Tony Danza vs. Mickey Rourk

[Bummy Davis]

I met both men, but I remember when Danza was fighting, he was a puncher but little defense but he had a lot of promise. I remember boxing judge and excellent Pro Fighter Bernie"school Boy" Friedkin Saying he liked what he saw in Danza

Mickey was tough but Danza had talent and power...I go with the Boss

[mr. magoo]

I'm picking Rourke, soley on his street fight performance in "bar fly." Epic.

[john garfield]

Originally Posted by Seamus

Conrad's fight career was before he had major success with Wild Wild West. I find it difficult to believe he could arrange the outcomes of professional boxing matches as a struggling actor.

Regarding the fight with Danza, Conrad was 55 years old while Danza was 38, and a lot closer to his fighting career. Danza did come into it taking it lightly, but must have realized early on that red ass Conrad meant business. Still, Conrad was 55, a grandfather. Danza should have been able to adjust and getting avoided getting starched.

Either that... or Robert Conrad was a bad ass.

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...or Tony treated it as a laugh. He'd do anything for a laugh, but sell him short and intentionally try to make him look the fool ( like most guys did with Graziano) they learned very quickly they had a tiger by the tail.

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by john garfield

...or Tony treated it as a laugh. He'd do anything for a laugh, but sell him short and intentionally try to make him look the fool ( like most guys did with Graziano) they learned very quickly they had a tiger by the tail.

With all due respect... he got coldcocked by a midget grand dad with a Napoleon Complex. There was no Graziano there.

I rate Conrad at 57th all time on my All Time Middleweight List.

[Son of Gaul]

Not sure if this is a joke thread but...


...Rourke was actually a decent amateur as a young man but he didn't turned pro until he was almost 40 years old and Danza turned pro at his physical peak. This would be the difference as Tony was the superior athlete and he punched like a legit pro. Rourke basically just tried to maul people.

[Lord Tywin]

Rourke was horrible. The few fights of his I saw were a joke. At least one was an obvious fix.

To this day he goes around claiming he was one fight away from the cruiserweight title shot. He never even fought as a cruiserweight.

Whats sad is he was so awful that with just a handful of fights he got enough facial damage that he went in for plastic surgery and completely ruined his face.

As an added note, is it just me or do some of the guys he fought look a good 10 or 20 pounds lighter than him.

[thistle1]

Originally Posted by Seamus

With all due respect... he got coldcocked by a midget grand dad with a Napoleon Complex. There was no Graziano there.

I rate Conrad at 57th all time on my All Time Middleweight List.

is there film of this showdown?

[john garfield]

Originally Posted by Seamus

With all due respect... he got coldcocked by a midget grand dad with a Napoleon Complex. There was no Graziano there.

I rate Conrad at 57th all time on my All Time Middleweight List.

lemme see if i can explain myself better, S. The "exhibition's" where no more than agreed upon vaudeville sketches, with the ref included, before a rubber chicken dinner so that the audience would be in a good mood to contribute more for down-and-out-fighters. No one got hurt; it was all for giggles.

The audience was usually all boxing insiders, and the meanest guys were matched in these exhibitions with arch rivals they'd fought 20-30-40 years ago and were willing to cower behind the ref or run around the ring like Charlie Chaplin, or spin like a top from a missed round house and take a ten count.

Those attending loved it. It was all in the interest of charity 'n nostalgia.

Only once in 20 years did I ever see a fighter (a top-rated heavy) go off- script and brutally beat his opponent.

The transgressor, normally low-key 'n charming -- a sometime network analyst -- died some years later of brain damage from all his crowd-pleasing wars in the ring.

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by thistle1

is there film of this showdown?

There are stills. I remember when it happened that the National Enquirer made a big deal about it. Apparently, it was for charity and Danza treated it rather lightly. Conrad, who does not understand the notions of frivolity or propriety, proceeded to batter Danza along the ropes and KO him.

[he grant]

Danza KO I

[Johnstown]

Originally Posted by Seamus

There are stills. I remember when it happened that the National Enquirer made a big deal about it. Apparently, it was for charity and Danza treated it rather lightly. Conrad, who does not understand the notions of frivolity or propriety, proceeded to batter Danza along the ropes and KO him.

looking at that still you showed Danza seems to have a smile on his face..hmmmm

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by john garfield

lemme see if i can explain myself better, S. The "exhibition's" where no more than agreed upon vaudeville sketches, with the ref included, before a rubber chicken dinner so that the audience would be in a good mood to contribute more for down-and-out-fighters. No one got hurt; it was all for giggles.

The audience was usually all boxing insiders, and the meanest guys were matched in these exhibitions with arch rivals they'd fought 20-30-40 years ago and were willing to cower behind the ref or run around the ring like Charlie Chaplin, or spin like a top from a missed round house and take a ten count.

Those attending loved it. It was all in the interest of charity 'n nostalgia.

Only once in 20 years did I ever see a fighter (a top-rated heavy) go off- script and brutally beat his opponent.

The transgressor, normally low-key 'n charming -- a sometime network analyst -- died some years later of brain damage from all his crowd-pleasing wars in the ring.

Someone forgot to fill in the ever dangerous testosterone font known as Robert Conrad. Are you denying that he KO'd Danza?

[john garfield]

Originally Posted by Seamus

Someone forgot to fill in the ever dangerous testosterone font known as Robert Conrad. Are you denying that he KO'd Danza?

You wanna believe Conrad legit KO'd Tony, S Ya have more than enough evidence ta support it

Not looking ta pick a fight, 'n go round' n round.

Just curious if you weighed any of my comments before making up your mind?

[Bummy Davis]

Originally Posted by john garfield

lemme see if i can explain myself better, S. The "exhibition's" where no more than agreed upon vaudeville sketches, with the ref included, before a rubber chicken dinner so that the audience would be in a good mood to contribute more for down-and-out-fighters. No one got hurt; it was all for giggles.

The audience was usually all boxing insiders, and the meanest guys were matched in these exhibitions with arch rivals they'd fought 20-30-40 years ago and were willing to cower behind the ref or run around the ring like Charlie Chaplin, or spin like a top from a missed round house and take a ten count.

Those attending loved it. It was all in the interest of charity 'n nostalgia.

Only once in 20 years did I ever see a fighter (a top-rated heavy) go off- script and brutally beat his opponent.

The transgressor, normally low-key 'n charming -- a sometime network analyst -- died some years later of brain damage from all his crowd-pleasing wars in the ring.

I agree, most of these fights are for charity, I think the funniest was Bob Hope vs Marciano....Willie Pep and Sugar Ray as well, I think Ray put his left on Willies head while Willie kept swinging like he was trying to reach Ray's chin,swing in the air in animation

[Johnstown]

i saw a fight where bob hope knocked out jack dempsey.....im sure that was real as well..