Any recollections of Johnny Persol?

The Jimmy Durpree fight you speak of was Johnny's last fight. That loss caused Gil Clancy to advise Johnny to hang it up. Remember, Johnny Perol KO'd Jimmy Dupree in their first bout. By the time of the second bout, Johnny's eye injury was permanent and he was seeing double vision. I don't think there are too many boxers with double vision who can withstand being hit flush by another professional boxer. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed reading my comments.

 

Yancey, your comments were so informative and knowledgable that I thought you actually may have attended some of Persol's bouts. In fact, I was impressed by the information you had about Persol's past fights, and only a true fight fan would have this kind of knowlege from the '60s. Apparently, you and I are about the same age as I was born in '54. In any event, I saw Johnny Persol about 3 weeks ago, and I speak to him on a fairly regular basis. I will pass it on about your enjoyment of reading about him in the Ring magazine in the '60s. If you have any of those old articles or magagzine, I'd sure be interested in buying them.

 

gbaby,

I was born in 1952, and boy was I ever a big time boxing fan from about 1966 to 1975. Persol was one of my favorites and he had some great writeups in Ring around 1966 as I recall. Man, I used to love going around to the corner Drug Store back then and read the boxing mags.

Unfortunately, I threw away all the old Ring Magazines I bought...wish I would have kept them.

You may want to do a search on Ebay from time to time. I know they have old Ring Magazines for sale.

Thanks for telling Mr Persol hello, and tell him he had a young kid down in Louisiana pulling for him back then.

Yancey

 

Your youth mirrors mine. I use to go to the local Book Store and read the ring magazine during that same period. The front cover was always colorful and attractive. Additionally, my interest in boxing diminished somewhat after around '75, but I did enjoy Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson bouts. The boxers from this era do not excite me. Johnny Persol is a trainer and he told me it is difficult to get new fighters from this generation. By the way, do you rememeber the Gillette Friday Night fights, and have you ever seen Johnny Persol fight on that program?

 

Definitely remember the Gillette Friday night fights, but don't recall Persol specifically being on them. I'm sure he was, and I would love to get a dvd of the best Gillette fights, if they are still available.

What I do recall was Persol's hot streak against heavies like Woody and Lincoln and how much of a play it got in the mags.

It did come all apart against Ellis. Maybe, like Persol says, he came in cold, but Ellis was much more mobile than the other heavies Persol had been beating. BTW, Persol was 179 for the Ellis fight, and Ellis was 190.

Persol probably well could have been Light Heavy champ at some point.

p.s. I admired all styles of boxers. I liked Persol's artful, classy style, but I also liked the primal, swarmer styles a la Smokin' Joe.

 

I have a copy of Bobo Olson vs. Johnny Persol from a Gillette Friday Night fight, and I'd be happy to burn you a copy. Its not copyrighted. Persol won, and on it you can see how "pretty" Persol boxed; almost ballet like mastering every aspect of the game from jabbing, combinations, counter punching,, bobbing and weaving.

 

Sent you a pm, gbaby.

 

Yancey:

I received your e-mail, but could not respond to it because one must have 50 posts before this forum will allow one to respond to pm. In any event, I went home for lunch, burned you a copy, and its in the mail. This cost is 1.5 million, but don't worry about paying me because as long as you owe me, I'll never go broke.

 

Thanks a bunch, gbaby, I would have needed some seriously long term financing on that one.

Looking forward to seeing Johnny Persol in action again.

 

Yancey, let me know when you receive the DVD, and when you watch it, pay close attention to the commentator as he cites a wealth of information.

 

Sure will.

 

Did it arrive yet?

 

gbaby,

It arrived today. Thanks so much.

Persol looked great. Great left jab, lead rights. Spin moves were great, that one in the 4th round with one glove on the ropes was something else. The move he put on near the end of the 6th followed by the strong right was also impressive. Olson was a canny veteran...just couldn't deal with the speed.

I don't understand how the ref called it a draw, imo, Persol won convincingly. Amazing that the ref can have it 5-5, yet one of the judges sees the fight as 9-1, Persol.

Anyway, will treasure the dvd, tell Mr. Persol hello, and he could well have been light-heavy champion had he not had the eye problems.

Thanks again,

Yancey

 

Yancy:

I'm happy you received the DVD and even more happy that you enjoyed the fight. I can tell by you comments that you really studied the rounds, and that you are a real boxing fan. Quite frankly, I was as impressed as you with Johnny Persol's beautiful boxing style in this fight. I will make sure I tell him he has a true fan in Louisanna. Best regards.

Gbaby

 

What about the 4-round Kayo at the hands of Eddie Cotton on March 13, 1964, well before the Rouse fight?