Southpaw bogeyman Juan Carlos Gomez finally gets it on with Ukrainian tower Vladimir Virchis on the big Hamburg bill next weekend, in a WBC heavyweight title final eliminator.
These two were scheduled to square off back in March for the right to meet Nigerian puncher Samuel Peter, holder of the WBC belt, but wanted more time to prepare, a boxing pseudonym for wanted more money. Clearly, the pair are now happy with terms and, with 67 wins between them, they need to be. Nobody queues up to fight either.
In 45 fights Gomez has lost only to fellow Cuban exile Yanqui Diaz over in the States in 2004. It was a disaster. It was a fight designed to showcase Gomez's skills to an American audience but the unheralded Diaz teed off with right hands from the opening bell and Gomez caved in at the 1:46 mark. Humbled, the loser returned to Germany aftewards, where both he and Virchis are based, and nearly blew it again when he tested positive for cocaine after a unanimous points win over American veteran Oliver McCall in 2005 and was banned for well over a year (426 days). Gomez returned in December 2006 and later clearly outscored McCall a second time to make amends for the first fight, which had been amended to a no-contest.
Virchis has lost only once himself (in 25): on a majority 12-round decision to Ruslan Chagaev in 2006, the former WBA heavyweight champion and a southpaw like Gomez. The hulking Virchis, 35, made life extremely difficult for the talented Chagaev and held the European heavyweight title without ever losing it in the ring - his pedigree is good.
Strong, heavy-handed, awkward but inevitably quite slow, Virchis was losing to much smaller fellow Ukrainian Taras Bidenko until finding the big punches for a last-round stoppage and also got the runaround from little Michael Sprott in 2005 before taking a close 12-round decision, again courtesy of a big finish. Gomez, also 35 and a former cruiserweight star, knows how to outbox and outspeed the giants and his stamina looks every bit as good as his opponent's. He can whack a bit, too. He put the iron-jawed Sinan Samil Sam on the floor on the way to a landslide 10-round decision in 2003. It won't be easy because Virchis will be 'up' for it and keeps rumbling forward, but the classier, cleverer, quicker, more seasoned Gomez should get home by a decision.
Classic American West Coast Boxing
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Courtesy of Rick
Randy and I both had a connection with Young Firpo's trainer Mel Epstein, as you know. Firp will be inducted into the WBHOF this year, and perhaps this information will introduce the former light heavy contender to the world today.
Dear Rick ...
Let me reminisce with you somewhat if you are so inclined and take a look at a fight that occurred 74 years ago this evening.
The fight got started around 10:00 p.m., September 20, 1934 at Multnomah Stadium in Portland, Oregon. A capacity crowd of about 7,000 fans filled the stadium to see if Firpo could withstand the Pacific Coast titular aspirations and assault of challenger John Henry Lewis as Firpo had so withstood the challenge, on August 28, 1934, when he left bits and pieces of Tiger Jack Fox scattered about the same Multnomah Stadium ring.
Prior to fight time, Lewis had declared that he was the rightful claimant to the world light heavyweight championship which had been declared vacant when the National Boxing Association striped Maxie Rosenbloom of the title days earlier. When Rosenbloom was stripped, Lewis was selected as one of seven fighters selected by the NBA to determine Rosenbloom's successor. Firpo's name was not included within those seven selected by the NBA. However, the Portland Boxing Commission, a member of the NBA, balked at casting any vote stating that it wanted to see whether how Lewis performed as a challenger to Young Firpo in his bid to annex Firpo's Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship and whether the Portland Commission would cast its vote for Firpo or Lewis.
Firpo had won the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight title in 1933 and successfully defended it against not only Pacific Coast Title aspirants but World title challenger's in the personages of George Manley, Wesley, KO Ketchel, and Tiger Jack Fox --- all who had all gone down to crushing defeats in trying to garner the crown from the head of its proud holder, Young Firpo. A writer stated: "It would be easier for someone to beat the light heavyweight champion of the world and win that title than it would be for any fighter to take the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight crown from the head of Young Firpo. He wears the crown with dignity and pride and it means the world to Firp."
Prior to the Lewis-Firpo encounter, Lewis had fought Rosenbloom three times in non-title affairs and was awarded the decision in two of the fights. In their third encounter, Lewis floored Rosenbloom three times during the fight but avoided a knockout. The Lewis entourage were vocal about defeating "that man Firpo" and wresting Firpo's title as further evidence of Lewis' claim that he was the uncrowned light heavyweight title. Frank Schuler, San Francisco boxing promoter who had an interest in Lewis, declared that Lewis would "knock Firpo out in short order" adding that Firpo "had no chance with John Henry."
Firpo was on edge as fight time drew near. During the eve of the fight, he had been awakened around 11:00 pm on September 19th, and advised that one of his longterm and best friend, Edgar Benson, had been killed in an automobile accident in northern Idaho. Visibly upset and saddened, Firpo had a difficult time getting back to sleep that evening he carried that sadness with him as he passed time awaiting the call to enter the ring. If anything, it provided within his psyche even more resolve to defeat Lewis.
In the dressing room before the fight, as he and Mel Epstein shared the comfort of one another's mere presence, awaiting the call to depart toward the ring, Firpo, as dictated by his temperament, would let no one talk with him or engage in frivolity or humor of any kind or nature, including any so called "last minute instructions" from trainer Mel Epstein. Mel Epstein himself was on edge yet was convinced Firpo would knockout John Henry Lewis because of Firpo's physical conditioning. Furthermore, Mel Epstein knew Firpo's temperament and he understood when Firpo "was ready" as evidenced how edgy and vicious Firpo became as fight time drew near ... an edginess and viciousness precisely displayed when he was about to defend his title on August 28, 1934 in a Multnomah Auditorium battle with Tiger Jack Fox. The somberness within the dressing room on that occasion some twenty days earlier was filled with questioning about how badly Young Firpo had been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in March of 1934 as he embarked for Butte, Montana, to fight Gorilla Jones and what reserve was left in Firpo's system.
An August 1934 match had been made for Young Firpo to fight Maxie Rosenbloom in a non-title affair to take place in Portland. A gate dispute brought an end to a classic confrontation of the consummate boxer with a crushing bounding and weaving slugger. When the Rosenbloom fight fell through, Tiger Jack Fox was offered a shot at the coast title and immediately affixed his signature to a contract to fight Young Firpo. Most Portland writers thought Firpo was taking on more than he bargained for because Fox had been very active in 1934, while Firpo had not fought anyone as a consequence of the motor vehicle accident. Additionally, there were questions raised concerning the injuries sustained by Firpo in the accident were thought to be so serious that Firpo's ring career was over. The Firpo-Fox encounter was more than a test for Young Firpo. Against a slugger and fighter of Fox's resolve, Firpo health and very life was being put on the line.
The injuries sustained in that auto wreck brought about a decline to the greatness of Firpo's fighting capabilities. The very fact that his first two fights after those career changing injuries were against Tiger Jack Fox and John Henry Lewis reveal something about Firp's greatness as a fighter. Indeed, year's later, Mel Epstein would lament in multiple interviews about the life and times of Mel Epstein and Young Firpo that "until that damn car wreck, Firpo was unbeatable, he was practically unbeatable." And, when one examines the fights and comes to the realization that Firpo not only fought Fox and Lewis as handicapped as he was but, in reality, defeated both and had each on the verge of knockouts several times during the fights, one comes away from an interview of Mel Epstein understanding the greatness he had been associated with and the basis for his personal sadness.
It was, indeed, a credit to grit, endurance, physical and mental toughness, that Firpo successfully defended his title against the great Tiger Jack Fox and, in the process, administered Fox a sound trouncing although tested himself during the course of the fight. Make no mistake about, Fox was a great fighter as evidenced by his career knockouts, his one round knockouts and his two wins over Jersey Joe Walcott, one being a knockout victory. In the later thirties, as Fox sought a title fight with Joe Louis Fox stated in an interview: "They say if Joe Louis hits me on the chin he might knock me out. If I hit Louis on the chin I will knock him out."
Mere shop talk? Consider then an interviewed of Jersey Joe Walcott I conducted in 1974. Walcott told me that the greatest fighter he every fought was "a fighter by the name of Tiger Jack Fox. In my opinion, Fox was greater than Louis, Marciano, Charles, Baksi, or Lee Q. Murray. I learned more in my two fights with Fox than I learned in all my other fights together. There wasn't anything he couldn't do in the ring and do it well. Stick and jab, move, dangle his arms and invite you to hit him and he could punch."
Firpo eliminated Fox from consideration as a claimant to Rosenbloom's crown. The fight crowd in Portland was ecstatic that John Henry Lewis was to test the leather encasements of Young Firpo. Bring on your John Henry.
The mood in the dressing room for both the Fox and Lewis encounters was somber and Firpo was very testy if anyone tried to communicate with him including Mel Epstein. He allowed no one in his dressing room aside from Mel Epstein and even then Firpo would not allow Epstein to engage him in insipid conversation or even talk to him about any aspect of the fight --- so focused was Firpo on retaining his crown and staving off the threats of both Tiger Jack and John Henry Lewis.
Let's let Billy Stepp take over from here. Stepp was at ringside --- I wasn't --- and I must defer to Stepp's account of the fight with the exception of certain things that a writer could not know which were imparted to my brother and I by Young Firpo and others many years later in countless discussions regarding the fight. I'll share those insights during another writing. Without further delay, take it away Billy Stepp.
FIRPO STAGES GREAT BATTLE AGAINST LEWIS by Billy Stepp, Sports Editor News-Telegram (Portland, OR)
With defeat staring him in the face, Young Firpo, the lion-hearted miner from the sagebrush of Burke, Ida., staged a sensational rally to fight himself to a draw in 10 torrid rounds with John Henry Lewis, the colored boxing master from Phoenix, Ariz., in the headline brawl at the stadium last night before more than 6000 fans who almost went into hysterics as the two light-heavyweights fought round by round.
Referee Tom Louttit's decision was met with a terrific roar of music that put the Bronx on the Rand-McNally. Nine out of ten looked upon the Bull as the winner after his zero-hour attack on the colored boy.
The writer's scorebook showed the first, third, fourth and fifth in favor of Lewis who autographed the miner with everything in his category of pet socks, but none made the wild man quit walking in. The sixth, seventh, eight and ninth were given Firpo, while the second and tenth were even-steven.
John Henry started off to make it a one-side affair by plastering Firpo with straight lefts and rights in the first round, while Firp didn't land a punch.
Firp landed his first punch of the fight in the second heat, a wild right crashed against Lewis' jaw, and he staggered back, but quickly fought off the Bull's attack.
In the third Lewis again opened up with his long left that blew Firpo's schnoz a burning red and the claret dripped.
Firpo let one fly from nowhere in the fourth and John's nose got in the way and the red ink dripped. Lewis quickly punched Firpo around the ring with both hands.
In the fifth, Lewis' long range guns kept booming on Firpo's face and a right dropped into the bread basket to say, Morning, Samuel, while Firpo went around aimlessly trying to connect on the huge brown-skinned battler.
The sixth Firpo clipped over a few teasers but Lewis held his ground and evened the round.
Firpo bounced up and down, and a wild swing found a resting spot on Lewis' jaw, and his knees buckled. That was like a streak from a blue sky to Firp and he opened with a savage attack of haymakers that bewildered the Arizona boy. It was the miner's big inning.
And again in the seventh Firp kept his relentless wild-swinging barrage that had Lewis looking for shelter. The boy whom the N.B.A. picked as a probable world's light-heavyweight successor to Rosenbloom was losing his early lead.
Firpo kept swinging like a bar room door on a busy day. His left and rights missed and some connected. One right almost tore Lewis' head off, and if ever a fighter folded, John Henry did, and like an old-fashioned canvas bag.
Firpo, with victory looming on his face after four rounds of terrific battling, was weak and in fact so was Lewis. The two tore into the final three minutes with nothing barred. John H. dropped three far below the belt, while Firpo almost untied Lewis' shoes with an uppercut. It looked for a second that the miner was going to blow the duke as he hung on, but with 10 seconds left on the ticker came Firp and he almost tore Lewis' dome off with two haymakers that were thrown from the 50 yard line.
The bell ended the 30 minute party and, of course, Referee Louttit's decision caused a near riot. It was O.K., but if a winner was to be picked yours truly would have to give the silverware to the Bull of Burke, who certainly turned what looked like a defeat into a moral victory.
Two other writers wrote:
The large crowd of 7,000 booed Referee Tom Louttit's decision for five minutes after arms of both gladiators were raised.
Although officially declared a draw, every sports writer and the majority of the spectators thought Firpo the winner. The once wild-swinging unorthodox Firpo, nee Guido Bardelli, is now a shifting, sharpshooting demon who had the Negro on the verge of a K.O. several times in the bout.
Randy and I both had a connection with Young Firpo's trainer Mel Epstein, as you know. Firp will be inducted into the WBHOF this year, and perhaps this information will introduce the former light heavy contender to the world today.
Dear Rick ...
Let me reminisce with you somewhat if you are so inclined and take a look at a fight that occurred 74 years ago this evening.
The fight got started around 10:00 p.m., September 20, 1934 at Multnomah Stadium in Portland, Oregon. A capacity crowd of about 7,000 fans filled the stadium to see if Firpo could withstand the Pacific Coast titular aspirations and assault of challenger John Henry Lewis as Firpo had so withstood the challenge, on August 28, 1934, when he left bits and pieces of Tiger Jack Fox scattered about the same Multnomah Stadium ring.
Prior to fight time, Lewis had declared that he was the rightful claimant to the world light heavyweight championship which had been declared vacant when the National Boxing Association striped Maxie Rosenbloom of the title days earlier. When Rosenbloom was stripped, Lewis was selected as one of seven fighters selected by the NBA to determine Rosenbloom's successor. Firpo's name was not included within those seven selected by the NBA. However, the Portland Boxing Commission, a member of the NBA, balked at casting any vote stating that it wanted to see whether how Lewis performed as a challenger to Young Firpo in his bid to annex Firpo's Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship and whether the Portland Commission would cast its vote for Firpo or Lewis.
Firpo had won the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight title in 1933 and successfully defended it against not only Pacific Coast Title aspirants but World title challenger's in the personages of George Manley, Wesley, KO Ketchel, and Tiger Jack Fox --- all who had all gone down to crushing defeats in trying to garner the crown from the head of its proud holder, Young Firpo. A writer stated: "It would be easier for someone to beat the light heavyweight champion of the world and win that title than it would be for any fighter to take the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight crown from the head of Young Firpo. He wears the crown with dignity and pride and it means the world to Firp."
Prior to the Lewis-Firpo encounter, Lewis had fought Rosenbloom three times in non-title affairs and was awarded the decision in two of the fights. In their third encounter, Lewis floored Rosenbloom three times during the fight but avoided a knockout. The Lewis entourage were vocal about defeating "that man Firpo" and wresting Firpo's title as further evidence of Lewis' claim that he was the uncrowned light heavyweight title. Frank Schuler, San Francisco boxing promoter who had an interest in Lewis, declared that Lewis would "knock Firpo out in short order" adding that Firpo "had no chance with John Henry."
Firpo was on edge as fight time drew near. During the eve of the fight, he had been awakened around 11:00 pm on September 19th, and advised that one of his longterm and best friend, Edgar Benson, had been killed in an automobile accident in northern Idaho. Visibly upset and saddened, Firpo had a difficult time getting back to sleep that evening he carried that sadness with him as he passed time awaiting the call to enter the ring. If anything, it provided within his psyche even more resolve to defeat Lewis.
In the dressing room before the fight, as he and Mel Epstein shared the comfort of one another's mere presence, awaiting the call to depart toward the ring, Firpo, as dictated by his temperament, would let no one talk with him or engage in frivolity or humor of any kind or nature, including any so called "last minute instructions" from trainer Mel Epstein. Mel Epstein himself was on edge yet was convinced Firpo would knockout John Henry Lewis because of Firpo's physical conditioning. Furthermore, Mel Epstein knew Firpo's temperament and he understood when Firpo "was ready" as evidenced how edgy and vicious Firpo became as fight time drew near ... an edginess and viciousness precisely displayed when he was about to defend his title on August 28, 1934 in a Multnomah Auditorium battle with Tiger Jack Fox. The somberness within the dressing room on that occasion some twenty days earlier was filled with questioning about how badly Young Firpo had been hurt in a motor vehicle accident in March of 1934 as he embarked for Butte, Montana, to fight Gorilla Jones and what reserve was left in Firpo's system.
An August 1934 match had been made for Young Firpo to fight Maxie Rosenbloom in a non-title affair to take place in Portland. A gate dispute brought an end to a classic confrontation of the consummate boxer with a crushing bounding and weaving slugger. When the Rosenbloom fight fell through, Tiger Jack Fox was offered a shot at the coast title and immediately affixed his signature to a contract to fight Young Firpo. Most Portland writers thought Firpo was taking on more than he bargained for because Fox had been very active in 1934, while Firpo had not fought anyone as a consequence of the motor vehicle accident. Additionally, there were questions raised concerning the injuries sustained by Firpo in the accident were thought to be so serious that Firpo's ring career was over. The Firpo-Fox encounter was more than a test for Young Firpo. Against a slugger and fighter of Fox's resolve, Firpo health and very life was being put on the line.
The injuries sustained in that auto wreck brought about a decline to the greatness of Firpo's fighting capabilities. The very fact that his first two fights after those career changing injuries were against Tiger Jack Fox and John Henry Lewis reveal something about Firp's greatness as a fighter. Indeed, year's later, Mel Epstein would lament in multiple interviews about the life and times of Mel Epstein and Young Firpo that "until that damn car wreck, Firpo was unbeatable, he was practically unbeatable." And, when one examines the fights and comes to the realization that Firpo not only fought Fox and Lewis as handicapped as he was but, in reality, defeated both and had each on the verge of knockouts several times during the fights, one comes away from an interview of Mel Epstein understanding the greatness he had been associated with and the basis for his personal sadness.
It was, indeed, a credit to grit, endurance, physical and mental toughness, that Firpo successfully defended his title against the great Tiger Jack Fox and, in the process, administered Fox a sound trouncing although tested himself during the course of the fight. Make no mistake about, Fox was a great fighter as evidenced by his career knockouts, his one round knockouts and his two wins over Jersey Joe Walcott, one being a knockout victory. In the later thirties, as Fox sought a title fight with Joe Louis Fox stated in an interview: "They say if Joe Louis hits me on the chin he might knock me out. If I hit Louis on the chin I will knock him out."
Mere shop talk? Consider then an interviewed of Jersey Joe Walcott I conducted in 1974. Walcott told me that the greatest fighter he every fought was "a fighter by the name of Tiger Jack Fox. In my opinion, Fox was greater than Louis, Marciano, Charles, Baksi, or Lee Q. Murray. I learned more in my two fights with Fox than I learned in all my other fights together. There wasn't anything he couldn't do in the ring and do it well. Stick and jab, move, dangle his arms and invite you to hit him and he could punch."
Firpo eliminated Fox from consideration as a claimant to Rosenbloom's crown. The fight crowd in Portland was ecstatic that John Henry Lewis was to test the leather encasements of Young Firpo. Bring on your John Henry.
The mood in the dressing room for both the Fox and Lewis encounters was somber and Firpo was very testy if anyone tried to communicate with him including Mel Epstein. He allowed no one in his dressing room aside from Mel Epstein and even then Firpo would not allow Epstein to engage him in insipid conversation or even talk to him about any aspect of the fight --- so focused was Firpo on retaining his crown and staving off the threats of both Tiger Jack and John Henry Lewis.
Let's let Billy Stepp take over from here. Stepp was at ringside --- I wasn't --- and I must defer to Stepp's account of the fight with the exception of certain things that a writer could not know which were imparted to my brother and I by Young Firpo and others many years later in countless discussions regarding the fight. I'll share those insights during another writing. Without further delay, take it away Billy Stepp.
FIRPO STAGES GREAT BATTLE AGAINST LEWIS by Billy Stepp, Sports Editor News-Telegram (Portland, OR)
With defeat staring him in the face, Young Firpo, the lion-hearted miner from the sagebrush of Burke, Ida., staged a sensational rally to fight himself to a draw in 10 torrid rounds with John Henry Lewis, the colored boxing master from Phoenix, Ariz., in the headline brawl at the stadium last night before more than 6000 fans who almost went into hysterics as the two light-heavyweights fought round by round.
Referee Tom Louttit's decision was met with a terrific roar of music that put the Bronx on the Rand-McNally. Nine out of ten looked upon the Bull as the winner after his zero-hour attack on the colored boy.
The writer's scorebook showed the first, third, fourth and fifth in favor of Lewis who autographed the miner with everything in his category of pet socks, but none made the wild man quit walking in. The sixth, seventh, eight and ninth were given Firpo, while the second and tenth were even-steven.
John Henry started off to make it a one-side affair by plastering Firpo with straight lefts and rights in the first round, while Firp didn't land a punch.
Firp landed his first punch of the fight in the second heat, a wild right crashed against Lewis' jaw, and he staggered back, but quickly fought off the Bull's attack.
In the third Lewis again opened up with his long left that blew Firpo's schnoz a burning red and the claret dripped.
Firpo let one fly from nowhere in the fourth and John's nose got in the way and the red ink dripped. Lewis quickly punched Firpo around the ring with both hands.
In the fifth, Lewis' long range guns kept booming on Firpo's face and a right dropped into the bread basket to say, Morning, Samuel, while Firpo went around aimlessly trying to connect on the huge brown-skinned battler.
The sixth Firpo clipped over a few teasers but Lewis held his ground and evened the round.
Firpo bounced up and down, and a wild swing found a resting spot on Lewis' jaw, and his knees buckled. That was like a streak from a blue sky to Firp and he opened with a savage attack of haymakers that bewildered the Arizona boy. It was the miner's big inning.
And again in the seventh Firp kept his relentless wild-swinging barrage that had Lewis looking for shelter. The boy whom the N.B.A. picked as a probable world's light-heavyweight successor to Rosenbloom was losing his early lead.
Firpo kept swinging like a bar room door on a busy day. His left and rights missed and some connected. One right almost tore Lewis' head off, and if ever a fighter folded, John Henry did, and like an old-fashioned canvas bag.
Firpo, with victory looming on his face after four rounds of terrific battling, was weak and in fact so was Lewis. The two tore into the final three minutes with nothing barred. John H. dropped three far below the belt, while Firpo almost untied Lewis' shoes with an uppercut. It looked for a second that the miner was going to blow the duke as he hung on, but with 10 seconds left on the ticker came Firp and he almost tore Lewis' dome off with two haymakers that were thrown from the 50 yard line.
The bell ended the 30 minute party and, of course, Referee Louttit's decision caused a near riot. It was O.K., but if a winner was to be picked yours truly would have to give the silverware to the Bull of Burke, who certainly turned what looked like a defeat into a moral victory.
Two other writers wrote:
The large crowd of 7,000 booed Referee Tom Louttit's decision for five minutes after arms of both gladiators were raised.
Although officially declared a draw, every sports writer and the majority of the spectators thought Firpo the winner. The once wild-swinging unorthodox Firpo, nee Guido Bardelli, is now a shifting, sharpshooting demon who had the Negro on the verge of a K.O. several times in the bout.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Well, Zelley, this thread ranges from West Coast boxing to the British and German scene, to Sweden, New York, The Windy City, Japan - anywhere where boxing is good and was once golden.Zelley wrote:Great topic. Over the years there has been some great boxing on the West Coast
from California to British Columbia. (Amateur & Professional).
My amateur boxing was primarily in British Columbia, but enjoyed competition in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland.
Also, enjoyed watching pro boxing from LA on TV.
So many great champions and contenders.
Nobody seems to mind too much.
PS: Just don't mention the French.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Bennie, Bennie, my you're in a good mood today.....bennie wrote:Well, Zelley, this thread ranges from West Coast boxing to the British and German scene, to Sweden, New York, The Windy City, Japan - anywhere where boxing is good and was once golden.Zelley wrote:Great topic. Over the years there has been some great boxing on the West Coast
from California to British Columbia. (Amateur & Professional).
My amateur boxing was primarily in British Columbia, but enjoyed competition in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland.
Also, enjoyed watching pro boxing from LA on TV.
So many great champions and contenders.
Nobody seems to mind too much.
PS: Just don't mention the French.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Marcel Cerdan is all right, though. Georges Carpentier, too.kikibalt wrote:Bennie, Bennie, my you're in a good mood today.....bennie wrote:Well, Zelley, this thread ranges from West Coast boxing to the British and German scene, to Sweden, New York, The Windy City, Japan - anywhere where boxing is good and was once golden.Zelley wrote:Great topic. Over the years there has been some great boxing on the West Coast
from California to British Columbia. (Amateur & Professional).
My amateur boxing was primarily in British Columbia, but enjoyed competition in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland.
Also, enjoyed watching pro boxing from LA on TV.
So many great champions and contenders.
Nobody seems to mind too much.
PS: Just don't mention the French.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Two Ton Tony Galento
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Don Cockell
Birth Name Donald J. Cockell
Country United Kingdom
Global Id 12221
Division Heavyweight
Born 1928-09-22
Died 1983-00-00
Stance Orthodox
Reach 71”cm
Height 180cm
Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1956-04-24 Kitione Lave Kensington, United Kingdo L KO 2
1955-09-13 Nino Valdes White City, United Kingdo L TKO 3
1955-05-16 Rocky Marciano San Francisco, USA L TKO 9
1954-07-31 Harry (Kid) Matthews Seattle, USA W RTD 7
1954-06-01 Harry (Kid) Matthews White City, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1954-03-30 Roland LaStarza Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 10
1954-01-30 Johnny Arthur Johannesburg, South Afric W PTS 15
Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight Title
1953-10-05 Uber Bacilieri Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1953-08-07 Harry (Kid) Matthews Seattle, USA W SD 10
1953-05-12 Johnny Williams Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 15
Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight Title
BBBofC British Heavyweight Title
1953-03-09 Tommy Farr Nottingham, United Kingdo W TKO 7
1952-11-04 Frank Bell Kensington, United Kingdo W TKO 8
1952-10-14 Paddy Slavin Streatham, United Kingdom W TKO 2
1952-06-10 Randy Turpin White City, United Kingdo L TKO 11
Vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) Light Heavyweight Title
BBBofC British Light Heavyweight Title
1952-05-20 Renato Tontini Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1951-12-04 Jimmy Slade Harringay, United Kingdom L TKO 4
1951-10-16 Albert Finch Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 7
BBBofC British Light Heavyweight Title
EBU (European) Light Heavyweight Title
1951-06-05 Nick Barone White City, United Kingdo W KO 6
1951-04-24 Freddie Beshore Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1951-03-27 Albert Yvel Kensington, United Kingdo W TKO 6
EBU (European) Light Heavyweight Title
1951-02-27 Lloyd Marshall Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 1
1950-11-14 Lloyd Marshall Kensington, United Kingdo W DQ 7
1950-10-17 Mark Hart Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 14
Vacant BBBofC British Light Heavyweight Title
1950-04-04 Jimmy Carroll Kensington, United Kingdo W TKO 7
1950-03-14 Lloyd Barnett Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 8
1950-02-28 Aaron Wilson Harringay, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1950-02-13 Georges Rogiers Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1950-01-24 Aaron Wilson Kensington, United Kingdo L KO 6
1950-01-17 Andre Lefranc Streatham, United Kingdom W TKO 5
1949-12-20 Charlie Collett Reading, United Kingdom W TKO 1
1949-10-31 Don Mogard Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1949-10-11 Gabriel Bigotte Harringay, United Kingdom W KO 1
1949-06-13 Bert Gilroy Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1949-04-11 Jimmy Carroll Nottingham, United Kingdo L DQ 5
1949-03-29 Paddy Slavin Kensington, United Kingdo W PTS 8
1949-02-07 Mark Hart Harringay, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1949-01-31 Lloyd Barnett Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1948-12-07 Doug Richards Reading, United Kingdom W KO 5
1948-11-29 Johnny Barton Leicester, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1948-10-25 Gene Fowler Weston-super-Mare, United W PTS 8
1948-10-12 Johnny Barton Leicester, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1948-09-13 Henry Palmer Newbury, United Kingdom W KO 5
1948-09-06 Gene Fowler Southampton, United Kingd W PTS 6
1948-07-27 Johnny Williams Birmingham, United Kingdo L TKO 2
1948-07-19 Trevor Burt Southampton, United Kingd W KO 1
1948-07-05 Dave Goodwin Nottingham, United Kingdo W TKO 2
1948-06-14 Battling Joe Igo Weston-super-Mare, United W TKO 4
1948-05-18 Johnny Williams Coventry, United Kingdom W PTS 8
1948-05-10 Koffi Kiteman Nottingham, United Kingdo W TKO 5
1948-04-12 Paddy Roche Newbury, United Kingdom W TKO 3
1948-03-08 Gene Fowler Swindon, United Kingdom W RTD 3
1948-02-23 George Barratt Newbury, United Kingdom W KO 1
1948-02-17 Jimmy Carroll Tunbridge Wells, United K W KO 4
1948-02-04 Reg Spring Islington, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1948-01-12 Jimmy Carroll High Wycombe, United King D PTS 8
1947-11-18 Reg Spring High Wycombe, United King W TKO 5
1947-08-11 Dave Goodwin Yeovil, United Kingdom L TKO 7
1947-08-04 Reg Spring Kettering, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1947-07-28 Trevor Burt Reading, United Kingdom W TKO 10
1947-07-21 Paddy Roche Weston-super-Mare, United W PTS 8
1947-07-07 Arthur (Ginger) Sadd Reading, United Kingdom W PTS 6
1947-06-23 Matt Hardy Weston-super-Mare, United W KO 7
1947-06-09 Ronnie Croad Wembley, United Kingdom W KO 3
1947-05-03 Harold Anthony Newbury, United Kingdom W KO 4
1947-01-27 Harold Anthony Kettering, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1947-01-20 Jimmy Carroll Cirencester, United Kingd W KO 5
1947-01-06 Jock Taylor High Wycombe, United King L KO 5
1946-12-16 Battling Joe Igo Kettering, United Kingdom W TKO 4
1946-12-02 Jimmy Carroll High Wycombe, United King W PTS 6
1946-11-25 Reg Spring Cirencester, United Kingd W PTS 10
1946-11-23 Paddy Roche Chard, United Kingdom W PTS 10
1946-11-04 Frank Johnson Epsom, United Kingdom W KO 2
1946-10-14 Harry O'Grady Epsom, United Kingdom W PTS 6
1946-10-10 Jock Taylor Watford, United Kingdom L PTS 8
1946-10-07 Jimmy Sales High Wycombe, United King W KO 2
1946-09-23 Trevor Lowder Rugby, United Kingdom W KO 3
1946-09-09 Harry Lawrence High Wycombe, United King W TKO 2
1946-08-28 Ron Baker Watford, United Kingdom W KO 3
1946-07-31 Frank Baldwin High Wycombe, United King W TKO 2
1946-07-18 Sid Watts Watford, United Kingdom W TKO 1
1946-06-26 Trevor Lowder High Wycombe, United King W KO 5
Record to Date
Won 66 (KOs 38) Lost 14 Drawn 1 Total 81
Last edited by kikibalt on 21 Sep 2008, 11:00, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I remember how Galento looked after four rounds with Louis. Frightening.kikibalt wrote:
Two Ton Tony Galento
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Don Cockell vs Mark Hart
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Don went from Randy Turpin to Tommy Farr in nine months. A thyroid problem.kikibalt wrote:
Don Cockell
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Doc Cockell vs Kitione Lave
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
This was Don's last fight. A leading British newspaper claimed that Cockwell was fat and didn't try (in the days when boxing made back and front pages). Cockell sued and won £7,500, an awful lot of money in 1956.kikibalt wrote:
Doc Cockell vs Kitione Lave
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Nino LaRocca vs Filipe Canela
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Randy Turpin and girlfriend Gwyneth Price
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
LaRocca was a good fighter. He ran into a peak Don Curry in 1984 - and never got another shot. He beat Kirkland Laing in 1989, when Laing was looking unbeatable over here.kikibalt wrote:
Nino LaRocca vs Filipe Canela
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Davey Moore vs Isidro Martinez
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Hector Camacho vs Howard Davis
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Johnny De La Rosa vs Al Martino
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Johnny De La Rosa vs Jackie Beard
-
scartissue
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 1893
- Joined: 31 Mar 2002, 20:00
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Hey Zelley, this name is like a blast from the past and I gotta ask you, dude. When I first started reading boxing mags around '73 there was this one dude named Brian Zelley, also from B.C. who was always writing into International and World Boxing at the time. As I recall he was a huge Jose Napoles fan. Am I conversing with the same fan?Zelley wrote:Great topic. Over the years there has been some great boxing on the West Coast
from California to British Columbia. (Amateur & Professional).
My amateur boxing was primarily in British Columbia, but enjoyed competition in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland.
Also, enjoyed watching pro boxing from LA on TV.
So many great champions and contenders.
Scartissue
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I fought on the same card with Jackie Beard in Chicago in 1983 at the Americana Congress Hotel.kikibalt wrote:
Johnny De La Rosa vs Jackie Beard
He was a good fighter with a big reputation at that time.He was a real solid amateur also.
He fought a kid named Victor Flores.
I was in the same dressing room with Victor and he was nervous as hell as he knew he was in with a far more talented guy with a big name. A guy being groomed for stardom.Beard was with Emanuel Steward also.At that point Victor only had about a half dozen fights.
Anyway, Victor really rose to the occasion and fought his heart out and went ten rounds with Jackie .Even though he lost the decision.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Interesting. Beard was one of those fighters who lost at vital times in his career, just when he had built up real momentum. If he had beaten Jose Caba in 1982 he would have got a shot at Pedroza for the featherweight title but Caba won, even though, I seem to recall, he picked up a broken jaw. Beard eventually got a couple of shots at Brian Mitchell at super-featherweight at the end of the decade but was past his best and just kept trying to 'nut' Mitchell.Expug wrote:I fought on the same card with Jackie Beard in Chicago in 1983 at the Americana Congress Hotel.kikibalt wrote:
Johnny De La Rosa vs Jackie Beard
He was a good fighter with a big reputation at that time.He was a real solid amateur also.
He fought a kid named Victor Flores.
I was in the same dressing room with Victor and he was nervous as hell as he knew he was in with a far more talented guy with a big name. A guy being groomed for stardom.Beard was with Emanuel Steward also.At that point Victor only had about a half dozen fights.
Anyway, Victor really rose to the occasion and fought his heart out and went ten rounds with Jackie .Even though he lost the decision.
This fight with De Le Rosa was probably Jackie's greatest performance. He got stuck into the lanky puncher and looked great and was plain 'robbed'.
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Jesus, is Dan really Columbo?scartissue wrote:Hey Zelley, this name is like a blast from the past and I gotta ask you, dude. When I first started reading boxing mags around '73 there was this one dude named Brian Zelley, also from B.C. who was always writing into International and World Boxing at the time. As I recall he was a huge Jose Napoles fan. Am I conversing with the same fan?Zelley wrote:Great topic. Over the years there has been some great boxing on the West Coast
from California to British Columbia. (Amateur & Professional).
My amateur boxing was primarily in British Columbia, but enjoyed competition in Tacoma, Seattle and Portland.
Also, enjoyed watching pro boxing from LA on TV.
So many great champions and contenders.
Scartissue
"Err, there's just one more thing."
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
I still remember, with a bit of a shudder, the look Jim Watt gave Davis at the weigh-in to their 1979 world lightweight title fight. Davis had labelled Watt "Jim Who?" in the preceding months and essentially labelled him a phoney of a world champ. Mickey Duff (and his infamous Cartel) pulled off a coup by outbidding the Wacko Twins to get the fight here (an enormous bid) and when the photographers asked for a staredown after the weigh-in, Watt turned to Davis and looked at him like he literally wanted to kill him. It was such a 'hard' stare, Davis had to turn away, literally turn away. I've never really believed in all that pre-fight crap winning you a fight, and I still don't, but Davis was already beginning to feel like Ernie Terrell.kikibalt wrote:
Hector Camacho vs Howard Davis
Re: Classic American West Coast Boxing
Interesting Bennie,bennie wrote:I still remember, with a bit of a shudder, the look Jim Watt gave Davis at the weigh-in to their 1979 world lightweight title fight. Davis had labelled Watt "Jim Who?" in the preceding months and essentially labelled him a phoney of a world champ. Mickey Duff (and his infamous Cartel) pulled off a coup by outbidding the Wacko Twins to get the fight here (an enormous bid) and when the photographers asked for a staredown after the weigh-in, Watt turned to Davis and looked at him like he literally wanted to kill him. It was such a 'hard' stare, Davis had to turn away, literally turn away. I've never really believed in all that pre-fight crap winning you a fight, and I still don't, but Davis was already beginning to feel like Ernie Terrell.kikibalt wrote:
Hector Camacho vs Howard Davis
Some fighters are just real tough guys as well as boxers.Howard Davis was a real talented boxer, but Jim Watt always seemed to me like a guy who would "have your back" in a brawl in a pub.
A tough guy out of the ring as well.There are alot of fighters through history that were this way.Howard is not a guy who I'd pick as back up. Ali either for that matter.
Tex Cobb , Eamon Magee,guys like that I would.