First time I saw Jimmy Young at MSG, I thought he was garbage

[Russell]

Originally Posted by Il Duce

In early 1969, while still an amateur, Jimmy sparred with Leotis Martin.
A couple of months later, Martin KO'd Sonny Liston in Las Vegas.
At that time, Jimmy was only 21 years old, and 190 lbs. (soaking wet).
During the several sparring sessions in Philly, Jimmy gave Leotis fits.
Jimmy would never open up offensively, and then would counter-punch Leotis silly.

Considered a 'stylist', more than a boxer. No one thought much of him,
when entering the 'Pro Ranks'.
One of his earliest 'important' wins. A 1973 decision win over a 'pretty good at the time' Obie English, who was
8-1-0. In a battle of young Philadelphia Heavyweights, Jimmy overcame a slow first half of the fight, to counter-punch Obie in Rounds 4-5-6, before opening up offensively in Rounds 7 and 8, to upset the 'favored' English.
The reason that fight was so important. 2 months earlier Jimmy was crushed (KO'd) by Earnie Shavers, dropping
his record to 7-4-0 (2 KO's). He needed a victory over a decent opponenet, to prevent from falling into
Boxing Oblivion. A loss to English, may have sealed his fate.

I still believe he won the title fight over Ali. I have played that fight over and over, and still have Jimmy winning the fight in rounds (6 to 5 with 4 even)
Up to that point, 'no one' had ever made Ali look like an 'ass' in the ring.
Jimmy did, even laughing at Ali's pathetic dancing in Round 11.
Check out Rounds 8 thru 12, and it is difficult to see Ali control anyone of them.
If anyone ever deserved a re-match, it was Jimmy Young.
pc

Great post, and welcome to the forums Il Duce.

[Il Duce]

Russell,
Thanks for the Kudo's.
Much appreciated.
This is a great site.
I saw Jimmy Young box in 1969 as an amateur, and followed his professional career.
Really a good kid.
6' 1" and 190 lbs. Very smart in the ring, though at times dull.
He knew he couldn't punch.
Saw several of his sparring sessions with Leotis Martin, just before turning pro.
He held his own, against a cagey veteran with a 'Killer" right hand.
Leotis never hurt him.
His manager (I can't remember the name) got him some good 'money' fights early in his career. He had to take them, because there were no other fights out there for a 'slick' non-puncher like Jimmy.
They persuaded him to put on extra weight (+15 lbs.) so he would have a 'heftier punch'.
It didn't help, it only slowed him down and made him 'lazy'.
For the Ali fight, he is listed at 209 lbs. That was the press release, in reality he was a 198 lbs.
If you look at the fight, Ali looks 'so much bigger' than Jimmy.

[Titan1]

Originally Posted by Bummy Davis

Funny but looking back I remember him on a Mike Quarry undercard at MSG He was the opponent for Randy Neumann (the Ref) who was 18-1 Young was 7-2 and Randy beat him. I remember thinking Neuman is going no-where and Young was worse than him, neither man could bust open a grape. I hated myself for going to see Nuemann again after watching him and pillow-fisted Chuck Wepner in a horible fight.

I loved Boxing but this fight put me to sleep. Young was Ko'd by Shavers in his next fight in 3 bringing his record to 7-4 but wins over Obie English, Richard Dunn KO8, and Jose Louis Garcia gave the 13-4-1 Young a rematch with Shavers that was a draw that most felt Young clearly won. He went on to beat Ron Lyle and lose a decision to Ali many felt he won, he also beat and dropped George Foreman and lost a controvercial dec to Ken Norton

Point is the school of hard knocks sometimes brings out the best in a fighter. I saw Mike Weaver a 18-9 trail horse get convidence and rejuvination after a gallent effort vs Holmes and remember guys like Freddie Pembleton and Art"the dart"Kettels and Maurice Harris comeback after a confidence builder

Any other fighters you can think of that had a rough start but came back strong

Saoul Mamby, probably.

[red cobra]

Originally Posted by Il Duce

Russell,
Thanks for the Kudo's.
Much appreciated.
This is a great site.
I saw Jimmy Young box in 1969 as an amateur, and followed his professional career.
Really a good kid.
6' 1" and 190 lbs. Very smart in the ring, though at times dull.
He knew he couldn't punch.
Saw several of his sparring sessions with Leotis Martin, just before turning pro.
He held his own, against a cagey veteran with a 'Killer" right hand.
Leotis never hurt him.
His manager (I can't remember the name) got him some good 'money' fights early in his career. He had to take them, because there were no other fights out there for a 'slick' non-puncher like Jimmy.
They persuaded him to put on extra weight (+15 lbs.) so he would have a 'heftier punch'.
It didn't help, it only slowed him down and made him 'lazy'.
For the Ali fight, he is listed at 209 lbs. That was the press release, in reality he was a 198 lbs.
If you look at the fight, Ali looks 'so much bigger' than Jimmy.

My man Jimmy was a natural..a bigger version of Wilfred Benitez in a way..only he competed against naturally bigger guys and he had a better chin than Benitez..he always..and to this day, amazed me. The Foreman fight is one of my alltime favorites, and I'm a fan of big George's.

[Longhhorn71]

Pipino Cuevas had a similar "down" .....up....then down career.

[Il Duce]

No one ever mentioned this, but was Jimmy Young part of Smokin Joe Frazier's
sparring crew up at the Concord Hotel, New York, in February 1971.

Because Kenny Norton was there too, helping Joe out for the "Fight of the Century"

[Boxed Ears]

Tommy...I just want you to know I had a one-liner, likely a pretty predictable one...I backed off, just for you.

[MRBILL]

Look, I have never cut-up or chopped-down Jimmy Young as a talented 200 pounder capable of teaching youths the ins and outs about boxing technique, but I never got the feeling that Jimmy Young had the eye of the tiger to be consistant and a deadly force during his peak years between 1975 thru 1978... Young was a classic example of being a "Hot & Cold" boxer... Even when he was in decent shape and focused, it still seemed like he could better trained... Young failed himself more than anybody else... His pro record could / should have less losses than it depicts... Cheers...

MR.BILL