Most scary boxing scene you saw in person?

Though Benny lingered over a week in a coma, can't imagine anyone in MSG not feeling Benny was dead in the ring, tangled in the ropes.

 

Boy.... "could of been Whitey Bimstein, Irving Cohen ,jumped in the ring
and stuck their finger in Russo's throat and dislodged his mouthpiece/
probably saving his life"

He could have lost a finger. They had no idea about the Hiemlich manuever as we know today. Maybe it would not have been a good idea to try since he was on the ground.

That must have been hell for his dad.

 

Haha "Prime Tyson"

 

Hi Burt,

a very interesting story and insight to an era now long gone. Yes, Freddie's handlers were Whitie Bimstein and Irving Cohen. My dad very young when he took on Sal and a little easy to goad, so Sal teased my Dad about dating my mom at the time and Freddie wanted to take his head off (they were all good friends and hung out together) and Sal sat back and just countered Pops for many rounds until he finally settled down, but he did lose the bout to Sal in a decision. Freddie had a pretty bad car accident that slowed or derailed his career. Funny thing, he wanted to fight his best friend and Featherweight Champion Willie "The Will of the Wisp" Pep, but that fight eluded him. they were signed to go once right before the first Pep Saddler fight and they put the full court press on my dad to step aside for the bout, timing is everything. Willie says to my Dad...Freddie, take the money to step aside and I will knock out Sandy and we will fight in a few weeks. Eventually, Freddie took the buyout figuring Pep would knock out Saddler and that they would fight in a couple of weeks. Funny how things go, Saddler knocks Pep out in the first of their memorable fights and at the same time my Dad has a horrific auto accident on the way to Florida to enjoy his purse for not fighting, breaking his right arm. He never did get back to his former self although he did go on to defeat 3 maybe 4 former World Champions and the European Champion (Vince Del Orto). He never got that fight or one with Sandy who he had a street fight in a drug store around the corner from Stiillman's (defending his buddy Willie) so that fight never did get made either. He lost a close on to Phil Terranova that might have put him in line for a shot as well. Yeah, all those boys would have made tons in the eras since.

 

Leon Spinks' teeth

 

In the Minneapolis gym I was taught at they had monthly smokers, usually amateur but sometimes local pro's would do exhibitions too. Well the ring was up against an old cement wall on one side and I can still see a young fighter out cold and on his way down with his head falling outside the ropes and just touching that wall. Another half inch or so and he would likely have been dead (and still they never put any padding up or moved the ring).

 

Much appreciated posts from Burt and Jrrusso on that long gone era. For years I've searched out new stories from those days but the publications have covered and recovered the same ones, here though and from seasoned fans like you two I find them. Thanks guys!

 

Agreed. We are a little spoiled here at times.