Bert Sugar

Again, I have been around most of the top boxing (and all Sport) historians in the last 40 years and they all make mistakes. When I hear them talking and I know there not right, I will wait until I get them a side, then I will say some thing to them.

I would like to share something with all of you.

I presented my wife Joyce and Emile Griffith awards this afternoon. Also some times you do something and it effects people that you never knew before. One of the honorees was the wife & family of trainer Oscar Suarez, who passed away last September. When this happened, I called all the boxing people around and we formed a squared circle and I gave a 10-15 minute Eulogy, which I tell a short story of there life. At the end, I ring the bell, not 10 times, but 9, because I believe a small part of them will live on. They live in the hearts of there family and loved ones and all the love and what he taught them will filter down from 1 generation to the next.

When they got up there, to my surprise, they all stated that they will never forget what I did, and I would be in there hearts forever. The person who did most of the talking, actually broke down while thanking me in front of everyone. It was a very moving moment.

Sometimes you do something and you really don't know who you really touched. I have given Eulogy's for approx. 200 former boxing people. People like Joey Giardello, Rocky Castellani, Joe Miceli, Charlie Gellman, Howie Albert, Paul Cavaliere, Paul Venti & Tippy Larkin, just to name few. Each time someone passes on in the boxing family, I get a call, asking me to Ring the bell and to give the Eulogy and what was said today, really gives me a Great feeling, that I have done something worth while.

 

All true, but it doesn't make what Sugar does any less irresponsible. His job as a historian is to expose myths, not perpetuate them.