A TRIBUTE TO SAL MARINO

In 1993 I contacted a man named Jim Borgen answering an ad in a magazine. He was a boxing memorabilia collector and I was looking for boxing books. After our conversation, Jim invited me to a sports bar in the Youngstown area to watch the live broadcast of the Bowe – Holyfield rematch, (The Fan Man fight). We have been friends ever since. In the early years of our friendship Jim often mentioned Sal Marino. Sal was a respected and influential man in the Youngstown boxing area. It would be over five years before I would actually meet Sal. We met at a boxing banquet outside of Youngstown in 1999. We seemed to hit it off and over the years Sal took me under his wing. Sal and Jim became mentors to me. Over the next decade I learned so much about the rich boxing history of the Youngstown area from these two men. I learned about Tony Janiro and Sonny Horne about Tommy Bell and Lenny “Boom Boom” Mancini (Ray’s Dad) and of course Harry Arroyo, Greg Richardson, Ray Mancini, Jeff Lampkin and a young Kelly Pavlik.

Erbito Salavarria

The Philippines Forgotten Champion

The Philippines have been getting a lot of boxing press lately through the success of favorite son Manny Pacquiao and deservedly so. The Philippines have produced many great fighters like Flash Elorde and Ceferino Garcia. One such fine fighter and former two time world champion from the Philippines has been largely forgotten through the passages of time. His name was Erbito Salavarria..

Salavarria turned professional in 1963 and won seventeen of his first twenty bouts. In 1966 he lost a decision to Ric Magrano for the Philippine flyweight title. Salavarria and Magrano would split a four fight series with the Philippine crown on the line each time. In 1967 Erbito made his first journey away from the Philippines and lost to Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Tokyo for the Orient – Pacific flyweight title. In 1969 Salavarria would stop Nakamura in a rematch to win that crown.

J. Woody

A Fine Prospect in The Mid 60’s

Although he ended his career losing almost as many bouts as he won. At one time in the mid-60’s heavyweight James J. Woody was considered a fine prospect.

He was a southpaw from the Bronx who had his first professional fight in 1964. He reeled off ten straight wins against better then average competition. He twice defeated Lou Hicks and also the giant James J. Beattie a couple of times. He also won a duet from Everett Copeland and outscored Tony Doyle.

He suffered his first loss to the crafty Johnny Persol in 1966. That began years of winning a few and losing a few more for Woody. At times he was good enough to beat decent fighters like Dante Cane, Roger Russell and Charlie “Emperor” Harris. At other times he was overmatched at that stage in his career against contenders Manuel Ramos, Brian London and Big Buster Mathis losing to all three.

Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries

By David Martinez / Boxing Historian

July 4, 2010 will mark the 100th anniversary of Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries, “Fight of the Century”, for the heavyweight championship of the world.

Leading up to this fight, Jeffries won the title in 1899 against Bob Fitzsimmons and after defeating all challengers he retired undefeated in 1905. Johnson won the title in 1908

against Tommy Burns to become the first black fighter to win the coveted crown.

The build up to this fight was nothing less than controversial with a white champion coming out of a five-year retirement to try to win the title back from a black champion.

Scheduled for 45 rounds, the fight took place in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910, with Tex Rickard as the promoter and referee. Prior to the fight, Rickard had invited United States president William Howard Taft to be the referee, but Taft declined.

MIKE KORANICKI

During the 1970′s and 80′s the great State of Ohio produced many a fine heavyweight. Michael Dokes and Tony Tubbs won fragments of the heavyweight crown. Although he never won a piece of the title, Earnie Shavers was probably the state’s most popular big man. There were others like rugged Ted Gullick and the lanky, smooth boxing Mike Koranicki.

It was in 1973 that Koranicki broke into the pro ranks. Boxing mostly out of Miami Beach, Mike won his first eleven fights. Twice during that streak he outscored the highly touted James Summerville. Mike met defeat for the first time in his twelfth bout losing a decision in his New York debut to Rochelle Norris. Mike was halted by John Berry two fights later. Mike bounced back in 1976 with wins over Harold Carter and in Philly against Joe Gholsten. Mike next dropped a decision to spoiler Wendell Bailey and then returned to Philadelphia to draw with Gholsten.

REMEMBERING HENRY HANK

Henry Hank of Detroit was born in 1935 and began his long professional career in 1953. In less then two years he was fighting the likes of Virgil Akins.

By 1959 Henry was good enough to mix it up with the best middleweights and light heavyweights in the world. Fighting men like Holly Mims, George Benton, Jesse Bowdry, Hank Casey, Randy Sandy and Gene Armstrong.

In 1961 Henry beat Joey Giardello. They met again in 1962 with Joey turning the tables. The rematch was voted the Fight Of The Year by Ring Magazine for 1962.

Other top names on his record are Chic Calderwood, Dick Tiger and Mauro Mina. Henry also defeated future heavyweight titleholder Jimmy Ellis.

On October 23, 1963 Henry met Eddie Cotton for the Michigan version of the light heavyweight title. Henry lost in fifteen rounds.

Cuevas vs Palomino

What Should Have Been but Never Was

Pipino Cuevas has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. I struggled with this for a while. Did he really deserve to get in? There are so many deserving former boxers that you can make a strong case for.

After wrestling with the matter of Pipino’s induction I was able to come to terms with it. Why? Because during his tenure as champion he was a Holy Terror! That is why!

He did not just win fights. He broke bones. He was a devastating puncher with a wrecking ball left hook. He left a trail of fractured jaws, etc… In a word, he was awesome!

Then Tommy Hearns exposed his chin and Roberto Duran followed suit. Herman Montes ended the legend but give Pipino his due. During his prime he was feared!

He crushed legit opposition like Harold Weston Jr., Clyde Gray, Angel Espada and Pete Ranzany. He came to fight and he had the classic kill or be killed mentality.

Frazier – Quarry I

41 Years Since This Heavyweight Classic

June 23, 1969 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Joe Frazier met the popular Irish fighter, Jerry Quarry, for the New York State recognized heavyweight title. Back in the day, the New York State Boxing Commission wielded quite a bit of power. Commissioner Edwin Dooley wasted little time stripping Muhammad Ali of his heavyweight title when Ali refused induction into the Armed Forces. The World Boxing Association did the same and they set up a tournament to determine a new champion. Eight top contenders were selected, with unbeaten Joe Frazier being one of them. Frazier’s management declined the invitation, however. The eventual winner of the tourney was Jimmy Ellis, who defeated Jerry Quarry in the finals.

The N.Y.S.A.C. offered Frazier a chance to fight Buster Mathis, who like Frazier, was undefeated. Mathis had defeated Frazier twice in the amateur ranks. The winner would be the champion in New York and a few other states. Well, Frazier met Big Buster and took him out in the eleventh to gain revenge and also win a piece of the heavyweight title.

ALFIO RIGHETTI

Who was the best Italian born and raised heavyweight of my time (1965 to present)? Was it Lorenzo Zanon who gave Jerry Quarry and Ken Norton trouble before being stopped? Zanon also unsuccessfully challenged Larry Holmes for the title.

Was it Francisco Damiani who defeated Teofilo Stevenson as an amateur? The same Damiani who as a professional was just a few rounds away from winning the WBO version of the heavyweight title. Damiani was outboxing the highly regarded Ray Mercer for eight uneventful rounds. In the ninth round Mercer connected with a smash to Damiani’s nose that ended the fight and crowned Mercer as the WBO champion.

Was it Alfio Righetti? He turned pro in 1974 and won his first 21 bouts. Win #22 came in 1976 when he beat tough Bepi Ros. In his next fight Righetti won the Italian heavyweight title defeating Dante Cane.

Manuel Ramos – Mexican Heavyweight

When you think of Mexican fighters it is usually a tough little hombre like a Ruben Olivares, Vincente Saldivar or Julio Cesar Chavez. More often then not the better battles from Mexico scaled under 160lbs. In an exception to the rule during the mid 60’s to the early 70’s this country produced a pretty fair heavyweight. He fought two world champions and nine others that vied for the heavyweight crown. His name was Manuel Ramos. Although he lost almost as many as he won, the names on his resume are quite impressive.

When Ramos made his way from Mexico to the West Coast he quickly began meeting the best opposition available. In 1964 he lost a decision to Henry Clark and drew with Jory Orbillo. In 1965 he lost a rematch to Orbillo and drew with George Johnson. He finished the year losing by knockout to Lars Norling.

Next Page »