BoxRec

Was this fight rumored to be fixed? It looked kind of strange. Young went down about 5 times in two rounds - 4 times from body shots, once from a right hand that looked like it only grazed the top of his head, perhaps even missed him altogether. I suppose it's possible Hairston had a left hook to the body like Mickey Ward (and he was reputed to be a big puncher, especially to the body), but when I looked at Young's record I found that he had never been whacked out so quickly like that before and wasn't again for a number of years. So if that fight wasn't a fix, it was a very impressive win by Hairston.

Incidentally, Kid Gavilan whooped both these men. 8)

terap wrote:" Incidentally, Kid Gavilan whooped both these men. "

NOT SO FAST, Pal.

Kid Gavlian LOST a ten-round decision to Eugene Hairston

----the date was Oct. 30, 1950 when Hairston "whooped" Kid Gavilan.

Ah, yes, 'tis true...

But I know that was a questionable decision he got.


Gavilan did beat him CLEARLY in the rematch. 8)

that hairston-young fight was one of the weirdest ever seen on tv..and maybe any place. haven't seen it since the live broadcast, but I remember it well. at least once young was standing some distance away from hairston and then just went down...holding his side indicating a body punch...which as I recall had been thrown in the previous round. olther knockdowns were also...peculiar.

it was so bad that the boxing fraternity consesus was if they were going to fake it they would have done a better job of it!!!! looked too phoney...and funny...to have been acted ....no one would believe the script.

the question to my knowledge has never been answered.....but the whole fight belongs in that crazy world of oddities and mysteries that make boxing so much more fun than any other sport.

p.s. hairston was one tough guy, and had skills in addition to good power.

Jaclem wrote:that hairston-young fight was one of the weirdest ever seen on tv..and maybe any place. haven't seen it since the live broadcast, but I remember it well. at least once young was standing some distance away from hairston and then just went down...holding his side indicating a body punch...which as I recall had been thrown in the previous round. olther knockdowns were also...peculiar.

it was so bad that the boxing fraternity consesus was if they were going to fake it they would have done a better job of it!!!! looked too phoney...and funny...to have been acted ....no one would believe the script.

the question to my knowledge has never been answered.....but the whole fight belongs in that crazy world of oddities and mysteries that make boxing so much more fun than any other sport.

p.s. hairston was one tough guy, and had skills in addition to good power.

Thanks. I'll have to add some info about that fight in the record archives.

BTW, I did think it was strange that a guy who was intentionally throwing a fight would go through the trouble of staging so many phoney-looking knockdowns.