When you weren't boxing connoisseurs...

During the time I was becoming a hardcore fan I remember being blown away by Accelino Freitas. His awkward, herky jerky movement coupled with the chilling power in his right glove.

Kostya Tszyu was another too. After he beat Sharmba Mitchell the second time I was sure he would beat Hatton, Vivian Harris, Cotto, Gatti etc. He was a fascinating guy to watch and read about

 

Mike Tyson, then Sweet Pea and Roy.

Mike Tyson when I was in elementary school, Pernell Whitaker when I was in high school, and then Roy Jones in high school through college.

 

One of the sweetest hearts in the hardest sport's.

 

Raised as a rookie fan to a connoisseur under the tutelage of Ali

 

As I said in the past, I became a boxing fan of Muhammad Ali and boxing in general when I watched the Ali vs Floyd Patterson title bout on Nov 22 1965, telecast live from Las Vegas, Nevada. I saw it on closed circuit television, Ali won that bout by TKO 12. Many in the crowd were already comparing him to the all time greats. Many were also saying Ali carried Floyd, for addressing him by his birth name of Cassius Clay, which Ernie Terrell, Oscar Bonavena, Joe Frazier and his camp later did.

 

As a kid I saw Duran vs. DeJesus III and I knew what Duran was doing was amazing. I couldn't analyze it or describe why, but I just knew regardless.

 

His book, Fighting Against Myself, is a fabulous read. Heart rending in places.

 

You couldn't grow up in the late 60's / early 70's without being acutely aware of Ali. You sort of absorbed the fact that he was great without understanding why.
I vividly remember the Frazier v Bugner fight in 1973. I used my pocket money to buy hand puppets of the two Fighters.
Local boy Pat Cowdell winning the Commonwealth Games Gold in Christchurch 74 got me watching the sport properly although Boxing ran in the family with my Dad and his 2 Brothers all being amateurs.

 

ABC Wide World of Sport 1975 or 76 "The Thrilla in Manila". Though my love
was Bruce Lee And I was in Isshin Ryu at the time, I started becoming fascinated
with boxing.

 

He was a scary looking guy!
I loved that picture taken of him and Hearns before their fight, both of em look mean as fcuk. If one man in the early 80 s looked a "" fighter "", it was him.

 

Cassius Clay and when i knew the boxing Cassius Clay too. You don't need being an expert to know that you are watching is something special

 

Will look to get this book. To this day, when I read his name I get a bit sad knowing I could have spoken to him at the IBHOF. He made eye contact with me on 2 occasions, yet I was with Lou Duva escorting him to the grounds on one of those little white golf carts. When I got him inside, ETM was gone.

 

When I was a kid, my dad brought home a VHS from Blockbuster with some of Ali's greatest moments. I watched it a few times that week. Been hooked ever since. For some reason, the first guy as a kid I really gravitated to was Bernard Hopkins when he was in the middle of his 160 pound reign.

 

Tyson.