Haven't been on it for a while but wanted to share this video my nephew just made as a tribute for his Grandad. My dad would of loved it, hope you enjoy it. This content is protected
Rudkin was a beautiful boxer. So unlucky at World level. Took on a peak Fighting Harada (in Japan) who had just dethroned the great Eder Jofre and would beat the Brazilian again (Eder´s only losses in 78 fights) six months later. Harada´s storming attacks were too much for him though he was still fighting hard till the final bell. Next up was the man who travelled to Japan to floor and outpoint Harada, Lionel Rose. Rudkin fought the fight of his life only to lose a split decision in Australia. Alan looked very unlucky in that fight. Final shot Alan travelled to Los Angeles to take one of the greatest bantams of all time, Ruben Oliveres. He suffered his only ko loss by being blasted in 2. Even after that disaster he jumped two divisions to nearly take the British featherweight title before going down to Bantam to win the European title. He finished his career on a high by retaining his titles against young upstart Johnny Clark after 15 hard fought rounds. Clark would go on to win British and European titles and was on the verge of a World title shot himself when he was forced to retire with a detached retina.
This is an amazing video, Al. Shows how slick, how really great he was !!! I am truly impressed and pumped up watching this. Also, I´m happy to see you´re well, my friend !
Awesome vid Al. Your dad was a fighter who would be ranked considerably higher had a few decisions gone his way. Thought he was jobbed in that first round of the Harada bout with the KD call - I had it scored 144 - 144 without it, so a case for his victory could've easily been made imo. Nice to see you posting again. Here's my old card in case anyone cares:
Rough and @AlFrancis , there was some speculation on this knockdown awhile back that we all had discussed and i wonder where it ended officially. We had examined it on replay I believe because of the reaction of the Japanese-based American Nick Pope to the knockdown. We figured it was official but recently I saw a write-up on the Olivares-Rudkin fight on boxrec which suggests Alan went into the fight with Ruben never having been down. One would think that this fight was still fresh in everyone's mind before the west coast writers would make such a bold statement. So I ask, was it official?
Honestly scar, I'm not sure I'm the guy to ask. However, on the boxrec page for the bout, a quote from the Stars and Stripes seems to imply an officially ruled knockdown: World bantamweight champion Masahiko (Fighting) Harada battered game Alan Rudkin for 15 thrilling, bitterly-fought rounds Tuesday night for his first successful defense of the title. The powerfully built little Japanese dropped the rangy Briton in the last seconds of the 1st round (it looked to some like a slip but the referee ruled it a knockdown) and blasted him from rope to ringpost until the final bell. Rudkin took everything Harada dished out and made a spirited rally when the arm-weary champ tired in the closing rounds." - Pacific Stars and Stripes
Yes well I'm pretty sure it was called as an official knockdown Scar because the two Japanese judges scored it 5-3. I think Nicky Pope the American called it 5-4 but I'll check that at the weekend. I have the scorecards at home but I'm working away at the moment. Myself, I thought Dad won it 5-4 so like Rough's scorecard showed, a three point swing right at the beginning of the fight.
I'd be surprised if anyone who's watched the fight would agree with that Pacific Star and Stripes description of it.
Here is the UPI writeup I found on boxrec. Perhaps I jumped the gun on this. It doesn't appear that the UPI stated he had never been down but Olivares responding to someone who told him Alan had never been down. Pre-fight comment "Everything has a first time." -Ruben Olivares, when told that Rudkin had never been down in his 42 bouts dating back to 1962. "Power-punching Ruben Olivares of Mexico scored a 2nd round knockout Friday night over British champion Alan Rudkin in his first defense of the bantamweight title Friday night at the Inglewood Forum. The champion wasted no time in displaying his superior punching ability as he dropped Rudkin once in the 1st round before scoring the knockout at 2:30 of the 2nd round. Olivares dropped his opponent earlier in the 2nd round with a right to the jaw and Rudkin took an eight-count on one knee. When the challenger arose, Olivares closed in with a savage two-handed attack and sent Rudkin reeling to the canvas again with a tremendous right to the jaw. Rudkin gamely tried to rise to his knees but fell forward to the canvas. Referee John Thomas then stepped in and waved his arms to signal the fight was over." -United Press International
