Joe Erskine

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015.


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  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Never saw him fight and know nothing about him except for what I've read on boxrec. Looked like a good solid British champion who started off his career 30-0 before running into Nino Valdez.. Fought Henry Cooper on five or six occasions winning about half those. What do you guys know about him?
     
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
    #1
  2. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Clever boxer who lacked power.
     
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
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  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Strictly a fancy dan. Nice mover.
    He lacked height and reach, which would really have helped a boxer of that style.
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 8, 2015
    Unforgiven, Apr 8, 2015
    #3
  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    You've lived in the UK for quite some time. Ever see him fight?
     
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
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  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Only on TV
     
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
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  6. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    That's good enough.
     
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
    mr. magoo, Apr 8, 2015
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  7. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Impressive that he went 13 rounds with Johansson, when Ingo was hitting his stride.
    Johansson KO'd Machen in 1 round less than seven months later.

    [yt]dA2v6PcBXIo[/yt]
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 8, 2015
    Unforgiven, Apr 8, 2015
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  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Erskine had quick feet and a poker face, when he was tagged ,hard to know when he was hurt.
     
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
    mcvey, Apr 8, 2015
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  9. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Erskine had much on the ball, as he beat, as in "outclassed" my man Willie Pastrano among other things. The man had first class skills IMO.
     
    red cobra, Apr 8, 2015
    red cobra, Apr 8, 2015
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  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    he looks pretty sharp in some of that footage. As McVey said, he appears to have been a clever boxer, with good mobility. Perhaps a quality American trainer could have gotten him a bit further.
     
    mr. magoo, Apr 9, 2015
    mr. magoo, Apr 9, 2015
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  11. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Joseph "Joe" Erskine (26 January 1934 – 18 February 1990[1]) was a heavyweight boxer from the Butetown district of Cardiff, Wales, he was Amateur Boxing Association Champion, Inter-Services Champion and British Army Champion in 1953. He began fighting as a professional in 1954 and was trained by Freddie Elvin. He held the British heavyweight title from August 1956 to June 1958. In all, he won 45 of his 54 professional bouts, losing 8, with one drawn, the best wins were over George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, **** Richardson, Uli Ritter, Jack Bodell, Johnny Williams, Joe Bygraves and Willie Pastrano,
    Erskine was a small heavyweight who outmaneuvered rather than overpowered his opponents. Angelo Dundee who saw his prospect Pastrano defeated by Erskine said he was surprised by his skill - further remarking that if Erskine had been just a bit bigger he could have been a world beater.[2]
     
    mcvey, Apr 9, 2015
    mcvey, Apr 9, 2015
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  12. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Good article and interesting observation by Dundee. Perhaps Erskine was a man who could have benefited from a cruiserweight class
     
    mr. magoo, Apr 9, 2015
    mr. magoo, Apr 9, 2015
    #12
  13. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Erskine was well regarded by all who fought him. He was tough and clever. Joe proberbly wasn't the same after the ingo fight and I think he was not managed too well later on. He had eye problems I think. Lacked a big punch.

    After a sparring session with Willie Pastrano Henry Cooper was asked who would win between Erskine and Pastrano. Everyone expected Cooper to pick the American but Cooper told the press without hesitation that Erskine would win. Cooper really rated Joe as a master boxer who with a bigger punch would have been world champion. For pure point scorring boxing cooper rated Joe as about the best he fought.
     
    choklab, Apr 9, 2015
    choklab, Apr 9, 2015
    #13
  14. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    He sure would have...it's a pity that he had to fight Ingo...
     
    red cobra, Apr 9, 2015
    red cobra, Apr 9, 2015
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  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    It gives me pleasure to agree with you.:good
     
    mcvey, Apr 9, 2015
    mcvey, Apr 9, 2015
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