This guy was originally supposed to be part of the 1993 "People's Choice" Heavyweight Tournament, (eventually won by Tubbs), but rumour has it he saw Tubbs and Bonecrusher sparring a day or two before the tournament starts and he turned pale, Smith turned to him and said something like "We do this for a living, Joe. It's none of that street crap." Savage pulled out with an injury. Later on he fought Bert Cooper in Canada, where he was introduced not only as bareknuckle champion, but as the man who "challenged Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno on the same night" [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF79w3ASXS4[/ame]
I remember this guy well. The Ring did a small piece on him, and in my opinion showed the guy way too much respect. Savage was saying things like: "I once tore this guy's teeth out and broke his jaw" etc. etc. He made himself out to be this real hard case that was going to rip the established boxers apart. He even had the nerve to say: "When I see the money the likes of Bruno get, it makes me sick." Well, whatever. Bert smoked him but good.
The end of the story for a man who talked tough and couldn't deliver. I respect him for finding enough courage to step in the ring with Smokin' Bert Cooper, knowing he was probably going to be made to look like a clown after all the talking he had done. That's exactly what happened.
He was a bareknuckle fighter, he fought a few fights in gypsy ran tournaments in Tottenham and Yorkshire I believe. However there is a huge difference in knowing the path and walking the path. Almost without exception most bareknuckle fighters are way too crude to handle a relaxed pro with timing and range. An exception to this would be a guy called Lewis Welsh from the North East. I've seen him first hand and he was a good boxer and has genuine skill not just raw power. If he'd stayed pro he would have risen quite high IMO. :bbb
