CALVIN RESPRESS-
HE WAS A BLACK AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHT WHO INTRODUCED BOXING IN CHILE AND OTHER AREAS OF SOUTH AMERICA IN THE TIME AFTER WW I, BUT OTHER THAN THE FIRPO FIGHTS I HAVE NEVER FOUND ANYTHING ELSE ON HIM, YET SPANISH NEWSPAPERS OF THE ERA MENTION HIM AT A MAIN EVENT LEVEL AND EXCELLENT TRAINER. ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM?
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Guest
- Heavyweight
Hey Guys, The name is spelled Respress. Calvin began as a wrestler in chicago around 1911 and then became a boxer in and around 1913 where he met the likes of Jack leslie and Jack Killebrew. He took off for South America in 1914 where he spent 7 years. He did indeed settle in Chile where he had a wife and a baby girl, both of whom died while he was in Paris with Jack Johnson. He "discovered" Firpo and urged him to come state side in order to challenge Dempsey. In fact he wrote the Chicago Defender in 1920 stating that he had found the man to beat Dempsey, Louis Firpo. Respress was also a trainer for Jack Johnson and travled with him extensively on more than one occassion. When Calvin was stateside he was often found in his hometown of Chcicago where he would work out at Bill Jones' AC and fight in small smokers and exhibition matches there. His fight with Blackburn was not much of a bout. Respress was openly accused of pulling to Jack, who was far past his prime at that point. Calvin rarely weighed more than 175 pounds. Kevin
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Caractacus
- Super Welterweight
- Posts: 18515
- Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47
Re: CALVIN RESPRESS-
he was also one of Jack Johnson's sparring partners when Johnson
was preparing to fight Fireman Jim Flynn in Las Vegas New Mexico in July 1912.
( source IN THE RING AND OUT)
was preparing to fight Fireman Jim Flynn in Las Vegas New Mexico in July 1912.
( source IN THE RING AND OUT)