MOMENTS IN JUNE: by Brian Zelley
As we step back in time, there have been many interesting moments
in June. As we step back there are some names that are likely forgotten
or unknown by the boxing fans of 2012 such as Tommy West,
Willie Fitgerald, Johnny Reagan, Bill Squires and Tony Ross.
But, then again most of what happened in the distant past has long been
forgotten or overlooked.
The above named boxers all faced world champions, when there were
world champions in the sport of boxing. For instance, Tommy West
faced Joe Walcott in a welterweight title fight June 1902, and Bill Squires
faced heavyweight champion Tommy Burns in a title fight June 1908.
It was on June 9, 1914 when Kid Williams stopped Johnny Coulon
in a bantamweight title fight at Vernon, California. But one of the
great fights to take place was June 18, 1923 when Pancho Villa
defeated Jimmy Wilde.
Then there was MAX BAER who made history in 1937 and 1935
in the month of June when he defeated Primo Carnera for the
heavyweight title and about one year later lost it all to the one
that became known as the "Cinderella Man" James J. Braddock.
Then fast forward to 1955, and it was ARCHIE MOORE victory
over JOEY MAXIM in the light-heavyweight division.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
TELEVISION and BOXING
THE BEST YEARS OF TV BOXING: By Brian Zelley
Introduction:
It was 1964, and the end of my first year
of amateur boxing in Nanaimo, but on
August 21, as I waited for my second
year of training in September '64
that day would also be the the end of
another boxing journey
weekly boxing on television.
I was just a pre-teen back in 1955,
when I first watched the black and white
boxing matches on a neighbor's house on
friday nights. At that time, I had no real understanding of the sport
but it was interesting and then there were those Gillette razor ads
and the little jingles set to music.
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN:
Looking back to past years of boxing on television, the golden years
would be 1944 to 1964 when Madison Square Gardens was the focal
point for the Friday Night fights with Gillette the sponsor.
The very first televised bout from the Gardens took place on
September 29, 1944 and it featured a return match for the
featherweight champion Willie Pep and the former champ
Chalky Wright. And the very last was a light-heavyweight
bout between Johnny Persol and Henry Hank. And for
twenty great years the fights were popular events in many
homes and pubs across North America from New York City
to Nanaimo, B.C, Canada.
Some of the folks involved in Professional boxing in the USA
expressed a positive note with the end of televised boxing,
but for many who could not afford to stage or attend regular
boxing matches it was a sad end to a great era.
GREAT BOUTS and FAMOUS BOXERS GALORE:
*The first major star was Willie Pep, and his bout against Wright
in the Gardens would not be his last. Fast forward to 1949,
and Willie was the former champion but he would make a great
comeback when he defeated champion Sandy Saddler for the
featherweight title on February 11, 1949.
It was 1964, and the end of my first year
of amateur boxing in Nanaimo, but on
August 21, as I waited for my second
year of training in September '64
that day would also be the the end of
another boxing journey
weekly boxing on television.
I was just a pre-teen back in 1955,
when I first watched the black and white
boxing matches on a neighbor's house on
friday nights. At that time, I had no real understanding of the sport
but it was interesting and then there were those Gillette razor ads
and the little jingles set to music.
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN:
Looking back to past years of boxing on television, the golden years
would be 1944 to 1964 when Madison Square Gardens was the focal
point for the Friday Night fights with Gillette the sponsor.
The very first televised bout from the Gardens took place on
September 29, 1944 and it featured a return match for the
featherweight champion Willie Pep and the former champ
Chalky Wright. And the very last was a light-heavyweight
bout between Johnny Persol and Henry Hank. And for
twenty great years the fights were popular events in many
homes and pubs across North America from New York City
to Nanaimo, B.C, Canada.
Some of the folks involved in Professional boxing in the USA
expressed a positive note with the end of televised boxing,
but for many who could not afford to stage or attend regular
boxing matches it was a sad end to a great era.
GREAT BOUTS and FAMOUS BOXERS GALORE:
*The first major star was Willie Pep, and his bout against Wright
in the Gardens would not be his last. Fast forward to 1949,
and Willie was the former champion but he would make a great
comeback when he defeated champion Sandy Saddler for the
featherweight title on February 11, 1949.
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