Archive for June, 2009

DAVID HAYE SHOULD “EARN” HIS DAY !

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

I was glad to hear Wladimir Klitschko say after his impressive but boring win over Ruslan Chagaev, “David Haye, get in line”.
AMEN…WHAT has David done to earn a shot at the heavyweight title other then run his mouth ? He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion…So what ? Why hasn’t O’Neil Bell got a shot [...]

JOSE LUIS GARCIA

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

There may have never been a more talent rich period in the heavyweight division then from 1968 to 1978. With Muhammad Ali (a.k.a. Cassius Clay) on the sidelines due to his draft case, other big men emerged. They would compete with [...]

FRAZIER – QUARRY I

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Frazier – Quarry I: Forty Years Since This Heavyweight Classic
On June 23, 1969 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Joe Frazier met the popular Irish fighter, Jerry Quarry, for the New York State recognized heavyweight title. Back in the day, the New York State Boxing Commission wielded quite a bit of power. Commissioner Edwin Dooley [...]

JIMMY ELLIS

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Author’s note; Upon hearing of Jimmy’s next great battle against Pugilistic Dementia, I would like to re-release this article about him.
JIMMY ELLIS
By Jim Amato
It’s too bad that the cruiserweight division was not around in the 60’s and 70’s. Many fine boxers scaled under 190 pounds and gave creditable performances against bigger [...]

Esteban De Jesus – A Tragic Story

Friday, June 19th, 2009

If ever a boxer was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was Puerto Rico’s Esteban De Jesus. This former one time claimant of the W.B.C. lightweight title may have been the best Puerto Rican 135 pounder since Carlos Ortiz. Unfortunately he boxed during the era of possibly the [...]

WILBERT ” Vampire ” JOHNSON

Friday, June 19th, 2009

He was a popular and frequent performer on the early ESPN boxing broadcasts. Wilbert ” Vampire ” Johnson was a colorful character who could fight a little bit too. He turned pro in 1980 and in 1981 he won a six round decision over future light heavyweight champion Donny LaLonde. In a rematch the lethal [...]

Lionel Rose; A Forgotten Champion…

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

As I began to follow this great sport, Japan’s ” Fighting ” Harada was already becoming a legend. He had won and then lost the World’s Flyweight championship to Pone Kingpetch. He then moved up to bantamweight and dethroned the seemingly unbeatable Eder Jofre to win that title. To prove it was no fluke [...]

Marvis Frazier – The Lost Son

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

“Flesh of my flesh. Blood of my blood.”
The camera rolls and the highlight clip begins. It shows a young, undefeated but green Marvis Frazier dancing while taunting heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. In the blink of an eye Holmes unloads a right hand sucker shot that sends Marvis backward and into a sprawled position on the [...]

“IRISH” FRANKIE CRAWFORD

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

He was a world class featherweight in the late 1960’s and early 70’s. He twice fought for a piece of the world title. He was from my hometown of Cleveland. His name was Frankie Crawford.
Frankie grew up in the East 65th, St.Clair area of Cleveland. Tough area then. Tough area now. Crawford grew up learning [...]

WHY ISN’T LUPE PINTOR IN THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME ?

Monday, June 1st, 2009

This is a story that you may say is regrettable. You may say it is sad or that it is a simple oversight. Or you may call it what it is, a travesty ! If you look at the credentials of Lupe Pintor it is plain to see that they far exceed those of some [...]