Jake LaMotta

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTReVzbKPbU[/ame]

 

Sugar Ray said that LaMotta was a solid puncher but that he was far from the hardest hitter he had faced. He was physically strong and just dirt tough.

I do think Jake was a smarter fighter than people give him credit for. The way he saved his title against the French fighter in 1950 showed a serious ring IQ. Playing possum and then pouncing on the guy to get a 15th round KO.

The other thing that Jake LaMotta deserves some respect for is that he didnt duck alot of the great black fighters of the 1940s. Guys other boxers with something to lose would avoid. Not just Satterfield but Holman Williams, Tommy Bell and even Sugar Ray 5 times.

 

AND, Jimmy Reeves, Nate Bolden, Jimmy Edgar were tremendous up and coming black MWs in the early 1940s..All avoided by top MWs.
P.S. I would love a fantasy fight between two tough S.O.Bs, Jake Lamotta
and from my dad's era Ace Hudkins, who was every bit as tough...Oh my !

 

It seems like a lot of LaMotta's fights were over the 160-pound limit, usually around 164 or so IIRC.

How does he rank as an all-time super middle?

 

i LOVED this movie, especially his fights with his first wife as well as the way he would nag & control his second wife

Ray Robinson looks funny in that flick

 

I can't think of any fighter he would even consider fighting SRR five times, he clearly believed he could beat him with pressure, desire and chin, what a larger than life character he is.

 

Jakes still hanging in there.

 

I've said this before:

Heaven doesn't want him, and Satan FEARS:scaredas: him!!!

If Jake ever dies and goes to hell, he'll take Lucifer by the horns and kick his ass :vonnecunt, boot him out of house and home, and take over as the new boss of the place:fire.

 

Seeing this thread, (with apologies to those who've read them) thought you might get kick outta these LaMotta memories:

RAGING BULL doesn't begin to hint at how volcanic Jake's rages were. Anything would set him off. Any time. Any place.

He was murder goin' someplace to happen. The worst bad guys wanted no part of him.

But when Jake hung'em-up, he went into show biz -- had to keep a tight rein on his temper. He was tested daily.

These two incidents should illustrate:

He got work in films as a character heavy -- took it seriously, wanted to be as good an actor as he was a fighter. He enrolled in John Cassevettes' Theatre Workshop in New York, and did scenes to perfect his craft.

One day, I went to watch him. He was on the stage doing some Tennessee Williams' monologue. It was curious listening to the poetry of those words comin' outta Jake's mouth-- half cement truck -- all Bronx.

While he was walkin' the stage reciting his lines, a reed-thin young actor who had no idea who Jake was, bounded on stage: "Your rehearsal time is over! It's my time now! Get off the stage!"

Jake said softly, “I’ll just be a minute"

The kid --Actor's Studio intense -- stepped closer to Jake: "No. Now! Get off!"

Jake said, "But... And the kid SLAPPED Jake LaMotta in the face. " NOW!"

Jake just looked at him, like a Great White Shark poised over chum... and said ever so gently, "Don't do that," and walked off the stage.

That actor had no idea how abruptly his career almost ended.

****

On another occasion, I was in PJ Clarke's, a pub on the Eastside of New York for the sports crowd. LaMotta could be found at the bar daily in the afternoon with his long-time friend Pete, who co-wrote RAGING BULL.

LaMotta was relaxing with his back against the bar -- his trademark stogie in his mouth. A sweaty little guy in an ill-fitting suit came through the front door, spotted Jake 'n made b-line for him.

The little guy planted himself right in front of LaMotta, regaling him -- and all in the bar -- with how he saw Jake KO some guy in New Orleans, demonstrating by wind-milling punches furiously in the air...much too close to LaMotta's face.

LaMotta didn’t move a muscle or change expression. The guy's swings an eyelash away.

Sure enough, one lands flush on the cigar -- flattens it against LaMotta's face, like a character in a cartoon.

After a long pause, he looked heavenward: "Why me?"

 

I like him a lot; The craziness and rage I am sure more then a few people can relate too.. I know I myself understand..

I wonder if now days he would have been diagnosed as Bi-polar...

 

Probably, L, but he'd've flattened the guy who said it.

 

Cheers for these stories I guess when he got older he became less volatile.

 

Nice.

The thing that has always struck me about LaMotta was just how thickly built he looked. He looked very solid, like a tree trunk. I'm sure that today, he'd have made a jump to 168 at some point.