Classic American West Coast Boxing

[bennie]

Guys, a news tidbit that seemed to get no press, only a brief blurb. Tony Licata passed away last week. He was only 56 and died of a heart attack. I believe I only saw Licata fight once (the Monzon fight) but read about him intently as I picked up every magazine during the '70s. Beat Emile Griffith, Mike Rossman, Denny Moyer, Vinnie Curto and Mike Nixon. Although he got tagged early in the Monzon fight, he fought his way back into it doggedly, until getting nailed in the 10th. Nice boxer, not a banger but one who didn't mind getting tucked in. Damn shame it didn't get a bit of press. Frank, do you have any photos of Tony?

Scartissue

Licata had those Chinese features which made him quite striking. Good boxer. His record going into the Monzon fight was phenomenal.

[bennie]

Muhammad Ali holds a press conference along with (from left) Don King, James Brown and Lloyd Price after arriving in Zaire for his fight against George Foreman.

My old man is no boxing fan but when it came over the radio that Ali had beaten Foreman, even he reacted. What a great, great win for Ali.
I don't buy into the rope-a-dope theory, incidentally. Ali soaked up a few barrages but for the most part was hitting Foreman off those ropes - A LOT.

[bennie]

George Godfrey, Henry Armstrong , Unidentifed, Jack Johnson, and Unidentified

Fighters are only happy with other fighters.
Johnson once peeled off a hundred dollars when fined fifty for speeding by a traffic cop. "Why the extra fifty?" enquired the cop.
"I'm coming back this way."

[bennie]

Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield

The referee is dead, Holyfield is broke and Tyson is fat and drugged to the eyeballs.
Tyson should never have got his licence back after the second fight.

[kikibalt]

Bennie, your're back, we miss you!

[bennie]

Cheers, Frankie. Been on me hols.

[bennie]

A couple great articles there.
Danny Lopez deserves major recognition in my opinion.
Hes always been one of my favorites.In fact watching his fights on tv in the 70s made me want to become a boxer.
He and Carlos Palomino.And a couple others .But Danny really captured my interest.
Great article about Winstone and Saldivar also.
I didnt know that Howard was from the same town in Wales as Johnny Owen.
Merthyr Tydfill.They grow em tough in that town I guess.
Too bad that both Saldivar and Winstone also died young.Vincente in his early 40s and Winstone at 61.

Howard and Vicente both drank themselves to an early grave.

[bennie]

On the subject of fat heavies earlier in this thread, Don Cockell developed a thyroid problem which made him fat.

[kikibalt]

Evander Holyfield vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi

[bennie]

Evander Holyfield vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi

A throwback fight, 15 rounds of non-stop savagery.
Holyfield became the first 1984 US Olympian to win a world title.

[kikibalt]

Zora Folley vs Willi Besmanoff

[bennie]

The greatest heavy with the greatest light-heavy.

[kikibalt]

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[kikibalt]

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[bennie]

Should have been sine die.

[bennie]

Two warriors; two class guys.

[kikibalt]

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[dagosd2000]

I remember watchimg the first time Chavez lost a fight. The time against Rancall. Chavez sure had a great run before that loss.I was with my brother in law,El Momia. You know. He lives in that old van at the bottom of Revolution Street. He tints windows. If he sees a car driving by,he runs out with his roll of plastic and tries to score some work. Now it's coming back to you.

Well me and the Momia(the mummy) are in the usual cantina watching the fight on their hook up.
As usual the place is packed. The girls are pissed off because the men ain;t paying no attebtion to them and that translates into not making any money. They can't even hustle a drink. Let's face it. Who wants to watch a fight with a dame unless they like the boxing matches? It's funny. The girls that work in the Coahuila have been around the block,but the majority of them aren't interested in sports.

It's hot and sweaty and the place is full of smoke. I make sure my wallet is in my front pocket.I know some of the characters in that joint have more than an interest in the fight. Me and the Momia are sittin' at the bar drinking those big"cahuamas"(gringos call them 'super quarts')of Corona. The brown bottles with the mustard colored label.
"Rogelio,Chavez beat this 'prieto' tonight."
The Momia was getting good and drunk.
"Should. Si,creo."

I didn't want to offer any opposition to my brother in law,but I could see Chavez beginning to wind down. He should have lost to Whittaker,but was given an early birthday present by the judges. His last two fights were in Mexico against weak opposition. His number was coming up.

They announce Chavez and the stir in the bar gets everyone's attention. My back arches up and the opening frame begins. Chavez is Chavez coming forward afraid of nothing. Randall,the African American kid? No way. Another Taylor. Fancy,but not tough. Not tough like J.C. Chavez. If you're going to be popular with the fans in Mexica,you gotta' be tough. Even when Chavez was frustrated against Whittaker,he dropped his hands and came in full bore. Go ahead. Hit me. Just let me hit you.

I remember when Randall dropped Chavez for the first time in his career. Something happened. Chavez had a look on him like he knew it was eventually going to happen. Like he sort of deserved being put on the seat of his pants. It was a close fight. A good fight.But they raised Randall's hand when it was over. Chavez tried to look upset,but it was almost like he was glad to get it over with. How many fights in a row? Over 80 without a loss?

There were people upset with the verdict. A Mexican crowd that feels wronged often rides with instincts. If those instincts are fueled with alcohol,there's usually fighting and bleeding. However,I never worried. I always blended right in with those scenarios. I've never considered myself white anyway. Funny,I've always feel like I belong across the border. I was born on the wrong side of it. As time goes on ,I feel more and more that way.

"Rogelio. Pinchi prieto."
El Momia was reelin' pretty good. He was also pretty upset.
"No te precupas(don't worry). Otra pelea,"I said. I was trying to calm him down.
"Porque? Chavez lose to gringo. Gringo prieto."
Mexico's hero had lost for the first time. And to an American. A Black American.
"Mexico lose to U.S. mucho. No me gusta. Mexico lose siempre(always) to U.S. No me gusta."

As I was watching the men drift back over to where the girls were sitting,I thought.
"Don't worry. Like they all say. The U.S. will beat itself someday."
.

[bennie]

Rock crumbles to Steel.

[bennie]

Ezzard comes through.

[kikibalt]

Moreno vs Chestnut 1957

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