Was Johnny Owens an Anorexic?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by joe namath's gin, Nov 29, 2008.


  1. joe namath's gin

    joe namath's gin Active Member Full Member

    1,152
    0
    Oct 17, 2004
    Just watched a documentary on Owens/Pintor and Owens looks starved to death.

    He shouldn't have been allowed to fight that skinny.
     
  2. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,799
    11,420
    Aug 22, 2004
    ............That was a good documentary.

    I don't know. Lots of frail-looking, painfully skinny guys in boxing. He proved his worth before that fateful day despite being so thin. He was never a big guy anyway, and was allowed to fill out; he started out as a flyweight, so it wasn't like they were trying to starve him.
     
  3. joe namath's gin

    joe namath's gin Active Member Full Member

    1,152
    0
    Oct 17, 2004
    Yeah. I'm ignorant on his background. Thought he starved down to that weight...

    BTW, Pintor was pure class in that documentary.
     
  4. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,799
    11,420
    Aug 22, 2004


    ..........And one of the guttiest warriors inside the ring. Boxing was blessed to have him.

    I felt really good seeing how well he'd done for himself. If anyone deserves it.......
     
  5. Bad_Intentions

    Bad_Intentions Boxing Addict Full Member

    7,367
    31
    May 15, 2007
    damn, i was just reading about pintor and this fight on wiki, lupe must of had a devastating right hand to KO someone out-cold.

    this is a picture of pintor in wales and owen's parents, in 2002.

    This content is protected
     
  6. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,799
    11,420
    Aug 22, 2004



    ............Pintor was a good, but not devastating puncher. When he landed, he'd move you, but not a crusher in the mode of a Zarate or Olivares.

    I posted a four-part documentary about the reunion between Owens' father and Pintor in the Lounge. Have a look at it.
     
  7. heehoo

    heehoo TIMEXICAH! Full Member

    3,763
    13
    Feb 16, 2008
    Hardly. He lived, breathed, and ate boxing, he was so dedicated to the sport. And always kept himself in marvelous shape. It was just his misfortune to have a paper-thin skull.

    I haven't seen that documentary, but I'd love to. I'd liek to get an insight on how Pintor felt and how he is today.
     
  8. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

    34,221
    5,875
    Apr 30, 2006
    It's a wonderful documentary. All 4 parts are on youtube, just search
    Johnny Owen" and it's called The Long Journey.
     
  9. slipnduck

    slipnduck Member Full Member

    285
    0
    May 22, 2008
    You should check out Rick Broadbent's book 'The Big If'.

    The title comes from something Johnny wrote in his diary the day of the fight.
    here's a little description.

    So it is perhaps surprising that a full biography of his life has not appeared until now. The Big If, the Life and Death of Johnny Owen (its title comes from Owen's last diary entry, which reads, "Hope everything comes right on the night. If only. It's a big if.") by Rick Broadbent, not only traces Owen's life but also that of his last opponent, the Mexican Lupe Pintor. It contrasts the two fighters' contrasting upbringings and charts the paths they moved along that would eventually cross. Each of the chapters end with a round from their fight, building to its awful conclusion.

    It continues after that too with Johnny's dad visiting Pintor in Mexico and Pintor unveiling the statue in Wales. Tears and forgiveness.

    I challenge anyone to read it without it putting a lump in their throat.

    very good book
     
  10. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

    34,221
    5,875
    Apr 30, 2006
    thanks for the info slip, I'll have to check that out.
     
  11. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

    43,650
    13,048
    Apr 1, 2007
    That's an interesting thought, anorexia in boxing.

    I honestly can't imagine very many if any boxers being legitimate anorexics/bulimics. They'd simply be left too weak to be effective.

    Weight draining will doom you badly enough, those two conditions, when you're flirting with organ failure... Ehhh.
     
  12. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,650
    13
    Dec 9, 2005
    very good book, well written by Broadbent
     
  13. heehoo

    heehoo TIMEXICAH! Full Member

    3,763
    13
    Feb 16, 2008
    Thanks a lot, I'll will check it out.
     
  14. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

    42,723
    269
    Jul 22, 2004
    He definately looked malnurished, its possible his thin skull was the result of a malnurished upbringing if it wasnt soley genetic
     
  15. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

    61,460
    38
    Jan 7, 2005
    Seconded. I read that book last year and its superb.