'White Lightning' on the ropes: Famed Silvis boxer suffering health problems

Sad story.

https://qconline.com/news/local/whi...aa5-8e57-53b0-bd69-0050cb3ec249.html#comments

'White Lightning' on the ropes: Famed Silvis boxer suffering health problems

• By John Marx,
  This content is protected
  
  
• Dec 22, 2016

Charlie "White Lightning'' Brown, circa 1984.

I met Charlie Brown only once, nearly 30 years ago. But like everyone in these parts, I knew the legend of “White Lightning.’’

Brown played our meeting like all was well, but at that stage of his young life — fair or otherwise — you could see there was hurt in his heart and trouble in his soul.

Boxing great Michael Nunn, a Davenporter, was slated — in April 1987 — to fight in front of the home crowd, a bout that would headline a huge card televised by ESPN. Nunn, who would later have troubles of his own, was a champion in-waiting. He would capture the International Boxing Federation middleweight crown 16 months later.

But Brown, of Silvis, who had a superstar resume, was not on that fight card, rather on the outside looking in for the big hometown show. His championship career had been derailed by upset losses and, by his own admission, the love of the nightlife.

The man dubbed “White Lightning,” because he owned the fastest hands in the fight game, should have shared the local and national spotlight that week three decades ago. The only person Brown — as generous as they come — ever harmed outside the ring was himself.

Today, “White Lightning” Brown is 51 and wavering on the ropes. He has fluid on the brain, cannot walk (he was struck by a car several months back) and resides in an East Moline nursing facility. He struggles with speech but loves company and does his best to communicate.

A gofundmepage (gofundme.com/xb-charlie-white-lightning-brown) has been established to assist the former lightweight star with expenses.

Time, though, is clearly not on Brown’s side.

“He loves visitors,’’ Brown’s sister, Georgia Brown, said of her brother, who despite the fame and fortune that came his way, was not a fame-and-fortune kind of of guy. “He’s struggling, but he is Charlie, with good days and bad days.

He never really wanted to be famous, couldn’t understand why all the kids would chase him to talk with him every time he fought at The (Madison Square) Garden. I mean, Charlie is the same guy who bought a custom Cadillac and never drove it. He let everyone else drive it because he wanted to share.’’

Time was, Charlie “White Lightning’’ Brown was mentioned with the likes of legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Aaron Pryor and Tommy Hearns. He was an amateur icon, traveling the world, winning more than 400 times before turning professional in his teens.

Once, after a training session at New York’s famous Gleason Gym, onlookers — some of the most famous people in boxing — dubbed Brown “White Lightning,” for the incredible hand speed he possessed. Charlie Brown had a monster heart, a chin of stone, but wanted desperately to have everyone in his path to enjoy his ride to fame.

In 1984, after just three years as a professional, Brown was an amazing 23-0 with 17 knockouts. He was on the fast track to greatness but was already a world champion when it came to the party scene. Despite a pair of shaky outings, Brown was given a shot at IBF lightweight champ Harry Arroyo. The fight took place on Brown’s 21st birthday.

Imagine being a world-class athlete and on the verge of being a world champion by age 21. This was 1984, and help to guide a kid from Silvis with finances, proper training and some worldly guidance was not part of the landscape. Charlie Brown was on his own.

“You know, Charlie was just Charlie,’’ his sister said. “Who knows if someone could have changed things. I know he would give you the shirt off his back and has. He watched a guy get in a fight, lose his shirt and his jacket and gave the guy his shirt because he had a shorter run home. He’s my brother — just us two — and I love him. I don’t know what could have changed.’’

Newspaper reports say Brown won the first five rounds that night against Arroyo but was stopped in the eighth. The loss, coupled with losses to stars Harold Brazier, Greg Haugen and Johnny Bizzarro, had Brown down, but not out.

He would rally in the early 1990s, showing solid skills, winning a couple of fights, raising his lifetime mark to 31-11. But by 1993, the magic and the lightning in his hands were gone. His career was over, and the challenges of life would eventually win out.

“Lots of people have checked in on Charlie, and we appreciate that,’’ Georgia Brown said. “Hopefully he has some fight left in him.’’

Here’s hoping he does.