BOXING - What Happened On This Day???????

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Jeff Harding v Dennis Andries, Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith, London, UK.

Harding regains the WBC light heavyweight title on PTS over 12 rounds.

This was the last of the trilogy, regaining Harding the title he'd lost to Andries a year earlier, and spliting the rubber 2/1 Harding's way.

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...poster from the first fight.


Has there been a better trilogy of fights involving an Aussie in the history of boxing?

 

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Birthdate of Wilfred Benitez.

Benitez was born in Bronx, New York, United States, but lived and fought initially out of Puerto Rico.

In March 1976, at the age of 17 years and 5 months, and having already accumulated a 25-0 record, Benitez became the youngest world champion in boxing history. Winning the WBA junior welterweight title on PTS over 15 rounds from Antonio Cervantes.

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...17 year old Benitez celebrates after winning world title.

Though he achieved great success in the ring at a young age, Benitez's best was behind him by the time he reached his mid 20's.

Along the way Benitez foughts some of the alltime greats including Cervantes, Duran, Hearns, and Leonard.

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Unfortunately Benitez suffered severe brain damage and lives in a nursing home in Puerto Rico, supported by a pension granted by the Puerto Rican government.

 

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Guy Waters v Leslie Stewart – International Tennis Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.

Waters wins the Commonwealth light heavyweight title on PTS over 12 rounds.

An improved performance from Waters in beating the Trinadadian former WBA world champion.

This fight followed his unsuccessful and disappointing challenge for Denis Andries' WBC belt. The loss to Andries, where Guy just never got going, remained the biggest disappointment of manager 'Break Even' Bill Mordy's career in boxing.

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...The Waters brothers - Dean, Guy and Troy.

 

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Shane Mosley v Oscar De La Hoya - MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

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'Sugar' Shane Mosley wins the World super welterweight title on PTS over 12 rounds.

This was the second meeting between the pair - the results both going Mosley's way.

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Agreed mate. I was startled by the decision, but glad for Dean at the same time.

Last I heard of Dean, admittedly a few years ago, he was said to be working doors in Qld. He did get back into training perhaps 3 years ago and had a comeback fight all lined up - perhaps it was a good thing it never happened, particularly when you consider what happened to Briggsy.

Saw an article about Troy a few years back and he looked fit and well, and doing the family thing.

 

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Joe Martin, the Louisville policeman who steered Muhammad Ali into boxing in 1954, dies at age 80.



Joe Elsby Martin, 80, Muhammad Ali's First Boxing Teacher

by IRA BERKOW - Sept 17 1996


One rainy night in 1954, Joe Elsby Martin, a Louisville, Ky., policeman who ran a local recreation center called the Columbia Gym, saw a skinny 12-year-old boy with tears in his eyes come into the gym seeking him out.

The boy was distraught because his new red Schwinn bicycle, a Christmas present from his father, had been stolen. He had been told that a policeman named Martin would fill out a police report for him.

''What's your name?'' Martin said.

''Cassius Clay,'' the boy said, adding angrily that he would whip the thief if he could find him.

Martin then asked the young Clay if he could fight, saying, ''You better learn to fight before you start fightin'.''

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...a very young Clay (Ali).


In this way did Martin, who died at his Louisville home on Saturday at the age of 80, launch the boxing career of Muhammad Ali, an Olympic gold medal champion, a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion and a controversial and often beloved international figure.

In his autobiography ''The Greatest: My Own Story,'' written with Richard Durham, Ali recalled his meeting with Martin and introduction to boxing.

''I ran downstairs, crying, but the sights and sounds and the smell of the boxing gym excited me so much that I almost forgot about the bike,'' Ali wrote. ''There were about 10 boxers in the gym, some hitting the speed bag, some in the ring, sparring, some jumping rope. I stood there, smelling the sweat and rubbing alcohol, and a feeling of awe came over me. One slim boy shadowboxing in the ring was throwing punches almost too fast for my eyes to follow.''

After the lad had written out the report and was about to go, Martin tapped him on the shoulder. ''By the way,'' he said, ''we got boxing every night, Monday through Friday, from 6 to 8. Here's an application in case you want to join the gym.''

The boy had never worn a pair of boxing gloves, but was excited about trying the sport.

''When I got to the gym,'' Ali wrote, ''I was so eager, I jumped into the ring with some older boxer and began throwing wild punches. In a minute my nose started bleeding. My mouth was hurt. My head was dizzy. Finally someone pulled me out of the ring.''

''Get someone to teach you,'' a slim welterweight told the young Clay.

And that someone was Martin. He had worked for years with amateurs and had been instrumental in integrating Louisville's amateur boxing, combining separate gyms for black and white fighters. While Martin was not a professional boxing trainer, he knew enough of the rudiments of the sport to get the young Clay started.

''He could show me how to place my feet and how to throw a right cross,'' the fighter later wrote. And while Clay threw wild punches, ''something'' was driving him. ''I kept coming back to the gym.''

Martin told him: ''I like what you're doing. I like the way you stick to it. I'm going to put you on television. You'll be on the next television fight.'' At that time, Louisville amateur fighters, some from Martin's gym, appeared on a weekly televised boxing card called ''Tomorrow's Champions.''

''Thrilled at the idea of being seen on TV all over Kentucky, I trained the whole week,'' Ali said. ''They matched me with a white fighter, Ronny O'Keefe, and I won my first fight by a split decision.

''All of a sudden I had a new life.''

Martin's tutoring helped the young Clay win six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles and two national Amateur Athletic Union titles leading up to the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where Martin was a coach and where the fighter won the heavyweight gold. After Ali turned professional with the backing of some businessmen, Martin continued to train amateurs and remained active with Golden Gloves, serving for a time as the Kentucky representative on the organization's national board.

In all, he held the Kentucky Golden Gloves franchise for almost 40 years. In 1977, he was inducted into the Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame.

A police officer for 34 years, Martin did some auctioneering after retiring from the force. In 1980, Ali appeared in a sparring exhibition to raise money for Martin's campaign for Jefferson County sheriff, but Martin lost in his bid to win the Democratic nomination, the second time he was defeated for that post.

Martin is survived by his wife, Christine; a son, Joe Jr., and a granddaughter.

 

This fascinating article by the great Eddie Futch is a follow-up to Muhammad Ali v Kenny Norton post of 10th September.


Eddie Futch on Ken Norton

by Bill Humphrey - Bad Left Hook dot com - Sept 5th 2010


The jab was a big reason Muhammad Ali never figured out why he always had so much trouble with Ken Norton in their three fights. I thought Ken won all three. But he only got the decision in their first fight, the one in San Diego in 1973 when he broke Ali’s jaw. Most people thought that that was the first time they were in the ring together, but a few years earlier they had sparred in Los Angeles when Ali was in exile. What ever city Ali was in he always had his boxing gear in the luggage compartment of his car. Whenever he would step out of his car people would gather. So the day he showed up at the Hoover Street Gym in Los Angeles, the gym filled up. Wall-to-wall people.

Three other heavyweights were working out, Scrap Iron Johnson, Howard Smith and somebody whose name I’ve forgotten. Ali boxed with each of those fellows, then somebody told him I had a young heavyweight, Ken Norton.

Ali didn’t even know Norton’s name. Ali looked at me and said, “How about working a round with your guy?” I said, “Okay.” I took Norton aside and told him, “Don’t” try to be a wise guy. Just be smart. Just go out there and work along with him and try to learn something. If it gets rough in there naturally take care of yourself. But just try to work along with him.” The first round went like that but Norton was never a smooth-looking fighter. He didn’t have a classic style. Ali had looked him over pretty good. I guess he decided the kid can’t fight much. So with this enthusiastic crowd there, Ali decided he’s going to give them a show.

Near the end of the round, Ali stepped back and announced to Norton and the crowd, “Okay, boy, I’m through playing with you. I’m going to put something on you.” Ali really starts punching, but Norton goes right with him. What a round that was, a wild round.

The thing was, Ali didn’t think Norton could counter because Norton had been working along with him earlier. But when Ali started punching harder, Norton countered. Norton embarrassed him, and Ali didn’t expect that. Ali didn’t like that at all. The next day Ali walked into the gym screaming, “I want that Norton, where’s that Norton?” But I had told Norton to stay in his street clothes.

Ali looked over and saw Norton standing around in his street clothes, then he looked at me and said. “Isn’t he going to work today?” I said, “No.” He said, “Why Not?” I said, “Yesterday you came in here looking for a workout. Today you came in here looking for a fight. When this kid fights you he’s going to get paid, and paid well.”

From that one-round workout I had determined that Norton had the style to lick Ali. He just didn’t have experience yet. Norton’s style was perfect. He was strong. He was awkward. And he was tall, as tall as Ali. Then I started putting their two styles together, thinking how Norton could avoid Ali’s strengths, while exploiting Ali’s weaknesses.

Ali made a mistake that he was able to get away with most of the time because of his great reflexes. But it was very dangerous. The classic style is when you jab you carry your right hand high to parry the other fellow’s jab or straight right hand. Ali carried his right hand out to the side because he knew he could get away with it. Ali had that quick left hand that was more of a flick than a good jab. But it was so fast. If you tried to slip his jab and counterpunch he was gone. If you tried to pull away and counterpunch he was gone. If you tried to bob underneath he was gone. What ever you did he was just too quick.

As soon as Norton started training to fight Ali in the San Diego arena, I thought about what had happened in their one round workout in the Hoover Street Gym. I told him, “You’re not going to hit Ali by slipping or pulling back or dropping underneath or parrying. You have to hit him when he’s punching. When he starts to jab, you punch with him. Keep your right hand high. His jab will pop into the middle of your glove and then your jab will come right down the pipe into the middle of his face. Every time he starts to punch, don’t pull back go forward toward him.” That’s what Norton did. That’s what destroyed Ali’s rhythm.

But there was another important factor: where Norton was in the ring when he went forward. I told him, “If you start from the centre of the ring, it’ll take you only three moves to get Ali on the ropes. Every time you jab, step in and make him jab again. Then do the same thing.” With both of them being big heavyweights, I knew if Norton was in the centre of the ring when he countered Ali’s jab, those three moves would back Ali into the ropes.

When he got Ali on the ropes, I told him, “Don’t do like all the other guys do. Don’t throw your hook to the head. He’ll pull back against the ropes and when you’re off balance he’ll pepper you with counterpunches. When he’s on the ropes, instead of going to the head with the left hook, start banging his body with both hands. I don’t care whether you land or not. Make him in order to protect his body, bring his elbows down and his head down. That gives you a shot to the head.” Simple. So simple but Ali could never figure it out. What he should’ve done was kept his right hand up high to parry Norton’s jab and countered with another jab. Once he parried Norton’s jab, Norton’s jab would have gone over his shoulder. He could jab right back. He could do anything he wanted, because he had gotten rid of Norton’s jab. But he never did. It was a basic move. But he’d done it the other way for so long he didn’t know how to change.

 

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....Eddie Futch - trainer of champions.

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...Champions for ever!

I'm sure you could pick 'em out for yourselves. But for the record: Ken Norton, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Joe Frazier & Muhammad Ali.

(an irony of the above picture is that it's claimed the signatures are fakes - still a nice piece none the less).

 

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Time for some Aussie flavour:


Laurence Austin v Hec Thompson – Perth, Western Australia.

‘Baby Cassius’ Austin regained the Commonwealth & Australian light welterweight titles he lost to Hec 3 months previously, on PTS over 15 rounds.

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...'Baby Cass' - Comm & Aust champion.

This completed the 45 round trilogy between the pair that saw ‘Baby Cassius’ take the rubber 2 wins to 1, and holding the titles.

Cass picked up his nickname from the doyen of Aussie ring announcers, Howard Leigh. Howard apparently saw Lawrence Austin looking like a young version of Cassius Clay - probably when he had shorter hair than the picture above I'm guessing.

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....Hec Thompson - Comm & Aust champion.

 

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Muhammad Ali wins the World heavyweight title for the third time!


Muhammad Ali v Leon Spinks - Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

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Ali wins back the title he lost to Spinks 7 months earlier with a one sided - at least on the judges score cards - points win over 15 rounds.

 

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Paul Ferreri v John Kellie – Pier Hotel, Frankston, Victoria.


Ferreri wins the vacant Commonwealth bantamweight title on PTS over 15 rounds.

Ferreri would hold this title until beaten by Welshman Johnny Owen in at the end of 1978. He won it back in 1981, and then held it until his final career bout in late 1986!

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Australia's 5 reigning Commonwealth Title holders in 1972.

From left: Paul Ferreri (bantamweight), Bobby Dunne (featherweight), Tony Mundine (middleweight), Charkey Ramon (light middleweight) & Henry Nissen (flyweight).

 

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Birthdate of David Reid.

David 'The American Dream' Reid, who won the light middleweight Gold Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was born in Philadelphia.

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Reid won the world light middleweight title from Frenchman Laurent Boudouani in only his 12th pro fight.

His first defence of the title was against our own Kevin 'Bones' Kelly, who had Reid down in round 5, and was perhaps unlucky not to get the verdict after 12 rounds.

Two fights later he defended against Felix Trinidad in Las Vegas. Reid did well early, but was dropped in 7th round and a further 3 times in the 11th round, before losing by UD.

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Following the Trinidad bout, Reid was diagnosed with a detached retina. This wasn't his first eye injury. His left eyelid was injured by Daniel Santos in the final of the 1995 Pan American Games, and the muscle lost its elasticity, causing it to sag.

In all Reid put together a pro career of 17 wins (7 by KO) and 2 losses.