picture of larry holmes and nick wells

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by kolcade4, Aug 6, 2009.


Page 3 of 3
  1. Chaney

    Chaney Mystery and Imagination Full Member

    518
    9
    Sep 20, 2006
    Imagine, the future of the heavy weight division altered by a well-aimed lemon!

    Kinda like that old song "All because of a nail, a kingdom was lost"

    In Holmes autobiography, he admits he thought he was the 2nd best amateur boxer after Wells. Understandably, Holmes doesn't dwell on his losses to Wells for long in his book.

    He says he was thrown off by Wells being a southpaw in the first fight, but for the second, he had sparred with southpaws to prepare. He said it made no difference. He got beat again. Badly. (Didn't mention it was a KO)
     
    Chaney, Aug 9, 2009
    Chaney, Aug 9, 2009
    #31
  2. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,674
    2,172
    Aug 26, 2004

    I agree, I have always been a fan of Wells and felt he was one prospect who with the right handling and training could have been a much better pro and his power was a great base to build around. There has been only a few story's about him in the old Ring mags ( got to pull mine out) suprising there is not much on the internet. I think was better suited for the pro's than Bobick but Duane had money behind him. Duva would have made a difference
     
    Bummy Davis, Aug 9, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Aug 9, 2009
    #32
  3. kolcade4

    kolcade4 Keep Punchin' Full Member

    1,592
    5
    May 1, 2009
    Wells was a five-time Fort Worth Golden Gloves champion and a two-time Star-telegram Texas State Golden Gloves champion. Three time Texas state champion 1969,1970,1971.Five time all air force champion1972,1973,1974,1975,1976. Two time interservice champion1973,1975.Three time interservice runner up 1972,1974,1976.Two time Nevada state golden gloves champion 1972,1973. 1972 National AAU Champion. Western hemisphere Champion 1972 or 1973. World military Champion(CISM games)1973 ,thats what I could dig up . You would figure there would be some type of money backer that would have been willing to put some of it behind Wells.
     
    kolcade4, Aug 10, 2009
    kolcade4, Aug 10, 2009
    #33
  4. kolcade4

    kolcade4 Keep Punchin' Full Member

    1,592
    5
    May 1, 2009
    I would like to see those ring magazine articles if you could find them .
     
    kolcade4, Aug 10, 2009
    kolcade4, Aug 10, 2009
    #34
  5. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    23,674
    2,172
    Aug 26, 2004
    There was a story about Bobick mainly and they spoke of those wars with Wells. I will remember when I locate it.
     
    Bummy Davis, Aug 10, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Aug 10, 2009
    #35
  6. kenmore

    kenmore Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,132
    28
    Jan 29, 2008
    I started following boxing as a kid and I remember Nick Wells from when he turned pro in the mid to late '70s. Bummy Davis is correct in that Wells received very little coverage as a pro; mostly his name was mentioned in the back of Ring Magazine, in the small print articles.

    I have a few questions.

    1. How tall was Wells? Boxrec says 5'10", but I think he was taller.

    2. What happened in Wells's first few losses as a pro? He was stopped by Mike Koranicki in his fifth pro fight. Was it because of cuts?

    3. Looks like Wells dropped a decision to G.G. Maldanado in Madison Square Garden in 1978. Can anyone tell me what happened here? That fight was a chance to impress the NYC fight crowd, so this defeat must have hurt.

    4. Wells was also stopped by Texan Cookie Wallace, who I remember was a quick Bobick kayo victim. What happened in the Wallace fight?

    Kolcade4: I mean no disrespect by asking about your father's pro defeats. I'm just curious how he could have lost to those guys, given that Wells was clearly the superior talent.

    My guess is that Wells must have burned out early as a pro...possibly he remained in the amateurs too long.
     
    kenmore, Aug 10, 2009
    kenmore, Aug 10, 2009
    #36
  7. kenmore

    kenmore Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,132
    28
    Jan 29, 2008
    Also, can anyone post any of Wells's fights on youtube?
     
    kenmore, Aug 10, 2009
    kenmore, Aug 10, 2009
    #37
  8. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,555
    3,173
    Feb 17, 2008
    So Larry claims he was the 2nd best in the world, huh? Interesting claim considering the additional Bobick dq on the dossier and there was a guy named Stevenson around to deal with if he'd managed to win.
     
    zadfrak, Aug 12, 2009
    zadfrak, Aug 12, 2009
    #38
  9. kolcade4

    kolcade4 Keep Punchin' Full Member

    1,592
    5
    May 1, 2009
    sorry it took me so long to respond, ive been busy studying and taking tests for summer finals. atlast i get a two week brain break from college.
    answers to

    Q#1 Ive got Wells listed at 6' and maybe some change.

    Q#2 Wells was forced to drop 15 to 20 lbs in this fight by his idiotic mgr/trnr Winky Groom. Wells said that he did not feel himself. He said he felt weak , tired and hungry.He felt more comfortable at 215 where as in this fight he was right at 200 or maybe a shade below. It was the cut that was suffered during the 72 trials that resurfaced during this fight.

    Q#3 Wells fought G.G . Maldanado in 1978 as Bobbick fought him in 73. Wells should have went pro in 72 to 73 . And he should have went went with Lou Duva but he went with Winky Groom instead. Wells felt he was off this night. Her said he was better than GG ,EVEN FELT HE WAS IN A BETTER DIFFERENT CLASS AND SHOULD HAVE BEAT HIM EASILY BUT HERE IS THE KICKER, Wells was raising a little boy , trying to find time to train and work a full time job to pay bills. So he really wasnt a full time pro fighter,more like a professional juggler. Its unfortunate the way this came about. The same thing went for Roy Wallace. Wells couldve abadoned his son I guess but he chose to be a responsible father instead of a boxer. Which it would have all been avoided if he goes with Duva in 72. Therefore he doesnt have a kid and couldve been a full time fighter . or atleast have money behind him so that he could hire a full time nanny. I remember when his son Nickolas would often be in the Gym with Nick while Nick was training.

    Another thing that happened to Wells through poor magmt was that he was used more as door mat fighter during his pro career . He would have a fight set and he would train for that specific fighter,then the fight would get pushed back, he would try to stay interested and keep training and then they would push the date again and then change the fighter at the last minute and maybe offer him $2500 to $3500 for the fight, he was desperate for money at that time so he had to take it.So all the training he had been doing on a specific fighter had gone to waste. A real trainer and manager woulve protected him from this kind of bull****.And so he lost to shitty guys, all this plus the whole raising a kid and working full time coupled along with it,plus the cut problem plus the manager trainer idiot problem.

    I promise I am not making excuses, but this is how it was, These are the reasons he failed miserably as a pro . Can you give me some examples of a pro fighter that had to deal with so much distractions and was succsesful at the same time?
     
    kolcade4, Aug 13, 2009
    kolcade4, Aug 13, 2009
    #39
Page 3 of 3