RIP Jimmy Heair

I got to know Jimmy a bit several years ago. Me and my brother co-promoted a club show with him. He had very slurred speech but his mind was sharp — he would repeatedly apologize for it being hard to understand him but I’d always say ‘I got you Jimmy, I can hear you just fine.’

He was a good guy from all our interactions. Had a remarkable career fighting out of California, then New Mexico, then the South. Kind of a barnstormer who would fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Just a touch below world class but never an easy out for anyone because he was tough as nails, had a stern chin and would always bring it to the opponent (even a prime Duran) no matter what.

RIP Jimmy.

 

RIP Jimmy

Early in his career looked like he might get a lightweight title shot.
Beat Chango Carmona in the first fight after losing his WBC title, was zeroing in on a title shot but started losing the odd fight here and there.

Not much of a puncher but good chin and stamina and always gave the crowd the money´s worth.

Showed a chin and a half going ten rounds with Duran:

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Read a lot of features in my early World Boxing magazines in the early 70's RIP

 

Jimmy's career of fighting anyone, anywhere at any time was what the great sport of boxing is all about. Sadly today its deteriorated to Cherry pick the opponents I want & duck the dangerous ones. Plus use every advantage possible, both legal & illegal to achieve that goal.
R.I.P. Jimmy You EARNED it

 

Rest in peace, Jimmy. Thank you for putting your health on the line for our entertainment. It was always appreciated.

 

Seeing him with more regional circuit guys later in his career — guys who were at best opponents for the upper tier (and some not quite that but good, honest, decent prizefighters who knew how to carry themselves) — and seeing him against Duran really shows the levels of the game.

He could work those guys you’d see the skill level and craftiness, maybe nudging a guy’s elbow out of the way and landing a well-placed body shot, or jab-feint the right-throw the left hook and maneuver a guy into it, set up a counter and whatnot.

It was well known when he was winding his career down on the Southern circuit that he’d gone the full 10 with Duran and there was a lot of respect in the locker rooms and from the crowd that they were seeing a legit guy. Hanging in there and continuing to plug away with Roberto made him a ‘made man’ even with the guys in the cheap seats. There was kind of a rumble in the crowd when he would walk to the ring in a Mississippi town like Tupelo or Meridian, ‘OK, here’s the guy we came to see, we’re about to see a REAL fighter now.’

Jimmy freaking earned that and deserved every bit of it and more.

I remember after our club show (in a town near where he was living, drew a pretty good crowd) we sat down in a small room after — on the floor as I recall — and put out all the gate receipts and counted them with him. And we divided it up and gave him his 50% (we supplied the ring, posters, most of the card, went in half on the building rental, etc.) and he got a little emotional. He said something like ‘I’ve been in boxing a long time and I’ve been taken advantage of a lot. You guys did everything you said you’d do and you counted every penny in front of me and gave me my share. I just want to thank you for treating me like that.’

I’m getting emotional myself just thinking about it. I was lucky to have encountered him and am proud to have known him.

Rest in peace, Jimmy Heair. You’ll always be a champ to me.

 

Rest In Peace Champ. I saw Jimmy Heair fight on the weekly Boxing From The Forum in 1972, which televised the Friday Night Fights on NBC after the local news, Jimmy was sure game in his fights, that program used to feature fighters like Ruben Navarro, Jerry Quarry, Ray Anderson, Hedgemon Lewis, and Ray The Windmill White.

 

I received news about Jimmy Heair's death in an e-mail from the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). Today, I found his obituary on the internet. According to the obituary, Heair was survived by four daughters, five grandchildren and his mother. He was preceded in death by a son, Andy Heair, and his father.

- Chuck Johnston

 

RIP Jimmy Heair.

Random memory, but I recollect an old boxing mag with Jimmy on the cover.

Written below the cover photo was: “Spell it right!” in regards to Jimmy’s surname.

 

How about School Boy Bobby Chacon? I saw the telecast of Bob Foster vs Ray Anderson on Boxing From The Forum, also saw Hedgemon Lewis vs Jose Mantequilla Napoles 1st fight. I do remember Irish Frankie Crawford and Mike Nixon as well as Danny Little red Lopez and Armando Muniz too. I also saw Jerry and Mike Quarry too.

 

Hey Chuck, haven’t seen you post for some time. I hope all is well with you.

Yes, this is the Obit: -

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/james-heair-obituary?id=54571404

 

Found a very good written piece on Heair: -

https://nyfights.com/worldwide/boxer-sings-the-blues/

 

I saw him fight a lot, on television, when I was a kid. May he rest in peace.