Art Hafey - The 5'2 Toy Rocky Marciano - New footage

In my opinion, Hafey is a strong candidate for being one of the most underappreciated fighters of the past 50 years. Even among a division already deeply stocked with fighters that don't receive the attention or respect they deserve, Hafey really sticks out as something of a sore thumb... I imagine the proof would be going going 1-1 with a still very dangerous version of Ruben Olivares, where as that same version of Olivares was still handily knocking out the likes of Bobby Chacon in two rounds, a much better known and respected fighter.

Here's some rare (I believe so anyway) footage of Hafey later in his career, among one of his numerous long unbeaten streaks throughout his career. It's telling that Hafey's only losses anywhere near his prime were to men that were certainly not natural featherweights... fighters that were huge at the weight like Danny Lopez & Alexis Arguello. Really makes you wonder what Hafey might have accomplished, and how he might be remembered, if only his career was fought on more of an even playing field? Enjoy!

This content is protected

 

Some notable oddities with the records the commentator cites during this telecast, saying that Tyrone Everett was 40-0, an undefeated mark he never reached. He also comments on the what must surely have been an incomplete record, in Fred Rolando Pastor's announced record compared to what boxrec has him at...

 

That was Jim Healy at the mic and man, he and Art Hafey really take me back. Yeah, Healy could spout a lot of 'facts' that weren't dead-on. It was whatever he was reading it out of. For instance, where he mentions Art stopped Famoso Gomez twice. He was obviously reading it out of a Ring Record Book, which listed the rematch as a 3rd round stoppage for Art and what was picked up by ensuing databases such as boxrec over the years. I will take credit for the correction because when I first saw it in the RRB I questioned it, because I recall reading it in the mags at the time that Gomez beat Art down in Mexico on a decision. My doubt was confirmed by a late friend who was down in Tijuana to see the fight. He felt Art won but said that he was never going to get the decision down in TJ. Anyways, I produced enough literature to have boxrec change it several years back. Regarding Art, man, was he tough. He was not the one-punch KO artist but he would just throw punches until you fell. Another outstanding fight of his is his bout with Rodolfo Moreno. Well worth watching for a great slug-fest.

 

Fantastic post scartissue, thank you so much.

Lighting little smoldering fires of nostaglia in people is what I aim to do, so I'm glad you were "taken back" even only for a few minutes!

How do you feel someone like Hafey would do in the modern boxing scene, or even the current one? Would his size be a deficit, or would his other attributes make up for it?

 

Russell, although always at a deficit with his height, Art and his braintrust developed that style to get inside. I think Art would have fit in like a glove in most any era and I could envision him as a big fan favorite over showtime or HBO. Art could lose a few here and there, but he was one of those fighters that would always let you know he was there.

 

Do you have any insight into who trained and managed Art? I'd love to know who he was affiliated with, who he learned from, anything about the man really.

With his all action style, wins over rated opposition, active fight schedule, fighting at the forum and in California routinely when it was a hot bed, and other positive attributes, why didn't Hafey ever even end up with a single title shot?

 

I remember Art Hafey fighting in LA when I was a kid. Jim Healey was the voice of my youth- "It's all over!" My favorite announcer to this day.

 

What fights of his did you catch? Any particular memories of Hafey from those fights?

 

I remembered the name; I didn't remember the fights until youtuYouTube. I even had to rewatch his fight with Little Red Lopez. And, in 1976, Little Red was my Holy Trinity, all by himself.

 

This is a quote from Hafey. He was originally managed by Suey Welch - a great old-time manager - and trained by Burke Emery. When Suey died around '75 I think, Emery took over the reins as manager. According to what I've read, Hafey liked him as a trainer but didn't think much of him as a manager because he kept signing one fight after another without breathing room. Anyways, here's the quote.

"Well, I knocked out Rolando Pastor in December of '75 and returned to Nova Scotia for Christmas. In January I had a hernia operation, but Burke had me back in the ring two months later against Rodolfo Moreno. Now, a lot of people think the Danny "Little Red" Lopez fight ruined my career, but it was the Rodolfo Moreno fight. My mobility after the operation was limited and, although I knocked him out in the 10th round, my left eye was swollen shut, my head was swollen. The ringside physician didn't even give me an icepack. I should have gone to the hospital, instead they took me out to a party. I ended up with impaired vision after that fight. Blind areas in my field of vision."

 

That is absolutely ****ing terrible and probably something that happened all too often, more than likely more and more the further back you go in time. Fighters having unattended health issues that result in their careers becoming derailed is seemingly a pretty common theme in boxing history. Makes you realize that just recently Israel Vasquez had to have an eye removed because of damage sustained to it during his professional career.

 

Ruben definitely didn't want a third bout with this little ko machine having been dispatched by him in their first go and just getting out of the second one alive and with the win.

 

Timmers, this bout really should have been for the vacant WBA title, but Ernesto Marcel didn't announce his retirement until a few days after this fight I believe. This was far more world title caliber than Olivares-Utagawa. Anyways, in their first fight down in Monterrey, Olivares came in in party-mode. And you can't take such liberties with Hafey. Art decked Ruben in the 3rd, 4th and 5th rounds before it was stopped. In this, the rematch, it seemed people had varying scores. Indeed, it was a split decision. This was my card.

Ruben Olivares v Art Hafey II

This is California scoring, one point for a round, none for an even round and an extra point for a knockdown.

Round 1: Even
Round 2: Olivares
Round 3: Olivares
Round 4: Olivares
Round 5: Olivares
Round 6: Olivares
Round 7: Olivares
Round 8: Even (I think I scored this round even because Art was getting closer and I was getting embarrassed scoring all these for Ruben LOL)
Round 9: Olivares
Round 10: Hafey (scores a knockdown)
Round 11: Hafey
Round 12: Olivares

Total: 8-3 Olivares

I thought Ruben fought a brilliant fight where he turned matador. After getting knocked out by Hafey previously he demonstrated that he wasn't just a banger and he came prepared for this one. He really was so versatile and so very underrated at 126. But Art was there and dangerous to the last. I would love to see the scorecards of you guys.

 

Bump for quality thread.

 

If committing a faux pas of sorts for resurrecting a somewhat oldish thread, my apologies. Coincedently I just read the linked article down below a couple days ago, and then just now, Googling Olivares in hopes of finding something interesting to read, this thread was in the results. So again, odd coincidence. The questions of yours asked are semi answered I believe in this interview*...
* http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/w0505-hanley.html

whoopsie: Maybe I should read the thread before I post things that are already up, yeah? my fault. But, anyhoo, although someone copy pasted the relevant portion of the interview, although sans link, I believe, therefore my reply is still just barely relevant