Really I was a trustee when Hector was busted and use too hook him up and talk to him all the time I use to live in Glendale for alittle bit, i also boxed at Bennys Jet Center in back in the days, im sure you know that gym. Before Hector was busted though i had met him a couple of times at the fights and also had a few beers with his brother who was a fighter too but didnt go far. I liked Hector one of my favorites back when he was fighting, one of the best guys to never grab a title. Lot of close decisions didnt go his way. I thought he did enough to pull out the win over Tszyu. So you grew up out in Toonerville? Oh my bad! I meant Tszyu not Judah. I dont think it was split but it was controversial the crowd booed the decision on USAs Tuesdday night fights.
McCullough v Zaragoza is one of the greatest displays off a cast-iron chin on full show that I've seen. Took some bombs that night, and plenty of punches. Think it's a Compubox record of some sort (or high on the list of) punches landed.
Never stopped, not even on cuts over the course of 1600 rounds so I'd say regardless he has an absolute iron clad jaw. Jack Britton fought 3149 rounds over the course of his career. Absolutely incredible, fighting into his 40's in an age where it was unheard of and fighters became shopworn much faster. Only stopped once, in his second career fight. I don't even count such incidents against fighters from several decades ago and further back, being KO'ed that early in their careers. Zero amateur experience/turning pro at 15-17... What's to fault? Here's an interesting similarity Duodenum... Harry Greb was stopped in his seventh fight, the only actual stoppage of his career, the other stoppage being on a broken arm. Henry Armstrong, stopped in his first pro fight for the only real stoppage of his career. Sandy Saddler, stopped in his second pro fight. Never stopped again. Dave Shade, a "poor mans Harry Greb. Almost 2,000 rounds, the only time he was ever counted out was from a bodyshot in his 7th pro fight as a teenager.
I began training over at the Salvation Army in Glendale back in the 80's when I met Hector. He used to have absolute WARS with his brother Robert in that ring! Several times they resorted to kicking and wrestling. After a while the Army shut down the program and Gordon Wheeler (trainer and in charge of the boxing program) took the ring, bags and equipment to the Goosens place. Not even named yet, it was a makeshift cabin in the backyard. Had so many names training regularly there including Michael Nunn and Alex Garcia. There was also the old city jail that had turned the 5th floor into a boxing facility in Cypress Park. Later we did train mostly in Van Nuys at the Jet Center. Hector and I had so much fun. Was too bad he got into trouble from the very beginning. He would dominate guys like Genera Hernandez, Paul Gonzalez, the Ruelas brothers in sparring. Just had sooo much potential. We had a lot of laughs I must admit! I talked to a girl that claimed to be his niece a few months back and she told me he was in trouble and got deported. Do you know what he is up to now? Last I knew he was living in Palmdale. Pleasure to meet you by the way!
I can't find any source as yet which answers my question about recording him even getting knocked down. What gets me is how often we see young fighters huffing and puffing in no time, yet Tarleton did what he did with a single lung! (For all we know, maybe Nella was a smoker to boot.) We've enjoyed some excellent conversations about Britton. He maintained his weight, kept active, and typically went the distance, helping to preserve the integrity of his legs. I completely agree about discounting anomalous events due to inexperience, physical immaturity, or poor judgment, such as a novice Greb stepping into the ring with a much bigger and more experienced Joe Chip. (As we know, Harry got back in the ring with Joe when they both weighed the same and had much more seasoning, and Harry beat the **** out of him over 12.) Hard times produced some hard competitors. In 143 fights, only a peaking Armstrong was able to do it to Sarron. Petey's great rival Freddie Miller only got stopped twice in 245 outings, neither of which was for the count. Within today's context, these statistics are mind blowing. Top performers stepping into the ring 300 or 400 times, and getting stopped once or twice, with six ounce gloves? Ray Leonard has expressed his respect and admiration for these historical achievements on camera, and I greatly appreciate his acknowledging this. (I'm not too keen on Mayweather's attempts to elevating himself above all his predecessors after a mere 41 bouts. Yes, it's a pithy record, but what would his numbers be if he'd had over 300 fights by now with six ounce gloves?)
George Chuvalo.The reason I think his chin was so great, is he did not have great defense,and he wasn't a devastating hitter,so he was out there getting belted in a lot of rounds every fight. I don;t know how recent some of the interviews are I have seen him in,but he looks and sound great,especially for an ex-fighter of his years.
Don't you think that it is more to do with the fact that he ran more miles than Carl Lewis in the ring, Greatest chin of all time, More like, Greatest survivor of all time.