BoxRec

Charley,I was just going to comment on your post. Interesting story. Sinatra came close to getting killed because he influenced Giancana to make sure the votes in 1960 went Kennedy's way in Chicago. Illinois and Texas were the deciding factors in swinging it for Kennedy. The Outfit started to lose confidence with Giancana after that.Bobby Kennedy really brought the heat on the Mob and the Teamsters. By the mid 60's Giancana was living in Mexico trying to avoid going to jail or being killed in the U.S. Finally the Mexican government,with a big push from our state department,had Giancana extradited to the U.S. as an undesirable resident.

When Giancana was living in Mexico(Cuernavaca)he asked my father to go around the country and spread enough money around so the Outfit could open up gambling. Giancana was interested in taking over gambling outside the U.S.,but when Mexico kicked him out he knew it was just a matter of time before he knew the end was near.My father couldn't get anywhere in Mexico. Even the mob didn't have enough money to bribe all right people ,so they gave up on the idea. The old guard like Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo distanced themselves from Giancana. They knew that he could run things,but when his high profile life and temper drew the wrong attention with the Feds,Giancana became persona non grata. Throw in what he was involved with with the JFK hit,he,and all the rest of those guys wound up dead.

Its funny that the government, FBI, CIA, Warren Commission etc. pretty much stood by the story that Oswald "acted alone" but after the deaths of Carlos Marcello, Sam Giancana, Johnny Rosselli, and Santo Trafficante, the "agencies" began insinuating and then blaming the mob for the Kennedy assassination due to the publics changing perception that gov. agencies were somehow involved and the mob could not have pulled off such a perfect crime. All of a sudden the blame was shifted because the people that would be able to refute the government's new, adjusted theory were gone.

Great stuff, Rog. Thanks!

Stay Down

Jersey Joe Walcott came the closest to beating Rocky Marciano in Philly when Joe's title was on the line. He had Rocky bleeding and hurt and going into the hard luck round the champ was ahead. But Jersey Joe got careless coming off the ropes carrying his left low and Rocky caught him flush with that right hand he called Old Betsy or Suzy Q or whatever and it was bad luck for The Jersey Man.The wiseguys could rest easier,but there was a rematch,and they made sure the fight would be in their back yard.

Since I've talking about The
Outfit,I'll give you some food for thought with this one. Like I mentioned there was a rematch and The Outfit made sure the fight was to be arranged in Chi Town. Those greaseballs were going to make sure the result was going to benefit their pockets,and their new hero. Rocky was a paisan and there was no way he was going to lose in a city where the fight game was controlled by those spaghetti eaters.

What put this in notion my mind you may ask? Here goes. Mike Murphy was the time keeper at the Chicago Stadium.Mike Murphy was also my godfather. One time when he was over to the house he brought up the Walcott fight with my father.
"You know Joe,"said the Irishman sitting at the dinner table next to my father,"Walcott beat the count. I had the watch on him."
"He was supposed to stay down the first time he got tapped on the chin,"said my father.
"His corner protested the count,"said Murph.
"It was all a show."
"I still don't remember seeing the punch."
"Walcott was pretty bad at doing the old flopper roo."
"I guess there was no way he was going to win."
"Not a chance,"said my father."By the way, what to you think of the veal parmesian?"



Rocky Marciano

dagosd2000 wrote:Charley,I was just going to comment on your post. Interesting story. Sinatra came close to getting killed because he influenced Giancana to make sure the votes in 1960 went Kennedy's way in Chicago. Illinois and Texas were the deciding factors in swinging it for Kennedy. The Outfit started to lose confidence with Giancana after that.Bobby Kennedy really brought the heat on the Mob and the Teamsters. By the mid 60's Giancana was living in Mexico trying to avoid going to jail or being killed in the U.S. Finally the Mexican government,with a big push from our state department,had Giancana extradited to the U.S. as an undesirable resident.

When Giancana was living in Mexico(Cuernavaca)he asked my father to go around the country and spread enough money around so the Outfit could open up gambling. Giancana was interested in taking over gambling outside the U.S.,but when Mexico kicked him out he knew it was just a matter of time before he knew the end was near.My father couldn't get anywhere in Mexico. Even the mob didn't have enough money to bribe all right people ,so they gave up on the idea. The old guard like Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo distanced themselves from Giancana. They knew that he could run things,but when his high profile life and temper drew the wrong attention with the Feds,Giancana became persona non grata. Throw in what he was involved with with the JFK hit,he,and all the rest of those guys wound up dead.

After I posted my story, I realized that I (personally) could not verify all the facts and did not want to be part of a rumor mill. Though the heavyweight involved with the story is a very truthful man, and the names all lined up, I thought better of it being posted. Sorry. I apologize to all those who are wondering what the hell I am talking about.
I will say that the heavyweight from the 1980's in question has been offered 6 figures for his story and dealings with Giancana, he too knows better than to step "out" in that direction.

CNorkusJr wrote:

dagosd2000 wrote:Charley,I was just going to comment on your post. Interesting story. Sinatra came close to getting killed because he influenced Giancana to make sure the votes in 1960 went Kennedy's way in Chicago. Illinois and Texas were the deciding factors in swinging it for Kennedy. The Outfit started to lose confidence with Giancana after that.Bobby Kennedy really brought the heat on the Mob and the Teamsters. By the mid 60's Giancana was living in Mexico trying to avoid going to jail or being killed in the U.S. Finally the Mexican government,with a big push from our state department,had Giancana extradited to the U.S. as an undesirable resident.

When Giancana was living in Mexico(Cuernavaca)he asked my father to go around the country and spread enough money around so the Outfit could open up gambling. Giancana was interested in taking over gambling outside the U.S.,but when Mexico kicked him out he knew it was just a matter of time before he knew the end was near.My father couldn't get anywhere in Mexico. Even the mob didn't have enough money to bribe all right people ,so they gave up on the idea. The old guard like Paul Ricca and Tony Accardo distanced themselves from Giancana. They knew that he could run things,but when his high profile life and temper drew the wrong attention with the Feds,Giancana became persona non grata. Throw in what he was involved with with the JFK hit,he,and all the rest of those guys wound up dead.

After I posted my story, I realized that I (personally) could not verify all the facts and did not want to be part of a rumor mill. Though the heavyweight involved with the story is a very truthful man, and the names all lined up, I thought better of it being posted. Sorry. I apologize to all those who are wondering what the hell I am talking about.
I will say that the heavyweight from the 1980's in question has been offered 6 figures for his story and dealings with Giancana, he too knows better than to step "out" in that direction.

Charley,it's funny even after all these years and all those guys are dead,that people still think of being hung up on a meat hook by some wiseguy for telling about something that happened. If your friend is on the level,he should go out with the story. I read what you posted. If, like you say,everything lines up,it makes for a good read and something to add to the lives of those characters. There's no one left around from that time that has or would do anything like get even by killing someone,or even punching you in the mouth.


Some of the offspring of thse old hoods try to cash in on what's left. Didn't one of the Gotti girls write about something called,"Growing Up Gotti"?.She made some pocket change with that. Giancana's daughter Antoinette wrote a book,"Mafia Princess". She wanted to make a few bucks. I saw a photograph of her on Ebay with her autograph and the subtitle "Mafia Princess". 99 dollars. I could buy a lot of linguini with that.

Don't Trick Yourself To A Treat

"What time are you going to take Cindy over to Patty's for trick or treating?"I asked my granddaughter's husband.
"Around six."
"Is everyone coming up from TJ?"
"They'll be there."
"Well six is good. Adam has boxing till 6:30. You guys won't start trick or treating until then."
"Patty said that Adam isn't going to boxing tonight."
"His mother always says things like that.She's a mother. I talked to him just awhile ago. He's going."
My granddaughter's husband gave me a long look.

I arrived at my daughter's house a little after five. There were the kids from TJ already there with their parents. I knew I was getting old because their mothers were my granddaughters. The kids were excited putting on their costumes. My newest great granddaughter was there . She was a month old.My granddaughter had her in a blanket that looked like a carrot.
"Adam,we'll leave in 15 minutes,"I shouted over the noise. I couldn't see Adam.I was sitting on the couch. He was somewhere in the back of the house.
"Ok,abuelito,"He said. "I'm getting my gear together."
As we walked to the car ,I could see Cindy and her father driving up in the car. We didn't have time to stop and talk.
"I want to get there a little early so you can warm up before sparring,"I said to Adam in the car.
"Sure,"he said.
"Skip rope. Hit the bags. Always have a sweat going before you get in the ring."
When we got to the gym ,I saw that the place was pretty empty. It was Halloween.

Adam wrapped his hands and grabbed a jump rope. I saw that he was getting much better at it. He was crossing his hands and alternating his feet. After about five minutes he went over to the heavy bag and worked on his hooks with the 16 ounce gloves. Then he hit the speed bag. He was still having some trouble with timing the speed bag. His instructor came over and helped Adam steady his hands.

Adam's usual sparring partner wasn't there. He's a Mexican kid that's a few years older than Adam. Adam says he's in high school. They're about the same weight. The Mexican kid has just started with boxing . Been there about two months. At the end of November Adam will have a year under his belt.

I wished that that kid would have showed up. Adam has more skill and more natural ability,but I think the Mexican kid thinks that he can overcome all that with aggression. Last time they worked out Adam was controlling him,then the kid started to rush Adam. Adam slipped away and countered nicely,but I would have liked to see have him sit down and unload on him a little.I talked to Adam about that driving over in the car.
"He thinks you can't take it. He knows he doesn't have the skill so he thinks he can make up for it with aggression.Mexican fighters are aggressive."
"I know that abuelito."
"If he presses you tonight,let him know who's boss."
"I will abuelito,besides I'm half Mexican myself,"said my grandson laughing.

But the Mexican kid didn't show. Kyle,Adam's trainer,put him in there with one of Prince Small's regular sparring partners. The kid had about 20 pounds on Adam. Kyle just wanted them to work to the body. When the timer sounded Adam touched gloves with the kid and started jabbing at the kid's stomach. They got close and Adam pushed him away with his forearms. Adam was doulble hooking with his left when the kid threw a right hand over one of Adam's hooks and nailed him on the chin. Adam reeled back against the ropes.The kid came in and Adam set up and jumped his left in his face and then threw a hard right hand catching the kid on the nose. The kid's nose started to bleed.
"Hey!" yelled Kyle. "Just body shots."

Adam and the kid worked four rounds. I liked what I saw. Adam picked off a lot of the kid's shots and was cutting off the ring. After it was was over Adam and the kid went to the drinking fountain.
"Good work Adam,"said the kid walking with him."You're lesrning fast."
"Thanks,"said Adam.

Adam and I walked back to the car.
"You want your tacos tonight?" I asked him.
"Can I have six tonight instead of four?"
"Sure."
I pulled out of the parking lot and started driving to Jack In The Box.
"Who showed you how to push off your opponent like that?"
"No one."
"And who showed you how to cut off the ring?"
"You mean getting the guy in the corner?"
"Yeah."
"No one."
We got to Jack In The Box and I ordered the tacos at the speaker.
"You know Adam,I always liked going to the gym when no one else was there. I felt I had an edge on all those guys who were doing something else."
"I'm going again tomorrow on my bike."
The girl at the window handed me the bag with the tacos.
"Adam,a lot of people hope the other guy falls flat on his face. It makes them feel better."
"I know who those guys are. It doesn't bother me,"he said.
"Well,"I said driving off,"It's good that it doesn't bother you."



Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

I think its the hit on King that has him worried. King may or may have not realize how close he came, and certain law groups would be interested to know whats up.

Rose and I ate in "Little Italy" section of Manhattan earlier tonite. We had some business to do down by city hall, then went up a few blocks to Little Italy.
When they say little Italy, they mean it now unfortunately. The area now compromises a main Ave- Mulberry Street and goes about 4 blocks long now. The side streets branch out one block and you can find a restaurant or two there also. Chinatown has crept in at the southern part and taken over what once was little Italy by 6 WHOLE BLOCKS. The San Gennaro Festival is still held each Sept. and goes for about 10 blocks but I guess the area lets them creep back for the festival.

Tonite we ate in "Benito One" on Mulberry. Small and quaint with good home-made (what else) pasta. Rose went with Stuffed Shells filled with Ricotta and Spinach, and I had the Veal Parm with Al Dente Penne. Like an idiot-I didnt take picture of the food. We had Rest. to ourselves till we were almost finished then it got filled in. Whats really nice is that family who owns restaurant was here for many generations,though this Restaurant opened in 1968, and has a wall with many framed family "Italian" letters from back home in Italy dated in the 1800's. Many ask how life is in America and experience at Ellis Island and place has many family photos on wall..
Great cool night to walk around. Here some photos:

Rose inside by our table. Notice posted menu on outside to draw in the customers. (They do it all over now).


The inside of place-very nice about 12 tables total.(Some hidden around corner).


Finally, Rose on Mulberry Street after dinner. See red sign above her head-thats where our Restaurant was-not this big place we are next too.



Good Food, better atmosphere.

Quiet Delusion

"I remember when that happened,"I said to Ed.
Ed the bartender put down the glass of beer on the counter.
"His father thought he had the goods for being a fighter,"he said.
"We'd see him fight at the Coliseum. He took a lot of beatings."
"His father had the gym long after that didn't he?"
"He talked about his son like he was still around."
"Didn't he die in the gym?"
"He collapsed after a sparring session."
Ed turned on the TV. There were no games on,only commentary.
"I remember you posting the story on that,"said Ed.
"His son emailed me and said it didn't happen that way."
"The kid must have been no more than a baby when that happened."
"He said his dad had a brain disorder that caused it to happen."
"I remember he took some awful beatings. The word was that his father shouldn't let him continue."
"Well,he did,"I said. "I guess his son wants to remember his father in his own way."
Ed began wiping the bar.
"Didn't someone say men lead lives of quiet desperation?"asked Ed.
"Emerson."
"There's a lot of truth in that."
"He's got it wrong,"I said."Men lead lives of quiet delusion.They try to stay ahead of the power curve so reality doesn't bite them in the ass."
"There's a lot of truth in that too,"said Ed.



Arturo Gatti

CNorkusJr wrote:Rose and I ate in "Little Italy" section of Manhattan earlier tonite. We had some business to do down by city hall, then went up a few blocks to Little Italy.
When they say little Italy, they mean it now unfortunately. The area now compromises a main Ave- Mulberry Street and goes about 4 blocks long now. The side streets branch out one block and you can find a restaurant or two there also. Chinatown has crept in at the southern part and taken over what once was little Italy by 6 WHOLE BLOCKS. The San Gennaro Festival is still held each Sept. and goes for about 10 blocks but I guess the area lets them creep back for the festival.

Tonite we ate in "Benito One" on Mulberry. Small and quaint with good home-made (what else) pasta. Rose went with Stuffed Shells filled with Ricotta and Spinach, and I had the Veal Parm with Al Dente Penne. Like an idiot-I didnt take picture of the food. We had Rest. to ourselves till we were almost finished then it got filled in. Whats really nice is that family who owns restaurant was here for many generations,though this Restaurant opened in 1968, and has a wall with many framed family "Italian" letters from back home in Italy dated in the 1800's. Many ask how life is in America and experience at Ellis Island and place has many family photos on wall..
Great cool night to walk around. Here some photos:

Rose inside by our table. Notice posted menu on outside to draw in the customers. (They do it all over now).


The inside of place-very nice about 12 tables total.(Some hidden around corner).


Finally, Rose on Mulberry Street after dinner. See red sign above her head-thats where our Restaurant was-not this big place we are next too.



Good Food, better atmosphere.

Charlie, thanks for sharing Little Italy with us. I'm coming to NY next year, will time my visit with a NYSBHOF or Ring #8 event.

dagosd2000 wrote:Don't Trick Yourself To A Treat

"What time are you going to take Cindy over to Patty's for trick or treating?"I asked my granddaughter's husband.
"Around six."
"Is everyone coming up from TJ?"
"They'll be there."
"Well six is good. Adam has boxing till 6:30. You guys won't start trick or treating until then."
"Patty said that Adam isn't going to boxing tonight."
"His mother always says things like that.She's a mother. I talked to him just awhile ago. He's going."
My granddaughter's husband gave me a long look.

I arrived at my daughter's house a little after five. There were the kids from TJ already there with their parents. I knew I was getting old because their mothers were my granddaughters. The kids were excited putting on their costumes. My newest great granddaughter was there . She was a month old.My granddaughter had her in a blanket that looked like a carrot.
"Adam,we'll leave in 15 minutes,"I shouted over the noise. I couldn't see Adam.I was sitting on the couch. He was somewhere in the back of the house.
"Ok,abuelito,"He said. "I'm getting my gear together."
As we walked to the car ,I could see Cindy and her father driving up in the car. We didn't have time to stop and talk.
"I want to get there a little early so you can warm up before sparring,"I said to Adam in the car.
"Sure,"he said.
"Skip rope. Hit the bags. Always have a sweat going before you get in the ring."
When we got to the gym ,I saw that the place was pretty empty. It was Halloween.

Adam wrapped his hands and grabbed a jump rope. I saw that he was getting much better at it. He was crossing his hands and alternating his feet. After about five minutes he went over to the heavy bag and worked on his hooks with the 16 ounce gloves. Then he hit the speed bag. He was still having some trouble with timing the speed bag. His instructor came over and helped Adam steady his hands.

Adam's usual sparring partner wasn't there. He's a Mexican kid that's a few years older than Adam. Adam says he's in high school. They're about the same weight. The Mexican kid has just started with boxing . Been there about two months. At the end of November Adam will have a year under his belt.

I wished that that kid would have showed up. Adam has more skill and more natural ability,but I think the Mexican kid thinks that he can overcome all that with aggression. Last time they worked out Adam was controlling him,then the kid started to rush Adam. Adam slipped away and countered nicely,but I would have liked to see have him sit down and unload on him a little.I talked to Adam about that driving over in the car.
"He thinks you can't take it. He knows he doesn't have the skill so he thinks he can make up for it with aggression.Mexican fighters are aggressive."
"I know that abuelito."
"If he presses you tonight,let him know who's boss."
"I will abuelito,besides I'm half Mexican myself,"said my grandson laughing.

But the Mexican kid didn't show. Kyle,Adam's trainer,put him in there with one of Prince Small's regular sparring partners. The kid had about 20 pounds on Adam. Kyle just wanted them to work to the body. When the timer sounded Adam touched gloves with the kid and started jabbing at the kid's stomach. They got close and Adam pushed him away with his forearms. Adam was doulble hooking with his left when the kid threw a right hand over one of Adam's hooks and nailed him on the chin. Adam reeled back against the ropes.The kid came in and Adam set up and jumped his left in his face and then threw a hard right hand catching the kid on the nose. The kid's nose started to bleed.
"Hey!" yelled Kyle. "Just body shots."

Adam and the kid worked four rounds. I liked what I saw. Adam picked off a lot of the kid's shots and was cutting off the ring. After it was was over Adam and the kid went to the drinking fountain.
"Good work Adam,"said the kid walking with him."You're lesrning fast."
"Thanks,"said Adam.

Adam and I walked back to the car.
"You want your tacos tonight?" I asked him.
"Can I have six tonight instead of four?"
"Sure."
I pulled out of the parking lot and started driving to Jack In The Box.
"Who showed you how to push off your opponent like that?"
"No one."
"And who showed you how to cut off the ring?"
"You mean getting the guy in the corner?"
"Yeah."
"No one."
We got to Jack In The Box and I ordered the tacos at the speaker.
"You know Adam,I always liked going to the gym when no one else was there. I felt I had an edge on all those guys who were doing something else."
"I'm going again tomorrow on my bike."
The girl at the window handed me the bag with the tacos.
"Adam,a lot of people hope the other guy falls flat on his face. It makes them feel better."
"I know who those guys are. It doesn't bother me,"he said.
"Well,"I said driving off,"It's good that it doesn't bother you."



Art "Golden Boy" Aragon

Roger, that painting of Art is one of your best, in my opinion.
Audie Aragon and I have been friends for 36 years, when we both broke into the film industry together. He is a Grip.
Audie has all of his father's scrap books, gloves, etc., and he called me recently to thank me for reinstating his father's name to the WBHOF Honor Roll in the very last 2009 WBHOF Banquet Program/Journal. You know it well, as your painting is on the front cover. I'm glad I was able to do that before the organization fell apart. Audie told him that he could not find his dad's name on the World Boxing Hall of Fame Honor Roll, and I explained that it had been eliminated with about thirty others simply by mismanagement of the organization and no true boxing historian involved. It took me months to resurrect the Honor Roll, but I did in 2009. I was able to send Audie a copy of that final program and he was relieved to see his dad's name. I explained that Don Fraser had deliberately taken names off of his CBHOF Honor roll, simply to avoid having to pay to add another page once they hit 200 inductees. I discovered names like Fernando Vargas, the late Diego Corrales and Isreal Vasquez had been dropped. Nearly two dozen names. Don refused to allow me to fix it, he was doing this to make money, not spend it. So that leaves me with a big opportunity to create a better organization than those of the past, and things are going quite well. I don't want to discuss my next event, except for to say it will not be an induction banquet, not yet. That will happen, but not right away. I am actually going to hold a fun, smaller get together that just brings boxing people together to honor some legends, and one will be Art. I am discussing this Audie at the moment. It would be great if you could bring that painting, as it would fit right in with Art's gloves from the Basileo fight, Carter, etc. His scrapbooks (Audie has 16 scrap books that are 2'x3' and 4" thick) feature nothing but headlines and classic newspaper stories, etc.

If anybody watched the HBO fights from Madison Sq Garden Theatre the other nite-you saw an exciting heavyweight preliminary between Mike Perez and Magomed Abdusalamov.
Here is some tragic news out of New York

Ring 10 is accepting donations on behalf of Magomed Abdusalamov that will go directly to him and his family. We are a 501(c)3 organization. Donations can be made through PayPal at "Ring10NY.com" for Magomed Abdusalamov's medical expenses.
(11-6-13)
Magomed Abdusalamov is a Russian heavyweight boxer best known as Russian amateur champion 2005 and 2006 at super heavyweight, and since 2008 as a heavyweight professional boxer based in the USA.
Magomed Abdusalamov was in a medically induced coma Monday following a brain injury suffered in a brutal fight with Mike Perez on Saturday night. Perez won a 10-round unanimous decision against Abdusalamov in an extremely violent slugfest at the Theater at MadisonSquareGarden in New York in an HBO-televised bout on the undercard of middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin’s defense against Curtis Stevens.
The 32-year-old Abdusalamov (18-1, 18 KOs) suffered an apparent broken left hand and nose during the fight in addition to cuts and bruises. He was taken to Roosevelt Hospital in New York for treatment after the fight. However, he also complained of a headache, and when he was examined at the hospital, a small brain bleed was discovered. Abdusalamov had brain surgery to remove the blood clot. A small piece of his skull also was removed to relieve the swelling in his brain, and he was placed in a medically induced coma, which is used to help reduce the swelling.
The latest update to his condition is, sadly, not a good one. Abdusalamov is now on life support as his condition has worsened. Shortly after being put into the coma, his condition stabilized. However, he has since suffered a stroke, resulting in his current condition.
Ring 10 in conjunction with HBO and Nathan Lewkowicz, vice president of Sampson Boxing, which promotes Abdusalamov, urges everyone to please consider donating to help with his mounting medical bills.
Please join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to Magomed and his family.
Matt Farrago
Ring 10
631.948.6028

CNorkusJr wrote:If anybody watched the HBO fights from Madison Sq Garden Theatre the other nite-you saw an exciting heavyweight preliminary between Mike Perez and Magomed Abdusalamov.
Here is some tragic news out of New York

Ring 10 is accepting donations on behalf of Magomed Abdusalamov that will go directly to him and his family. We are a 501(c)3 organization. Donations can be made through PayPal at "Ring10NY.com" for Magomed Abdusalamov's medical expenses.
(11-6-13)
Magomed Abdusalamov is a Russian heavyweight boxer best known as Russian amateur champion 2005 and 2006 at super heavyweight, and since 2008 as a heavyweight professional boxer based in the USA.
Magomed Abdusalamov was in a medically induced coma Monday following a brain injury suffered in a brutal fight with Mike Perez on Saturday night. Perez won a 10-round unanimous decision against Abdusalamov in an extremely violent slugfest at the Theater at MadisonSquareGarden in New York in an HBO-televised bout on the undercard of middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin’s defense against Curtis Stevens.
The 32-year-old Abdusalamov (18-1, 18 KOs) suffered an apparent broken left hand and nose during the fight in addition to cuts and bruises. He was taken to Roosevelt Hospital in New York for treatment after the fight. However, he also complained of a headache, and when he was examined at the hospital, a small brain bleed was discovered. Abdusalamov had brain surgery to remove the blood clot. A small piece of his skull also was removed to relieve the swelling in his brain, and he was placed in a medically induced coma, which is used to help reduce the swelling.
The latest update to his condition is, sadly, not a good one. Abdusalamov is now on life support as his condition has worsened. Shortly after being put into the coma, his condition stabilized. However, he has since suffered a stroke, resulting in his current condition.
Ring 10 in conjunction with HBO and Nathan Lewkowicz, vice president of Sampson Boxing, which promotes Abdusalamov, urges everyone to please consider donating to help with his mounting medical bills.
Please join us in sending your thoughts and prayers to Magomed and his family.
Matt Farrago
Ring 10
631.948.6028

Charlie, I copied this and posted it on Facebook's Fight Group/Westcoast Boxing pages

Thank You Frank. I also started a thread here in Boxrec in "Boxers of the Past". Much Appreciated for your help. Charlie

CNorkusJr wrote:Thank You Frank. I also started a thread here in Boxrec in "Boxers of the Past". Much Appreciated for your help. Charlie

Charley,thanks for the info. Rog

No Cauliflower Ears Here

I told the story awhile back of running into Archie Moore at Huffman's Barbeque on Imperial Avenue in Logan Heights. It was a chance encounter. The restaurant wasn't crowded. I had helped The Mongoose once in awhile at his ABC Boys Club. I'd stop by the gym after working at the school for severely handicapped kids in National City.I'd lace gloves,water the kids down. When Arch saw me he invited waved me over to his booth .He was eating alone.

Archie had seen me at the MLK Festival at Ocean View Park.Jimmy Smith,the Hammond organ jazz artist,had given a concert there. When Arch began the conversation it was about jazz. I was glad. I felt I could hold my own with him on the topic. i also knew that there was a time in his life that Archie Moore was thinking of giving up boxing and traveling with Lucky Thompson's jazz ensemble. That's when Archie couldn't get a shot at a title. That changed when he met up with Charley Johnston and Doc Kearns. But that's another story.

He asked me what I thought about Jimmy Smith. I told him that he played differently for White folks than he did for Black people. Archie laughed. He knew what I was getting at.
"Sometimes those fellas' pull the wool over a White audience,"he said laughing.
"He wouldn't be able to do that in the neighborhood,"I said.
"No,Black folks know better."

And he was right. I'd seen this happen before. Wayne Shorter came to town once and played at Humphrey's in Shelter Island. A real posh joint in one of the many tourist areas of San Diego. After arriving over an hour late,Shorter stepped out of his white Cadillac,walked up on stage, and blew an hour of bull shit on his tenor sax. I looked at the White people ,and either they were faking it tapping their feet and snapping their fingers or they had no ear for jazz music. Shorter was all over the place.I never heard such weird awful sounds come out of an instrument. Now don't get me wrong. I know a lot of White people that can dig jazz,but I know even more that don't.What worries me is Black kids don't dig jazz either. Not even Rhythm and Blues. Rap? I don't want to go there.

I've seen photographs of fighters of the bygone era in joints like the 3 Dueces on 52nd Street or Minton's in Harlem. This is when bop was thing with the young Turks of jazz: Charlie Parker,Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell. The music was new and exciting and brilliant. Every jam session was an adventure. The Black fighters who fought in the Apple knew it and frequented the jazz clubs. There's a picture of Joe Louis,Ezzard Charles ,and Joe Walcott catching a set of Charlie Parker at the Royal Roost. They're standing together dressed to the nines. Those champions knew. You can bet Bird was on the wing that night.



Charlie Parker

http://youtu.be/DjElQ6Ekr9o

Charlie Parker jamming with Buddy Rich. Jazz At The Philharmnic ,Los Angeles 1952

dagosd2000 wrote:

CNorkusJr wrote:Thank You Frank. I also started a thread here in Boxrec in "Boxers of the Past". Much Appreciated for your help. Charlie

Charley,thanks for the info. Rog

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more- ... -1.1509904

"El Boxeo" . . .

Filmmaker Alan Swyer's "El Boxeo" will be screened next Friday, November 15th, at the Mist Harlem Theater in New York.
The screening is part of the Puerto Rican HeritageFilm Festival . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ltm3I-nQUc

Charlie Norkus Jr. will meet Alan the night before, as he will be Charlie's guest at the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame event.
Hope you enjoy the film, Charley!
The film screens tonight at the Annual WBC Convention in Bangkok, Thailand.

-Rick Farris

Away For Good

"So how's ol' Burke doing?"
"You know he's in a rest home,"answered Ed the bartender.
Ed drew a draft and put it down in front of me.
"Does he get any visitors?"
"I don't know."
The three TVs behind the bar were showing three different college football games. There was a pretty good Saturday crowd sitting at the bar. Most were watching the game with Manziel.
"I heard Shirley went fast.She was the one on top of things,"I said to Ed.
He was cleaning some glasses. He never looked up at any of the screens.
"She broke her hip,got pneumonia and that was that."
"She always seemed the strong one,"I said.
"She was about this skinny,"said Ed as he held up his little finger. "She didn't have enough skin on her bones to fight it off."
"I knew if she went before Burke that he couldn't run the place."
"Shirley's grandson is in charge now."
Manziel was running wild.The crowd watching A@M was shouting everytime Manziel would scramble around.
"I've never seen anyone improvise like Manziel,"I said.
"He can sure think on his feet."
Ed never looked up at the game.
"Didn't Burke have any kids?"
"A daughter.When she was offered a piece of the bar,she said she wanted nothing to do with it."
"They weren't close?"
"Burke abandoned her after she was born."
"And now he's in a home."
"I don't think he knows where he is.Maybe he does. He took a lot of shots in the ring.He seems happy."
"You saw him?"
"Once."
"I remember when he was going with that gal and her son died. She took it awful bad."
"Burke couldn't understand that.He seemed like a guy who just didn't get it,"said Ed.
State had just scored. When they kicked off to A@M their back ran it all the way back for a touchdown.
"I guess A@M has more than just Manziel ,"I said.
"You never do it alone,"said Ed wiping off the bar.

Joe Gans

If you decide to purchase Steve Compton's Live Fast, Die Young: The Life and Times of Harry Greb, you won't regret it. I got my copy in the mail and was flabbergasted by the massive size and content of the book. As someone who has done quite a bit of boxing research and has read many biographies and autobiographies of boxing figures, I can tell you that Compton did a tremendous amount of research and other work to produce such a terrific book. Bill Paxton's earlier biography of Greb is a fine book in its own right, but I will state that Compton's is the one to buy between the two.

- Chuck Johnston

Harry Greb

I will have to pick up the Greb bio for sure. What a fascinating guy and great fighter he was.
The title of the book "Live Fast Die young" was also a line that was in a book about a small time hood that took place in Chicago.
The story was about Nicky Romano who grew up around what was skid row on west madison street.
The book was written by a fellow named Willard Motley back in probably the forties.
Later on it became a movie with John Derek playing the roll of Nicky.The movie wasnt very good but the book is solid. Romano while terrorizing the streets used to say "Live fast Die young and leave a good looking corpse".
Rog, are you familiar with this Chicago novel?
The book is called "Knock on any door".

Expug wrote:I will have to pick up the Greb bio for sure. What a fascinating guy and great fighter he was.
The title of the book "Live Fast Die young" was also a line that was in a book about a small time hood that took place in Chicago.
The story was about Nicky Romano who grew up around what was skid row on west madison street.
The book was written by a fellow named Willard Motley back in probably the forties.
Later on it became a movie with John Derek playing the roll of Nicky.The movie wasnt very good but the book is solid. Romano while terrorizing the streets used to say "Live fast Die young and leave a good looking corpse".
Rog, are you familiar with this Chicago novel?
The book is called "Knock on any door".

Brian,not familiar with the book,but I saw the movie"Knock On Any Door".So so.John Derek wasn't the right guy for the flick. Will get around to reading the Greb book. Keep the Blackhawks going. It's hard to repeat in the NHL.Rog