What do you guys know about Johnny Bratton? I'm watching him for the first time fighting Kid Gavilan, and man he looks really good. Gavilan is winning, but this Bratton guy can move and punch.
Bratton was slick and flashy but he didnt have that extra something to be elite. Man did Gavilan ever give him a beating in their third fight. Ended his career basically. Bratton was never the same in or out of the ring after that.
One of my favorites, converted southpaw, very very smooth with a hard quick laser right hand, picked up the title briefly after Robinson vacated and the welterweight division was looking for a new king, he had a tendency to brawl which made for exciting fights, the Gavilan fights are great but as Klompton said after the 3rd he was done. He was extremely tough, stopped against Beau and Ike from a broken jaw (wisdom tooth problems) and the other time he was stopped was in his last fight. His life after boxing is very interesting and sad as well, guy had a tough life, but was a beautiful boxer and in an era not as tough may have been remembered as greater.
Great posts, thanks guys! And yeah Klompton, that TKO was brutal! Edit: I was thinking of the Turner TKO. But the third Bratton fight indeed ended with a bang!
He always reminded me of Robinson.I remember reading years ago about how he hit the skids after he retired. Very sad !!!