BoxRec

Cleveland Williams & Ernie Terrell

Gene Fullmer & manager Marvin Jensen

Gene Fullmer vs Charles Humez

Florida's hard-hitting Andre Berto makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against Portland veteran Steve Forbes on the Shane Mosley-Ricardo Mayorga undercard in California on September 27.
The 25-year-old Berto, a pro less than four years, won the title last time out in June. The belt had been vacated by one Floyd Mayweather Jnr, after his surprise retirement, and Berto took full advantage with a solid seven-round stoppage of Mexican Miguel Angel Rodriguez in Memphis. While Berto still remains relatively untested on the world stage, he is a fine, heavy handed prospect at 22-0 (19). He dropped Rodriguez twice with right hands to force the stoppage.
To Forbes, who used to hold the WBC super-featherweight title but was always tight at the weight and bulked up to welterweight for a slot on Contender II and carried it well (and still does). He reached the final, where he was outscored by Oklohoma surprsie package Grady Brewer (Forbes was the pre-final favourite) and gave Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya 12 brisk rounds in his last fight in May, conceding a unanimous decision but doing enough to secure this shot. The 31-year-old Forbes is tough cute and clever - he's never been stopped - but it will take more than all that to derail Berto at this stage of the champion's rapidly burgeoning career.
The champion punches out a decision.

Archie Moore at Sugar Ray Robinson's funeral

kikibalt wrote:
Archie Moore at Sugar Ray Robinson's funeral

Nice shot, Frankie. Archie looks genuinely upset.

bennie wrote:

kikibalt wrote:
Archie Moore at Sugar Ray Robinson's funeral

Nice shot, Frankie. Archie looks genuinely upset.

Bennie
I think as more of Archie's contemporaries passed from this Earth,the more distant the Old Guy became. As much as he enjoyed guiding young people,he was like a man who had lost his pals. The few encounters I had with him,he seemed like he was reaching back,almost physically pulling back,to put his old memories into the context of an observation. An answer. A philosophy.

His judgements were of a man that looked closely inside himself to see what was in front of him.

Carole Bates presents POW bracelets to two all-time greats of the sports world,
Archie Moore (left) and Don Drysdale

City Council member Roz Wyman shakes hands with boxer Archie Moore in 1964.

Joey Giardello & Ernie Durando 23 June 1953 Madison Square Garden New York City, Dr. Vincent Nardiello examines the fighters prior to their bout at Madison Square Garden held on
June 26, 1953. (Durando is on the left)

Gene Fullner & Carmen Basilio

kikibalt wrote: Gene Fullner & Carmen Basilio

Last year, Dan Hanley and I spent a lot of time filming interviews with some special personalties related to boxing history. It was our first go at a project dear to our hearts, allowing boxers to tell their stories in their own words, non-scripted material, no restrictive editing, etc. The result proved nothing short of brilliant and many tears were shed as Dan and I carefully guided these legends, helping them to speak opely and truthfully about the good and bad of the world's most brutal profession. We had hped to put both Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basileo before our cameras, however, illness had prevented both from attending a banquet they always attend when possible. Emile Griffith was another unable to make it, and Emile is always present at WBHOF events. This year we will try again, before it's too late. Thankfully, we did get Mando Ramos before our camera, as Dan and I conducted his very last interview on film. -Rick

l.to r. Frankie Sequeira and Johnny Gonsalves

Gonsalves and Sequeira appeared on the same fight card at the Oakland Auditorium on 31 August 1949. Frankie Sequeira won a six round decision over Dave Reynosa in the opening bout and Johnny Gonsalves won a ten round decision over Beau Jack in the main event.

In 1951 I seen Johnny Gonsalves fight Art Aragon live at the Olympic

Rick Farris wrote:

kikibalt wrote: Gene Fullner & Carmen Basilio

Last year, Dan Hanley and I spent a lot of time filming interviews with some special personalties related to boxing history. It was our first go at a project dear to our hearts, allowing boxers to tell their stories in their own words, non-scripted material, no restrictive editing, etc. The result proved nothing short of brilliant and many tears were shed as Dan and I carefully guided these legends, helping them to speak opely and truthfully about the good and bad of the world's most brutal profession. We had hped to put both Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basileo before our cameras, however, illness had prevented both from attending a banquet they always attend when possible. Emile Griffith was another unable to make it, and Emile is always present at WBHOF events. This year we will try again, before it's too late. Thankfully, we did get Mando Ramos before our camera, as Dan and I conducted his very last interview on film. -Rick

I have admiration for both of these guys.
Real fighters, no nonsense guys.
Fullmer was a mink rancher in Utah, and Basilio came from Canastota New York.His family were onion farmers.
Basilio was also a marine.
Both of these guys were courageous fighters with loads of heart.Blue collar type of fighters.
Both gave Robinson hell and I think that neither of them was too crazy about Sugar Ray.

bennie wrote:Florida's hard-hitting Andre Berto makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against Portland veteran Steve Forbes on the Shane Mosley-Ricardo Mayorga undercard in California on September 27.
The 25-year-old Berto, a pro less than four years, won the title last time out in June. The belt had been vacated by one Floyd Mayweather Jnr, after his surprise retirement, and Berto took full advantage with a solid seven-round stoppage of Mexican Miguel Angel Rodriguez in Memphis. While Berto still remains relatively untested on the world stage, he is a fine, heavy handed prospect at 22-0 (19). He dropped Rodriguez twice with right hands to force the stoppage.
To Forbes, who used to hold the WBC super-featherweight title but was always tight at the weight and bulked up to welterweight for a slot on Contender II and carried it well (and still does). He reached the final, where he was outscored by Oklohoma surprsie package Grady Brewer (Forbes was the pre-final favourite) and gave Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya 12 brisk rounds in his last fight in May, conceding a unanimous decision but doing enough to secure this shot. The 31-year-old Forbes is tough cute and clever - he's never been stopped - but it will take more than all that to derail Berto at this stage of the champion's rapidly burgeoning career.
The champion punches out a decision.

I'll second that opinion Bennie. Overall, I think Forbes has probably fought better competition and he is a tough competitor but he lacks a real punch. Berto on the other hand packs a wallop, he is undefeated and has the momentum. It's boxing and anything can happen but like you, I predict a hard earned 12 round UD.

Very true, Brian. With all due respect to the ''real'' Sugar Ray, Robinson was far from the most honorable champ in history. I've heard more negative information relating to Robinson than I have positive from those who really knew him. What the public saw or knows about Sugar Ray differs from reality. Keep in mind, Robinson's KO of Fullmer was his only victory in four bouts with Gene. And Basilio was a natural welter when he whipped Robby for the middleweight title. Granted, Robinson was brilliant, but roughnecks like Fullmer and Basilio often have their way with boxing masters.. -Rick

Rick Farris wrote:Very true, Brian. With all due respect to the ''real'' Sugar Ray, Robinson was far from the most honorable champ in history. I've heard more negative information relating to Robinson than I have positive from those who really knew him. What the public saw or knows about Sugar Ray differs from reality. Keep in mind, Robinson's KO of Fullmer was his only victory in four bouts with Gene. And Basilio was a natural welter when he whipped Robby for the middleweight title. Granted, Robinson was brilliant, but roughnecks like Fullmer and Basilio often have their way with boxing masters.. -Rick

Rick, I know you and I met Sugar Ray at the Main Street Gym and both of us had good experiences with him, something we'll never forget, so it's tough to have to admit when someone that you admire is not all they're cracked up to be. I have read a couple of biographies on Sugar Ray, as well as other articles over the years and there has been a lot of negative things said about him. Most of them are probably true and as with most celebrities, some are probably rumors and half truths. I also think too, that considering the times, and Sugar Ray being black, his boldness alone was probably reason enough not to like him. Not excusing any of his bad behavior though.

Randy

Rick and Randy, it must have been great meeting Robinson.
I remember Carmen talking in an interview about he and his wife in I believe New York, seeing sugar Ray on the street with his entourage.
Carmen wanted to walk up and greet Sugar Ray and Sugar gave him the brush off.
Carmen never forgot that.
Guys like Basilio are gonna remember slights like that.He is the type of guy we can relate to. A tough guy, but a polite guy who treats people with respect.

Kid Gavilan vs Italio Scoritchini

Gene Fullmer

Expug wrote:Rick and Randy, it must have been great meeting Robinson.
I remember Carmen talking in an interview about he and his wife in I believe New York, seeing sugar Ray on the street with his entourage.
Carmen wanted to walk up and greet Sugar Ray and Sugar gave him the brush off.
Carmen never forgot that.
Guys like Basilio are gonna remember slights like that.He is the type of guy we can relate to. A tough guy, but a polite guy who treats people with respect.

I agree Pug, a regular Joe doesn't forget a slight by someone that is considered elite (a regular Joe in character not in his fighting ability). I heard that same story, from different sources over the years about Basilio. I have no doubt the story is 100% true. From all I have heard and read, Robinson was brash, arrogant and beat his wives. He was shrewed negotiator as well and had no qualms about holding up a fight or canceling a fight with last minute demands. I think by the time I met Robinson he had been humbled by life, maybe learned a few of life's lessons.

Frank, you have been posting some amazing photos lately. They are really making this thread something special!

Randy

Randyman wrote:Frank, you have been posting some amazing photos lately. They are really making this thread something special!

Randy

Thanks Randy....

Tony Baltazar...C.1980
Some where in the High Sierra