Rudell Stitch - Revision history

John at 14:37, 25 June 2022

2022-06-25T14:37:09Z

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	[[File:Rudell Stitch 1.jpg\|~~left~~\|~~200px~~\|thumb~~\|Rudell Stitch~~]]		[[File:Rudell Stitch cropped.jpg\|left\|250px]]
			[[File:Rudell Stitch 1.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb]]
	<boxer>025097</boxer>		<boxer>025097</boxer>
	'''Manager & Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]		*'''Manager & Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]
			*'''[[:Category:Rudell Stitch Gallery\|Rudell Stitch Gallery]]'''

	'''~~[[:Category:Rudell Stitch Gallery\|Rudell Stitch Gallery]]~~'''		'''Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all'''

	~~'''Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all'''<br>~~
	<small>By Byron Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005</small>		<small>By Byron Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005</small>

4champs at 16:48, 7 November 2015

2015-11-07T16:48:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 7 November 2015
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	<boxer>025097</boxer>		<boxer>025097</boxer>
	~~[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>~~
	'''Manager & Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]		'''Manager & Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]

			'''[[:Category:Rudell Stitch Gallery\|Rudell Stitch Gallery]]'''

	'''Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all'''<br>		'''Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all'''<br>
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	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.		*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National [[AAU]] Tournament in 1956.
	*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].		*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].
	*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by Bud Bruner, who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.		*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by Bud Bruner, who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.

Journeymen at 06:37, 19 April 2015

2015-04-19T06:37:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:37, 19 April 2015
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	[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]		[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]
			[[Category:Kentucky Golden Gloves Champions\|Stitch, Rudell]]

4champs at 04:47, 20 September 2014

2014-09-20T04:47:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:47, 20 September 2014
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	*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include Muhammad Ali, Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.		*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include Muhammad Ali, Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.
	*Stitch was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Each inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque that hangs inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall.		*Stitch was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Each inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque that hangs inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall.
			*Kentucky singer-songwriter Mickey Clark, who was a friend of Stitch, paid tribute to the boxer with two tracks on his 2014 album ''Reasons & Rhymes''. The album concludes with "Song for Rudell (Stitch)" and "Rudell's Story," a recording of Stitch's son speaking about his father.

	==External Links==		==External Links==

4champs at 20:36, 6 May 2014

2014-05-06T20:36:43Z

4champs at 19:30, 6 May 2014

2014-05-06T19:30:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:30, 6 May 2014
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	<boxer>025097</boxer>		<boxer>025097</boxer>
	[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>		[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>
	'''Manager''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>		'''Manager:''' [[Bud Bruner]]<br>
	'''Trainer''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>		'''Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]<br>

4champs at 20:39, 27 April 2014

2014-04-27T20:39:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:39, 27 April 2014
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	[[~~file~~:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|left\|thumb\|Rudell Stitch]]		[[File:Rudell Stitch 1.jpg\|left\|200px\|thumb\|Rudell Stitch]]

	<boxer>025097</boxer>		<boxer>025097</boxer>
			[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>
			'''Manager''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>
			'''Trainer''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>

	~~[[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]]~~

	'''~~Manager~~'''~~: [[Bud Bruner]]~~<br>		'''Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all'''<br>
	~~'''Trainer''': [[Bud Bruner]]~~<br>		<small>By Byron Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005</small>
	<~~br clear=all~~>

	Rudell Stitch might never have won an Olympic gold medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was bestowed on his friend, Muhammad Ali.		Rudell Stitch might never have won an Olympic gold boxing medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was recently bestowed on his friend, Muhammad Ali.

	Yet the Louisville welterweight, who rose to #2 in the world rankings in early 1960, earned a distinction that even "~~the~~ Greatest" is unlikely to achieve:		Yet the Louisville welterweight, who worked at a meat-packing house and rose to No. 2 in the world rankings in early 1960, earned a distinction that even "The Greatest" is unlikely to achieve:

	Stitch was one of only four people in the past century to be awarded two Carnegie Hero Medals for risking his life to save another.		Stitch was one of only four people in the past century to be awarded two Carnegie Hero Medals for risking his life to save another.

	The fighter drowned in the summer of 1960 when he deliberately swam back into ~~the~~ swirling Ohio River in an effort to save his friend Charles Oliver, ~~who had~~ slipped from a ledge at the McAlpine lock and pulled Stitch in with him.		The fighter drowned in the summer of 1960 at age 27 when he deliberately swam back into a swirling Ohio River current in an effort to save his friend, Charles Oliver, after Oliver slipped from a ledge at the McAlpine lock and pulled Stitch in with him.

	"Rudell was swimming toward shore and Charlie started yelling, and Rudell turned around and went back to get him," recalled Rich Keeling, Stitch's longtime friend.		"Rudell was swimming toward shore and Charlie started yelling, and Rudell turned around and went back to get him," recalled Rich Keeling, Stitch's longtime friend.

	The drowning 6-foot, 180-pound Oliver still had his waders on when he grabbed the 5-foot-8, 146-pound Stitch, and they disappeared.		The drowning 6-foot, 180-pound Oliver still had on his waders when he grabbed the 5-foot-8, 146-pound Stitch, and they disappeared.

	In 1958, Stitch, the father of five boys and one girl, had rescued a stranger, Army Corps of Engineers worker Joseph Shifcar, ~~who~~ fell into the river near the same site.		In 1958, Stitch, the father of five boys and one girl, had rescued a stranger, Army Corps of Engineers worker Joseph Shifcar of Elizabeth, Ind., after Shifcar fell into the river near the same site.

	Stitch's oldest child, Donald, still has the fighter's Carnegie Hero Medals, his boxing robe, several scrapbooks of clippings, and a few precious memories of his parents.		Stitch's oldest child, Donald, still has the fighter's Carnegie Hero Medals, his boxing robe, several scrapbooks of clippings and photographs, and a few precious memories of his parents.

	Donald was only 9 when his father died. The children lost their mother, Rosa, just four years later.		Donald was only 9 when his father died. The children lost their mother, Rosa, just four years later.

	"Our grandmother came down from Detroit when our father died, and after mother passed, she kept all of us together at the house there -- instead of us getting separated. She took us to church, worked day work, got Social Security, and we never wanted for anything. The lights were never turned out," Donald Stitch remembered.		"Our grandmother came down from Detroit when our father died, and after my mother passed, she just kept all of us together at the house there -- instead of us getting separated. She took us to church, worked day work, got Social Security, and we never wanted for anything. The lights were never turned out," Donald Stitch remembered.

	Donald's youngest brother, Daryl, later fought in the Golden Gloves, but Donald found football much more to his liking and earned a scholarship to Jackson State University.		Donald's youngest brother, Daryl, later fought in the Golden Gloves, but Donald found football much more to his liking and earned a scholarship to Jackson State University.

	Although Donald Stitch really hasn't recovered from the early loss of his parents, he has a wonderful legacy of his father that sportswriters, fighters and other fans of the sport have preserved over the decades -- including one of the most revealing episodes of Stitch's short but brilliant 27-7-0 pro career.		Although Donald Stitch really hasn't recovered from the early loss of his parents, he has a wonderful legacy of his father that sportswriters, fighters and other fans of the sport have preserved over the decades -- including one of the most revealing episodes of Stitch's short but brilliant 27-7-0 pro career.

	"In the third round of his fight with ~~Gasper~~ Ortega in Madison Square Garden, they accidentally butted heads," said Mickey Clark of the Louisville Sports Report, a friend of ~~Stitch~~. "Rudell wasn't hurt, but Ortega was staggering around, and Rudell sort of backed away and wouldn't continue to hit him."		"In the third round of his fight with Gaspar Ortega in Madison Square Garden, they accidentally butted heads," said Mickey Clark of the Louisville Sports Report, a friend of the boxer. "Rudell wasn't hurt, but Ortega was staggering around, and Rudell sort of backed away and wouldn't continue to hit him."

	Stitch, who was leading the fight on points at the time, later told Clark that he ~~didn't believe~~ in taking advantage of an opponent ~~after~~ a head-butt.		Stitch, who was leading the fight on points at the time, later told Clark that he never believed in taking advantage of an opponent during a head-butt.

	Although Ortega would win a decision, Stitch's action helped define his integrity in the boxing world as a fighter in a class all his own.		Although Ortega would win a decision, Stitch's action helped define his integrity in the boxing world as a fighter in a class all his own.

	Clark, Keeling and numerous others who revere Stitch's contributions to boxing -- and humanity -- hope that somewhere in Louisville's new Muhammad Ali Center, space can one day be found for an exhibit commemorating the fighter.		Clark, Keeling and numerous others who revere Stitch's contributions to boxing -- and to humanity -- hope that somewhere in Louisville's new Muhammad Ali Center, space can one day be found for an exhibit commemorating the fighter.

	A Bible verse that Stitch -- a member of the Hope Presbyterian Church -- had doubtless heard many times in his ~~youth~~ life is cradled along the gilded edges of his two Carnegie Hero Medals: "Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."		A Bible verse that Stitch -- a member of the Hope Presbyterian Church -- had doubtless heard many times in his young life is cradled along the gilded edges of his two Carnegie Hero Medals: "Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends."

	In that elite class of heroes, Rudell Stitch is among the greatest.		In that elite class of heroes, Rudell Stitch is among the greatest.

	~~("Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all" by Byron Crawford, The ''Courier-Journal'', November 25, 2005)~~

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==
	*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.		*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.
	*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].		*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].
	*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool, and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.		*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.
	*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include [[Muhammad Ali]], Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.		*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include [[Muhammad Ali]], Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.
			*Stitch was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Each inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque that hangs inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall.

			==External Links==
			*[[Wikipedia:Rudell Stitch\|Rudell Stitch Wikipedia Page]]
			*[http://archive.courier-journal.com/article/20051125/COLUMNISTS04/511250367/Boxer-made-greatest-sacrifice-all "Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all" By Bryon Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005]

	[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]		[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]

4champs at 06:45, 7 July 2013

2013-07-07T06:45:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:45, 7 July 2013
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	*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.		*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.
	*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].		*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].
	*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, ~~Daryl~~ Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of ~~a state tournament held in Louisville~~. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool, and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.		*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool, and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.
	*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of ~~Stitch's~~ death, he was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002.		*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include [[Muhammad Ali]], Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

	[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]		[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]

4champs at 18:23, 6 July 2013

2013-07-06T18:23:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:23, 6 July 2013
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	In that elite class of heroes, Rudell Stitch is among the greatest.		In that elite class of heroes, Rudell Stitch is among the greatest.

	("Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all" by Byron Crawford, ''~~The~~ Courier-Journal'', November 25, 2005)		("Boxer made 'the greatest' sacrifice of all" by Byron Crawford, The ''Courier-Journal'', November 25, 2005)

	== ~~Award Named In His Honor~~ ==		== Notes ==
	Shortly after ~~his~~ death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].		*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.
			*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].
			*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Daryl Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of a state tournament held in Louisville. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool, and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.
			*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of Stitch's death, he was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002.

	[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]		[[Category:African American Boxers\|Stitch, Rudell]]

Earl at 06:30, 4 October 2011

2011-10-04T06:30:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:30, 4 October 2011
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	'''Trainer''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>		'''Trainer''': [[Bud Bruner]]<br>
	<br clear=all>		<br clear=all>
	~~File:Rudell stitch.jpg~~

	Rudell Stitch might never have won an Olympic gold medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was bestowed on his friend, Muhammad Ali.		Rudell Stitch might never have won an Olympic gold medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was bestowed on his friend, Muhammad Ali.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:36, 6 May 2014
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	<boxer>025097</boxer>		<boxer>025097</boxer>
	[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>		[[:Image:Rudell Stitch.jpg\|Photo #2]], [[:File:Rudell stitch.jpg\|Photo #3]], [[:File:Stitch Pic0028.jpg\|Photo #4]]<br>
	'''Manager~~:''' [[Bud Bruner]]<br>~~		'''Manager & Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]
	~~'''~~Trainer:''' [[Bud Bruner]]~~<br>~~


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	<small>By Byron Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005</small>		<small>By Byron Crawford, The Courier-Journal, November 25, 2005</small>

	Rudell Stitch might never have won an Olympic gold boxing medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was recently bestowed on his friend, Muhammad Ali.		Rudell Stitch might never have won an [[Olympics\|Olympic]] gold boxing medal, a world title belt or the Medal of Freedom that was recently bestowed on his friend, [[Muhammad Ali]].

	Yet the Louisville welterweight, who worked at a meat-packing house and rose to No. 2 in the world rankings in early 1960, earned a distinction that even "The Greatest" is unlikely to achieve:		Yet the Louisville [[welterweight]], who worked at a meat-packing house and rose to No. 2 in the world rankings in early 1960, earned a distinction that even "The Greatest" is unlikely to achieve:

	Stitch was one of only four people in the past century to be awarded two Carnegie Hero Medals for risking his life to save another.		Stitch was one of only four people in the past century to be awarded two Carnegie Hero Medals for risking his life to save another.
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	"Our grandmother came down from Detroit when our father died, and after my mother passed, she just kept all of us together at the house there -- instead of us getting separated. She took us to church, worked day work, got Social Security, and we never wanted for anything. The lights were never turned out," Donald Stitch remembered.		"Our grandmother came down from Detroit when our father died, and after my mother passed, she just kept all of us together at the house there -- instead of us getting separated. She took us to church, worked day work, got Social Security, and we never wanted for anything. The lights were never turned out," Donald Stitch remembered.

	Donald's youngest brother, Daryl, later fought in the Golden Gloves, but Donald found football much more to his liking and earned a scholarship to Jackson State University.		Donald's youngest brother, Daryl, later fought in the [[Golden Gloves]], but Donald found football much more to his liking and earned a scholarship to Jackson State University.

	Although Donald Stitch really hasn't recovered from the early loss of his parents, he has a wonderful legacy of his father that sportswriters, fighters and other fans of the sport have preserved over the decades -- including one of the most revealing episodes of Stitch's short but brilliant 27-7-0 pro career.		Although Donald Stitch really hasn't recovered from the early loss of his parents, he has a wonderful legacy of his father that sportswriters, fighters and other fans of the sport have preserved over the decades -- including one of the most revealing episodes of Stitch's short but brilliant 27-7-0 pro career.

	"In the third round of his fight with Gaspar Ortega in Madison Square Garden, they accidentally butted heads," said Mickey Clark of the Louisville Sports Report, a friend of the boxer. "Rudell wasn't hurt, but Ortega was staggering around, and Rudell sort of backed away and wouldn't continue to hit him."		"In the third round of his fight with [[Gaspar Ortega]] in [[Madison Square Garden]], they accidentally butted heads," said Mickey Clark of the Louisville Sports Report, a friend of the boxer. "Rudell wasn't hurt, but Ortega was staggering around, and Rudell sort of backed away and wouldn't continue to hit him."

	Stitch, who was leading the fight on points at the time, later told Clark that he never believed in taking advantage of an opponent during a head-butt.		Stitch, who was leading the fight on points at the time, later told Clark that he never believed in taking advantage of an opponent during a head-butt.
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	*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.		*Stitch won Kentucky state amateur titles in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956. He reached the semifinals of the [[Chicago Golden Gloves]] and the finals of the National AAU Tournament in 1956.
	*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].		*Shortly after Stitch's death, the [[National Boxing Association]] created the [[Rudell Stitch Sportsmanship Award]].
	*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by [[Bud Bruner]], who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.		*Stitch's youngest child, Daryl Stitch, boxed as an amateur. He was trained by Bud Bruner, who trained and managed his father. On October 9, 1982, Stitch boxed Charles Love in the welterweight semifinal of the USA/ABF Kentucky Association Senior Open Championship. Stitch stopped Love at 1:55 of the first round. Following the stoppage, Love walked to his corner, sat down on his stool and then slumped over unconscious. He was hospitalized and had two operations to remove blood clots from his brain. Love died six days after the fight.
	*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include [[Muhammad Ali]], Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.		*On June 5, 2013, the 53rd anniversary of his death, Stitch was honored with a giant Hometown Hero mural in Louisville. Stitch was the 22nd Louisvillian to be honored with a Hometown Hero mural under a program created by the Greater Louisville Pride Foundation in 2002. Others include Muhammad Ali, Diane Sawyer and Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.
	*Stitch was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Each inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque that hangs inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall.		*Stitch was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. Each inductee is recognized with a bronze plaque that hangs inside Louisville’s Freedom Hall.