The original article was written for Boxing Digest magazine and was very much edited due to their space constraints. This version is a bit more fully realized and expanded. I've added an autographed pic of Hammer as well. Enjoy: http://www.ibroresearch.com/?p=5439
S S, I want to thank you for your great article of the long forgotten tough man ,Ever Hammer. A tough guy for the ages. Ever ,had one thing in common with another rugged SOB of his time, Rocky Kansas. These two iron men lightweights,were both ko'd by the Ray Robinson of the lightweight's, the immortal Benny Leonard...Benny Leonard was so highly regarded in his time,that when he boxed in the gym,Lou Stillman related that every boxer in his gym,stopped what they were doing, so they can learn from the master, Benny Leonard...Great article Doug and much appreciated...:good
Awesome. You sure know how to put the work in on these types of fighters, Surf. It's a shame how such a debilitating and altogether renowned fighter of the time could fall through the cracks the way he's done. The same goes for your other article pieces with guys like Jeff Smith and Aurelio Herrera. Good stuff.
Thank you gents. Like I've stated before, the whole purpose of this series I'm doing on forgotten/overlooked fighters is to pull them out of those "cracks" they've fallen into and get their careers reexamined. :smoke
Nice Article interview with Ever Hammer in 1948 where he comments on the fighters he fought. According to this he was a deputy Sheriff in Cook County Illinois at the time. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tjAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ICUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2734,4534238
I read this last night Surf-Bat, after you mentioned it in that 'advice on research' thread. Superb, exactly the kind of pieces I like to read.
Scribbs, Flea and Red- Glad you guys enjoyed it. When we learn more about the contenders it makes us appreciate the champs and true greats of boxing a bit more, no? I like reading about guys like Hammer. I don't need any more articles on Benny Leonard, Jack Dempsey, Mickey Walker or Joe Louis. Give me Danny Duane, Curtis Sheppard, Lee Q. Murray, Harlem Tommy Murphy, Jeff Smith or Ike Weir.
Surf, since my dad saw his idol Ruby Goldstein ruined by the young Nebraska Wildcat Ace Hudkins,who flattened "the jewell of the ghetto" Goldstein, I believe a piece on Ace Hudkins is long overdue....Hudkins was by all accounts, was as tough as any fighter who ever lived . A throwback to Mysterious Billy Smith, Kid Lavigne or Battling Nelson, i think an article by you on his career would be much appreciated by ESB... P.S. what a war it would have been between Ever Hammer and Ace Hudkins ! Oh my...
Thanks Burt. I started a piece on Hudkins once called "How the 'Nebraska Wildcat' became the 'California Kid'", but got distracted. I think I may return to it soon. Gotta finish this long delayed Al Gainer piece first. Hammer and Hudkins fought at the end of Ever's career, with the younger Hudkins taking it. Ace was an excellent lightweight, but he definitely peaked at welterweight and middleweight. Hammer was at his best at lightweight. Prime Hammer vs. Ace at his LW best, I'd have to go with Hammer in a close one. Both were swarmers, so this would have been a war indeed. :good
Inspirational Mr. Bat. I can only hope to put something together of that ilk someday. I appreciate the good work.
This is my sentiment also. While I don't know everything about the well known champions, it does get a bit annoying reading endless articles about a certain bunch of fighters. There are too many boxers in history to know everything about many of them so it's nice when a little known fighter get some props. :thumbsup