No Gold & Glory At The End Of Boxing's Rainbow

Beyond the glory and gold, title fights and the limelight,
thousands of boxers have just faded into obscurity
with no gold or glory at the end of boxing's rainbow.

And, for some it's just another rainy day with dark clouds
and forty miles of bad road as they wind down life's long
and winding eternity road.

Even some of the ex-champions and former top contenders
have been left at the side of fast moving highway with nowhere to go.
At least with the ex-champions and some contenders.
they are remembered.

This is their story, who were they, how far did they go,
and why were they left in the dust to struggle in life
beyond the bright lights and the roaring crowds.beat

Welcome to the dark side of boxing life beyond the
flashy footwork, the snapping jabs and life against the ropes.:toney

 

ARTIE TOWNE (aka James "Sonny" Tufts)

Artie was one of those good fighters that never got the breaks.
During his fighting days he faced the likes of Yvon Durelle,
Charley Chase, Milo Savage and Pete Mueller.

When he left the ring, he did have a post office job,
but there was no gold or lasting glory at the end
of Artie's boxing rainbow. Funny thing, his gym buddy,
Sugar Ray Robinson would become one of the great
champions and remembered by many as the best ever.

 

GYPSY JOE HARRIS

Gypsy Joe Harris was like a comet flying through boxing's big sky.
A flash, a spark, a bright light then he was gone.

Along the way there were those bouts with Cokes and Griffith
and he just faded away to travel down life's lost highway.:boohoo:beer

 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW!

Take a look at any list, say British Commonwealth Boxers of 1981
and ask where are they now?

English heavyweights John L Gardiner and Neville Meade,
Canadian light heavyweights Gary & Murray Sutherland
Middleweights Eddie Melo (Canada) and Wally Carr (Australia)
England's welterweights Kirkland Laing and LLoyd Hibbert
Lightweights Charlie Nash (Northern Ireland) and Nick Furlano (Canada)
Featherweight Jimmy Flint (England) and flyweight Dave George (Wales).

Then what about world contenders such as:
Michael Dokes, Marvin Camel, Charley Weir, Pete Ranzany,
Monroe Brooks, Howard Davis Jr., Johnny Sato, and Nicky Perez.

Take a trip back to 1972 and where are they now?:hi:
Richard Dunn, Larry Buck, Donato Paduano, Mike Lankaster,
Manuel Gonzalez, Al Ford, Gaby Ferrari & Bobby (Boogaloo) Watts.

 

There is a link in the British section, see Best Of British Boxing thread

 

TOMMY (Hurricane) JACKSON

Over the years there have been an interesting cast of characters
involved in boxing. One of the most interesting in the Fifties would
have to be Tommy Jackson. The "first hurricane" is likely best
known for his bouts with Floyd Patterson.

 

So, beyond 1976, what is the story of the Oympic boxers of 2000.
How many turned pro, and of those, how many are till active of
the Canadian and USA amateurs.

 

As the many amateur boxers prepare for regional tournaments,
let's hope the official see clearly when tallying the points.
Politics and rose-tinted glasses have left many hopes, wishes
and dreams scattered into the ring dust over the decades.