Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Canadian boxing Wall of Fame 2013

Sixty Names On The Wall: by Brian Zelley

The following sixty have been selected for 2013
*************************************************************
Al Ford - Al Foreman - Al Sparks - Albert Belanger
Armand Savoie - Art Hafey - Arthur King - Asif Dar
Arturo Gatti - Billy Irwin - Billy McGrandle -
Billy Townsend - Blair Richardson - Bob Cleroux 
Bob Edgett - Burke Emery - Chris Clarke - Clyde Gray
Donato Paduano - Donny Lalonde - Donnie Poole
Rocky MacDougall - Gary Summerhays - George Chuvalo
George Dixon - George Godfrey - Gordon Wallace 
Hank Hartenberger - Herb Embuldeniya - Ian Clyde
Jack Delaney - Jackie Burke - Jackie Callura - Jerry Shears
Jimmy McLarnin - Johnny Coulon - Johnny Greco 
Larry Gains - Leslie Borden - Lennox Lewis - Lou Brouillard
Michael Strange - Nicky Furlano - Paul Hortie - Pop Foster
Ritchie Howard - Sam Langford - Sammy Luftspring
Scotty Olson - Tommy Burns - Tommy Paonessa 
Trevor Berbick - Troy Ross - Tyrone Gardiner  - Vic Foley
********** Wilf Greaves - Willie deWit - Yvon Durelle **********
Gregg Mac Ross    ************************  Lou Joshua Eisen
***********************************************************************
ART HAFEY

IAN CLYDE

                                         SCOTTY "Bulldog: OLSON



                         Donnie Poole -   Kris K. - George Chuvalo






Sunday, April 14, 2013

Wallace Bud Smith

Wallace "Bud" Smith, Champion:  by Brian Zelley

*  Wallace is one of the many 
obscure champions that very
seldom is considered by fans
of boxing when they discuss
champions.

In many ways, it was not
until he became a tragic
boxer that he got his 
picture on the front of a 
boxing magazine.

That happened after his  
death he received  front
page notice and an article
by Jack Welsh that appeared
in the October 1973 issue of
"Boxing Illustrated".
The title read: "Obscure champ 'Bud' Smith Takes Final Count
In Cincy Shooting".  Mr. Welsh said it all in his opening line:
"Wallace 'Bud' Smith held the world's lightweight title 16 years
ago, and when it was gone, the Cincinnati-born fighter was the
epitome of a non-person."  Then Jack hit the readers between 
the eyes and hearts with the following comment:
"Bud's post-fighting activities found him wrapped in obscurity
as perhaps no man before him."


BEYOND 1973

Well, it was great that Wallace would get recognized, but it
was short lived as his name, his great amateur journey, and
his pro journey to a world championship was quickly forgotten
and he would continue to remain the lost obscure champion.

For 38 years he would remain an obscure champion,
but it was another error that would result in a major
discussion about him again in November 2011.  
It was a real "kick in the head" for the memory of 
Wallace Smith, when there was an HBO remembrance
of champions from Cincinnati, and the name                                         Wallace "Bud" Smith was nowhere to be found, 
so he was mentioned in some boxing site with 
a brief summary of his amateur and pro boxing story.

Friday, March 29, 2013

1981 BOXING moments

the pages of "The RING" magazine: by brian zelley

Introduction:
Throughout the eighties there was a lot of action in the ring.  the following
is a look back at the magazine in 1981:
Champions listed by "The RING"

LARRY HOLMES,
MATHEW SAAD
MUHAMMAD,
MARVIN HAGLER,
AYUB KALULE,
RAY LEONARD,
AARON PRYOR,
Y.  UEHARA,
S. SANCHEZ,
W. GOMEZ, 
JEFF CHANDLER,
S. OGUMA.



California Moments:

California based boxers in the top ten:
Mike Weaver, Marty Monroe, Ken Norton,
Yaqui Lopez, Randy Shields, Pete Ranzany,
Bruce Curry, Monroe Brooks, Johnny Sato,
Frankie Baltazar, Ruben Castillo, Juan Meza,
Albert Davila, and  Oscar Muniz.

Canadians in the Commonwealth Ratings:

Trevor Berbick, Conroy Nelson, Eddie Melo,  
Gary Summerhayes, Wayne Caplette,
Fernand Marcotte, Chris Clarke,
Gaetan Hart, John Summerhayes, 
Nicky Furlano, Thomas Gourley, 
 and Leonard Pennock, 

Boxing results:
Of interest to Canadian fans and friends of
NICKY FURLANO, he is mentioned in the 
"Rings Around The World" section.

Nicky headlined a card in Niagara Falls.
* "Nicky Furlano won a unanimous decision
after a good action fight."
Also, on the card was Bobby Bland who 
stopped one Preston Jones in the 4th rd.








Monday, March 18, 2013

1980 to 1989 World Boxing Champions

THE CHAMPIONS 1980 to 1989: 

 By Brian Zelley
Introduction:
A brief look at the world champions
and some of the top title bouts in
the Eighties.

There were plenty of names to go 
around from heavyweights such as
Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson,  to many
others with some of the best being
Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, 
Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.
But, there would be many other greats
or near greats such as:
Aaron Pryor, Salvador Sanchez,
Wilfredo Benitez, Alexis Arguello,Wilfredo Gomez, Michael Spinks,      Ray Mancini,  Barry McGuigan,and Julio Cesar Chavez.

Mike Tyson:

Of all the champions in the eighties, it was MIKE TYSON that appeare
to be the most controversial for some of his antics, but one would have
to look long and hard to find a fighting force like Tyson.  Mike began
his pro journey under the guidance of Cus D'Amato who had previously
guided Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres.

It would be November 22, 1986 when the power punching
Mike Tyson would fight for a piece of the world 
heavyweight title against  Trevor Berbick.  Well,
it came as no shock to many when Tyson stopped
Berbick early in the fight. After two knockdowns 
by power left hooks, referee Mills Lane  stopped the
slaughter to save Berbick and now Tyson was a partial
champion.  But, it  would be his March 7, 1987 12-round
 decision over "Bonecrusher" Smith that would make him
 an almost complete world  champion with the WBA and WBC
versions of the world heavyweight title but he would need
 to defeat the IBF title holder Tony Tucker  to become the
real deal in heavyweight history.  

And, once again Mike proved that he was not just a quick
knockout king but could also go the distance when he defeated 
Tucker in the 12-rounds on August 1, 1987.  

Throughout the rest of the eighties, "Mighty" Mike 
continued to win over various boxers such as
Tyrell Biggs,  Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbd,  
Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Carl Williams./

Other Names in the Eighties: 
*  Aside from the names previously mentioned there were
 some interesting  bouts by others. One was British  middleweight
Alan Minter who would win the title from Vito Antuofermo 
by a split decision in  Las Vegas.  

But, in a rematch with Vito later in the year in London, Minter would
eliminate any controversial decisions by stopping Antuofermo in 9 rds.
Before the year ended, Alan would lose the title to one of the best in 
the eighties by the name of Marvin Hagler.

* In 1980, tragedy would rear it's ugly head on September 19, 1980
when bantamweight champion Lupe Pintor  stopped Welsh boxer
Johnny Owen in Los Angeles.