BoxRec

Boilermaker wrote:In line with my comments on another thread, When Jack Dempsey fought The Fighting Marine "Gene Tunney" for the world title. It actually was the second time that a Jack Dempsey had fought a "fighting Marine" for the world title. the other was The Non pareil Jack Dempsey vs the fighting marine George leblanche.

The first time in heavyweight history that two former Marines who held the title "Us Marine Heavyweight Champ" fought against each other in a "Pro" Ring, was my father Charley Norkus vs Pat McMurtry, of Tacoma, Wash. The fight was held in Tacoma on July 26, 1958. McMurtry by UD 10 Rds.
My father won the US Marine Heavy title in 1948. While McMurtry won his (I believe) 1954 ?

My father fought another tough former Marine -Danny Nardico in 1954, but Nardico was not a US Marine Boxing Champion, but rather a bronze star award winner in WW II.
Gene Tunny did not face another US Marine Heavy Champ.
McMurtry (standing) & Norkus (sitting) at weigh-in.Both bare-chested.

Jimmy La Bocca wrote: The first ever referee to ref from inside the ring was Eugene Corri in 1907

In Britian maybe

Here is a few little interesting stories about some lesser known and older time bareknuckle fighters.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

Here is some more interesting stories, mostly to do with tragic endings. The irish giant Charles Freeman is an interesting story, with him bettering Morrisson in sparring and also having arguably got the better of an old Jem Mace, maybe one of the underated great figthers?

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

Here is a pretty funny criticism of John L Sullivan by his wife. She obviously doesnt get on well with him, and alleges that Charlie Miller would have beaten him and the Cardiff broken arm story was a beat up. I dont think that i would put too much stock in it though.

Some trivia that I stumbled across regarding the prestigous Canadian Heavyweight title:

George Chuvalo first won this title in 1958. He won it back again and retired after his last defense of the title in 1978 at the age of 41. This was 20 years after he first won it.

His successor after he retired? Trevor Berbick. Berbick first won the Canadian title in 1979. He won it back again and retitred after his last title defense in 2000 at the age of 45. This was 21 years after he first won it.

His successor after he retired? Razor Ruddock. Rudduck first won this title in 1988, and won it back in 2001 and then retired. That was a mere 13 years after he first won it.

All three went out as winners with the title. None ever fought each other.

Id say that says a lot more about the lack of quality canadian hws than anything.

Well yes the lack of depth is certainly part of it. I thought it was interesting for several reasons. That they all went out as winners is pretty cool. also, It just seeems strange that that Berbick was the immediate successor to Chuvalo. I always think of Chuvalo as a guy from the 1960s/early 1970s and Berbick from the 1980s.

AngryGoon38 wrote:Tiger Ted Lowry,a carear sub 500. fighter,lost 2 close decisions to Rocky Marciano.

That is a myth.
Ted Lowry's peformances when he fought Marciano were heavily criticised in the aftermath of the fights. There is written documentation on both fights and by the accounts that I have read (on the Internet) Lowry covered up all of the fight and he had an enduring "I just want to make it to the end" mentality in those fights. He made no effort to win those fights, he just wanted to last the distance.

There was no doubt that Marciano had won both of them.

Crease wrote:

AngryGoon38 wrote:Tiger Ted Lowry,a carear sub 500. fighter,lost 2 close decisions to Rocky Marciano.

That is a myth.
Ted Lowry's peformances when he fought Marciano were heavily criticised in the aftermath of the fights. There is written documentation on both fights and by the accounts that I have read (on the Internet) Lowry covered up all of the fight and he had an enduring "I just want to make it to the end" mentality in those fights. He made no effort to win those fights, he just wanted to last the distance.

There was no doubt that Marciano had won both of them.

It's not a myth, the second bout Marciano won quite comfortably but their first fight was said to be very close, some of the local press scored Lowry the winner and some at ringside thought he won. We will never really know as no footage exists, as far as I know, but it certainly didn't appear to be a clear cut win for Marciano.

Well ..rumor and a strange one ... Wilfredo Benitez would crap in towels and leave them under his bed.