- A LOOK AT: Donato Paduano and Clyde Gray -
(Two outstanding Canadian welterweights that shaped the Seventies)
Going back to the Thirties, some names of interest are Sammy Luftspring
and Frankie Genovese. Fast forward to the Sixties and Seventies and
some names of interest include Joey Durelle, Donato Paduano, and
Clyde Gray. Other champions would follow in the Eighties and Nineties
such as Ricky Anderson and Donnie Poole.
But there have been many other names in the welterweight division
such as Gale Kerwin, Armand Savoie, Johnny Greco, and Gordon
Wallace.
DONATO PADUANO
Looking back to 1967, I remember
Donato Paduano as an amateur
boxer from Montreal that
participated in that great 1967
International Diamond Belt
Centennial Championships
held in Vancouver with the
great ROCKY MARCIANO
as the guest referee.
Fast forward to 1968 and PADUANO
would be a member of the Canadian
Olympic boxing team along with DICK FINDLAY and WALTER HENRY.
DONATO PAUDUANO would turn pro boxer in 1968 and quickly
move up the ranks under the management of ROGER LARIVEE.
In December 1969, Donato would win the Canadian Welterweight
title with a victory over JOEY DURELLE.
He would compete until 1980 and along the way he would face the
likes of Emile Griffith, Ken Buchanan, Clyde Gray, Fernand Marcotte,
and Marcel Cerdan Jr.
CLYDE GRAY
Looking back on the
life and times of Clyde,
I remember his best
from his appearance
in Vancouver in 1972
when he faced Houston
boxer Manny Gonzalez.
The bout was a semi-main event of the card of
MUHAMMAD ALI - GEORGE CHUVALO.
That important victory over the veteran
Manuel Gonzalez who had once defeated
the great EMILE GRIFFITH was an
important step towards the world title fight
with JOSE NAPOLES.
Clyde was managed by IRV UNGERMAN
who also managed George Chuvalo and
Stewart Gray. He was trained byTeddy McWhorter and Lee Black.
From 1968 to 1980, Clyde would face many Canadian boxers such as:
A. Sparks, Dave Hilton, Don Ross, Lawrence Hafey and Chris Clarke.
Also, many other top ranked fighters and champions such as:
Pete Ranzany, Pipino Cuevaz, Angel Espada, Bunny Grant,
Eddie Perkins, and Armando Muniz and the rest is history.
DONATO PADUANO
Donato Paduano as an amateur
boxer from Montreal that
participated in that great 1967
International Diamond Belt
Centennial Championships
held in Vancouver with the
great ROCKY MARCIANO
as the guest referee.
Fast forward to 1968 and PADUANO
would be a member of the Canadian
Olympic boxing team along with DICK FINDLAY and WALTER HENRY.
move up the ranks under the management of ROGER LARIVEE.
In December 1969, Donato would win the Canadian Welterweight
title with a victory over JOEY DURELLE.
He would compete until 1980 and along the way he would face the
likes of Emile Griffith, Ken Buchanan, Clyde Gray, Fernand Marcotte,
and Marcel Cerdan Jr.
CLYDE GRAY
life and times of Clyde,
I remember his best
from his appearance
in Vancouver in 1972
when he faced Houston
boxer Manny Gonzalez.
MUHAMMAD ALI - GEORGE CHUVALO.
That important victory over the veteran
Manuel Gonzalez who had once defeated
the great EMILE GRIFFITH was an
important step towards the world title fight
with JOSE NAPOLES.
Clyde was managed by IRV UNGERMAN
who also managed George Chuvalo and
Stewart Gray. He was trained byTeddy McWhorter and Lee Black.
From 1968 to 1980, Clyde would face many Canadian boxers such as:
A. Sparks, Dave Hilton, Don Ross, Lawrence Hafey and Chris Clarke.
Also, many other top ranked fighters and champions such as:
Pete Ranzany, Pipino Cuevaz, Angel Espada, Bunny Grant,
Eddie Perkins, and Armando Muniz and the rest is history.
Donato Paduano was a classy quick Boxer. He met his match when he fought the doubly quick British Kenny Buchanan of Scitland.
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