Just started reading the Boom Boom Mancini book (The Good Son) and it talks about his father Lenny at Stillman's. Do you remember him, or did you hear stories about him?
Yes I did S...As a youngster I would read about Lenny Boom Boom Mancini from Ohio, because he fought a lot in NY and considered a human dynamo.. He was only 5ft2" tall and weighed about 134 and was good enought to lose a SPLIT decision to the real tough Champion Sammy Angott... Rhere was a demand for a rematch but Boom Boom went into the Army where he was badly wounded and recieved the Purple Heart...After he was discharged he weighed in as a welterweight too heavy for his 5ft2 frame and was never a threat for the WW title again...A great crowd pleaser as his taller son Ray was years later...WW2 ruined many fighters careers...
Thanks, B. I was always a bit skeptical about whether the hoopla around Lenny's story as told during Ray's rise might have been a bit exaggerated, but it appears he was at the very least a worthy contender before WWII.
