Charlie “White Lightning” Brown vs Charlie “Choo Choo” Brown

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM.


  1. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Both fought at lightweight and junior welter in the same time span.

    Choo Choo won the inaugural IBF lightweight belt with a split decision over Melvin Paul. He lost it a few months later by KO 15 to Harry Arroyo.

    White Lightning fought Arroyo for that same belt and was stopped in eight.

    Both beat a few decent fighters and both lost to some good opponents. Both went on skids at the end of their careers that left their records a little less impressive than they would have liked: Choo Coo finished 26-16-2, White Lightning 31-11.

    But they never fought.

    So let’s make it happen.

    Choo Choo was a bit more of a stylist but not afraid to brawl. White Lightning was more of a pressure fighter and all-out slugger.

    Ten rounds: Who ya got, how and why?
     
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:34 PM
    #1
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  2. Cobra33

    Cobra33 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    White Lighting would get stopped and he had a horrible habit of leaving his chin up in the air.
    And he was more of an arm puncher then anything else.
    What helped him get fights was he had a very fan friendly style and would throw punches in bunches.
     
    Cobra33, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
    Cobra33, Sep 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
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  3. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not to mention with his blonde boyish looks and the 'White Lightning' handle, the TV loved him. I always felt he got a couple of gifts in his bouts with Louie Burke and Frank Newton. I felt both of them beat him but nothing was going to stop the networks from getting him his title shot and it came apart there. I also saw Choo-Choo Brown a number of times, and I agree, Choo-Choo would have stopped him. Choo Choo had a ferocious left hook.
     
    scartissue, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
    scartissue, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
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  4. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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    double ko
     
    Mandela2039, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
    Mandela2039, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
    #4
  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Choo Choo stops him I think. White Lightning was lucky to get by guys like Frank Newton.

    Odd that Harry Arriyo had two consecutive title fights against guys named Charlie Brown.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
    salsanchezfan, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
    salsanchezfan, Sep 16, 2025 at 7:34 PM
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  6. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This content is protected
     
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:02 PM
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  7. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The fact that these who never fought makes me appreciate Brian Mitchell even more.

    Brian beat Irving Mitchell and Frankie Mitchell in title fights.

    He even beat a guy named Carlos Miguel … probably just as a warning in case he got any cute ideas of anglicizing his last name.

    If you were using any form of the name Mitchell in his weight class and time, Brian was going to hunt your ass down to let everybody know who the REAL Mitchell was.
     
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:07 PM
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  8. Roughhouse

    Roughhouse Active Member Full Member

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    White Lightning was the more energetic and maybe talented fighter over the short haul, but tended to fade. Choo Choo was more durable and stable. Close fight, but the smart money would be nervously on Choo Choo to edge him out over 10.
     
    Roughhouse, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
    Roughhouse, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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  9. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Rare clip of Choo Cho and White Lightning together:

    This content is protected
     
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
    Saintpat, Sep 16, 2025 at 8:54 PM
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  10. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    salsanchezfan, Sep 16, 2025 at 10:09 PM
    salsanchezfan, Sep 16, 2025 at 10:09 PM
    #10
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  11. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The biggest tragedy is that they never faced each other to settle rightful ownership of the name.

    The second biggest is I’m pretty sure neither used this as his ringwalk music:

    This content is protected
     
    Saintpat, Sep 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
    Saintpat, Sep 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
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  12. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    At least it wasn’t “Big Girls Don’t Cry.”
     
    salsanchezfan, Sep 17, 2025 at 7:18 AM
    salsanchezfan, Sep 17, 2025 at 7:18 AM
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  13. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think Choo Choo was a little better.

    White lighting had a little better speed. Choo Choo had better power. Both had swiss cheese defense. Both could be hurt.

    Both lost to Arroyo in 1984 but Choo Choo gave Arroyo the tougher fight lasting until the 14th round.

    It would be an action fight and I think Choo Choo would stop White Lightning late

    What irked me my fav Boza was supposed to fight Choo Choo for the iBF title but he got injured and Arroyo took his place. Boza would have knocked out Choo Choo as he did later in the year in a fight after Choo Choo lost to Arroyo.
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
    Saad54, Sep 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
    Saad54, Sep 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
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  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I know, right ? You’d think he’d throw a Linus or a Snoopy in there somewhere.
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
    mr. magoo, Sep 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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  15. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    I don't remember White Lightening but Choo Choo wasnt that good.
     
    ETM, Sep 18, 2025 at 12:37 AM
    ETM, Sep 18, 2025 at 12:37 AM
    #15