Howard Cosell

I was at the fight when Howard Cosell had his wig stripped off of him in my hometown, it was Daniel Gonzalez vs Sugar Ray Leonard on March 24 1979. That is where I ran into Carlos Monzon as I exited the restroom on my way to buying a beer at the concession stand. We nodded up at each other. After Cosell interviewed the fighters, a man came from ringside, trying to spill a beer purposely on Howard who immediately walked out of the Community Center waiting by himself in a nearby alley. In the sports page the next day, Cosell said that the fans in my hometown were a bunch of savages and that he would never return as long as he lived. He returned all right, he was there commentating for the WBC Title bout on Jan 20 1980 in my hometown between defending Junior Lightweight Champion Alexis Arguello vs Ruben Castillo, my Dad and I were there, Arguello stopped Castillo in round 11. On April 12 1980 Cosell was there again in my hometown commentating on the WBC Title bout between champion Salvador Sanchez and challenger Ruben Castillo, Sanchez retained by unanimous 15 round decision.

 

One of live’s greatest joys, for those of us who have been so fortunate, is to go to a fight with your dad. Cherish that always my friend.

 

Scott LeDoux vs Johnny Boudreaux.

 

I still cherish those moments with my dad, he was an avid boxing fan too. My Dad passed away in August 1994 at the age of 75, we attended and watched fights on television as well as my first fight that I saw with he and my uncle, Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson on Nov 22 1965, we saw it on Closed Circuit Television at the local high School.

 

Beautiful build then the Killer, U-turn punchline! Excellent.

One of Howard’s better efforts was his post fight interview with Sonny Liston after the Leotis Martin KO loss.

Howard turned it down a notch and handled it with sensitivity and empathy which allowed Liston to speak easily and honestly.

Who would’ve blamed Liston for not granting an interview after that loss? Not me. Great effort by the ex-Champ.

After the decision was announced in favour of Norton after the first fight with Ali, Howard can be heard calling out for Muhammad to come over to him. I think it’s Dundee who can be heard responding curtly “He can’t talk!!” Like duh, Howard.

Howard replied “I know, I just want him to shake Ken’s hand.” LOL.

Ali clouted the annoying Bundini a few times after some fights. Wonder how close Ali came to doing same to Howard? Hehe.

 

Not much to add, but he was a ceaseless advocate for Ali; he was among the first to call him Ali after he joined the NOI, and got some flak for it - but he stood by what he thought was right, including arguing against Ali’s boxing ban. I believe he was the first to tell Muhammad the ban had been overturned

 

I think he was taken off the air because he was getting through a bottle of vodka whilst he was on the air.A lpromoting opportunist,but I really didn't mind him .

 

George Kimball a real top boxing man said Cosell's account of the campaign to getAli his licence back did not jive with his and George Plimpton's recollections of events,he basically called Cosell a self aggrandizing liar.

 

I'll always remember, This Is Howard Cosell in his nasal voice. Lol.

 

While I am not a fan of his commentary or style (both in boxing and other sports) he had a knack for making the ordinary seem larger than life and big time events like a spectacle. He came along at just the right time in history.

 

I wasn't born when he was announcing fights so I would only hear him when I'm watching old fights on YT. I personally didn't mind him but I can see why he can be grating for some people. His commentary on Foreman vs Lyle is legendary though.

 

Yout hometown was quite the hot stop back then...

 

Just telling it like it is

 

ATG announcer for sure. He's part of the nostalgia in watching certain old fights.

I really enjoyed his interviews. Many are too nice to fighters who make excuses or who are full of it. He was NOT. His interview with Quarry after Quarry was stomped by Ali was a great example of this.