Sean O' Grady Discussion

Not sure what 'Papa' O'Grady's goal was, to send a 17 year-old teenager, with a
'padded record' over third-rate Bantaweights in Oklahoma City to 'The Forum'.

Sean, had never fought outside of Oklahoma, and had never been in the ring with
a capable fighter before, not even one ranked in the Top 40.

It had to be 'money'.

Later, 'Papa' O'Grady said that he wanted to 'test' Sean, to see how he would react
when facing a 'World Class Fighter'. He actually said, that he didn't excpect his son to
win, but that he only wanted to see how he would react to getting 'hit hard'.

Papa O'Grady, 'I figured Sean could get past the 5th Round, and maybe take Lopez
to the 6th or 7th Round. I never expected Sean to win, but I'm proud of his effort.'

 

Papa Pat had some scrues loose.
When Monte Masters divorced his daughter Pat stripped him of his title.

 

It had to be 'money'

Both fighters got approximately $25,000 each as a purse.

Papa O'Grady knew Sean wasnt going to win, but it was hard to pass
up that kind of cash, for a 17 year-old.

It beats fighting 'third-rate Bantamweights in 'smoker bouts' at
the Red Carpet Inn in Oklahoma City for $300 a 'pop'.

The fight before Sean took on Danny 'Little Red' Lopez at 'The Forum'.

Tuesday Night - February 3, 1976 (Red Carpet Inn, Oklahoma City)

In front of a sparse crowd of 345 spectators, Sean O'Grady knocked-out (KO 2)
one Luis Martinez.

Luis Martinez, had not one professional bout, and had a 2-3 amateur record
at 112 lbs. (Flyweight).

 

1978

Was supposed to be 'The Year of Sean O'Grady'.

Papa O'Grady had all sorts of 'deals' cooked up for Sean.

 

Papa O'Grady

After Danny was pummeled by Danny 'Little Red' Lopez.

I wanted Sean to get the '****** of being undefeated off his back'.

 

I'm with you, Pepe', on some of Papa O' Grady's mistakes, but I wonder if overall he didn't do a better job with his son that he gets credit for. Sean got plenty of TV fights against "safe" opponents where he likely got paid pretty well and really didn't take much punishment during his career. I'm not sure he would've come out any richer or healthier if he'd have been thrown in with Arguello or Mancini or that he would've ended up being thought of any more highly afterwards. He also parlayed his career into a long stint on USA as a commentator that I'm sure others would have killed for. Do you think. Senor', that O'Grady had much more in the tank than we saw?

 

D9,

I, personally, always thought Sean was a pretty decent fighter.

Few rememeber, that he was originally being groomed for a bout with Alfonso Zamora,
for mid-December 1975

Papa O'Grady had $60,000 waiting for Alfonso Zamora to come to Oklahoma City
to defend his WBA Bantamweight Championship, and on ABC-TV.

The 5' 8" 118 lb. Sean was ranked as the #9 WBA Bantamweight, despite only being
a 16 1/2 year-old with no 'credible wins' while compiling a 26-0-0 (22 KO's) record.

Even if Sean, in all likelihood would have been blasted out by the 'Z-Man', it
wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world to lose to Zamora at 16 1/2
years-old.

 

Sean was tall for a lightweight at that time, had long arms and a snapping left jab (that he turned into a hook) 'n well-practiced combos to the head 'n body. Unfortunately, he also had tissue thin skin, high cheekbones 'n jutting brows (not a good combination)

 

Papa O'Grady

Was trying to get Sean a WBA Bantamweight Championship fight with
Alfonso Zamora for December 1975.

He even 'paid' the WBA a 'bribe' in November 1975, to get Sean ranked in
the Top 10.

But that bout fell through, when certain special "sanctioning fee's" were not
delivered to the WBA Officials.

 

Papa O'Grady overall did a really good job managing his career. Sean won a world title, had plenty of TV exposure, which helped with him having a commentator career.

Then on top of that, Sean stated in the 80's his dad had invested wisely and that he was set for life financially. Apparently Papa O seet up some type of Trust for Sean.

 

At least he cared for his son, unlike many famous fighters' fathers.

 

The fight purse that Papa O'Grady got for Sean in the
Danny 'Little Red' Lopez fight (1976) all went into his
college trust fund.

It was all about money.

It was a 'risk' well worth taking at the time.

 

Sean was very young, 17 years old, just coming up from Bantamweight to fight L. Red Lopez who was a solid featherweight.

Lopez was just coming off a win over Ruben Olivares.......and he had dueled with some of the great LA fighters of the mid-70's.

Nine months after beating Sean, Lopez was winning the WBC featherweight title.....and starting a 8 successful title defense run.

Sean went on to a controversial loss to Jim Watt on cuts for the WBC Lightweight title, and capturing the WBA Lightweight title over Hilmer Kenty.