Argüello's and Ortiz's extended comments in English -and Durán, joyously coming to us from the gym where he started- make this a real keeper. I suspect the dubbed translation is awful, though. I wish I could hear more of what Durán says about his fights. For instance, he says after his first amateur fight people threw money into the ring, which is sublime. Then he goes on to say he lost three of his next bouts. The translation would have us believe he said, "I was terrible in those days." He actually says, "Estaba salado en esa época", which is much better understood as, "I was jinxed in those days." A near-prime Chávez states matter-of-factly that Durán is the greatest of all the Latino fighters. Wonderful treasure.
Amazing political speeches at the end really make the film for me. Its just so surreal and random, all of a sudden it goes from a mean looking but old Kid Gavilan demonstrating a bolo punch to Arguellos political ideaology and then Durans anti drug stance. It is an amazing DVD, thanks for letting em borrow it. That would be the best one IMO Be interesting to see Harada's thoughts on an Olivares vs Jofre match up and a Rudkin vs Jofre fight for that matter. Even though Rudkin never beat any of those guys he belongs there with them (not as great, but he gave 3 of them a rough ride) Thanks for that wee snippets. Ortiz and Beau Jack actually look absoloute brick solid in that DVD
They're all still alive and all. I wish I'd pursued me film making, I'd probably have the kind of contacts/talented friends that would enable me to make that documentary, especially with a contact like Al Francis Damn, would make an awesome doc.
No chance. I have no money. Could you imagine meeting these guys. The Doc would be simple, me you and Greg go to visit each of these great warriors. We talk to them all about their careers and their recollections and opinions of the other fighters. So, we meet Al Rudkin and Al Jr in a Liverpool pub, and chew the fat about Olivares, Harada, and talk about what coulda been with Jofre. Onto Australia, Lionel Rose, and we ask him who was the best out of the lot, his recollections of Olivares. I say we leave Olivares til last. He came around towards the end of that lots tenure at Bantam, and by the time we meet him we would've mythologised about this wildman, somehow acquiring the rights to his footage and using TheGreatA/BoxingUnion highlights package to show just how amazing he was Who knows, maybe we unearth footage of Olivares-Rudkin, its our fantasy film after all. Then they all meet up at the End on neutral ground. Would cost about a hundred odd grand to make probably, and no one would want to fund it. Shame.
Sounds brilliant. But the WBC Convention is in Wales this year, end of July. Good chance most of these guys will be there, and ALFrancis might be going with his Dad.
And ones a colour, you better rememer that. I'm seriously thinking of going down, thing is I start my job that week, so could only make it to Wales for the last day of the Convention, which is a kick in the stones. But I'm definitly wanting to go to it. If I save up some cash I should be able to afford the £250 to get to the banquet, then its just convining the old man to let me go.