Props to you for creating this thread! It is refreshing to see the passion that folks have for the sport on here and a nice change from the constant comparisons of fighters and the arguments that comes with it. Good stuff in this thread!
Frankie Randall beating Chavez. I had followed Randall since 1985 and it was inspiring to see potential finally realized hy a fighter who had shown remarkable skill early in his career but had been sidetracked by personal problems. Self belief can take you far.
He was very strong. Unfortunately he was about at the time when the middleweight division was so good, so never quite made it to the pinnacle. Was never in a dull fight though. He still lives locally, Leicester l believe.
Thanks. The h2h fantasy threads do get very tiresome at times. I like to hear the memories and opinions of all the other posters, including in older threads, such as the great posters Burt Beinstock and John Garfield, among many others.
I really like your post, it is refreshing to hear all these great boxing memories rather than my dog is bigger and better than your dog type of threads.
Agree. It’s supposed to be “history” yet the page is full of what ifs and mythical matches. I think their should be a separate sub forum for mythicals.
No we do not, We live in an apartment, although here you can have a dog, it would not be fair to have one. Animals should be outside, free to roam, and I have no time. I go to Dialysis three days a week for 4 hours, off on weekends. I do not own a vehicle, I am on Social Security, and cannot afford one, it is like another mouth to feed, I do my traveling by public transportation. I did have open heart surgery last year, both arteries were clogged, they replaced my Aortic valve.
My favorite memory involves an amateur I taught. He was a little kid, maybe 5 foot tall and 100 pounds. The people that had taught him before had been negligent in their instruction and, in his first fight he froze and lost. We started working and he improved rapidly, mostly because I taught him that the jab is a great weapon even if you are short, and that it is okay to think. He won 3 tournaments in a row, then went off to play freshman basketball. My partner and I were just leaving the gym with 2 other boxers to go spar at a gathering of probably 40 gyms. This kid walks up, after 3 months of not being in the gym, and wants to go. When we get there, they tell him that every boxer around his weight is new so he will have to go easy. He said "I didn't come this far to go easy." So they matched him with a kid 30 pounds heavier and he boxed him silly.
Over the years in the sport Ive met many great fighters but my biggest thrill was shaking the hand of & meeting The Greatest Muhammad Ali !! I was speechless like a kid in a candy store. He was amazing