1962 - boxing moments

1962 BOXING HISTORY:  by brian zelley


Beyond the tragedy of the Emile Griffith vs Benny Kid Paret,
the year 1962 produced a wide variety of interesting boxing
stories with new champions and a wide variety of challengers.


It was the year SONNY LISTON would stop FLOYD PATTERSON
in one round with his explosive power.  In other divisions there were
some suprises such as big underdog  flyweight FIGHTING HARADA
winning the title from PONE KINGPETCH.


EMILE GRIFFITH would bounce back from the tragedy when he
regained the welterweight tile from Paret and defend against
Ralph Dupas and Jorge Fernandez.  And, light-heavyweight champ 
HAROLD JOHNSON would get universal recognition after his
defeat of the young and capable Doug Jones.  And, the Pacific
Northwest would get a world champion when Portland's 
DENNY MOYER won the vacant jr. middleweight title
with a victory over Joey Giambra.


It should have come as no great shock, but a young CARLOS ORTIZ
won the lightweight title from JOE "Old Bones" BROWN.  And, 
bantamweight champion EDER JOFRE and featherweight champion
 DAVEY MOORE held onto the titles with  wins.  Moore travelled
to Helsinki to defeat one Olli Macki.


 Not to be overlooked was the
Jr. lighweight victory by FLASH ELORDE over Auburn Copeland.


In the middleweight division we had the two champions with
PAUL PENDER regaining the title from TERRY DOWNES
and DICK TIGER defeating GENE FULLMER.