BoxRec

George "Sugar"Costner, whose career ended because of detached retinas when he could have become welterweight champion of the world died in Cincinnati on october 29 at the age of 79. George's story was one of triumph over deep adversity. He was the best welterweight in the world when Roboinson moved up to the middleweight title, but had to quit at his peak because of eye injuries. He was going blind in one eye while he was still fighitng in his final bouts, but soon lost total vision in both eyes. He went back to his home town of Cincinnait but instead of lingering in bitterness, he went on to get an advanced education and was a productive and inspiring citizen. I've been trying to do a short post on him for this forum but hadn't been in contact with him for a time and was hoping to do so. I'm in touch with a mutual friend now to fill in some details and will pass them aong when I can. I have touched on him briefly in a post on underrated fighters.

I had the wrong date for George's death.It was october 26. Boxrec has his height at 5'4" and an old Ring Record Book says 5'5"...very odd because he was an even six feet tall...long and rangy for a welterweight. Aggressive boxer/puncher....liked to jab, then hook and "pummel them under the heart." 91 pro fights...never fought as an amateur. Was blind in right eye when he fought Robinson the second time. Fought Lamotta, said "I forget what the announced weights were, but that man had 15 pounds on me." Had a surprisingly easy victory over Kid Gavilan.
Was really coming into his own when he battered Ike Williams in a one sided decision, but that was his last fight. Commission caught on to his blindness in one eye. Lost vision in other one some time later...caused be a retina tear in his fight with Chico Varona that didn't show up until much later. His left after 50 is a remarkable and inspiring one.

Oops..last sentence in my post on George Costner should read "His LIFE after fifty.." although come to think of it, he could still demonstrate his great left jab when the mood was on him.

I'm computer challenged, so I don't know how to change the name of this post, but "costner dies" is dated about now, so maybe this can be chnaged to "George Costner - 1923-2002" . If an editor or somebouyd know how to do this, I shall be most most grateful. plus, the Boxrec should changbe his height from 5'4" to 6'. this correct height makes his record more believable. Thanks.

I've GOT to start proofreading my entries (see last Costner post) or people will start thinking I'm Robsteth with a different member name.

Just goes to show how behind I am. Just read about the death of George Costner one of the better boxer punchers in the welter's in the 50's. He was also one to show there was life after boxing. He also attributed jazz to helping him stay together after his departure from boxing. His last fight was a brilliant win over Ike Williams. Costner was 6'. Here's to a brilliant fighter rest in piece George.

TKOTOM wrote:Just goes to show how behind I am. Just read about the death of George Costner one of the better boxer punchers in the welter's in the 50's. He was also one to show there was life after boxing. He also attributed jazz to helping him stay together after his departure from boxing. His last fight was a brilliant win over Ike Williams. Costner was 6'. Here's to a brilliant fighter rest in piece George.

I just read the other day that Costner really pummeled Williams. He had Williams down and there were people screaming for the ref to stop the fight. I heard Williams showed a lot of heart in that fight.

George Costner told me that he never gave a fightger a worse beating than he did to Ike Williams. "He just wouldn't quit. I don't know why the referee didn't step in." Referees were much more reluctant to stop fights back then. No question it would be stopped now.