Sparring Stories

Glenn mcCory gave a good account of himself sparring tyson, blacking his eye. They were both 21 and Glenn was fighting at cruiserweight at the time.

While training for the tyson fight, holyfield is rumoured to have been given a very hard time while sparring with Tua

 

Travis Walker and Raphael Butler both dropped Vitali in sparring.
Ray Patterson, Floyd's brother dropped Liston in sparring.
Toxie Hall dropped Marciano.

 

Tommy hearns is rumoured to have given Ali hell in a sparring session.
Hearns also sparred with benn.

 

Piladelphia Jack O'Brien sparred with both Jem Mace and Joe Louis, imagine that!

 

hya t. Ah Stillman's Gym where I spent half of my youth for years
watching the greatest fighters of a golden age train. Every Saturday and
some weekdays, I would attend for 25cents mingling with the fighters, trainers, oldtime fighters and most likely mob figures. It was wonderful
seeing fighters sparring at the gym and a short time later watching them perform at the many fight clubs in NY including the old MSG on Friday
nights. So many memories flash through my mind that I don't know where to start, but one sparring incident I can never forget. There was a terrific FW prospect from New Jersey named Freddie Russo, who while sparring
a few feet from us, SWALLOWED his mouthpiece and fell to the floor
clutching his throat. He was turning bluish when a few trainers jumped
in the ring and frantically tried to pry the mouthpiece from his throat
which thank God they succeeded...We the spectators were nervous
wrecks watching this near tragedy, but Russo survived to the relief of
everyone. This one event has always remained in my mind...:hi:

 

Jack Dempsey broke the jaw of Big Ben Wray in two places with one punch.Wray was 7'2" and 300lbs.

 

Where did you hear that

 

Hearn and Benn sparred? I must hear more of this story!

 

Oops. Got that wrong. Hearns sparred mcclellan, not benn. Duran sparred with benn.

 

Vicente Saldivar and Love Allotey had to be separated during a sparring session in London when it turned into a full on fight.

 

How did the G-Man/Hearns sessions go down? Bet they were brutal!

 

McClellan Hearns sparring is on youtube and Hearns McCallum. McClellan Toney as well.

 

this one is on youtube

 

Toney handled mcclellan quite easily in my opinion. Too clever for him. Hearns mccallum is an interesting one. Will have to have a look later

 

I've never seen it but think it was just exhibition stuff