BoxRec

Please, I don't want to discuss boxing tradegies or anything poor. Just would like to hear/discuss you guys most heartbreaking moments as a boxing fan.

Here are my three.

1) Steve Robinson vs Naseem Hamed - was there supporting Stevo, but was never confident he'd beat Naz. The atmosphere was electric and Robinson looked okay in the first. I couldn't really see what was going on (cheap seats) and it looked like Robinson was hurting Hamed (but it was just him moving back unorthodoxly) often. Then when he feel in the 8th it was greeted with boos as many felt it was a slip. However, it was a beautiful punch - the end of the cinderella dream.

2) Colin Jones vs Don Curry - seeing Colin Jones crying saying "I was just getting going" was a heartbreaking moment. Curry hadn't faced a puncher like Colin and I wonder how he would have reacted as the fight went on. Colin, after an attroscious start, was warming up and the good thing was he was taking Curry shots well. Yes, he was getting beaten up and his face was a mess - but Curry wasn't hurting Jones and Jones had one punch power. I was only about 4 at the time (and maybe my memory is clouded) but I really think Jones could have caused a sensation against a prime Curry.

3) Barry McGuigan losing his title - again only 4-5, it was supposed to be an easy night, Cruz was a "bum" but still even at that age I knew going to Vegas wasn't a wise move an always had the feeling. My Mother reassured me "he'll be okay" so I was forced to go to bed. She told me, that she'd wake me and my brother up to tell us the result. She woke us up and said "Barry's losing, he's going to lose". So I ran downstairs to watch (ignoring my mother), Barry never lost when I watched him. It was round 6 and he was getting beaten up. I prayed for something to change, but it wasn't to be. What a depressing night. I was equally saddened when he lost to Jim MacDonnel in his comeback. Although Barry was not quite the fighter he once was, he was getting his timing back and I'm sure he would have won a title at Super Feather - MacDonnel was supposed to be a final fight before a title challenge. No disrespect to Jim, but I'm sure Barry would have won had he not recieved that nasty cut.

Herol Graham getting sparked by Julian Jackson. I cried (let me off I was 13)

Charles Brewer stopping Herol Graham (I cried, erm I was 21 then)

Most funniest boxing moment?

Watching Naz leather Billy Hardy in a packed Sunderland city centre pub when I was a student there. The Mackems are a "boistrous" bunch and shouted the usual expletives as Hamed made his way to the ring "I'd rather be a Mag than a p**i" referring to the Newcastle-Sunderland football rivalry. fornicating tossers.

Hardy came into the ring and received a rapturous reception. "Howay Billy lad, knock him out man!". The satisfaction was immense when Hamed slapped a right hand on Hardy's chops midway through the first. My friend next to me almost spat his pint out when Hardy screwed his face up before collapsing to the canvas. You could have heard a pin drop. That really shut them up.

No disrespect to Billy Hardy who was a great pro, but I loved it when Naz took him out just to see the look on the faces of those Mackem idiots in the pub. Ah, I miss the good old days.

lightsoot wrote:Charles Brewer stopping Herol Graham (I cried, erm I was 21 then)

Good call aswell, I could see it coming - its still pains me. Herol wasn't hurt, he was stuck!

It's funny reading some of these stories.

bennie wrote:It's funny reading some of these stories.

Glad to see someone gets pleasure out of my misery!

At school, I can recall reading the result that Danny Lopez had been stopped by the then unknown Salvador Sanchez in 13 rounds in early 1980. I was so stunned, I walked straight into a packed classroom, walked past the teacher, up to my twin brother, and said, hysterically, "Danny Lopez got stopped by Salvador Sanchez." I then walked out of the classroom.
Tony told me later, nobody but him understood a word of what I said, and the teacher thought we were communicating in a secret language! I suppose it must have sounded foreign. Good times.

Another was just prior to Hagler vs Leonard, I didn't remember any of Leonards fights so I relied on what my father and brother said. They knew their stuff so when they both said Hagler in about 3 or 5 rounds I thought he'd win.

The whole family were waiting for the match up for months - christ it was well promoted. When messing around with my Brother I was always the smaller Hagler, my brother was the taller Leonard. One more day till the fight is shown.

We come home from school and my brother is almost suicidal -

Me "What ups, Steve"
Brother - "Nothing".
Me - "You know the result, don't you"
Brother - "No, I bloody don't".
Me - "Hagler's lost, hasn't he".
Brother - "I don't know".
But, I knew he did.

Watch the fight, praying for old Marvelous to do it again, Leonard was winning, again I was praying for Hagler to do it - when Reg said, 10 seconds to go - he's not going to knock him out now, I felt bad. I couldn't understand why Hagler was dancing at the end, I thought "the fight is fixed" - I thought (so did my family) that Leonard won by miles - which he didn't looking again so I couldn't believe he Hagler was so happy.

Gutted that a legend of my era was over - and my brother admitted he knew after. We were gutted, but when we sparred I still had to be Hagler (which was now a bad thing). Had the fight as a Christmas present that year, was gutted that I had it - but I became a massive Leonard fan after.

Another one was Bruno vs Tyson. Probably, my two favourite fighters - I was torn apart as to who I wanted to win this match. Of course by 1989 I was older and knew Tyson would wipe the floor with him, but when Tyson was bursting on the scene, I was hoping that he and Bruno never met. I didn't want to see either lose.

Watching Watson coming out for the last round of 'competitive' boxing of his career to face the inevitable against Eubank. Watson was superb that night, he just had too much for Eubank in every department, and was laying an almighty beating on him, it was staggering stuff, when Eubank went down I thought, that's it, he's done him. When Eubank got up, i remember seeing Watson's arms dangling by his sides, and thinking, oh no, what is he doing, and then the sickening uppercut that went from floor to his chin in a moment.

What made it all the more gutting was knowing that Watson shoudl have got the result in the first fight, and just when it seemed he was going to get his just deserts, a moment of recklessness cost him his career, and almost his life.

Gutted.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Watching Watson coming out for the last round of 'competitive' boxing of his career to face the inevitable against Eubank. Watson was superb that night, he just had too much for Eubank in every department, and was laying an almighty beating on him, it was staggering stuff, when Eubank went down I thought, that's it, he's done him. When Eubank got up, i remember seeing Watson's arms dangling by his sides, and thinking, oh no, what is he doing, and then the sickening uppercut that went from floor to his chin in a moment.

What made it all the more gutting was knowing that Watson shoudl have got the result in the first fight, and just when it seemed he was going to get his just deserts, a moment of recklessness cost him his career, and almost his life.

Gutted.

Watson's injuries were heartbreaking especially when he utterly dominated the second fight. I'm not one of those who insist that Michael was robbed in the first fight though. On rounds won it was very close. Eubank started well and did enough to knick the early rounds as opposed to Watson who dominated the second half of the fight. However, people only conviently remember the sight of Eubank stumbling around the ring in the final few rounds with his gas tank on empty.

Such was the unpopularity of Eubank, at that time, in close fights where he was awarded the decision people were still willing to scream that his opponents were robbed. Eubank did receive some very fortuitous verdicts in his career. But for me the first fight with Michael Watson wasn't one of them.

Both times it took me a while to get over Bruno's losses to Tyson. It was almost like having one of your family in there getting smacked around in front of millions.

Yes, they were definitely heartbreaking moments.

Kilburn wrote:Both times it took me a while to get over Bruno's losses to Tyson. It was almost like having one of your family in there getting smacked around in front of millions.

Yes, they were definitely heartbreaking moments.

Good point about Bruno. I could handle the first defeat, no one gave Frank a chance. However, perhaps stupidly, I honestly gave Big Frank a shot of competing with Tyson (not necessarily beating him) in the rematch.
It was so disappointing to see Tyson demolish him. Frank was never in it. I remember how desperate the cause looked at the end of second when a disconsolate Bruno sat on his stool to be told by George Francis. "Frank, you're getting fornicating slower and slower. Do you want to win this fight? Come on, lets go and win it". Or words to that effect.

But Frank couldnt deal with the speed and the power was too much for him. It was a one sided drubbing. Very sad.

I think the worst part was that Frank looked every bit as scared as the rest of us.

Kilburn wrote:I think the worst part was that Frank looked every bit as scared as the rest of us.

Yes, one of my earlier boxing memories is turning to my Dad and saying "Id guess it's not a great sign when the "Hero" keeps crossing himself every time he looks at Tyson!"

Personally I was heartbroken when Eubank failed in his re-match with Cark Thompson - The Wife's fault (as I told her repeatedly) - as an admirer of his endless supply of heart and guts - she (and eventually me!!) was convinced that he had the beating of Thompson and was going to complete the fairytale return.

Watching him has always been hard work and he was his frustrating best that night - could have won it - could have finished him etc - but didn't.

As usual he took a fearful amount of punishment and defeat with his own unique good grace and (Briefly) won back his place in my esteem -

its easy when you see him playing (and being) a t!t, to forget that the man had a heart the size of a small planet and forged a successful career at (just about) world level for far longer than his meagre sprinkling of talent should have allowed.

Hearns losing to Leonard was a heartbreaker. I'm a big Hearns fan and he looked unbeatable going into the fight.

Ali getting beaten up by Larry Holmes was terrible to watch - I knew he'd lose and even won bets at school with all the guys who thought Ali would be as good as ever - but it was still a sickener to watch.

Hearing Salvador Sanchez had died in a car crash left me gutted.

Bennie, I got hold of the Sanchez/Lopez fight again recently ( Red Dragon on here does some brilliant tapes BTW ) and watched it last weekend.
The amazingly brave Lopez gets absolutely pounded from round one on. The whole audiance is just waiting for him to land one of his get-out-of-jail bombs, as per usual, but Salvador is just a revelation: bobbing and weaving right in front of Lopez as the bombs just sail past him. Then retaliating with pinpoint combos.
Still think Sanchez was the best featherweight there ever was.

Lugh wrote:its easy when you see him playing (and being) a t!t, to forget that the man had a heart the size of a small planet and forged a successful career at (just about) world level for far longer than his meagre sprinkling of talent should have allowed.

Yeah, it really annoys me when those dicks on "They Think It's All Over" and even "Question Of Sport" are taking this piss out of Eubank. Those disrespectful cretins probably never saw his last 3 fights on Sky where he really proved his bottle in a big way.

stujones wrote:Please, I don't want to discuss boxing tradegies or anything poor. Just would like to hear/discuss you guys most heartbreaking moments as a boxing fan.

1) Steve Robinson vs Naseem Hamed - was there supporting Stevo, but was never confident he'd beat Naz. The atmosphere was electric and Robinson looked okay in the first. I couldn't really see what was going on (cheap seats) and it looked like Robinson was hurting Hamed (but it was just him moving back unorthodoxly) often. Then when he feel in the 8th it was greeted with boos as many felt it was a slip. However, it was a beautiful punch - the end of the cinderella dream.

2) Colin Jones vs Don Curry - seeing Colin Jones crying saying "I was just getting going" was a heartbreaking moment. Curry hadn't faced a puncher like Colin and I wonder how he would have reacted as the fight went on. Colin, after an attroscious start, was warming up and the good thing was he was taking Curry shots well. Yes, he was getting beaten up and his face was a mess - but Curry wasn't hurting Jones and Jones had one punch power. I was only about 4 at the time (and maybe my memory is clouded) but I really think Jones could have caused a sensation against a prime Curry.

As a fellow Welshman I'll go along with those two.

I could never take to Hamed again after the way he taunted and played with a brave warrior like Robinson.

I was at the Jones/Curry fight. We all knew Colin would start slow but I was just waiting to see how Curry would take it when Jones started getting to him late in the fight, but .......
Watching the interview on tape when I got back home with Jones close to tears saying "I could take those punches all night long", well he probably could, but that was a hell of an injury to his nose. Very sad and of course he never fought again.

I know you said you don't want to discuss tragedy but the most heartbreaking moment for me, without doubt, was the Johnny Owen-Lupe Pintor fight. Having followed the build-up for weeks on the Welsh channels, I was stunned to hear of what happened on the following day's news.
It's one of those moments when over twenty years later I can still remember exactly where I was, who I was with, etc when the news came through.
I recently watched the finishing punch again on that documentary following Johnny's Dad to Mexico. It made me feel sick to my stomach. It's at times like that you really question why you follow a sport like Boxing.

Sorry if I spoiled the mood of the thread.

Lugh wrote:

Kilburn wrote:I think the worst part was that Frank looked every bit as scared as the rest of us.

Yes, one of my earlier boxing memories is turning to my Dad and saying "Id guess it's not a great sign when the "Hero" keeps crossing himself every time he looks at Tyson!"

Personally I was heartbroken when Eubank failed in his re-match with Cark Thompson - The Wife's fault (as I told her repeatedly) - as an admirer of his endless supply of heart and guts - she (and eventually me!!) was convinced that he had the beating of Thompson and was going to complete the fairytale return.

Watching him has always been hard work and he was his frustrating best that night - could have won it - could have finished him etc - but didn't.

As usual he took a fearful amount of punishment and defeat with his own unique good grace and (Briefly) won back his place in my esteem -

its easy when you see him playing (and being) a t!t, to forget that the man had a heart the size of a small planet and forged a successful career at (just about) world level for far longer than his meagre sprinkling of talent should have allowed.

I hope when your saying meagre sprinkling of talent you are not referring to Eubank? If so thats bloody laughable!!

He wasnt the greatest or most talented boxer ever but meagre talent thats bollox.

HH

yes i'll concur, watching bruno-tyson 2 was a pretty depressing event.

i was also gutted when lewis got laid out by rahman.

Most heartbreaking moment was the Lupe Pintor-Jonny Owen fight, enough said...

:(

Certainly the most recent heartbreak for me was seeing Holyfield crumble to a succession of James Toney head/bodyshots.

That's when we KNEW, after years of SUSPECTING, that the great man had finally left the top flight forever.

I didn't cry that night but I was damn close to it.

I've been a huge fan of Holyfield for years but I didn't find his loss that upsetting. It wasn't like Toney was seriously hurting him, Evander was battling against himself as much as anything. It was sad for sure but I'm just glad the old man didn't get taken out brutally by a young, hungry puncher.

Just putting the video tape in the machine on a Sunday morning to watch Mike Tyson obliterate yet another challenger, this time James Douglas, after making my mum go over to my mates to pick it up so I couldn't get an inkling of the result.

Tyson's starting to walk to the ring when into the living room walks my great aunty Pat (god bless her), who blurts out: "Did you hear about Tyson getting knocked out!" thus depriving me of the chance to watch probably the biggest shock in boxing I'd ever get the chance to witness.

On a serious note, it has to be back in 1995 when I was at the most unbelievable fight (Benn v McLellan) you'll ever see and going from being so excited to feeling awful. You just knew something was seriously wrong with McLellan. The first thing a fighter wants to do after such a hard fight is show he is okay but the poor lad just collapsed.

Seeing John Mugabi KO'd by Terry Norris left me heartbroken.

I worshipped Mugabi.

knockout artist wrote:Seeing John Mugabi KO'd by Terry Norris left me heartbroken.

I worshipped Mugabi.

That was a stunner. Good going by Mr Norris though - gets coldcocked by the division's biggest puncher, so gets back in with the divisions 2nd biggest puncher, and does him in one round