BoxRec

Unless you’re without a pulse, you’d have to have been choked up by some sports moments:

The U.S. Hockey team beating the Russians in the Olympics.

The Japanese gymnast with the broken leg still doing some insane twisting flip and landing flush and sticking it.

Rocky running up the Philadelphia library steps to Bill Conti’s music and throwing his arms in the air.

…And, seeing last-minute substitute Billy Mills in the Olympics come from dead last to pass the field at the tape to win the 880.

Were there any moments in boxing like that for you?

A couple stand out for me: Because of the circumstances in the world and how much was riding on it, to see Joe Louis destroy schmeling the 2nd time was like sticking it right in Hitler’s face.

Because Rocky Graziano was a local guy, to have him knockout a guy like Zale had everybody in New York screaming till they were hoarse.

john garfield

hmm, good topic...

Seeing Mosley go down from the vicious uppercut, followed by the right crosses was pretty horrific for me, a Mosley fan.

Naz getting hammered by Kevin Kelley. Awesome.

Naz getting his face smashed into the ring post. Total classic.

Micky Ward getting dropped in the third round in the second Gatti fight.

Lewis getting cold cocked by Rahman, yet another classic.

Wlad getting run down by Sanders would have, if I didn't see the results prior to the fights airing.


All I care to mention right now, kinda tired.

Most every Arturo Gatti fight has my pulse pounding, trying to savor every second, knowing it doesn't get any better than this.

His KO of Wilson Rodriguez was scripted right out of Hollywood, and his exchanges in the first fight with Ward were just not believable.

Ray Robinson was a beloved fight figure in New York, and to see him come storming back against Randy Turpin, after suffering a terrible eye cut that threatened the continuance of the fight, and throw non-stop, blazing combinations until Turpin was helpless, couldn't have had a more dramatic ending for us.

The next day, the mayor arranged a ticker tape parade down 5th Ave for Robinson, in an open car.

This one should cause a fire storm: I was on the edge of my chair, just knocked out by what Sugar Ray Leonard was able to do with Marvin Hagler. Just to see him trade punches and flurry furiously to fight his way out of trouble in the corners and use the ring so smartly after having been out of the ring as long as he had against a fighter like Hagler was transcendent.

I thought he did enough to win, but that ISN'T the issue here. It was inspiring to see him dig down and do that.

john garfield