The Duke of the West Side: Owney “The Killer” Madden
Posted: 08 Aug 2019, 15:00
After his release from prison, and his rise to high-society gangster, Madden strengthened his ties in boxing. Madden had a cut of, or controlled, dozens of fighters, including Johnny Wilson, Maxie Rosenbloom, Kid Francis, Gene Tunney, Bob Olin, Charley “Phil” Rosenberg, Ace Hudkins, Max Baer, Leo Lomski, Marty Goldman, and Jim Braddock. Two of his managerial fronts were Joe Jacobs (most famous for handling Max Schmeling in the US) and Joe Gould (pilot of “The Cinderella Man,” Jim Braddock).
Just as Madden prefigured the new gangster—the ruthless technocrat who made the dimwitted bruiser with his knuckledusters obsolete—he also set the blueprint for mob control of the fight game. No longer would boxing be a pastime for sporting mobsters looking for the occasional score to go along with celebrity cachet; now boxing would be a remunerative staple going forward. Madden laid the groundwork for Frankie Carbo, whose complete takeover of fighters was modeled on the pitiful case of Primo Carnera, a tragedy who wound up heavyweight champion of the world.
https://hannibalboxing.com/the-duke-of- ... er-madden/
Just as Madden prefigured the new gangster—the ruthless technocrat who made the dimwitted bruiser with his knuckledusters obsolete—he also set the blueprint for mob control of the fight game. No longer would boxing be a pastime for sporting mobsters looking for the occasional score to go along with celebrity cachet; now boxing would be a remunerative staple going forward. Madden laid the groundwork for Frankie Carbo, whose complete takeover of fighters was modeled on the pitiful case of Primo Carnera, a tragedy who wound up heavyweight champion of the world.
https://hannibalboxing.com/the-duke-of- ... er-madden/