| THEY COULD HAVE BEEN CLASSICS
By Jim Amato
In April of 1967, Jimmy Ellis pounded out a fifteen round decision over Jerry Quarry to win the vacant W.B.A. heavyweight championship. In March of 1968, Joe Frazier halted Buster Mathis to win heavyweight title recognition in New York State. Two months later Bob Foster knocked out the great Dick Tiger to capture the light heavyweight crown. Foster felt the big money was in the heavyweight division and he began to challenge the champions. Frazier actively defended his title turning back Manuel Ramos, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonevena, and Dave Zyglewicz. Ellis on the other hand made only one defense, a disputed verdict over ex-champion Floyd Patterson. Proposed matches for Jimmy against Henry Cooper and Gregorio Peralta never materialized. By the time Ellis met Frazier in February of 1970 to unify the crown, the ring rust had settled in. After Frazier destroyed Ellis he would go on to meet Foster later on that year with disastrous results for Bob.
What if during his period of idleness before the Frazier debate had Ellis entertained Foster’s challenge? Foster as we would find out could not handle Frazier’s power, strength, and aggression. How would he have fared against a master boxer like Ellis? It may have gone something like this …
The 198 pound Ellis strides out to meet the 181-pound Foster to begin round one. Quickly they began to trade jabs. Jimmy is quicker but Foster is harder and more accurate. By the middle of the round it is apparent that this is becoming a chess match. Then out of nowhere Ellis connects with a whistling overhand right and Foster is shaken. Bob stumbles back against the ropes and Ellis is right on him. Jimmy just misses with another right and then connects with a hard left hook to the head and Bob’s in serious trouble. Ellis is winging at Foster who can’t seem to get away from the ropes. Then in a wild exchange Foster hurts Ellis with a short left hook. Momentarily stunned Ellis takes a few steps back and now Foster is jabbing his way off the ropes. Ellis comes in and connects with another overhand right but this one lands high on Foster’s head. In another heated exchange they both land left hooks but Fosters does more damage. Ellis now has a small cut on his right eyelid as the bell sounds ending the round. Angelo Dundee the manager-trainer of Ellis is giving Jimmy a tongue lashing in the corner. Ellis comes out fast for round two and takes a couple of hard jabs. In return he lands a hard left hook to the body that makes Bob wince. Foster’s trying to slowdown the pace but Ellis, his ears still ringing from Dundee’s tirade continues to press. Foster is landing more punches but Jimmy’s body punches are bothering Bob. As Ellis moves in Foster catches him with a jab and then he slams in a short, chopping right flush on the jaw and Ellis sinks to one knee. Jimmy takes an eight count shaking his head as he’s trying to clear the cobwebs. As Foster comes in Jimmy clinches. On the inside Ellis is much stronger and he lands some effective punches to Bob’s lean rib cage. Jimmy appears to be all right now but he’s staying close to smother Fosters punches.
Dundee is livid in the corner between rounds while Foster has a smug look. He knows he can hurt Ellis now. Ellis is still trying to stay close in round three. Bob is using his jab to good effect and Jimmy’s cut has been re-opened. Bob is trying to shorten up his left hook hoping that will discourage Ellis from coming inside. Jimmy’s making the fight but Foster’s landing the more effective blows. As Bob dips down to throw a short left hook Ellis lets go of a vicious overhand right that catches Foster flush on the jaw and Bob goes down flat on his back. He begins to get up at “6” and just barely beats the count. The referee asks Bob if he’s all right and he says yes, but his eyes are unfocused. The referee lets it continue and Ellis is on him in a flash. Another overhand lands, but it’s a little off target. Still it wobbled Bob who makes a feeble attempt to jab. Ellis slips inside and lands a tremendous left hook to Foster’s chin and Bob crumbles to the canvas. There will be no count as Foster cornermen come to his aid.
At 175 pounds, Bob Foster was possibly the best light heavyweight of all time. He just did not have the strength to battle the big boys. Doug Jones, Zora Folley, and Ernie Terrell all handled Bob easily in his pre-championship days.
Jimmy Ellis earned his title by beating Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonevena, and Jerry Quarry. No easy task. A deceptively hard puncher, he had the granite chinned Bonevena down twice. Also, he nearly had Martin out in the first round of their fight.
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| 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 men. Doug Jones is an example as he came close to upsetting Cassius Clay in 1963. Doug had lost in 1962 to Harold Johnson for the light heavyweight title. In 1965, he lost to Ernie Terrell for WBA Heavyweight crown. Back then there was no middle ground. If you weighed over 175 pounds, you fought heavyweights, period.
Bob Foster, who was one of the greatest light heavyweights of all time, had trouble moving up to heavyweight. Jones, Terrell, and Zora Foley soundly beat him in heavyweight bouts. After winning the light heavyweight crown in 1968, he failed in attempts to beat Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. How would he have fared at 190 pounds?
I'm sure if you took all the top boxers who weighed between 175 pounds and 190 pounds since 1960; most experts would rate Holyfield number one. How would a 190-pound Holyfield have coped with Floyd Patterson's hand speed? How about Bob Foster's reach and devastating punch? Could he have beaten Jimmy Elllis? Before you laugh, take a look at Jimmy's record. He started as a middleweight in 1961 and through 1964 he lost five bouts to Holly Mims, Henry Hank, Rubin Carter, Don Fuller and George Benton. All top middleweight contenders. By the time he blasted out Johnny Persol in one round in 1967, he had grown into a heavyweight. He swept the WBA elimination tournament by beating Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonevena and Jerry Quarry. Jimmy twice had the iron jawed Bonevena on the canvas, something Joe Frazier could not do in 25 rounds of fighting. Against Frazier, Ellis weighed in over 200 pounds. He looked flabby and after a few rounds became sluggish. The following year Jimmy met his long time friend Muhammad Ali. Jimmy was in great shape at 189 pounds. His muscles were tight and he looked fit. Unfortunately, Ali was too big. He wore Jimmy down and stopped him in round twelve. I believe the Jimmy Ellis of the Ali fight could have given any 190 pounder since 1960 a run for their money, including Evander Holyfield. Ellis was a slick boxer with sharp reflexes. He had a good left hand and a sneaky right. He also had loads of courage. How many fighters could have gotten to their feet before the count of ten after catching Joe Frazier's full swing left hook flush on the jaw? Jimmy is one of the most overlooked heavyweight champions of the last four decades. This may be due in part because he boxed in the Ali-Frazier era. I've often wondered what the outcome may have been had Bob Foster challenged Ellis for the WBA title. Now that might be a dream match to run through a computer. |
| I recently learned that rugged Duluth, Minnesota heavyweight of the 1950's Don Jasper passed away June 9th. He was 78 years old. Jasper lost his first pro fight in 1949. He also lost his second pro contest. From there he went 14-0-1 over his next fifteen fights. He didn't lose again until 1955 when he dropped a six rounder to Eddie Lee Walker in Detroit. Jasper was popular in the Detroit area and had several fights there. Prior to his loss to Walker, Jasper had scored a sensational one punch, one round knockout over Bill Cochrane.
On April 21st, 1956 Jasper was stopped in nine rounds by fading former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles in Windsor, Canada. Later in Toronto, Jasper was halted in four by Mansfield, Ohio's Art " Curly " Miller. Jasper won two out of three against tough Gene White. In their last bout in 1957, Jasper won a ten round decision to capture the Minnesota State heavyweight title.
Jasper lost his last two bouts to undefeated prospects and hung up the gloves in 1959. He had thirty seven career bouts with a 25-11-1 record. He scored fifteen knockouts. ( From www.BoxRec.com ). He served in the Marines during the Korean War. He retired as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Reserves. He also helped coach and train young boxers in the Duluth area. May he rest in peace.
Jim Amato |
| JOHNNY LIRA
The city of Chicago has produced its share of outstanding professional fighters. One of them was a tough as nails lightweight who campaigned in the late 1970's and early 1980's. His name was Johnny Lira and he fought his way into the top echelon of the lightweight rankings.
Lira turned pro in 1976 and quickly gained notice by winning his first twelve fights. In 1977 he drew with Manuel Lopez but defeated Lopez in a return bout. Johnny hit the big time in 1978 when he received a shot at the United States Boxing Association lightweight title. His opponent was the highly ranked southpaw bomber Andy Ganigan. Johnny was a decided underdog going in but he shocked the boxing establishment by stopping Ganigan in round six. Lira then went to New York's Madison Square Garden to outscore the talented Larry Stanton. Lira was now high in the ratings and in 1979 he received a shot at the World Boxing Association's version of the lightweight title. Their champion was a hard hitting bomber from Venezuela named Ernesto Espana. It was a gruelling fight but Espana emerged victorious stopping Johnny in nine rounds. Lira would suffer a broken jaw for his gallant effort.
In 1980 Johnny traveled to Spain and dropped an eight round decision to Andoni Amana. He would later lose a ten round duke to the flashy Howard Davis Jr. In 1981 Lira would post a ten round win over Ohio's rugged Bobby Plegge. Johnny was then outdueled over ten rounds by Nicky Furlano and the was stopped in nine rounds by Willie Rodriguez for the USBA super lightweight title.Lira regrouped in 1982 scoring a points verdict over Canadian Al Ford. Johnny then lost a tough call to former world champion Alfredo Escalera. Lira would come back to win four fights but in 1984 he lost a ten rounder to Russell Mitchell. That was his last fight.
Lira hung them up with a fine record of 29-7-1. He scored fifteen knockouts. Johnny himself was stopped on two occasions.
Jim Amato |
| A CASE FOR COBB
Who was the best white heavyweight of the 80’s? Gerry Cooney? Maybe, but doubtful. Gerry had the big punch but his chin was suspect. Also Cooney never benefited by being tested on his way up. He may well have been the best packaged and most protected heavyweight title challenger in boxing history. No, for my money Randy “Tex” Cobb was the king of the white heavies in the 80’s. In all Tex met five world champions and several to contenders.
Cobb began his career in 1977 and worked his way slowly into contention. By the end of 1979 Tex had reeled off 13 straight kayo wins. Number 13 being against tough Cleveland heavyweight Terry Mims. In 1980 he was finally forced to go the distance against journeyman Cookie Wallace. Two fights later Tex broke into the heavyweight ratings stopping thunderous punching Earnie Shavers in Detroit. Three months later Tex dropped a controversial decision to ex-champion Kenny Norton.
In 1981 Cobb gave a good account of himself in a losing effort against Michael Dokes. Two fights later Tex outpunched rugged Bernardo Mercado over ten rounds. That victory set Randy up for his shot at immortality. A crack at Larry Holmes’ heavyweight title one year later. On November 26, 1982 in Houston, Holmes gave Cobb an unmerciful battering for fifteen lopsided rounds. Still Tex never went down and his fighting spirit refused to quit. Ringside announcer Howard Cosell thought this bout to be so brutal that he walked away from pro boxing. Whether or not Cosell’s departure was for good or bad for boxing is debatable but Tex always took pride in himself for being the reason Howard left.
After the Holmes loss Tex won four straight but future champion Buster Douglas then outscored him. Next came a four round technical loss in a rematch with Dokes. Tex then dropped a verdict to Eddie Gregg. On October 25, 1985 the Cobb granite chin deserted him. He was dropped numerous times and halted in one round by club fighter Dee Collier. Randy took 1986 off to regroup.
Tex began his comeback in 1987 against less then stellar opposition. Still he had nine bouts without a loss. On March 1, 1988 Randy met ex-titleholder Leon Spinks. Although near exhaustion at the end, Tex hung on to win a hard fought battle. After the Spinks triumph Randy laid off for over three years. His comeback in 1992 with Paul Barch was covered with controversy. Accusations of a fix led to lawsuits. Still Randy pressed on but he never again had a major bout. He won his last eight fights. Seven by knockout but against undistinguished names.
I guess you could make a case for Gerrie Coetzee who did win a piece of the title. Still, in his prime Randy fought the best and only lost to the best boxers of his time. Holmes, Norton, Dokes, and Douglas. I rest my case.
Jim Amato
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Who is the greatest 122-pound fighter off all time? This one is a no
brainer. The answer is the incomparable Wilfredo Gomez. His
accomplishments at this weight are truly awesome. He was the complete
package of speed, coordination, balance and power. The Puerto Rican had it
all. Other than a tendency to swell around the eyes, he truly was an almost
flawless fighter in his prime.
The crowning achievements of his career were probably his knockouts of
bantamweight champions Carlos Zarate and Lupe Pintor. Zarate was unbeaten
and was considered unbeatable. Zarate's fearsome knockout record meant
little to Gomez. With speed and precision Gomez took Zarate apart scoring a
fifth round knockout. Pintor later won the bantamweight crown from Zarate
via a very controversial decision. Pintor would establish himself as a fine
champion. In moving up to challenge Gomez, Lupe fought the fight of his
life. Wilfredo would prevail, but those who saw the fight will never forget
it. Gomez in turn would suffer the same fate as Zarate and Pintor when he
tried unsuccessfully to move up and win the featherweight title. His match
with champion Salvador Sanchez was a much-anticipated super fight with Gomez
given a good chance to win. In a true shocker Sanchez gave Wilfredo a one
sided beating.
Gomez would eventually win the featherweight championship after
Salvador's untimely death. He was matched with fellow countryman Juan La
Porte for the vacant title. Wilfredo pitched a near shutout to capture the
crown. An aging Gomez would lose the title to the great Azumah Nelson.
Unbelievably he would move up to 130 pounds and win that title from Rocky
Lockridge by a decision more debatable than the Pintor-Zarate verdict.
Wilfredo would lose that title to Alfredo Layne.
Although Gomez can claim to be a champion in three different weight
divisions, it was his dominance at 122 that will be remembered the most.
Jim Amato
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| Sir Henry Cooper
by Jim Amato
He came from a fighting family and by the time his boxing career ended in 1971 he was the most beloved British boxer of all time. Only once did he challenge for the World's title but he dominated the British heavyweight scene for over fifteen years. His popularity soared even more after retirement and eventually the Queen of England knighted him. Sir Henry Cooper was more than just a British fighter. He was a fine example of what British boxing is all about.
Henry's professional career started in September of 1954 and he proceeded to win his first nine fights including an eight round points win over Joe Bygraves. In Henry's tenth bout he lost the first of many bouts due to an eye cut to Uber Bacilleri. He would later avenge that loss.
The roller coaster career of Henry Cooper had now begun. He would drop a ten rounder to Joe Erskine and stop Brian London in one round only to lose in five to Peter Bates. 1955 was a rough year for Henry as Bygraves kayoed him for the British Empire title. Future world champion Ingemar Johansson then bombed him out. Joe Erskine then outscored him for the British title.
Henry began to turn things around late in 1958 with a stoppage over Dick Richardson and a point win over respected American Zora Folley. He finally won the British and Empire titles by decision over Brian London in 1959. He halted Gawie de Klerk in an Empire defense and defended both titles by a fifth round stoppage of Joe Erskine. In 1960 Henry scored important decision victories of Roy Harris and Alex Mitiff. He again defended his titles by a fifth round stoppage of Erskine in March of 1961.
On December 5, 1961 Henry suffered a major setback when Folley kayoed him in the second round of their rematch. He came back to again stop Erskine in 1962 and Dick Richardson in 1963 setting the stage for a match with the undefeated Olympian, Cassius Clay. The facts of Cooper's first bout with Clay have been well documented. His left hook knocking Clay down at the end of round four. A torn glove gave Clay time to recover. Cassius then coming back to cut and stop Henry in round five.
He came back to beat Brian London again also winning the vacant European title in the process. Six months later he was stripped of the European title due to an injury. Henry would win five of his next seven bouts setting up a title shot and rematch against Clay (Muhammad Ali).
The rematch was anti-climatic. Henry tried hard but Ali's punches again ripped the tender skin above Cooper's eye forcing a stoppage. Four months later, ex-title holder Floyd Patterson felled Henry. It was again time to rebuild. Henry went back to retaining his British and Empire titles defeating Jack Bodell and Billy Walker. He then regained the European title winning on a disqualification from Karl Mildenberger.
In 1969 Henry was to be matched with World Boxing Association champion Jimmy Ellis. The fight fell through because the British Boxing Board refused to recognize it as a world title fight. In a huff, Henry gave up the British and Empire titles. Later Henry relinquished the European crown due to an injury.
Again in 1970 the Amazing E'nry came back to regain the British and Empire titles from Jack Bodell. Later he regained the European crown by stopping Jose Urtain.
On March 16, 1971 Henry met upcoming Joe Bugner with all three titles at stake. After fifteen well contested rounds, Bugner was awarded a very close and controversial decision much to the dismay of Henry. Cooper never boxed again |
| The Great Masahiko " Fighting " Harada
He just may be the most popular Japanese fighter of all time. In a career
that lasted a little over a decade he squeezed in 63 pro contests. He was
the winner of 55 of those. He won world championships in two weight
divisions and he came very close to becoming a three weight class
titleholder. Please remember this was back in the day when there were only
eight weight classes and one champion per division. He is the only man to
beat the legendary Eder Jofre and he turned the trick twice. His name was
Masahiko but in boxing circles his nickname was " Fighting ". That should
tell you something about his aggressive whirlwind style. He was " Fighting "
Harada.
Harada started his career in 1960 and in less then three years he reeled
off 25 straight wins, ten by knockout. He had established himself as a top
ranking flyweight contender. Edmundo Esparza upset Harada by decision in
June of 1962 to end his win streak but two fights later on October 10th he
was in a Tokyo ring facing world flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch. The
champion was unable to keep the swarming Harada off of him and he finally
lost his title in the eleventh round.
Kingpetch lured Harada to his home country of Thailand and on January
12th, 1963 in Bangkok, Pone regained his title by decision.Harada bounced
back to win three straight and the he was surprisingly stopped by the
talented Mexican Jose Medel in Tokyo.Undaunted Harada went on a six fight
win steak that carried him to the end of 1964.
In 1965 Harada entered the bantamweight class and on May 17th he met the
unbeaten and highly respected champion Eder Jofre. In a classic between two
great boxers, Harada out slugged Jofre to capture his second world title. By
the years end he would add a successful defense against Britain's highly
touted Alan Rudkin.
Harada and Jofre would hook up again on June 1st, 1966 and the verdict
again went to the busier Harada. On January 3rd, 1967 Harada avenged his
knockout loss to Medel while retaining his title via the decision route. On
July 4th Harada turned back the challenge of tough Bernardo Caraballo and it
looked like he would reign for quite some time.
On February 27th, 1968 Australian Lionel Rose came to Tokyo to challenge
Harada. In an impressive display of ring generalship the classy Rose
outboxed Harada to lift the crown. Harada would come right back in June to
decision a fine fighter in Dwight Hawkins.
On April 2nd, 1969 Harada was upset on points by Alton Colter.
Nevertheless he was invited to Sydney, Australia on July 28th to challenge
Johnny Famechon for the world featherweight championship. It was a
rock-em-sock-em affair that in the end was called a draw by guest referee
Willie Pep. After re-checking Pep's scorecard a mistake was found and
Famechon was awarded the decision. Many felt that Harada had done more then
enough to earn the verdict and the title. There was a high demand for a
rematch.
Famechon and Harada would hook up again on January 6th, 1970 in Tokyo.
This time there would be no controversial decision. Famechon saw to that.
Harada seemed to age overnight. Famechon blasted Harada out in the
fourteenth round to end any doubt who the better man was. Harada realized he
was no longer the fighting machine he had been and the next day he announced
his retirement. The end of the line had come for one of the most exciting
fighters of his era.
Jim Amato
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Duran! Duran! Duran! The name thundered from Madison Square Garden to Panama in the 70’s! For you that only know the older, slower, middleweight Duran of later years, let me tell you what all the fuss was about when Roberto was in his prime! The uninhibited aggression of Duran combined with a good defense and a solid chin made Duran arguably the best lightweight of all time. Duran, full of swaggering arrogant exuberant aggression had hit the lightweight division with the kind of impact that young Cassius Clay had made on the heavyweights.
September 1971 Duran climes into the ring at Madison Square Garden on the Buchanan-Laguna semi-final. Tough Benny Huertas is the opponent. At the bell Duran’s punches start catching Huertas. Voices in the big crowd start to rise in excitement, then fill to a giant roar as Huertas is writhing on the canvas and KOed in only one round! The sportswriters gathered at ringside for the main event look at each other like who the hell is this guy? The crowd, stimulated, just knew they wanted to see him again and soon.
The crowd got its wish as young Duran only 21 years old was matched in the Garden with the world champion Ken Buchanan. The fight was for the title. Buchanan was dazzlingly talented. His whiplash jabs and speedball legs had demoralized and beaten the best lightweights in the world. He had lost only once in a long career and that was a match universally recognized as a hometown bum decision. Otherwise Buchanan had beat first the best in Europe and then worldwide.
Buchanan was a big box-office draw. He had made a big impression on New York fans with his artistic style. The result was a gate that was the record for an indoor lightweight title fight. For the first time the cry of "Duran! Duran! was heard that night from Latin hopefuls in the huge throng.
There was a terrific buildup of tension in the vast arena that night. When the bell finally rang to start the fight it was like an escape valve blowing off a defective boiler. The crowd leaned forward and 20,000 lungs exhaled at once. Almost the first Duran punch of the fight and bang Buchanan is down in the first round! A desperate note enters the cheers of Buchanan rooters. Duran’s impact on the crowd that night was terrific. His impact on Buchanan was just as dramatic! Madison Square Garden and New York had never seen anything quite like it. Duran had faster reflexes than the champ who was known for his speed. Duran had explosive hitting power, and as Don Dumphy said during the fight, a "tremendous vitality.” The referee finally stopped the fight at the end of the 13th with the Scot champion on the floor clutching his groin in agony after a wicked low blow right hand that the referee missed floored him. Duran had totally dominated the fight by slamming stunning barrages of punches to Buchanan’s body and head.
As the fight ended, people were running up and down the aisles. One reporter wrote that the din from the crowd had not been equaled since the Roman circus! Duran had arrived!
From 1972-1979 Duran was a magnificent champion. He retired from the lightweight division without ever losing a title fight. He defended the title 12 times including two revenge knockout victories over the only man to ever beat him Esteban De Jesus.
Duran had a harsh upbringing, often stealing food for his family’s dinner. He even was willing to fight in the no rules bloody free-for-alls on the Panama beaches. The free-for-alls only paid the last man standing and even the biggest young thugs in Panama learned that was often the blazing eyed black haired Duran. This mentality carried over to professional boxing. There was nothing forgiving or magnanimous in Duran’s nature in the ring. Under the bright ring lights he was all business. The opponent could only expect Duran to smile when he knew he had his man and was about to finish him. A walloping series of thudding punches usually followed finishing the fight.
Duran overcame challengers worldwide and all his title fights ended the same way with the other guy knocked out! All that is except one. That is ........ Edwin Viruet. Viruet, a top contender with a teak tough chin, had a true dislike of Duran and withstood Duran’s best going the distance. Duran had a long running feud with the entire Viruet family. Roberto took on Viruet’s bother Adolph in 1978. He beat Adolph in a bitter 10 rounder. Then as Adolph is being consoled in his dressing room by brother Edwin, who swaggers into the dressing but Duran himself. “Next I’ll beat your father!" snarls Duran and leaves the room.
Duran has appeared to mellow out in recent years. Most historians consider Duran the best of all the lightweight champions. He had unbelievably fast reflexes yet was an aggressive slugger who could KO opponents with either hand. Few fighters have ever captured the imaginations of fight fans like Duran as a lightweight. "Duran!, Duran!, Duran!" 13 times in title fights his fans roared and every time he won for them.
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| " BAD " BENNIE BRISCOE
By Jim Amato
There are certain boxers from my past that in retrospect would be champions today. One such boxer was tough enough to be nicknamed " Bad ". He was Bennie Briscoe from Philadelphia and brother you better bet he was just that, " Bad ". He was probably the most feared middleweight of his era and it was a tough time just be a middleweight in Philly. If you were bad there, you were bad everywhere.
Briscoe turned pro in 1962 and would win his first fifteen contests. Among his victims were Charley Scott and Percy Manning. In a return with Manning in 1965, Bennie would suffer his first setback. That year he would also lose to Tito Marshall and Stanley " Kitten " Hayward. In 1966 Bennie would halt the highly respected George Benton.
Bennie was now among the middleweight elite. The year 1967 would see him lose two decisions to the great Luis Rodriguez. Sandwiched in between those losses was a draw in Argentina with a fella named Carlos Monzon. In 1968 he would lose to future light heavyweight titleholder Vincente Rondon. He would knock out Rondon in a 1969 rematch.
In 1970 Bennie began to make his march to a shot at the world's middleweight title. He won eleven straight fights until he was upset by Luis Vinales in 1972. He would stop Vinales in a return match. Finally in November he would meet the reigning middleweight champion of the world, Carlos Monzon. Again they would be fighting in Argentina. This time Carlos clearly deserved the decision the retained his title but he was rocked to his heels by Bennie in the ninth round of that fight. Monzon would always have a great respect for Briscoe.
Bennie would regroup in 1973. He destroyed Art Hernandez in three rounds. He also stopped Billy " Dynamite " Douglas of Columbus, Ohio. Billy's son Buster would shock the world in 1990 when he took apart Mike Tyson. Bennie closed the year by losing a decision to Rodrigo Valdez. These two would create some history together.
Bennie put himself right back into the thick of the title picture in 1974 when he took out the streaking Tony Mundine of Australia. Later he would again meet Valdez for the WBC version of the title that had been taken away from Monzon. In a stunning display of punching power the vastly under rated Valdez sent Bennie down and out in round seven. Bennie came back but finished the year dropping a points call to all time great Emile Griffith.
Briscoe would then go undefeated in his next thirteen bouts. He won nine and drew in four. In this span he would beat Eddie Gregory ( a.k.a. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad ). He would draw with the dangerous Eugene " Cyclone " Hart. In a return go Bennie blasted out Hart in one round. Bennie also drew in a return with Griffith.
In 1977 after Carlos Monzon had officially retired, Bennie was again matched with Rodrigo Valdez for vacant title. Again Rodrigo had Bennie's number and won a very close decision.
Starting with a decision loss to future champion Vito Antuofermo, Bennie would lose nine of his last seventeen fights. Later that year bennie would drop a verdict to another future champion named Marvin Hagler. At this stage of his career any middleweight who dreamed of becoming the champion had to go through Bennie first.
By the early 1980's Bennie was becoming a stepping stone for young, talented fighters like Vinnie Curto. After a 1982 loss to Jimmy Sykes at the famous Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, hometown boy Bennie Briscoe decided to hang up the gloves. He left a legacy of 96 fights against many of the toughest welterweights and middleweights of his day. He won 66 fights and an amazing 53 of those by knockout. He was stopped only once in his career. His record reads like a who's who of boxing in that era.
If ever a fighter who was never crowned a " world champion " deserved to be elected in to the Hall Of Fame, it is none other then Bennie Briscoe.
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I began to follow boxing back in 1964. In the forty + years to our present day I have seen some all time great fighters. Roberto Duran as a lightweight will always stand out but there were so many others.
When I close my eyes and let the mind's eye take over, I recall so many great fights. In usually remembering a fight it is a close, well contested battle. For me it is usually one the ends with a sudden knockout.
The KO is the final punctuation mark on any fight regardless of how close the contest may be. It is vivid proof to the statement that " one punch will change the fight". It always gave fighters like Earnie Shavers and Bennie Briscoe " a puncher's chance of winning".
I have listed some KO's that stand out in my memory. They are in random order. It is very difficult to pick one over another. They all had an impact on me and the sport itself so here goes;
Joe Frazier-KO-2 over Bob Foster
Bob Foster-KO-4 over Mike Quarry
Jose Napoles-KO-7 over Ernie Lopez
Tommy Hearns-KO-2 over Roberto Duran
Michael Spinks-KO-4 over Marvin Johnson
Mike McCallum-KO-5 over Donald Curry
Michael Nunn-KO-1 over Sumbu Kalambay
Alfredo Escalera-KO-2 over Kuniaki Shibata
Bob Foster-KO-4 over Dick Tiger
Nino Benvenuti-KO-11 over Luis Rodriguez
Hassim Rahman-KO-5 over Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis-KO-4 over Hassim Rahman
Mike Tyson-KO-1 over Marvis Frazier
Earnie Shavers-KO-1 over Jimmy Ellis
Sugar Ray Leonard-KO-4 over Dave"Boy"Green
Carlos Palomino-KO-11 over Dave"Boy"Green
Donald Curry-KO-2 over Milton McCrory
Herman Montes-KO-3 over Pipino Cuevas
Ray Mancini-KO-9 over Orlando Romero
Razor Ruddock-KO-4 over Michael Dokes
George Foreman-KO-2 over Gerry Cooney
Rocky Lockridge-KO-1 over Roger Mayweather
Juan LaPorte-KO-2 over Rocky Lockridge
Mike Rossman-KO-7 over Mike Nixon
Arnold Taylor-KO-14 over Romeo Anaya
Ben Villaflor-KO-1 over Kuniaki Shibata
Curtis Cokes-KO-5 over Willie Ludick
Alexis Arguello-KO-1 over Diego Alcala
Alexis Arguello-KO-2 over Kevin Rooney
Joe Frazier-KO-1 over Dave Zyglewicz
Uehara-KO-6 over Sammy Serrano
Lennox Lewis-KO-2 over Razor Ruddock
Iran Barkley-KO-3 over Tommy Hearns
Ray Mercer-KO-5 over Tommy Morrison
Carlos Monzon-KO-12 over Nino Benvenuti
Rodrigo Valdes-KO-7 over Bennie Briscoe
Bennie Briscoe-KO-5 over Tony Mundine
Alexis Arguello-KO-4 over Billy Costello
Tommy Hearns-KO-2 over Pipino Cuevas
Bob Foster-KO-2 over Vincente Rondon
I listed forty of my favorites. I'm sure there are some that I have overlooked. I'm sure there many others that boxing fans liked better. These are the ones that stand out in my memory. I hope that they bring back some highlight clips for your mind's eye.
Jim Amato |
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He may have been the second best middleweight in the world in the late
1970's through the mid 80's. The " Hagler Era ". he was twice defeated by
the Marvelous one in title fights but no one other then Hagler could seem
handle him.
Mustafa Hamsho was born in Syria in 1953. He turned professional in
1975 sometimes fighting under the moniker of Rocky Estafire. He lost his
first pro fight in Binghampton, N.Y. to Pat Cuillo. After eight bouts it
would have been hard to foresee Hamsho as a future contender as his ledger
stood at 4-2-2. Mustafa would go on to win his next 27 bouts and firmly
establish himself as a legitimate title threat.
Contenders Rocky Mosley Jr., Bobby " Boogaloo " watts, Irish Pat
Murphy, Leo Saenz, the talented Wilfred Scypion, Rudy Robles, rugged Curtis
Parker and former champion Alan Minter were among Hamsho's victims during
the streak.
Finally on October 3, 1981 faced Marvin Hagler for the middleweight
championship. Marvin was a sharpshooter on this night and he sliced up the
well muscled, southpaw Hamsho. Only Mustafa's grit and gameness kept him in
the fight until the eleventh round. Marvin had cut him to ribbons and the
bout was stopped.
Mustafa would regroup and win six in a row. He would again defeat the
dangerous Curtis Parker. He would also pull off two minor upsets that put
him back to the top of the division. In 1982 he would dominate the upcoming
" bright, white and polite " Bobby Czyz. In 1983 he would manhandle former
welterweight and junior middleweight king Wilfred Benitez. Those victories
would put Mustafa back in the ring with Hagler.
On October 19th, 1984, three years after their first meeting Hagler
and Hamsho traded leather again. This turned out to be one of Marvin's
career best performances as he blasted out the usually durable Hamsho in
three rounds.
Over the next few years Hamsho would win four straight over average
opposition. In 1987 he met future light heavyweight champion Don LaLonde and
was clearly outpointed. Two fights later he lost in the first round to
future champion Graziano Rocchingiani. In 1989 he survived a first round
scare to stop Wesley Reid in five rounds. That was his final bout.
Hamsho retired with a very formidable record of 43-6-2. He was strong
and awkwardly effective from his left handed stance. He was not a big
puncher but he was always in terrific condition. He was able to score twenty
seven knockouts throughout his career. A solid case can be made that Mustafa
Hamsho was keeper of the gate to Marvin Hagler's throne and that is meant as
the highest compliment.
Jim Amato
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The British produced some quality heavyweights during the 1950's and 60's. Of course " Ol' " Enry ' Cooper comes to mind. There was rugged Joe Erskine and Wales gave us Dick Richardson. Later Billy " The Golden Boy " Walker would emerge. One of the best was Brian London who would twice fight for world title honors.
Brian was born in 1934 and turned professional in 1955. He won his first twelve bouts, eleven by knockout before being stopped in one round by Henry Cooper in 1956. Brian bounced back to win eight of his next nine before dropping a decision to the clever Willie Pastrano in 1958. Three months later London would halt Joe Erskine in eight rounds to win the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles. He would then stop Pastrano on cuts in a rematch.
Brian was now a serious contender for a world title shot. In 1959 he lost his titles by decision to Henry Cooper. Nevertheless he was awarded a shot at Floyd Patterson's heavyweight title.After a valiant effort, Floyd stopped London in eleven rounds. Brian would then be stopped in seven by the dangerous Nino valdes.
In 1960 London would halt former Olympic Gold Medalist Pete Rademacher. Later in the year Dick Richardson he stop Brian in his attempt to win the European title. In 1961 the highly rated Eddie Machen kayoed London in ten. In 1962 he dropped a decision to Santo Amonti.
In 1963 Brian would lose a twelve round decision to former world champion Ingemar Johansson. It would be Ingo's last fight. In 1964 he again lost a fifteen rounder to Henry Cooper with the European, British and Commonwealth titles on the line. He then lost to up and coming Johnny Prescott but amazingly rebounded to defeat Chip Johnson, Billy Walker and Roger Rischer.
In 1966 he dropped a decision to a very talented Thad Spencer. Later in the year Brian received his second shot at immortality when he met Muhammad Ali for the world's title. In one of a young Ali's best performances, he battered Brian in three rounds.
Brian continued on. He lost a tough decision to the highly touted Jerry Quarry. He then defeated Zora Folley. In 1968 he suffered damaging kayo losses to Roberto Davilla and Jack Bodell. Although he drew with Henry Clark in 1969 he later lost to Jimmy " The King " Fletcher and was taken out in two in a return bout with Quarry.
In 1970 Brian was taken out in five by rising star Joe Bugner and that ended his career. London engaged in 58 professional contests. He won 37 of them, 26 by knockout. He fought four world champions. Ali, Patterson, Johansson and Pastrano. He met six boxers that vied for world title honors in Henry Cooper, Pete Rademacher, Eddie Machen, Jerry Quarry, Zora Folley and Joe Bugner. He also met other top notch guys like Nino Valdes, Thad Spencer and Henry Clark just to name a few.
Brian London had a very respectable career career and he did England proud.
Jim Amato
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Mike Rossman may not have been the best light heavyweight of all time, but he was a solid and formidable professional.
Mike Rossman - A Forgotten Champion
By Jim Amato
The date is August 1, 1975. The place is the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two of the top middleweight prospects are meeting in a rematch of a May 19th bout in Binghamton, N.Y. On that occasion Mike Nixon, the brother-in-law of Jerry and Mike Quarry, beat Mike Rossman. The loss that night to Nixon was the first of Rossman's budding career – and he vowed to avenge it. The return saw nip and tuck action all the way with Rossman boxing well behind an educated left jab, but Nixon came on some in the middle rounds. Although Rossman was probably in front, Nixon was closing the gap quickly.
Then, in the seventh round, a full swing Rossman right from out of nowhere caught Nixon and just like that the show was over. It was one of the most decisive one punch knockouts I have ever seen. I'll always remember Mike Rossman for two things: (1) that memorable KO clout against Nixon and (2) how he upset Victor Galindez in their first encounter to become the WBA light heavyweight champion.
Mike Rossman had a turbulent career. On his way to his doubleheader with Nixon, Rossman beat some capable veterans, guys like Mike Baker, Harold Richardson and Matt Donovan. After he bombed Nixon, Rossman met Mike Quarry. Quarry out-cuted Mike to win the decision. Two fights later Rossman drew with tough Clevelander Casey Gacic.
In June of 1976 Rossman lost a verdict to the crafty Tony Licata. He then halted Christy Elliot in three rounds. A few weeks letter Rossman and Elliot battled to a draw. Mike then embarked on his road to glory. Rossman outscored Mike Quarry. Then he halted Akron, Ohio's long time contender Ray Anderson in four rounds. Mike Quarry tried again but was stopped in six. Marcel Clay went in one and Gary Summerhays went the ten round route.
Then came a bump in the road toward a title fight, a bump named Alvaro "Yaqui" Lopez. They met on March 2, 1978 at New York's Madison Square Garden. Lopez proved why he was one best fighters to never win a world title. He took Rossman to school that night and battered him for a sixth round KO.
To Mike's credit he jumped right back in with solid KO wins over Lonnie Bennett and Matt Ross. Then on September 15, 1978 Mike met Victor Galindez for the WBA light heavyweight title in New Orleans. In a tremendous upset, Rossman beat Galindez at his own game. He bloodied, battered and outfought the champion to win the title on a thirteenth round TKO.
Shaky is the crown that rests upon the King's head. That was Mike Rossman after he beat Galindez. He defended against a safe opponent in Aldo Traversaro. Then came the rematch with the highly motivated Galindez. Mike lost the title back to Victor in ten rounds. Five months after losing to Galindez, Rossman lost on stunning kayo at the hands of Ramon Ranquello.
Mike put together a modest win streak to put him back in contention. He won decisions over Don Addison, Al Bolden and a pair of verdicts over rough Luke Capuano. Then, in his last chance at the big time, he was paired with the streaking Dwight Qawi. It ended in the seventh round and so in reality did Rossman's career. Mike would win four more fights and then hang them up.
During his tenure as light heavyweight champion there was actually talk of him meeting Muhammad Ali. The "Greatest" was always willing to give a talented and viable white contender a shot at immortality.
Mike Rossman may not have been the best light heavyweight of all time, but he was a solid and formidable professional.
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| PERNELL WHITAKER
Pernell Whitaker is inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. This is an honor he richly deserves. His storied amateur career along with his " Who's Who " list of boxers he met in the professional ranks surely entitles him to this honor. What a career he had !
Within two years after turning pro Whitaker was beating the likes of John Montes, Rafael Williams and former champion Alfredo Layne. In 1987 he outpointed the highly regarded Roger Mayweather. He garnered his first title shot in 1988 and he lost a decision that has to be rated among the most unjust of all time. Tough Jose Luis Rameriz had " retained " his WBC lightweight title. It was quite a gift.
Pernell regrouped in 1989 and proceeded to give rugged Greg Haugen a boxing lesson to win the IBF version of the lightweight title. Later that year he avenged his " loss " to Rameriz and picked up the WBC title too. Pernell was awesome at 135 pounds beating back the challenges of men like Freddie Pendleton, Azumah Nelson, Juan Nazario and Jorge Paez. In 1992 he moved up to the 140 pound division and captured the IBF crown with a win over Rafael Pineda.
In 1993 Pernell moved up in weight again and won a decision over the crafty Buddy McGirt to win the WBC welterweight title. Next came a " draw " with the unbeaten Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez. This was a ludicrous verdict as Pernell outboxed, outslicked and frustrated Chavez throughout the contest. In 1994 Pernell would again out duel McGirt and in 1995 he moved up again to challenge Julio Cesar Vasquez for the WBA light middleweight title. Pernell put on a boxing clinic in winning another title belt.
Pernell decided to stay at welterweight and in 1996 he received a stiff battle from feisty Wilfredo Rivera. Pernell retained his title but it was really the first time in his pro career that somebody almost beat him on a legitimate level. Cracks were beginning to show in his armour. He defeated Rivera convincingly in a return match. Then in 1997 he nearly met disaster against a spirited Diosbelys Hurtado. Behind on the cards, Pernell showed his champion's heart by stopping Hurtado in round eleven. No longer did Whitaker appear invincible.
Next it was Pernell -vs- the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya. Although the judges gave Oscar the decision by a comfortable margin, there were many who felt Pernell had again been robbed. A fight against Andrei Pestriaev resulted in a No Contest after Whitaker tested positive for cocaine. In 1999 Pernell had one more shot at the limelight as he faced IBF titleholder Felix " Tito " Trinidad. An older, slower and fading Whitaker was soundly defeated by Tito. Pernell would have one more fight but an injury led to his defeat in four rounds against Carlos Bojorquez.
Pernell retired with a stellar 40-4-1 record. I was not a Whitaker fan when he was on top. I found him rather boring to watch. He rarely even lost a round during a fight. Looking back I see now that Pernell was so boring because he was so good. I watch tapes of him now and I see just how gifted he was. Roberto Duran is my favorite fighter. I feel he was the best lightweight of my time. Nevertheless I feel that there was one lightweight who would have given him fits. That man was Pernell Whitaker. Ironically they wer both inducted the same year. Two of the finest lightweights I've ever seen.
Jim Amato |
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As Muhammad Ali ruled the heavyweight division in the mid 60's, white hope contenders came and went. Henry Cooper, George Chuvalo and Karl Mildenberger all were vanquishedby the "Greatest". When Ali was forced to relinquish his crown in 1967, the best of the white contenders was probably Jerry Quarry. By 1969 a huge brute of a man named Jack O'Halloran had compiled an impressive 16-1-1 record. Standing at around 6' 6" and weighing in the vicinity of 240lbs., Jack struck fear into opponents by his mere bulk. In 1969 he upgraded his opposition with mixed results. He dropped decisions to Joe "King" Roman, Joe Bugner and Tony Doyle. On August 19th he was halted by rugged "Florida" Al Jones. In turn he outscored Carl Gizzi and stopped Mexican contender Manuel Ramos in seven rounds.
On January 26th, 1970 in New York Jack was kayoed by George Foreman in five rounds. On April 9th he was destroyed in one round by Mac Foster. Jack lost a rematch with Roman but he did manage to outpoint Britisher Danny McAliden. 1971 was a dismal year for Jack as he lost to Jack Bodell, John Griffin, Ron Stander and Ron Lyle. Jack did decision Cleveland Williams and he kayoed Terry Daniels.
Big Jack made his move in 1972 as he fought his way into the heavyweight ratings. On March 17th he lost a ten round donnybrook to future champion Kenny Norton. Many felt this was one of the best bouts between big men on the west coast in years. On June 16th Jack dropped a verdict to a highly regarded Henry Clark. On August 10th in what became Jack's career highlight, he won a twelve round rematch with Clark for the California State heavyweight title. One month later he halted Ali's brother Rudy Clay ( Rahman Ali ) in eight rounds. Quickly Jack put out a challenge to Muhammad to avenge his brother's loss. Luckily for Jack the ex-champ had other commitments.
Jack started 1973 where he left off in 1972. He pounded out a ten round decision over Al "Blue" Lewis. He then split a pair of knockouts with Jimmy Summerville. On June 8th Jack lost the California State title to Howard "Kayo" Smith via a twelve round points call. Jack then dropped back to back verdicts to Boone Kirkiman and Koli Vailee. On December 5th Big Jack was stopped in nine rounds by Larry Middleton. That loss pretty much finished Jack as a viable contender. In all Jack fought two world champions and seven others challenged for the crown. Also include top contenders such as Al Jones, Al "Blue" Lewis, Mac Foster, Henry Clark, Boone Kirkman and Larry Middleton and you can see Jack did battle with the cream of the crop
Jim Amato
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| ERBITO SALAVARRIA : THE PHILIPPINES FORGOTTEN CHAMPION
The Philippines have been getting a lot of boxing press lately through the success of favorite son Manny Pacquiao and deservedly so. The Philippines have produced many great fighters like Flash Elorde and Ceferino Garcia. One such fine fighter and former two time world champion from the Philippines has been largely forgotten through the passages of time. His name was Erbito Salavarria.
Salavarria turned professional in 1963 and won seventeen of his first twenty bouts. In 1966 he lost a decision to Ric Magrano for the Philippine flyweight title. Salavarria and Magrano would split a four fight series with the Philippine crown on the line each time. In 1967 Erbito made his first journey away from the Philippines and lost to Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Tokyo for the Orient - Pacific flyweight title. In 1969 Salavarria would stop Nakamura in a rematch to win that crown.
In 1970 Salavarria won an upset ten round non title decision over reigning WBA flyweight titleholder Berkrerk Chartvanchai. The victory earned Erbito a title shot against WBC flyweight champion Chartchai Chionoi. Salavarria shocked the boxing world as he flattened the great Chionoi in the second round. In 1971 Salavarria defended against Susumu Hanagata ( W-15 ) and Venezuela's Betulio Gonzalez ( D-15 ). He also lost a non title verdict to Lorenzo " Halimi " Gutierrez. In 1973 he lost his title to the fabulous Thai southpaw Venice Borkhorsor.
Salavarria stayed in contention winning four of five fights losing only to Panama's Alfonso Lopez. In 1975 Salvarria won the WBA version of the flyweight title with a decision over old rival Hanagata. He then defeated Hanagata in a title defense. In 1976 Erbito again met Panama's Lopez who stripped Salavarria of the title via a fifteenth round stoppage. Erbito would have one more contest being halted by former light flyweight king Netmoi Sor Vorasingh.
Salavarria ended his career with 54 fights, 40 of which he won. He lost eleven and drew three times. He was a major player in the flyweight division through most of the 1970's.
Jim Amato |
| Rocky Marciano’s Lost Title Fight !
posted by Kathleen Holland on June 8, 2008, in Features
By Ted Luzzi
Here in the San Francisco bay area the glory days of boxing in our city seem behind us. Nearby Las Vegas is supreme. However some still gather around and talk boxing and great fighters and fights. Recently it was about the greatest of Italian fighters and when he came to town.
Rocky Marciano is whom I speak of. Its hard to remember and believe that a world heavyweight title fight happened live in our fair city. A title fight with Rocky Marciano as champion no less! Its Rocky’s lost and largely a fight fans forget with British and Europe champion Don Cockell.
Britian has produced many boxers of international fame. Cockell had left a strong imprint on European heavyweights and he had became number three rated in the world. It was the start of the Television era and the idea of a British big boy fighting in the United States was not so strange. It was a fight held outdoors at Kezar stadium and 15,235 fans showed up, many of them Italians, a reflection of the large Italian community in the City.
British hopes were high. Marciano was one of the most popular heavyweight champions ever in the United States, yet for some reason was not so highly regarded in England. They called him a rough, foul fighter who would be disqualified in a European ring. As Ring magazine put it, "scarcely a word of praise for Rocky from the reporters who traveled to the Pacific to cover the battle!" Local reporters countered the British press saying that Rocky was not a uncouth character inside or outside the ring.
Fight night British flags flew, Italian flags flew and so did the United States flag. The fans were confrontational and wild and at the bell so were the fighters. Ring magazine called it "from a fistic angle the Marciano-Cockell fight was a splendid success.
"Rocky came out showing no mercy and Cockell showed he was not there to play tiddle-winks either" .Don Cockell was very aggressive attacking Marciano’s body as Rocky charged forward and both started tearing into each other. Marciano was a devastating hitter but Don Cockell took what Marciano hit him with and would strike back with a whirlwind of punches trying to stem the tide. Cockell wanted the fight at his distance, a distance that would put the shorter armed Marciano at a disadvantage. Marciano, of course, wanted to get in with his short arm kicks, that as one opponent stated were "godawful".
Cockell would sometimes reach out and just shove Rocky off balance, as Marciano came in. Sometimes Cockell would time his jabs to hit Rocky just as he was off balance. These tactics surprised and disconcerted the powerful Marciano and he began to miss and miss and miss again as he was kept just out of punching range.
Marciano won the first round . Cockell sent his British rooters into a wave of excitement by winning the second. All fighters are human. Sometimes odd ideas get into their heads. This happened to Marciano just before the fight as he himself later told the story. Just before they left the dressing room a guy came in and said to Marciano that everyone was talking about how Cockell was a bum and Rocky was going to have to knock him out in two or three rounds to look good. Marciano said that he kept thinking about this in the fight and it made him not fight his usual fight and just go for a one shot knockout. "Who the hell let this guy in my dressing room !" Rocky was to say even years later.
Marciano was a decent guy. However, he also had, as his trainer described it, "this ambition and competitiveness just spilling out of him.” Marciano said he thought he needed knockouts to keep the fans coming back. He was proud but a bit insecure about his skills. Now as the fight went on Cockell had gone four rounds and not even come close to being down. British fans were singing and yelling their admiration. Don Cockell was standing up to the greatest puncher since Joe Louis and being competitive. Don Cockell however was getting tired . He moved just a little slower now in the fifth and the punches that Marciano was just missing before began to land.
Rocky was pushing forward with a furious onslaught and crashing in his punches and Cockell was feeling the effects. The gong rang for the start of the sixth and both men advanced from their corners. Marciano delivered a right and then a left that made Cockell hold and the crowd gasp. Don Cockell came back with a fighting attitude and suddenly Marciano was the one shaken! Marciano then fought back himself with a glorious rally and it was an overall even round as the crowd was on its feet in ovation. A lot of Cockell’s vitality had been used up by the all out action packed punch out in the sixth and he needed rest.
Marciano the owner of the greatest stamina of any heavyweight champion in history was still eager. Marciano seeing that Cockell was finally tired began to turn it all lose in the seventh and hammer Cockell . The eighth was brutal. Cockell kept trying to push Marciano away. Marciano got annoyed and hammered home a right cross that staggered Cockell. Another terrific right wallop from Marciano, and Cockell was clearly in distress.
Then Marciano finally got in the punch he wanted .Marciano socked in a right that landed so accurately that it had all the weight of Marcianos body behind it. Cockell went spinning over the middle strand of the ropes halfway out of the ring and it was only the bell that saved him from a KO then and there.
The ninth was 54 seconds of dreadful punishment. Marciano smashed blow upon blow on Cockell until it was stopped. Marciano was never one to let them go once he had them. The fight at Kezar stadium was a thriller. As ring put it "the fans were treated to as good a spectacle of fighting as in any of Rocky’s previous contests". The bruised and battered Cockell won respect for his brave and very determined effort and actually was thought to be better as a fighter.
Rocky Marciano had 49 pro fights. Six of them were for the World’s Heavyweight title. The Cockell one was a thriller that is often overlooked and I thought many readers would be interested in it.
Courtesy of www.mightygloves.com |
| TIMBER : THE FALL OF BIG JOHN TATE
He was to be the heir apparent to the retired Muhammad Ali. He was a big strong heavyweight who could box. Yes Larry Holmes was the holder of the World Boxing Council's version of the heavyweight title. Larry had been embarrassed though in the amateurs by Duane Bobick. Yes as a pro he was undefeated. He beat an aging , slow and ponderous Earnie Shavers to qualify for a shot at the WBC title. Larry then defeated Ken Norton to win the vacant WBC championship. Still many thought of Larry as nothing more the Ali's sparring partner who was in the right place at the right time.
Enter Big John Tate...John was born in 1955 and he had a very successful amateur career although he was stopped in the Olympics by the great Teofilo Stevenson. He had a good pro style and he quickly began to move up in the ratings after turning professional in 1977. In his fourth bout he outscored rugged Walter Santemore who would meet world champions Tony Tucker, Bonecrusher Smith, Trevor Berbick and Frank Bruno during his career. He would also take a decision over the ever dangerous Earnie Shavers. John would then win a close decision over Eddie " The Animal " Lopez. John was surely not being spoon fed opposition.
John made his move in 1978 with knockouts over Raul Gorosito, Bernardo Mercado and Santemore in a rematch.He then won a close decision over Johnny Boudreaux earning himself a rating. In 1979 Tate met the still highly regarded Duane Bobick and blasted him out in less then a round. John was then matched with power punching South African Kallie Knoetze in an eliminator by the World Boxing Association to determine a successor to the retired Muhammad Ali. The winner of Tate-Knoetzee would meet the winner of a bout between another South African Gerrie Coetzee and former champion Leon Spinks. Big John proved to be too much for Knoetze winning in eight rounds. Coetzee sent Leon to the showers in a single round. In front of over 80,000 South African fans, John boxed and punched his way to a comfortable fifteen round decision over Coetzee and was now proclaimed the new champion.
There was now talk of Ali retuning to fight Tate in a quest to win the championship for a fourth time. All John had to do was defeat Mike Weaver in a defense in front a fan friendly crowd in Knoxville, Tennessee. Weaver had given WBC champion Larry Holmes a very tough fight at Madison Square Garden the year before. He would be considered a good measuring opponent to determine the difference between Holmes and Tate. After fourteen rounds John had a comfortable lead. All he had to do was last the fifteenth and final round. John was still there two minutes into the round. Just one more minute...one more minute. Then it happened, a punch for the ages. Upon its impact John fell face first to the canvas. OUT COLD !
John was now an ex champion. The possible Ali fight was gone. A unification bout with Holmes or a Coetzee rematch went up in smoke. Tate would take on Canadian Trevor Berbick in an attempt to resurrect his career. Berbick did not read the script as he sent John to the mat in round nine. In a span of less then three months John had found himself helpless on the canvas, his career in shambles.
Eight months later John returned with a decision over Harvey Steichen. He scored a few meaningless knockouts and then he had to travel the distance to defeat veterans Leroy Caldwell and Leroy Boone. A decision over Donnie Long led to a KO over Marty Capasso. John would not box again for almost three years.
When John reappeared he weighed a whopping 274 pounds as he blitzed Steve Eisenbarth in a round. Tate scaled 293 when he won a decision over Calvin Jones. In 1988 John took his fourteen bout win streak to England to meet Noel Quarless. John trimmed down to 281 but Quarless won a ten round verdict. That was all for Tate's tenure as an active boxer.
John retired with a respectable 34-3 record with 23 knockouts but I'll always think of him with the question, " What if ? " Where would his career have gone if he could have just survived that final round against Weaver. Just one more minute...
Jim Amato |
| KLITSCHKO vs HAYE : MR.HAYE MAY GET BLOWN AWAY !
I recently caught a clip of cruiserweight champion David Haye calling out heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at a shopping mall. Wladimir looked to be rather amused by Haye's bold challenge. He had a " you've got to be kidding me ' look on his face. Wlad said something to the effect that David needed to put on some weight. He also told Haye to " get in line " for a title shot.
I had to see for myself if Haye really had the " goods " to be a force in the heavyweight ranks. There were some excellent clips of Haye on www.youtube.com Yes I saw that Mr.Haye has a lot of tools and he can really whack, BUT...he won't win if he brings his chin. Aging Carl Thompson took Haye outta' there.He has also ( Haye ) been knocked down or hurt on other occasions. The Thompson bout was a clear revelation for me. As Max Schmeling once said before his first fight with Joe Louis, " I see something " in regards to a Louis style flaw. I see a major flaw in Haye's style that will be exploited by Klitschko. Haye takes too many right hands and that happens to be Wladimir' s best power punch. I see Klitschko keeping the aggressive Haye at bay with that fine jab of his and then dropping over some big overhand rights. If Haye did the shake and shimmy from a Carl Thompson right hand, what do think Wladimir's right will do to him ? It may not be pretty.
I'd like to see Haye fight a couple of heavyweight fringe contenders before talking his way into a match with Wladimir. A Williamson, a Monte Barrett, a Dominck Guinn or even a James Toney. This way we could gauge if Haye is big enough to play with the big boys of the heavyweight division. The boxing public can ill afford being duped by Haye or promoters looking to cash in on a lucrative Klitschko - Haye match up. Haye needs to prove himself worthy of a title shot and if he does he'll just have to march through the division and wait his turn. As Wladimir told Haye to " get in line " My advice to Haye..." Be careful what you wish for ".
Jim Amato |
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