who can educate me a bit about him ? he was deaf and couldnt speak, thats the bit that fascinates me...in a time where boxers were exploited, was he treated right ? i also read that the fight with ezzard charles was very controversial with a long count when charles went down, the winner got to fight joe louis. i know little else about him, but would like too
<<<---My avatar shows one of the the greatest moments of Fitzie's career, knocking a peak Ezzard Charles on his back. This link ought to provide something of value for your interest, including action footage of Fitzpatrick against four time opponent Joe Kahut: http://www.theirishblockbuster.com In the ESB Classic thread, "Who was the greatest fighter from each of the 50 states?" Fitize was picked as West Virginia's representative. http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72773 (ESPN's pathetic choice for West Virginia was Christy Martin, with no honorable mention identified. However, Fitzie's tombstone epitaph does correctly eulogize him as "W. VA.'s GREATEST BOXER"): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16925157
Dougie, when I was a youngster I used to read about Fitzie Fitzpatrick' the:Irish Blockbuster'..He was a sensational short and powerful puncher. along the lines of a later Rocky Marciano..He was handicapped as he was deaf and couldn't speak normaly. His most famous fight was with the great Ezzard Charles in 1947..Fitzie dropped Ezzard ,who just managed to beat the count...Fitzie fought at 170-180 pounds, and were he fighting today he might have held a LT.Heavy title...b.b.
was he looked after right ?...was he taken advantage of in any way ?....i'm wondering how he could agree and disagree to things put to him if he was deaf and couldnt speak well..
Being able to read and write, he might actually be less susceptible to things like shady contracts, and how's a quick and smooth talker going to take advantage of somebody who can't hear what's being said?
He was a beloved fighter in his home State of W. Virginia, and he was well taken care of by his mgr and trainers...Fitzie was a bright man who could communicate with his boxing mentors.a very popular fighter on the West Coast...