonny Liston's.
"If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, you better use your pinkie" I said.
He started cracking up.
"Hey, its not funny, you know" I told him.
He did what I thought he was going to do, and no; he didn't use his pinkie
I'm still sitting here at Norris Cancer Center as I write this, I'm free to go, but I'm afraid to walk out because people are going to see that I'm walking like a duck......
I hope you feel better my friend!
Randy
Thanks for that great post Rick, like you I grew up watching Ozzie and Harriet. It was classic 50's and early 60's. I always thought that David Nelson was a class act. As both Ricky and David were growing up, Ricky started getting more and more of the TV time and the attention, with his good looks and voice he was a natural. I don't remember ever reading about any sibling rivalry or animosity. He was a class act. He always struck me as a humble man in spite of his and his family's success.Rick Farris wrote:David Nelson . . .
I was sorry to wake to the news of David Nelson's death.
Around 1980, Dave Nelson was a very good TV commercial producer/director and I worked on a series of Doublemint chewing gum commercials his company, Casa Blanca Productions, produced.
The Ozzie & Harriet Show went on the air in 1952, the year I was born.
I was reading in a David Nelson obit that the TV show was filmed in the Nelson's actual home in the Hollywood Hills.
That is a bit misleading as only several scenes for the TV series was filmed in the family's actual home, in the series earliest episodes.
Ozzie & Harris was filmed on Stage-5 of the Hollywood General Service Studios, which today is known as Hollywood Center Studios.
Hence the name of Ozzie's production company, "Stage Five Productions".
When I was breaking into the film industry, Universal rented the entire Hollywood General studio lot when their production log exceeded the sound stage space available at the Universal City lot. I'd work at that studio during the production of "Rich Man, Poor Man." There were a couple of bungalows that sat beside stage-5, that had once served as production offices for the Ozzie & Harriet show. Outside the offices was an old sign posted on the grass in front that read:
"Please Don't Litter" -Harriet
That sign stood for many years until Francis Ford Coppola bought the studio in 1980, and renamed it "Zeotrope Studios".
I went to the lot to work on "One from the Heart" with Francis, and noticed the sign had been removed.
Most of us grew up with Ozzie & Harriet, and I heard so many stories about the family from my family.
I remember when I met David Nelson, he came across a bit shy, quiet, a nice man, and a very good director.
Ozzie had taught David well, as the elder Nelson had directed many of the family's TV episodes.
Rest in Peace, David Nelson.