Most people know by now that we have an aussie legend and HOF'er Jeff 'Flash' Malcolm posting here.....with 100 pro wins he was one of our best fighters ever. This content is protected Grab a cuppa or crack the top off a beer and sit back and read this great article on Jeff and his 31 years in the ring. I know Jeff is a humble guy and not one to blow his own horn however I hope Jeff will answer some questions in this thread from any of the guys who have questions. :cheers http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=13360&more=1
Here's one straight off.. What the hell happened to the judges in your fight with Peter Berrigan in Newcastle??? Berrigan was undefeted, but the response from John McDougall and Ray Mitchell etc. was that of total shock when the scores were read out. Neither man could believe the result and Mitchell was banned from attending any future promo's by the same fellow. From reports, you pretty much won every round..
Yes that was a long time ago. Johnny Lewis has never forgotten it. But that is boxing. After all of the years I fought I learned you take the good with the bad. I was lucky enough to box for a long time. Longer than most so I cant say anything bad about guys I fought or people who judged. I wasnt a well educated person so boxing was like being a millionare. Hey without boxing I wouldnt be able to talk to you guys. Some people have all the luck.
So Jeff...how did you last so long in boxing? Most pros now are shot by 35 years of age and are lucky to have 40 fights. Was it your defence that helped your longevity in the ring?
I remember back in 97 or so, it seemed like you were going to lock horns with Ike Quartey. How did that one not go ahead and how close was it actually to going ahead? Secondly, you were Sel Currie's trainer for a long long time. What happened with his bout with Col Graham? I was there that night and it seemed like Sel couldn't get much going at all. (I'd like to point out that despite the nickname I'm not Coly! ) Did he over-train for that one??
I wanted to be a fighter all my life. The main reason I boxed for so long was because I was properly taught. We will always have good boxers but the days of great trainers is gone. In Queensland I am known as a great cheat. I cheat on the scales I cheat in the corner and cheat anywhere I can to help my boxer. Keith Ellis admires how good I cheat. Its something we have in common.
When I started training Sel his record was 3/13. He had just lost 5 fights straight with Noel Thornberry. He put all his trust in me and we won the aussie titlle. After his draw with Mick Omalley in Melbourne we parted ways. Sel all of a sudden had 5 managers. He called me 2 days before the Graham fight and said he was 5lb over the limit. I went up to Ipswich and helped him. He made the weight but had nothing left at fight time. We are still close friends today.
I was with Don King back in the 80s. We became friends while I was there I was lucky enough to be his guest at his sons wedding. Ike was going to leave his promoter and join Don. Thats when I came in. Don never had a rated welter. He went through the ratings and found me at 5. I was contacted about 24 hours after the media announced it. I was looking at a $300,000us earn. Anyway Don never got him as Ikes people threatened legal action.