Anyone else had a chance to talk to any Old Time fighters

Talked at length to Ken Norton and Bob Foster. Also Clay Hodges. Norton truly hated Don King but liked Ali. Foster was not the least bit impressed with Toney, Jones, or even Michael Spinks, said they would have all been easy fights for him. Clay Hodges was a funny guy, he goes on about how he beat George Foreman as an amateur, and signed to fight him early as a pro, but got injured or something.

 

RockyJim & Bunny Davis tell us some stores about the great HWs

Who confirmed or overturned expectations?

Story about the legendary Ty Cobb, endless career with highest batting average all time. They asked him long after retirement...

Hey Mr. Cobb with the pitching they have today, what do you think that you would hit"?

Cobb replied immediately "about .320"

The reporter was a little surprised at his fairly midest assessment..

"That is still very good, but that is the best you would do against today's pitcher's?"

Cobb paused briefly & said-

"Well, you gotta remember, I am 72 years old".

 

Ty Cobb had a lifetime batting average of .367 in more than 20 years in the big league. Simply astounding...

 

Definitely. Will probably get to it in the next couple days

 

that is a hell of a list and I am very very envious. There wouldn't be much chance for a Brit such as me to run into them unfortunately.
From that list theres only Ken Buchanan who i have met but I'll never forget.
Johnny Sullivan a tough former British middle from the 50s once asked me to turn pro with him because he said I was ugly enough hahahaha.

 

My partner's Mum's God father was Jack Doyle who lived next door but one .But we try not to mention it.

 

Met Jake Lamotta a few years back and got to sit with him in a bar on our own chatting for a good couple of hours before his official appearance - see the link below - one of my favourite memories for sure

http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=264051

 

Ike Williams- Great friends for the last few years of his life. Humble, gracious, personable. Everything a fighter (and man) should be).

Jimmy McLarnin- Just like Ike Williams. He had a quiet grace and dignity to him. Even if you didn't know who he was you could tell this man was somebody's hero.

Archie Moore- a bit crabby and cantankerous, but in a way that could be overcome if you took the time to dismiss it and actually talk to the man and humor him a bit. He was witty and intelligent once you got past the outer layer. I got along with him, but didn't care for the way I saw him treat a few others.

Lou Nova- wacky, wild, fun, funny, engaging, loved people. Lou was a wonderful eccentric. He wore this powder blue suit and awful psychedelic tie as he recited an Edgar Allan Poe poem up on the podium of an event I was at. I can still hear him bellowing "BELLS! BELLS! BELLS! Of the bells--
Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells--
In the clamour and the clangour of the BELLS!!!" Unforgettable.

Cleveland Williams- Met at the Boxing HOF banquet. Quiet, dignified, seemed to really appreciate that anyone gave a rip about him or his career. You could tell he felt honored at all the attention.

George Chuvalo- great guy! So alive and engaging, amazing when you consider all he's been through in the ring and out. He should be a brain-dead and emotionally-paralyzed lump of useless flesh after all that. Man doesn't even slur, was lucid and spoke in clear sentences. Loved him.

Henry Armstrong- Like McLarnin, quiet and dignified. Appreciated that people rememberedd him.

Willie Pep- "peppy" and energetic. Seemed much younger than his age. Really nice and showed no ill effects. You'd think he was an ex-game show host or something. Nice guy.

Gene Fullmer- Soft spoken. A gentleman.

Carmen Basilio- Mischievous. Honest. Like your favorite playful uncle. The type of guy who'd pull a magic coin out of your ear. Lovely guy.

Vito Antuofermo- kinda hard, but not surly or unfriendly. You could tell he was tough and he knew it.

Billy Soose- "Poise" is the word that comes to mind. Seems taller than he really is, if that makes sense. If you didn't know him you could still tell he was a successful man who made a lot of smart decisions in life. Someone to be admired. Friendly and proud of his career, and flattered that you're interested.

Al Hostak- sorta like Nova and Pep. Lots of fun energy and enthusiastic about life. You'd have thought he was easily going to make it to 100 years old and beyond. LOVED the fans and the interaction. Acted like he woke up that morning and discovered (to his surprise) that people actually cared about his career. Delightful man.

More later.

 

Mc, Jack Doyle called "the Irish Thrush" might not have been a top heavyweight fighter, but he was a helluva Irish Tenor, and a great "ladies man'...

 

Joey Giardello- fiery Italian. Great guy who was proud of his career.



Joey Maxim- An even MORE fiery Italian. For some reason he expressed contempt to me for Jake LaMotta, stating that he wished Jake would have fought him because he felt he could whip him good. Nice guy, though.



Jimmy Carter- quiet. Soft spoken. Wore a perpetual grin.

Nicolino Locche- had that stoic Argentinian thing going on. He didn't understand much English but he could tell I was a fan of Argentine boxing and it made him smile.


Alexis Arguello- Everything they said he was. A gentleman. Had a beer with him. I could tell he was a depressive though. I was shocked when he killed himself, but at the same time I could see it to a degree.



Fighting Harada- To be honored by your own people is one thing, but there's something extra special about another country honoring you and putting you on a pedestal. Harada seemed to realize that. He was thrilled to be there and you could tell he loved every single fan he met, every picture he took and every autograph he signed. Guy never stopped smiling.

 

Yes my Mum in law met Movita his wife ,she said she was a beauty and had gold nail varnish on which really impressed her!

 

Maxim was probably thinking about the boxing lesson he gave Irish Bob Murphy.