Great Rare Film of 1950s...My thoughts

Thanx to the unbelievable RagingBull, I was able to purchase a boatload of rare 1950s heavyweight fights....My opinion on each


Nino Valdez TKO 1 Pat Mccmutry- Patty was just another white hope coming up through the ranks trying to be the next marciano. Pat was big strong tough and could take a punch...After scoring a big win over George Chuvalo, his management decided to throw Pat in against a Hot Nino Valdez. The announcer even said Mcmutry's management was very reluctant to step him up in competition against Valdez, but that they thought he was ready for it. They were wrong, Valdez was aging but the man still had that long whip of a left jab and still could hit like a ton of bricks...Pats chin which was considered rock, looked like glass in this fight as once valdez landed, pat went down and out. Dominating win for Nino. I think Cus Damato saw this fight and said "No way" to a potential Patterson-Valdez match.

Bob Baker W 10 Nino Valdez I - By all accounts this fight was much better than the Second fight. Baker in this fight clearly established himself in this fight. he showed alot of heart, as he took a licking early on by valdez long thunderous and quite accurate jab, but eventually baker timed it, and Valdez did not go to plan B, and baker's superior technique and short compact hooks inside began to do damage on valdez and he really outworked valdez down the stretch, a problem Valdez had alot during his career in the late rounds. This was a very nice win for Baker, and he established himself at the time as the biggest threat out of the 6'2 215lbers in the division. This fight reminded me of 1980s alphebet soup matches like say a Pinklon Thomas vs Tim Witherspoon type match except a bit more interesting. If you took Baker and Valdez out of the 50s and placed them in the Alphabet soup mix in 80s, you wouldnt be able to tell the difference. There size style were nearly identical with those guys.


Layne vs Louis Exhibition- Louis showed up way overweight(I think they said in the 230s) and you could see flab around his midsection....Layne was aggresive most of the fight despite being the smaller man, while Louis kind of just was in there for the workout, never letting his hands go and only throwing the occasional jab. Layne could punch hard with that right hand, but he never really threatened louis with it out of either fear or respect for louis power. Layne did throw punches in bunches on the inside, and laynes underrated fast left jab scored points. I felt like Louis could have ended things anytime he wanted too though almost like he was just waiting for the right opening to attack but decided not too because it was just an exhibition....Layne said Louis of 1950 hit harder than Marciano, for whatever thats worth.


Clarence Henry KO 1 Bob Satterfield- The most exciting fight of the bunch, and one of the best 1 round slugouts of the decade! the film shoots right to Satterfield flooring Henry with a HUGE right hand, Henry gets up from one knee and really creams Bob from here. Henry had alot of force in his punches, he threw every long hook with mean intentions. he had electrifying aggresiveness and he had a top workrate(a battle between him and the rock would have been classic)...ultimatley henry knocks satterfield down 3 times and the final knockdown one long heavy left hook knocked bob out cold on his back similiar to the charles kayo.


Clarence Henry KO 8 Bob Baker- Only 2 rounds of this fight, but I was highly impressed with both. Baker was at his peak here, his brittle hand injuries that hampered him later in his career were not bothering him, and henry's poor eye site hadnt caught up to him yet. By all accounts this fight was two young peak leading contenders hungry for a title shot. Baker had real fast fists for a big man, his technique was superb and he seemed really loose as a goose the way punches rolled off his shoulders, he was not afraid to trade leather with henry. This might have been his demise though, because Henry behind on points in the 8th round baited baker to play his game. Henry was the bigger puncher despite being outweighed by 30lb....and one of his long left hooks caught baker flush turning bakers legs to rubber...henry followed it up with a huge flurry and Baker fell through the ropes counted out OUT COLD. This fight ultimatley vaulted Henry into the top of the RING Rankings, and it was the reason Henry was considered the favorite over Harold Johnson in 52.

Eddie Machen KO 8 Nino Valdez- Machen looks like Joe Louis in the highlights. Seriousely. He hits valdez with a huge left hook in the 8th Valdez falls against the ropes than machen explodes with a lightning fast 4-5 punch combo finishing it with a CRIPPLING left hook to the liver and Valdez drops like he been shot, in agony out cold holding his side. it took 5 minutes to get him off the canvas. I can see why Ezzard Charles picked Machen to be the next great champion upon Marcianos retirement.


Archie Moore W 12 and KO 10 Ron Richards- Suprisingly decent picture for a fight that is very rare. It's safe to say Archie was at his peak speed wise here, his hands are lightning fast, his weight his light allowing him to move around the ring like a speedball. HOWEVER, you can clearly see Archie has tremendous potential, but isnt close to putting everything together yet...His cleverness, timing in his punches, left jab defense that he later mastered is sorely lacking in the few minutes of footage...he basically was a slugger in this footage...not the clever boxer-puncher WITH outstanding speed he later became in his best days in the early 1950s.

Johnny Summerlin W 10 Harold Carter- I will tell you, if you wanna see an exciting fight. Order this one. This was a war! Summerlin was the stronger fighter and bigger puncher, so he won the battle of attrition and staggered carter many times in the bout. Harold got his licks in too, and scored frequently with his pistol left jab. Harold was clearly the more polished boxer between the two, which makes me wonder why harold tried to trade with a big strong guy like Johnny for 10 rounds...bad game plan. cost him the fight. This was a battle between two very young Ring Magazine top 10 contenders trying to move up in the rankings...This win qualified Summerlin for a title eliminator against Bob Baker in 1956.


Mike Dejohn TKO 9 Billy Hunter- Hunter is one of listons unknown knockout victims, but he was on the list, and Hunter managed to crack the Ring Magazine top 10 at # 6 in 1959. This was the battle between the giants, Dejohn looked about 6'5, Hunter 6'3. Hunter moved well utilized his long reach very well and had a stinging left jab..he piled up the points by outboxing dejohn and was ahead on the cards...Dejohn though was a very dangerous puncher and he finally caught up to Hunter in the 9th with a double left hook straight right hand combo hurting Hunter and he followed it up with a volley of punches and eventually the referee stopped the fight with Hunter out of it. Nice comeback win for Dejohn.

 

Ray what can you tell me about Charlie Powell? Rocky Marciano spoke highly of him.

 

Harold Carter, highly underrated fighter. Some don't know who he was. He was a genuine top 10 contender in the mid 1950s. Well deserving.