BoxRec

Henry came 200 miles. I’m sure 100’s in the south could have made it if they had wanted to.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 10:04 Henry came 200 miles. I’m sure 100’s in the south could have made it if they had wanted to.

I was in attendance and it was quite a private affair and like I said Duff had been out of the spotlight for 10-15 years so but if you are implying that Dean Powell was more popular or well liked than Duff you may have a point not sure what your good mates Henry Wharton & Gary Atkin would think about that though.

dapug wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 10:50

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 10:04 Henry came 200 miles. I’m sure 100’s in the south could have made it if they had wanted to.

I was in attendance and it was quite a private affair and like I said Duff had been out of the spotlight for 10-15 years so but if you are implying that Dean Powell was more popular or well liked than Duff you may have a point not sure what your good mates Henry Wharton & Gary Atkin would think about that though.

I’m not implying anything. Henry and Gary loved Duff.

Ps I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Powell.
Duff was more controversial.

dapug wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 08:42

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 03:01 Duke McKenzie, Billy Schwer and Henry Wharton were the only boxers are his funeral.
Dean Powell’s was like a who’s who.

Mickey Duff was buried within two days of his death as is the Jewish custom and he had been out of the public eye for at least ten years. Dean Powell on the other hand was a very well known and current member of the boxing fraternity and as his death was suicide the funeral was some time after his actual death. This may explain the difference in attendance at the respective funerals. Both men massively knowledgable boxing men. RIP.

No offence to mickey1975, but dapug's post is the greatest in the entire history of boxrec.

bennie wrote: ↑18 May 2020, 08:17

dapug wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 08:42
Mickey Duff was buried within two days of his death as is the Jewish custom and he had been out of the public eye for at least ten years. Dean Powell on the other hand was a very well known and current member of the boxing fraternity and as his death was suicide the funeral was some time after his actual death. This may explain the difference in attendance at the respective funerals. Both men massively knowledgable boxing men. RIP.

No offence to mickey1975, but dapug's post is the greatest in the entire history of boxrec.

Would say Duff was more popular than Powell? Less popular or about the same?

I am not talking about knowledge, experience or achievements here

Eastwood had connections in Panama too, didn't he represent Crisanto Espana and Victor Cordoba, both who became World Champions. It's how Paul Hodkinson ended up boxing a draw in Panama, if memory serves.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 15:10 Ps I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Powell.
Duff was more controversial.

Only time I ever heard anyone sort of slag off Powell was Barry McGuigan. It was a TV show, and I'm sketchy on the details, but Powell sent someone out for another round when a fight could conceivably have been stopped and during the punditry afterwards McGuigan said " I respect Dean Powell, but he's never taken a punch in his life"

Duff was certainly more abrasive, and like pretty much any other UK promoter, past or present, often critical about other promoters or fighters not in his stable.

Flump wrote: ↑18 May 2020, 11:40 Eastwood had connections in Panama too, didn't he represent Crisanto Espana and Victor Cordoba, both who became World Champions. It's how Paul Hodkinson ended up boxing a draw in Panama, if memory serves.

I was going to say, it was down to Barney Eastwood that there is a Panamanian community in Belfast! I know they both married local Irish women and I think Cordoba stayed in Belfast.

Flump wrote: ↑18 May 2020, 11:49

mickey1975 wrote: ↑17 May 2020, 15:10 Ps I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Powell.
Duff was more controversial.

Only time I ever heard anyone sort of slag off Powell was Barry McGuigan. It was a TV show, and I'm sketchy on the details, but Powell sent someone out for another round when a fight could conceivably have been stopped and during the punditry afterwards McGuigan said " I respect Dean Powell, but he's never taken a punch in his life"

Duff was certainly more abrasive, and like pretty much any other UK promoter, past or present, often critical about other promoters or fighters not in his stable.

I think It was Darren McDermott who got stopped(by Darren Barker)in a title fight.

Powell was in his corner and he said a fight shouldn't be in stopped after a single knockdown when you have got back to your feet on steady legs in a life changing bout leaving McGuigan to say that Powell has never boxed in his life etc

McDermott earned more money suing the doctors who did his brain scan than he did boxing.
However after the missed aneurism burst in sparring he was left with some permanent damage.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑16 May 2020, 12:57 I’ve got Duffs book.

Bet its a good read?

dr_devious wrote: ↑18 May 2020, 17:09

mickey1975 wrote: ↑16 May 2020, 12:57 I’ve got Duffs book.

Bet its a good read?

Not great to be honest .

I was left a bit underwhelmed by Duffs book. I had high expectations with him being such colourful and knowledgeable character but felt alot must have been left out.

Ketchel wrote: ↑16 May 2020, 17:44 The investment in McGuigan by Eastwood was second to none. He had Ken Buchanan over sparring and teaching Barry. He had Teddy Atlas over in the Castle Street Gym in Belfast. No stone was going to be left unturned to make Barry a success. How many managers go this far for their fighters?

He was ahead of his time, at least on these islands, in many ways. Read a great interview from Dave McAuley
years ago where he prepared him for the McKenzie fight. Out of the ring for over a year following the two brutal losses to Bassa, Barney conjured up a 3rd world title attempt. Duff was lured into a 'stay busy' voluntary defence with the 'finished' Irishman'. No expense spared sparring and one on one psychology sessions (when it wasn't a thing) had him champing at the bit as a new man and the rest is history. Eastwood had runners placing bets all over the shop as a nice bonus.
McAuley even ended up as co-promoter with Barney for future defences.

Roco wrote: ↑18 May 2020, 19:42 I was left a bit underwhelmed by Duffs book. I had high expectations with him being such colourful and knowledgeable character but felt alot must have been left out.

I enjoyed it but you're right, a lot did seem to be missing. He was very critical of Angelo Dundee for sticking with Ali when he was endangering his health by carrying on, but then goes on to mention that he took what turned out to be a non-refundable $350,000 from Harold Smith to set up Ali vs John L Gardner (bunched with Watt v Arguello). Seems a bit hypocritical to me. Especially as he ended up keeping the money, and I don't believe Gardner saw a penny.

bennie wrote: ↑16 May 2020, 05:09 Barney was not a man to cross. He eventually took Barry McGuigan for £450,000 (plus costs) and nearly killed off Boxing News in another libel court victory. Plus, he successfully pulped Mickey Duff's biography (Twenty and Out) over remarks made about him in the book.

Harry Mullan wrote McGuigan's first book with Gerry Callan, it was a major libel court case at the time with Barney winning, you can get a copy cheap on Amazon it's worth a read.

Harold Smith was the crazy dude who embezzled over 20 million dollars and got into all sorts of bother with Wells Fargo and just about anyone he did a promotion with. Then did a runner and changed his name and appearance? Same guy right?

orbtastic wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 14:40 Harold Smith was the crazy dude who embezzled over 20 million dollars and got into all sorts of bother with Wells Fargo and just about anyone he did a promotion with. Then did a runner and changed his name and appearance? Same guy right?

That's him. Worthy of a lengthy thread of his own, amazing story.

I suppose you will never get an expedited true biography/account of any manager/promoter in a biography that can be challenged through the courts, especially with Duff, Eastwood, their connections et al. That why you cant rely on them. Whilst entertaining reading I would put boxer's biographies in the same category. You may be getting a sanitized/exaggerated version with lots of revisionism with the true context left out.

Flump wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 20:31

orbtastic wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 14:40 Harold Smith was the crazy dude who embezzled over 20 million dollars and got into all sorts of bother with Wells Fargo and just about anyone he did a promotion with. Then did a runner and changed his name and appearance? Same guy right?

That's him. Worthy of a lengthy thread of his own, amazing story.

Yeah, I genuinely can't remember where I read about him first, maybe an old article or piece in a book, it was certainly pre-internet days. I was watching boxing at the fag end of Ali's career but understood nothing about the background stuff.

They could probably make a film about him. I don't even think he has a wikipedia entry but there's a boxrec wiki.

My Name Is Earl wrote: ↑19 May 2020, 06:10

Ketchel wrote: ↑16 May 2020, 17:44 The investment in McGuigan by Eastwood was second to none. He had Ken Buchanan over sparring and teaching Barry. He had Teddy Atlas over in the Castle Street Gym in Belfast. No stone was going to be left unturned to make Barry a success. How many managers go this far for their fighters?

He was ahead of his time, at least on these islands, in many ways. Read a great interview from Dave McAuley
years ago where he prepared him for the McKenzie fight. Out of the ring for over a year following the two brutal losses to Bassa, Barney conjured up a 3rd world title attempt. Duff was lured into a 'stay busy' voluntary defence with the 'finished' Irishman'. No expense spared sparring and one on one psychology sessions (when it wasn't a thing) had him champing at the bit as a new man and the rest is history. Eastwood had runners placing bets all over the shop as a nice bonus.
McAuley even ended up as co-promoter with Barney for future defences.

The scores are startling. McAuley pounded a weight-weakened McKenzie throughout the 12-rounder and two of the judges made it 115-113 (and the third, 117-113.) Mickey Duff was a powerful presence in 1989.

I was so chuffed that night. I was a big McAuley fan but I didn’t see him beating Duke. He won it handily.

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Only time I ever heard anyone sort of slag off Powell was Barry McGuigan. It was a TV show, and I'm sketchy on the details, but Powell sent someone out for another round when a fight could conceivably have been stopped and during the punditry afterwards McGuigan said " I respect Dean Powell, but he's never taken a punch in his life"

Duff was certainly more abrasive, and like pretty much any other UK promoter, past or present, often critical about other promoters or fighters not in his stable.
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Dean Powell actually trained as a boxer (amateur) but his coach advised him to go into training instead. A low blow from Barry. Dean Powell was loved throughout the boxing community which is more than can be said about tightarse Barry ripping off his fighters.
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Not everyone loved Powell. He would spend his time ringing up employers of Joe Public who might have given him a less than glowing compliment as a trainer on a forum. He would obtain the IP address and ring the firm trying to get people the sack. Happened to a mate of mine years ago. Fortunately his dad was the md and told powell to go elsewhere and throw his toys out of the pram. I always thought powell was a glorified bucket carrier.

McCannW14 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2020, 07:19

Not everyone loved Powell. He would spend his time ringing up employers of Joe Public who might have given him a less than glowing compliment as a trainer on a forum. He would obtain the IP address and ring the firm trying to get people the sack. Happened to a mate of mine years ago. Fortunately his dad was the md and told powell to go elsewhere and throw his toys out of the pram. I always thought powell was a glorified bucket carrier.