What is your favourite Boxing memory?

When Tim Timoshek, after his ko loss to Tommy Morrison, uttered the phrase "jeepers" x number of times in his post fight interview......nah, not really.
Probably when I saw the great drama unfolding of Buster Dougles ko'ing Mike Tyson in that magical upset that night of Feb 11, 1990. I was watching the fight with a friend who the definition of a "casual"....it was just a fight to him, and he seemed unaware of why I was so swept up in the match, lol.

 

Live: Benn-McClellan
TV: Holyfield-Tyson 1

 

Like I have posted before, my first fond memory was when I went with my Dad and Uncle to see the first Ali vs Patterson fight, on Nov 22 1965, on closed circuit television at the local high school. Talk about the crowd in a frenzy, they were pretty much saying that Ali carried Patterson to torture him. I also came face to face with Carlos Monzon on March 24 1979, after watching live, Sugar Ray Leonard destroy Daniel Gonzales, Argentina, in round 1. I was on my way to use the restroom, and to get a beer. We locked eyes, then nodded to each other. I then saw the Alexis Arguello vs Ruben Castillo WBC World Junior Lightweight Title bout on Jan 20 1980, live. What a master Alexis was that afternoon, very calculating, slowly stalking Castillo, until he caught his prey against the ropes in round 11, to score the TKO stoppage. We all watch the sport on television, but there is nothing greater than watching it live,or seeing these athletes that you have enjoyed watching.

 

Probably going ot the fights with my Pops.

He took our family to Tyson-Spinks, but the best was probably when I was in college and he called on a couple days notice and said ‘Let’s fly to Atlanta and go to the Holyfield fight.’ It was Holy-Qawi I and we had great seats. Just flew over, got a hotel for one night and flew back the next day.

Even watching boxing on TV with my father is still a joy. I live in another city but last fall I think it was I visited and ESPN had fights and we made an evening of it.

 

I really enjoyed your post, I went to see the Arguello vs Castillo fight with my dad, and the Leonard vs Gonzalez fight with my older brother, as well as watching the first Ali vs Patterson with my dad and uncle as posted. My Dad and Uncle have since passed, but watching with family makes it all special.

 

That’s what it’s all about my friend.

That’s one thing I lament the most about PPV/cable/streaming replacing closed circuit. We had many outings with family or friends driving an hour each way to watch some of those big fights (nearest bigger town carried them, ours was too small). And it was like going to the fights with people rooting for both sides sitting in the same sections and whatnot. There was real community to it.

My first night in Nashville for my first job out of college, I went to the downtown auditorium on my own, new to the city, knowing literally no one, and got a ticket to see Leonard-Hagler. Place was so packed I wandered around and couldn’t find a seat. So I eventually just sat on the stairs. After a couple of minutes, a group of Hispanic fans down a row to my right got my attention and said they had a seat and invited me to join, welcomed me and we talked boxing all evening while watching the fights. Don’t think I’ll ever forget that.

 

Nice post, Chris. I'm interested to know what made Tito such a classy guy. I really like what little I know about him so I'd like to have my opinion reinforced.

 

Man I am jealous!! I would have killed to have seen Alexis fight live! Great post/awesome memories.

 

Celebrating with Humberto Soto after he upset Rocky Juarez for the WBC Featherweight Belt.

There were two boxing cards in Chicago on back-to-back weekends. I was writing a series on both shows for weeks leading up to them. Interviewing boxers. Attending press events and open workouts. Sitting ringside for both shows. Running up on the ring to get photos. Running back to the "wings" in the arenas to get reactions and such. It was a great couple weeks. And when Soto beat Juarez, I followed Soto's team out of the ring and down the corridor and into their dressing room. I just kept going. And they were celebrating and waving the belt around. And I was taking pictures of them and the belt ... and this seemed to go on for a while. I don't know why I went with them. I didn't follow everyone else back. But they were having such a great time. Soto wasn't really well known or anything. He was a late sub, if I remember correctly. So it was huge for them. I don't speak Spanish. But I was smiling and laughing with them and taking pictures. The doctor came in to do a postfight physical. Things started to die down a bit. I realized, after a time, people in the room were wondering who I was and what I was doing there. Especially with the doctor there. Eyes started to fall on me. So I slowly headed for the door and took off back to ringside for the Fernarndo Vargas fight. But I always remember the looks on their faces smiling and then kind of coming to the realization that nobody knew who I was and what I was doing there.

And also attending the Holmes-Ali closed circuit with my dad. Still have the ticket stubs.

 

Watching Douglas knock out Tyson was pretty sick. Was on my feet screaming like a maniac during the last few rounds

 

He’s really warm and friendly with fans. Makes sure everyone gets a photo, an autograph etc; Very genuine. After the fight it was late and there was a big crowd out the side of the Garden and his team wanted to go after a while and Tito kept telling them not until everyone has a photo or a signature. He kept announcing if anyone needed anything from him before he finally left. Me and my friend were young and had came from far away so Tito overheard this from the crowd and motioned us to the front and was very genuine about thanking us for our support. Honestly, he’s about as nice a guy as you could meet. Tito, Juan Manuel Marquez and Carlos Zarate have been about the nicest athletes/famous people I’ve ever met.

 

He sure was a great fighter, one of my favorites, he looked so calm and collected stopping Ruben Castillo.

 

T

Thanks Chris. That's good to read. Glad he's a good guy.

 

Some wonderful posts on here, really enjoying reading through.
Memories are wonderful, thanks for sharing.
My memories are watching Tony Sibson in many venues around the UK, & as an 18 yr old seeing him box in Paris.
Thereafter, getting up and watching Iron Mike at 4am, as he walked to the ring in black boots & shorts before dominating most he faced.