Irish Boxing

For those interested in Irish American fighters here a long, but one the best boxing articles I ever read. Its about the Pittsburgh Kid Billy Conn.


http://billyconn.net/articles/boxer_and_the_blonde.htm

 

thanks pal.... im sure i will enjoy reading this

 

Thanks for the feedback guys (or lads as you say over there). I noticed that after 9/11 Micky Ward starting emphasizing his american patriotism with our flag on his trunks. His mouthpiece still had the Irish flag on it though. Gerry Cooney was 1/4 spanish descent (mom was 1/2 spanish) and Jerry Quarry was predominantly irish wth some american indian and dutch blood in there too. Jack Dempsey was Irish-Scotch and Cherokee indian (with traces of jewish blood). Cooney and Quarry called themselves Irish and emphasized this. Dempsey never did. He was acknowledged as just american. Although the Irish pub in Atlantic City has many photos of the great man on its walls. Gene Tunney did not speak much about his ethnicity. On the other hand, Billiy Conn did. During the instructions of his fight with an Italian-american (I believe either Bettina or Apostoli) he made some ethnic slurs during the refs instructions. Conn was cocky and arrogant in there he always psyched out his opponents. When his trainer said - "Billy that was all live on radio you know." Conn was like - "Why didn't you tell me that for Christsakes!!!" He still went out and beat the Italian. Gotta love Billy Conn! Other guys like Paddy Flood, Joey Archer and Denny Moyer were dawn good boxers too.

 

Jack Dempsey was not Irish Catholic (aka Irish American) and was from the west therefore he did not have that ethnic base. Gene Tunney was a very intellectual individual that enjoyed the company of high society, which caused him to be percieved to be waspy by many Irish Americans.

 

Jimmy Mclarnin was Irish-Canadian.

 

Yes, he lived in Vancouver then eventually moved to Seattle I believe. Thanks for the info bro. He also became a very rich man after retiring. His manager was one of the few actually honest ones and loved him like a son. He invested well and became a very wealthy man. Lived into his 90's too.

 

born in Belfast wasnt he!?

 

born in Hillsborough, County Down, Ireland. Moved to Vancouver, Canada at age 3.

 

close enough for me!

 

I think he went with manager Pop Foster to San Francisco, because it was easier to get fights there. And yes, he did become very rich after his retirement, he made some great investments. He must've been a smart guy, able to retire at 29, and be very secure financially for the rest of his days. Your right about his manager loving him too, as he left Jimmy $286,000 when he passed away.

 

As far as I'm aware the fight was made at 124 lbs , McCullough came in at 120 lbs(which is why a journalist called McCullough unproffesional which provoked an argument between the man and McCullough) .

Martinez was 1 3/4 lbs over at 125 3/4 . Now unless I have the weights wrong , 5 3/4 lbs is huge weight to give away for a Super-Bantamweight . Okay a lot of that weight is Wayne's fault for coming in very light but still .

Martinez is to blame , and solely to blame . After he weighed in he didn't even try to shift the weight he started drinking water........that either means (a)he didn't want to make the weight and was looking for an advantage or (b)the Super-Bantamweight(122 lb) champion of Europe weighed 125 3/4 and was bone dry so simply couldn't get off anymore .

If it's (b) then the likely hood is Martinez is physically unable to make the weight and will fail to do so against Munroe aswell , but I think we know that's not the case .

One man boils himself down , the other doesn't . That'd be fine if it was a game of tiddlywinks we are playing but you don't take chances when mens lives are at stake .

There's no point in McCullough going in there for the money and getting knocked out like Chico did against Castillo . I'd rather not see Wayen fighting at all put if he is going to fight for his own sake it should be on a level playing field .

If Martinez made the weight the fight would of gone ahead , it's as simple as that .

 

Agreed

I think he could have accomplished so much more in his career though , he's most well known for winning a World title at Bantamweight and then losing World title shot after World title shot once he moved up .

 

Great threads and place for irish boxing which is cool.Andy Lee will not be boxing on the wlad undercard that is for certain im told.
But will be in the ring in the states in march.I hear espn are doing a night of contenders around the 22nd.James Moore is pencilled in already.
Keep an eye out for James what he is doing he is doing nicely learning his trade getting his wins and all under the radar.He will explode this year.Also MC Closkey and Lyndsey two talented guys on the fast way to the top.