I just found out that Rough and Tough Leon Thompson who fought out of Chicago died on November 5, 2010. Thompson was one heck of an interesting character. He served as a sparring partner for Tony Zale and although basically self managed he was occasionally helped by Sam Pian and Art Winch. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Thompson and spent an afternoon looking through his scrapbook and listening to tales of all the fighters he knew. He had sparred with Marcel Cerdan for the press prior to Cerdan's first bout with Zale. He liked Cerdan but figured he would have never beaten LaMotta or even a prime Zale. He said all Cerdan could say in English was "You good boy." He was friends with Jackie Conn and talked about how once he and Jackie had gone to get a rub down and the masseuse kept bragging about how he knew Jackie Conn, Billy's brother. Jackie kept on asking him questions and to every reply he answered "is that so?" Finally the masseuse said "are you trying to be some kind of a wise guy?" and Jackie said "You dont really know Jackie Conn do you?" and shot him a knowing glance to make sure he knew that the real Jackie Conn was sitting in front of him. The Masseuse demured and was quiet for the rest of the time. He told another story of Anton Raadick who he also knew. He said Raadick was a real nice guy and had beaten Joey LaMotta in a fight pretty good. Jake wanted to avenge his brothers loss. Raadick would only agree to fight LaMotta on the idea that if Raadick won he would get the knew Leopard skin robe LaMotta had just ordered. LaMotta agreed. Thompson was ringside and said at one point Raadick was seemingly beating the hell out of LaMotta. Battering him against the ropes. The crowd couldnt believe it and then suddenly LaMotta stood up straight as a statue, flexed his muscles in an old time bodybuilder pose, and absolutely blitzed Raadick. The crowd went nuts and LaMotta ended up winning an easy decision and keeping his robe. He also knew Ezzard Charles when Charles was the champ. He said one time the local commissioner called a meeting of all the boxers to review some new rules. Thompson had this stuff they used to use on the farm called "apple balm". He didnt know what it was but it smelled god awful. He took some of that stuff and smeared it on the door handle. Charles was one of the first to come in and wouldnt you know, he hung his brand new camel hair coat on that door handle. A few minutes later he grabbed his coat and sat down and as the room filled up all the black fighters who idolized Charles gathered around him. Thompson watched and said one by one you could see them all sniffing and pricking up their nostrils, shooting sideways glances at Charles. Before you knew it every seat sorrounding Charles was empty, and the champ was left wondering what was going on. He said that at one point Sugar Ray Robinson's management was interested in signing him and bringing him into their stable but they were black and he was a white boy from Kentucky and said back then you just didnt do that. Old Leon was great guy who wore his cauliflower ear like a badge of honor. Im sad to see him go.
Klompton, would you mind me copying this great post for the boys on the boxrec past forum (quoting you as the author, of course)?
