BoxRec

Hi

Does anyone have anymore information on Machen's death?

One of my favourite Heavyweights. Watched his battle with Frazier last night. I have a mint copy film, a 23 minute version and it was stunning to watch. Both Joe and Machen are awesome in this one. A very competitive battle.

Il Duce you are good at digging up reports...anything on this??


evren

evrenb wrote:Hi

Does anyone have anymore information on Machen's death?

One of my favourite Heavyweights. Watched his battle with Frazier last night. I have a mint copy film, a 23 minute version and it was stunning to watch. Both Joe and Machen are awesome in this one. A very competitive battle.

Il Duce you are good at digging up reports...anything on this??


evren

Boston Herald (Boston, MA) Page:47
Thursday, August 10, 1972,

Machen May Have Tumbled To Death Sleep Walking

San Francisco (AP) - Eddie Machen, former heavyweight contender who fought four champions but never got a shot at the title may have been sleep walking when he tumbled to his death, homicide inspectors say.

Homicide inspector Hobart Nelson said Tuesday that Machen had trouble sleeping and frequently walked in his sleep after taking sleeping pills.

Machen,40, who had been working as a longshoreman since his retirement from the ring in 1967, died early Monday in an aparent fall from his second-story apartment.

Nelson said that Sheery Tomasini,30, with whom Machen lived for the past two years, claimed in an interview that the ex-boxer once walked several blocks from their apartment before being awakened by a passing police car.

Machen sometimes even lit cigarettes whilst still asleep, Nelson quoted Miss Tomasini as saying.

Meanwhile, a coroner's autopsy disclosed that Machen's death was caused by shock and loss of blood from a ruptured liver. Head injuries were described as minor in the autopsy report.

During his ring career, Machen compiled a record of 50-11-3. His first loss after 25 straight victories was to Sweden's Ingemar Johansson in 1958.

Machen was convicted of armed robbery in 1952 and jailed for three years. In 1962 he was hospitalized for psychiatric treatment but returned to the ring in 1963.

-----------------------------------

A mention in this article

http://thecruelestsport.com/2009/09/03/ ... ie-machen/

Thanks guys this is great...sounds like a hard luck story. I believe he could have been a champion with the right guidance....shame...still he had some decent wins god rest his soul...
Evrenb

A wonderful chapter on Machen and Zora Folley in Nigel Collins' 'Boxing Babylon'. If you don't have it, do get it.

Machen is one of my favorite HWs from the 50s/60s to watch. A beautiful counter-puncher with fast hands and good power (he was touted as a knockout hitter early in his career). I would love to see his fights with Folley on film (although their first fight apparently was a stinker, the purist in me would like to see how they attempted to box one another)

Il duce

Im going to watch.the eddie machen vs brian london bout when i can...that must be a favourite for you surely??

Evrenb

Il Duce wrote:'Fast Eddie' was a solid 3-1 Betting-Favorite over the 'Blackpool Rock'

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... JlQ5GmsaSw

Should have been 10 - 1 based on the result...

Il Duce wrote:Mr. Evren B,

See if the Associated Press Wire report is accurate with the Film.

Says that Eddie used rapid-fire left hands to smash in the face of Brian.

In Round 3, Eddie split the skin over both Brian's eyes and drew a 'heavy'
blood flow from Brian's nose.

Brian was sluggish in Round 4, and Eddie used a two-fisted attack to smack
him all over the ring.

At the beginning of Round 5, Brian bolted from his corner and tried to catch Eddie
off-guard as he was still on his stool at the sound of the Bell.

The surprise worked for about 20-Seconds, as Brain let go with everything he had
in attempt out take out Eddie in his own corner.

But the experienced American was not faze, and after the wild out-burst, Eddie went back to
taking a now 'punched out' Brit apart, and busted him up good in Round 5.

After the Bell sounded ending Round 5, Brian wearily walked back to his corner a 'bloody mess'
and his corner retired him on his stool.

I will check hopefully next week...will report it to you.
Machen was a great technician. His fight with Frazier is my favourite..although he was on the way down and Frazier on the way up. Frazier is tremendous in that...

That fight with Ingemar is a real shocker...he got caught plain and simple...the follow up knockdowns are hard to watch...reminds me of morrison vs mercer...what the hell was the referee thinking!? Machen could have been killed and the referee is still counting!!
Machen may have been a match for cassius in 62 but i disagree about 64...Ali matured a lot and became as close to unbeatable as i have seen 1964-1967...his toughest fight would have been Frazier...ALi would have one imo...

Just watched it...absolutely hideous

..ezzard charles thought machen was one of the best heavyweights of his time and was underrated because his style was too subtle to get him the recognition he deserved.

Very informative thread; much appreciated.

Il Duce wrote:'Fast Eddie' was with Manager - Sid Flaherty thru 1962.

Some pre-1960 Poor Performances, that made Sid Flaherty 'pull-his-hair-out-of-his-head'.

Snooze-Fest
* Fighting in a 'fog' on May 20, 1959 in winning a 'boring-and-close' 10-Round Decision over limited 'Trial-Horse' Reuben Vargas.
* The 10-Round Decision was boo'ed, and 'Fast Eddie' was so bad that he agreed to give Reuben Vargas a rematch on July 22, 1950

Tactical errors.
* Tanking on Ingemar Johansson in September 10, 1958 in a 'No Win' situation.

Stink-Outs.
* The 'First-bout' with Zora Folley on April 9, 1958 - in which 'Fast Eddie' fought listless and uninspired, and was lucky to get a 'Draw'
in his 'Home Area' of San Francisco.

Eddie's performances against Valdes were great..especially their second bout at Miami Beach. He could really punch when he wanted to. He was outweighed by nearly two stone in that one...Goes to show you don't have to be huge to be devastating..He stopped Johnny Holman, Valdes, Tommy Jackson, Pat McMurtry, Mike DeJohn, Brian Harper, Bert Whitehurst amongst others....he also outpointed a young Quarry...cannot help but compare his career and life with Zora Folley...

evrenb

Il Duce wrote:Pre-1958 - 'Fast Eddie' was the best Heavyweight in the Division.

After 25 year-old 'Fast Eddie' demolished #3 Heavyweight - 26 year-old and still capable
Tommy 'Hurricane' Jackson by a {TKO 10} on November 13, 1957.

At 24-0-0 {16 KO's}, everybody knew who the Best Heavyweight was, #1 Ranked - 'Fast Eddie'.

It's a shame his career took a turn after the obliteration at the hands of Ingo...It really was Bingo that night...