At least you were able to speak. I was virtually dumbstruck. I managed, "Thank you", when he signed my autograph book and shook my hand. What was Lucas like ?
Gus trained at the Birmingham City gym where I was an amateur. I think Tommy and Paddy Lynch brought him in to give Al Malcolm some work. He got slung out after about a week. He was bullying some of the younger, smaller pro's, particularly Antonio Fernandez. Allen was a hugely popular fella.
Oscar DeLaHoya. He used to visit the local strip club and always accommodated people whenever they asked for pictures and autographs. So that was cool of him. But the running joke at the bar was that he always got private lap dances from the two transvestite strippers, pardon me...dancers, whether he knew they were TS or not. Antonio Margarito at the Santa Anita mall. Didn't speak a word of english but was an extremely nice guy. One of his trainers was related to my mailman and my mailman knowing I was a boxing fan by delivering my subscription of KO and The Ring, he told me Margarito was in town to gamble at the Santa Anita race track. So my mailman invited me along. This was back in 2005 / 2006. I met Freddie Roach near the concession stand at Staples Center the night Bernard Hopkins made his 20th title defense against Howard Eastman. Freddie was just standing there by himself and taking it all in. I approached him to take a picture and he was the nicest guy in the world. I asked him how things were going with Mike Tyson and he didn't even know Mike was in attendance that night. Does Kimbo Slice count? Yeah, didn't think so. Not a fan. His entourage were a bunch of ****in assholes. Fernando Vargas was surrounded by his entourage when he visited McMurphy's in Old Town Pasadena. Another entourage full of assholes. But I saw some of the finest Latina babes that night!! EDIT: I think I should add this story. I was having dinner with a girlfriend at a Mediterranean smoking lounge in La Verne when I noticed Jin Mosley sitting to the table next to mine. She was celebrating her 40th birthday but telling everyone it was her 30th. I overheard her bad mouthing Shane a few times. Typical. I'll give it to her though, she does look 30...
I've been lucky enough to have met probably well over 100 Boxers from Ali, Terry Downes and John Conteh right through to prelim boys and journeymen. What almost all of the had in common was their warmth and openness. Some of the stand outs were: Ali. I was literally speechless Conteh. Funny and with a deeply caring nature. He would do anything to help ex Boxers Pat Cowdell. They don't come more down to earth Bunny Johnson. Hugely dignified and, considering how he was treated by the sport and the Birmingham Police, amazingly free of bitterness. Eddie Thomas. Wonderfully generous, warm guy. Mark Hill, ( Journey Welterweight from the late 70's / early 80's ). One of the 5 funniest men I have ever met. Wally Swift Snr. Scary, truculent guy. Had a stare on him that could freeze your blood. The huge wealth of our sport is the people in it. It really is a privilege to meet or know them.
Great story! Have you ever been to Olympic Gardens? Hands down the best gentleman's club in Vegas. In my opinion.
Muhammad Ali George Chuvalo Bermane Stiverne Hasim Rahman Michael Spinks Leon Spinks James Tillis Chad Dawson Tommy Hearns Marco Antonio Barrera Erik Morales Jose Luis Castillo Pernell Whittaker Jeff Mayweather
Paul Ferrari. His first wife was close friends with my mates mum and he came and stayed in my little country town for a weekend. He was a nice, quiet bloke. Jeff Fenech. He was a guest at a corporate thing at an AFL game while he was retired before the first Nelson fight. I was there as a guest with a mate who’s dad’s family had involvement with one of the football clubs playing. He signed an autograph (which I promptly lost that night) and was polite enough to shake my hand. I was a pimply teenager and very nervous. He has a reputation for being difficult but he was very nice that night.
Not many, just literally a few from my association with the Al Davies gym in Tacoma in the 80's. Sugar Ray Seales- Very nice guy, kind of treated like a leper in that gym as he was long retired by then, could hardly see, and was kind of on hard times. They could have been better to him then. He'd earned it. Nice man, very encouraging to a no-hoper like me. Davey Lee Armstrong- Didn't know him much, he was content to just hang out with those who ran the gym. Never acknowledged us noobs. Tim Broady- Another nice guy. Very chill and relaxed, friendly enough. I remember engaging him in conversation about the Anthony Witherspoon and Bobby Czyz fights. He didn't mind talking about either, even the loss. Leo Randolph - The nicest person I've met in boxing and one of the best in any walk of life. Genuinely good guy. Helpful, encouraging, truly listened to you when you spoke and had a huge smile for everybody. Great guy.
Personalities outside the ring whom I've met: Don Chargin, Don Fraser, Mickey Duff, Barney Eastwood, Richard Steele, Jack Reiss, Jimmy Lennon, Jr., Michael Buffer, Angelo Dundee, Gil Clancy, Manny Steward, Harold Lederman, Jim Lampley, Alberto Reyes.
the first was my granddad obviously, but he was 'just' my grandad, until I lived with him for a year in 1987, when I was 26/27, then he became Bert Gilroy. I knew his story better than he did, I got a Photo Copied Version of eitherside of a 600 Report Scrapbook and the Research went from there to now over 3000 Reports. anyway I met Dozens of fighters since then and throughout the years of my life. I knew Nicky Furlano personally, he was an Elementary School friend, I met/knew briefly, Manny Sobrel and Wilf Greeves and worked with a Pro named Bruce Eikoff. Leo Loucks was the Student Body Presidnt of my High School in London Ont, he was a World Kickboxing Champion and a Damn Good one too. I've met Conteh, Ortiz, J Jackson, Duran, Griffith, Muntz, Haugan, Cowboy McCormack, Harry Scott, Buchanan, Tyrell, Norton, literally dozens of fighters... I 'missed' out on one of my hero's and greats Lloyd Marshall, I was in Sacramento in 82 and I understand he lived there... I could have interveiwed Vince Hawkins, but I just took for granted he was dead, likewise Frank Butler, the Reporter, same. I have met loads of them and MOST were great men, who seemed to Harbour NO Anomosity, they KNEW Fine Well, the 'sport' was a BUSINESS and a Crooked One at that!
that surprises me about Gus, in all the time i spent with him he was a gentleman and a friend. From what i recall he said he had about a dozen amatuer fights and before tha was into kung fu. Ex partner of mine worked the door with Al Malcolm, said he was a gent.
He was ok. I already knew Harold and went up to ringside during preliminaries to an HBO show to see him. Harold was glued to the ring watching a 4 rounder whilst Merchant was sitting in the first row having a cocktail and Lampley was sitting on the apron with his back to the 4 rounder. Harold was a great guy and immediately got up to see me and then introduced me to Lampley. Again, Lampley was cool. He addressed me by name. But then Harold asked where was my Dad and insisted on going up to see him. I still laugh when I think of all the people around us staring, like thinking to themselves, "OMG, who are these guys?" Our tickets were actually quite good, but then Harold puts his hand in his pocket and says, "HBO always gives me tickets at ringside. An upgrade for you and your Dad." Again, a great guy.
Yeah I’ve met Fenech a couple of times and he’s always been awesome. Everyone else who’s met him will tell you the same too.
