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WELCOME TO THE RETIRED BOXERS FOUNDATION |
WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
The Retired Boxers Foundation is honored to ave esteemed European writer, Ake Persson writing about
retired prizefighters and where they are today. The first series of columns will be about European based professional
boxers. Please let us know what you think, and tell us WHO you want to hear about. We also want to thank the RBF
European Representative, Marcel Neissen for asking Ake to write the column "WHERE ARE THEY NOW?" for the RBF website!
Name: "Irish" Jimmy Heair
DOB: July 14, 1952, Houston, MS.
Amateur: about a 100 fights, three time Mississippi champ, Southern champ, AAU runner up 69. "I was a big sports fan as a kid, football, basketball, and then boxing, when I started boxing I weighed about a 100 lbs", says Jimmy.
Pro: 96-32-1 in a career that lasted from 1972 and effectively ended a decade later although his last fight was in 1984.
prospect & contender: Jimmy Heair arrived to Los Angeles in 71 by way of Ignacio, Colorado where his family had moved. "I had met Jerry Moore at the national championhsips and L A in those days was the best place to be a for a lightweight. Jerry was a very good man, he took good care of me. I won my first 33 fights" says Jimmy.
Heair turned pro, managed by Jerry Moore and trained by Henry Blouin. He wasn´t a natural but had talent, worked hard and learned quickly. He won his first nine fights on points which indicates a non-puncher but developed a sharp left hook that was especially effective to the body. In less than a year Jimmy was fighting ten rounders at the Inglewood Forum and became popular with his busy style, good skills and big heart - the Irish heritage probably didn´t hurt either. At the end of 1972 he beat Miguel Mayon and Angel Mayoral, two fringe contenders and in March of 73 he outscored a true contender in Chango Carmona and was world ranked.
A shot at then World lightweight champ Roberto Duran was talked about and expected before the end of the 73. However, against Carmona Heair suffered a broken nose that sidelined him for a few months, he then rebroke it sparring with then WBC 135 lb champ Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzales.
"Gato" was probably even better than Duran" says Jimmy but downplays the broken nose incident. "I can´t recall how many times I had my nose broken, at times it was so sore it brought tears to my eyes as I touched it and it was never fixed right."
But then Heair adds: "If you give a young man, a small town kid, a few bucks, have him in a big city and a pretty girl by his side he will get in trouble! I felt like I was the champ of the world but I was only a contender."
Jimmy came back - probably too soon - and but kept winning and in the fall of 73 he stopped another hot prospect and contender in Arturo "the Fury" Pineda. "My two best fights were against Pineda and Carmona." The nose injury continued to be a problem (and affects Jimmy to this day). In May of 74 he took on Rudy Barro, a tough, decent fighter but the kind a world ranked fighter should be able to beat, and lost a ten round decision in a huge upset. Heair bounced back with three straight wins and accepted a fight with highly ranked Australian Hector Thompson in August of 74 - a win there and Heair would have been back in the picture. Jimmy lost though: "I think if Hector and I had thought three times I would have won two but on this night he was the better man."
Back home Jimmy lost an upset split decision to Arturo Leon, whom he previously had beaten twice, moved up to jr welter, relocated to El Paso, Texas. Heair also left Jerry Moore and his first wife. "My new manager was Ron Weathers and he had no clue about boxing. I thought I knew a lot about boxing but I didn´t know enough."
The result was a very busy schedule with fights against topnotchers all over the world at lightweight, jr welter and welter. Jimmy scored some good wins - for instance in stopping Laudiel Negron and Gerardo Ferrat and there were some tough losses like the one to Argentinian great Nicolino Locche in Buenos Aires. "They raised his hands when it was over but he didn´t win that one", says Jimmy.
But there were also upset losses and Heair went 0-2-1 against Arturo Leon, a short, stocky, clubfighter: "He just had my number" states Jimmy but a better reason for the off performances could be that there were no time to recuperate. Heair fought one tough fight after the other giving his all every time. Just three weeks after fighting Thai contender Tongta Kiatvayupakdi in Bangkok - "a close one, could have gone either way" - Heair fought world class welter Armando Muniz in El Paso. "Muniz was a full fledged welter, he was just too strong for me."
Jimmy Heair´s days as a contender was about over now, he gave Brit Dave Green and New Yorker Harold Weston very tough fights on their respective turfs but lost clearly to both. A very good win over then unbeaten Rudy Hernandez proved Jimmy still had a lot left.
Journeyman and hometown hero: Heair relocated again, this time to almost home in Memphis, Tennessee. "I became a hometown fighter and beat a lot of not so good fighters, you know how it is in boxing, they can build you up just as easy as they can take you down."
His Memphis debut was a minor disaster though as he was outscored by the unknown Freddie "the Stepper" Harris. However a tko win over Rudy Hernandez in Tuscon, Arizona, put Heair back in the picture and he became one of the biggest drawing cards in the region as boxing was revived in Tennessee and Mississippi. Jimmy, now up to welter, was popular and the fans knew they would get their money´s worth when he was headlining. He got revenge over Harris, won something called the Southern welterweight title and came close to be ranked again with a stoppage win over Jimmy Corkum. Then the came the wrong kind of opponent, a slick, southpaw from Miami, Adriano Marrero and Jimmy lost a decision. Very tough fights against Pete Ranzany in a NABF titlefight and Roberto Duran followed - " Duran is the best guy I ever fought, he would do anything to win."
Jimmy fought his heart out but was a clear loser to both. "Jimmy Heair is like a Rolex" stated one reporter. "he takes a lickin´ but keeps on tickin". His best days behind him Jimmy got into a welterweight tournament in Orlando, Florida, but was upset by Richard House, the kind of fighter he would have licked a few years earlier. A bad ko loss to Sal Lopez July 1, 1980, appeared to be the end for Jimmy, who according to the Ring´s reporter was in a daze ten minutes after the fight had ended. But less than three months later Jimmy headlined at home in Memphis and was a popular winner over Maurice Quillen, which set up another long string of wins as headliner in Memphis, Tupelo and even his birthtown Houston. He stopped Johnny Copeland in a Southern title defence and won the Texas title at welter. But all reports from the fights indicate a very tough fighter past his best. A loss in Chicago to young upstart Roosevelt Green in August of 81 ended his journeyman days.
The trialhorse: Jimmy suffered back to back losses to Mike Senegal and future champ Mike McCallum - a second round stoppage (on his feet and protesting but he was pretty much outclassed). From now on Heair lost many more fights than he won, his record the last three years reads 4-8 and even the wins came hard. Stoppage losses to Nino La Rocca and Don King (the fighter) in Atlantic City spelled the end for a very brave fighter´s fighter. Jimmy stepped in as a very late sub in 83 against Jim Pixley and was outclassed, gave local hero Danny Ferris a tough fight the first time they fought but was stopped - and stopped a lot easier the second time. Finally Heair went out against Adam George on a second round knockout. "One of the toughest thing for a fighter to do is to know when to go out" says Jimmy with hindsight. "One shouldn´t fight past 30, as a young man you can absorb punishment but as you get older it catch up on you."
After boxing: Jimmy moved to Hamilton, Alabama, not so far from either Houston, MS, or Memphis. He contiuned to work in boxing as a trainer, opened a gym, held down the odd job but remained in boxing. "Out here we don´t have much boxing though, this is football country, or basketball. I trained a lot of kids, some were pretty good but all in all it´s tough to get kids to stick with boxing."
He had married in El Paso with Carol had two kids, divorced, remarried and had a daughter. A bad back, the result of a long and hard career eventually led to that Jimmy got on disability. "I still love boxing and watch whenever I can but again, we don´t have much boxing out here."
Jimmy Heair never became a champion - and even if all cards had been played right he might have failed. The lightweights in the 70´s on the West Coast and in the world were loaded with talent. Heair was sparring with reigning WBC champ Rodolfo Gonzales, the fearsome Roberto Duran was the universially recognized World champ. However, all in all in his career he achieved more than most champions ever do. "I might have been a champion, we will never know, but I´m sure my career had been very different had I stayed with Jerry Moore."
Dob: Oct 4, 1935, New Orleans, LA:
Amateur: grew up poor, very poor, began boxing as a young kid, Ralph was one of six fighting brothers who were very popular, turned pro at the age of almost 15 in 1950 after changing his birth year so he could he get a professional license.
Pro from 1950 through 1966, record: 106-23-0-6, only 18 wins inside the distance indicates a genuine non-puncher. Fighting as a lightweight in New Orleans Dupas got the nickname "Native Dancer" to compliment his slick moves, ("Native Dancer" was a famous race horse), speed and good footwork. While the punch was lacking Dupas had everything else and quickly became a big drawing card in New Orleans and was fighting mainevents before the age of 16 and a year later he was in the picture for a titlefight. From 1953 and ten year onwards the Ring always had Ralph in their world ratings in whichever weight division he fought. Dupas shared the ring with the likes of Paddy DeMarco, Frankie Ryff, Kenny Lane, Gaspar Ortega and other world class performers. But it wasn´t until 1958 that Dupas got a shot at a world title when he fought lightweight king Joe "Old Bones" Brown in Houston, Texas, March 7 1958. But by now Dupas had big problems making 135 and according to his brother Tony there wasn´t a single drop of sweat on Ralph´s body throughout the fight: "Old Bones" won a sixth round knockout. Dupas moved up to welter and fought the likes of Gil Turner and Joey Giardello and in 1962 challenged for the world title held by Emile Griffith but lost a 15-round decision. A bout with Sugar Ray Robinson was next, by now far from the all time great he had been, and in what some described as a terrible decision Sugar Ray got the nod. But finally, in his 123rd fight and 100th win Dupas beat Denny Moyer to win the world junior middleweight title. He beat Moyer in a rematch but then lost the crown to teak tough Italian Sandro Mazzingi. They also fought a rematch and Sandro scored a brutal knockout. His career as a contender was over, he lost to Griffith again, retired but returned in 1966 for a meaningless comeback.
After career: Dupas worked as a black jack dealer in Las Vegas for 13 years but eventually had to retire due to a growing problem: failing memory and other problems, things got from bad to worse and Dupas could be seen collecting aluminium cans and garbage. His brother Tony came to rescue and brought Ralph back to New Orleans. Ralph Dupas has been diagnosed with Puglistica Dementia and resides today in a nursing home. Tony Dupas tried for years to get attention and justice to Ralph´s great career but eventually gave up. Tony passed away some time ago and German journalist and writer Uwe Betker, who did a long story about Dupas for a book that due to the harsh realities for sports books in Germany never got published, says Ralph today sadly is only a shadow of himself.
Name: Alfredo Evangelista
DOB: Dec 3, 1954, Montevideo, Uruguay
Amateur: began boxing at the age of 14 and was reportedly a very good amateur, moved to Spain and Barcelona in the mid-70´s to be trained by Cuban Evelio Mustelier, "Kid Tunero". Turned pro in October of 75 with a first round tko over Angelo Visini.
Pro: 62-13-4, was moved fast, stopped Spanish legend Jose Ibar Manuel Urtain, lost only to slick Italian Lorenzo Zanon, became Spanish citizen and got a shot at Muhammad Ali and the World heavyweight title, that saw neither at their best but at opposite stages of their respective careers, lost clearly but wasn´t outclassed, became EBU champ later that year with an eleventh round stoppgae of Frenchman Lucien Rodriguez, fought in the US just three weeks later and tko´d Pedro Soto in eight. He closed out 77 with a first round knockout of Jean Pierre Coopman. In 78 Alfredo had a tough time with clever Brit Billy Aird but retained the EBU title and after beating Jody Ballard in Las Vegas got a shot at WBC king Larry Holmes in 78 but was knocked out in seven and took a bad beating. He knocked out Rodriguez in a EBU title defence but then lost to Zanon and could only draw with Felipe Rodriguez for the Spanish title. Scored a lot of wins over soft touches, drew again with "Pantera" Rodriguez and was stopped in two by Greg Page. More easy wins followed but he lost to Lucien Rodriguez, whom he had stopped twice before, in a shot at the EBU titlefight. In 83 Alfredo beat Renaldo "Mr" Snipes on a split decision but it was clear something was missing and he was upset by Brit Hughroy Currie at home. Don King, who had most heavies in the bag at the time kept Evangelista busy on shows in Spain, West Indies and the US in 84-85. However, a clear points loss - and after a poor fight where Evangelista fought with a leg injury - to Steffen Tangstad ended all hopes of a titlefight. A loss to Patrick Lumumba ín Madrid seemed to kill Alfredo as a drawing card at home as well - but he got a surprise shot at the then vacant EBU heavyweight title and regained the title with a fifth round tko over Dutchman Andre Van Den Oetelaar. He lost the title right away to Swede Anders Eklund but got a couple of decent paydays losing to Pierre Coetzer and Adilson Rodriguez.
..
After career: after showing up totally out of shape for a fight against Arthur Wright (w tko 1) in 1988 the Spanish Federation pulled his license and he never fought again. Arrested in 89 for drug possession, did time in jail, worked as bouncer in night clubs and reports indicates things didn´t too go with well with continued problems with the police, then caught working for a drugdealer in a bar in Madrid and was sentenced to eight years in jail but was released after five due to his good behaviour. Got back on his feet, working has a house painter,. Reunited with his brother Lindbergh in San Francisco recently after 30 years apart. Alfredo remains a celebrity and his fight with Muhammad Ali is the one most people remember although it was a rather poor fight..
Comment: was 14-1-1 and a pro for 18 months when he fought Muhammad Ali. Ali in a case of too much too soon. Still, seemed to benefit from it but then badly devastated in the loss to Larry Holmes in 78. Scored a lot of easy - some downright dubious - wins in Spain but could only draw with Felipe Rodriguez for the Spanish title in 79. Not the most serious with his training in the later stages of his career. Uruguayan director Aldo Garay did a documentary on Alfredo and his career in 97 while he was locked up. At his peak he was a tough slugger with decent power.
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Name: Mihai Leu, fighting as Michael Loewe
DOB: Feb 13, 1969, Hunedoara, Romania
Amateur: 190-10, Romanian champ in the juniors 83-86, World junior champ 87. 89-90 German champ in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.
Pro: 28-0, pro 91 through 97, one of the few fighters in history to retire undefeated with no comeback - however the retirement came after a serious handinjury that eventually led to that Loewe was stripped of the WBO welter title. Michael won the title with a points win over Santiago Samaniego in 97 and defended it against Irishman Michael Carruth. However, in the Samaniego fight Michael suffered a difficult injury to his left hand. He had surgery and a long rest but had a lot of problems with the hand in the Carruth fight. Another operation followed but in 98 he had to retire as the hand just didn´t get well. Later Loewe sought help from specialists in Austria, Italy and Romania but no-one could help. "My left hand was my key punch, it was very important for me, when I couldn´t use it properly I wasn´t the same anymore, I wanted to comeback but it just wasn´t possible" he says.
After career: In between surgery and attempts to comeback Loewe began a career as a rally race driver - a sport he had been into as a hobby outside of boxing -and became Romanian champ in 2003, and won a silver the year before. He won another championship in 2005. He still drives but is now also into business and politics and is running for a seat in the EU parliament. Michael have remained in boxing and was responsible in bringing talented heavy Konstantin Onofrei to Universum and also got a trainer´s diploma in Romania. "Boxing in Romania is very difficult so I am not active anymore" says Michael, "and I was quite disappointed when Onofrei´s career flopped". At the 250th Universum promotion in Hamburg May 19, 2007, Michael Loewe was of course there and was introduced in the ring along with many other ex-champs. It´s fair to say that the Universum that Loewe represented in the early 90´s isn´t the same big time operation it´s now it´s also fair to say that Michael was one of the fighters it´s all built on.
Name: John Baker Muwanga
DOB: born April 1, 1956, Kampala, Uganda
Amateur: 300+ fights in the very hot boxing scene in Uganda and Kenya in the mid-70´s, fought in the 74 World championships, won gold in King´s Cup in Thailand, should have participated in the 76 Olympics and was all set to go when all African countries withdrew due to New Zealand´s connections with South Africa. John is listed as a loser to Jovito Rengifo but the fight never took place and was a walk over win for Jovito. Beat future world champ Cornelius Boza-Edwards three times and fought on the Ugandan team on a tour to Germany and Scandinavia in 77. John relocated first to Finland and then to Norway - most of the stars from Uganda would find their way to Europe sooner or later for more or less successful boxing careers.
Pro: 14-0, turned pro in Norway in 1978, was 12-0 when the Norwegian Parliament outlawed professional boxing in 1980. John wanted to continue his career but was right in the middle of his education and couldn´t relocate. "It was a tough decison then but now I´m glad I did what I did" says John. Returned in 82 and fought two fights for a new Finnish / Swedish promotional outfit headed by Edwin Ahlquist. When this company folded John retired. During his brief career he beat several good fighters such as Brit Lloyd Christie, Americans Jerome Artis and Jerry Graham and Italian Antonio Puddu.
After boxing: graduated from the University of Oslo in sociology and social science, quit boxing to concentrate on his family and education, settled in Oslo and is since many years a social worker.
John returned to boxing a few years ago and is now a trainer at the amateur club IF Ornulf. "There is a lot of good talent out there but it seems like they aren´t hungry enough and many tends to give up way to easily."
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Name: Roberto Welin
DOB: April 9, 1966, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Swedish father and Brazilian mother, Roberto came to Sweden as a teenager and began boxing to get friends in his new country. It was easy to tell early on that Enighet BC in Malmoe and Gunnar Bengtsson had a star in the making.
Amateur:
Swedish
champ 89 and
91 at
welter,
amateur
record about
115-15,
Swedish
Int´l,
European
champ 91
also welter.
Roberto had
a great
relation
with his
coach in
Malmoe,
Gunnar
Bengtsson,
the national
coach Leif
Carlsson and
Kjell
Fredriksson,
who trained
him while he
was studying
to become an
airplane
mechanic in
Vasteras.
His style
was a bit
special,
upright,
left low and
a good
right, he
wasted few
punches and
could hurt
you with
either hand
- he was
also an
enourmosly
hard worker
in the gym.
Some say he
worked too
hard though.
Roberto
aimed for
the 92
Olympics but
couldn´t
make welter
anymore and
moved up to
jr middle
-and
eventually
turned pro.
"Roberto was
special"
says Leif
Carlsson.
"When he
decided for
something he
was 100% on
the job and
he always
gave his
all. So in a
way he was
very tough,
but he was
also a
sensitive
guy and had
to have
things in a
special way.
When he
turned pro it
seemed líke he
never found
his rythm."
Pro:
23-4 from 92
to
96, turned
pro with for
Gary
Trevett´s
team of
Nordic
fighters
based in
Florida
Angelo
Dundee as
trainer.
Financially
it was a
sound move
but Roberto
was unable
to change
his style to
the pros
and what
had worked
in the
amateurs
backfired in
the pros.
The low left
hand left
him open for
counters, he
seemed
musclebound
and while he
did win over
a number of
"opponents"
he lost the
important
ones to the
likes
of Chris
Saunders,
Delroy Waul
and Emmett
Linton. The
Linton
fight, for
the WBU jr
middle
title, was
his last.
"It didn´t
work out the
way I had
thought it
would,
everybody
here said I
had a lot of
talent but I
never had, I
was the
product of
hard work,
over here I
wasn´t
allowed to
train as
hard as I
wanted and
it went the
way it went,
I´m not
crying over
it, I
made some
money,
invested it
and it paid
off" says
Roberto.
After
career:
remained in
Florida,
although he
was looking
for a job in
that field
when he quit
boxing
never he´s
never
used his
skills as an
airplane
mechanic.
Instead
Roberto first
became a
landlord and
is now a
licensed real
estate
agent. "I´m
doing well"
says
Roberto, who
have no
contact with
boxing. "I
weigh 180
lbs today,
pure
muscles, I
pump iron
and punch
the bags
sometimes
but other
than that
I´m out of
the game and
don´t miss
it either. I´m
married with
two kids and
also have a
son in
Sweden."
Name: "Fast" Eddy Smulders
DOB: July 1, 1963, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Amateur: 3-0 with one no decision. European kick boxing champion. Eddie made the transition to ortodox boxing due to bad ankles. "I was very tough to change style, the distance to your opponents, the way you punch, the whole game is different" says Smulders. "I wanted to continue as an amateur but then had one kick boxing match that I was paid for. The amateur federation found out about this and decided I wasn´t an amateur anymore and that forced me to turn pro. I was stupid, I should have sued them for that but I turned pro instead."
Pro: 36-2-0 from 1898 through 1998, EBU lightheavy champ 95-97, won the BeNeLux lightheavy title 91, Dutch belt at lightheavy in 93, beat the likes of Yawe Davis, Eric Nicoletta, Christophe Girard, Jan Lefeber (a hot all Dutch matchup), and Dirk Wallijn. Smulders was a tall, upright boxer with a heavy right hand. "My best fights were against Davis, a very tough fight, and Girard" says Smulders. Smulders was first managed and promoted by Henk Ruhling but fought for Universum at the end of his career. He was WBA number one challenger for a long time but it wasn´t until he joined Universum things began to happen. "I was all set to fight WBO ruler Dariusz Michalczewski but broke my hand two weeks before the contest and that pretty much broke my will too, and the hand is still not good", says Smulders, who did get world title shot at then WBA king Louis Del Valle later. "He´s a southpaw and just hated fighting southpaws" states Smulders, who got stopped in the eighth. The only other loss came to another world champ, Frenchman Fabrice Tiozzo in a EBU titlefight.
After career: Smulders continued his career moving up to cruiser but after stopping Mike Pearman in 98 it all came to an end. "I caught a burglar and beat him and did three months in jail and then there were other things as well but they were totally untrue" says Eddie, who had had to pass on a possible chance to challenge then WBC cruiser champ Juan Carlos Gomez as he was in custody in a Dutch jail on various charges. Dutch press wrote about links to organized crime and that Smulders had been working as a torpedo. Since a number of years Eddy is in the hotel business in Eindhoven with his mother.
Smulders have no contacts with boxing anymore. "It´s a rotten game, I was cheated so many times, I am totally out, I work out a little to stay in shape but that´s it."
If you are in Eindhoven, Hotel Van Neer is the place to stay!
DOB:
Nov 17, 1969, London, UK (of Nigerian descent)
Amateur: none, got into kickboxing and muay thai as a teenager and then moved to the Netherlands to further her career. She then took up traditionol boxing and made her prodebut in 1995 (female boxing wasn´t really recognized in those days and there is a lot of confusion in what was "real" profights or not) but eventually she signed with Universum Box Promtion and her career took off.
Pro: 21-0 (12), an alltime great in female boxing, WIBF champ at superbantam. outstanding in her titledefences and she looked ubeatable; Aboro could both box and punch. She beat the likes of Kelsey Jeffries, Nadia Debras and Daisy Lang. However her promoter, Universum Box Promotion, had big problems outside of the ropes with Michele, who for part of her career trained in Croatia, came from London, lived in Holland and fought in Germany. Where most female stars used their good looks to get attention Aboro was quite masculine and it was no secret that she was a lesbian. In short: she was tough to market, so tough that Universum decided to terminate their contract with her. Effectively her career thus ended late 2001.
Aboro tried to take her case to court but eventually the case was thrown out of the system late 2006. Michele and her lawyer wanted to establish the fact she had been employed by Universum and thus should German labour laws apply - and not a promoter´s and manager´s contract. A higly interesting angle but a mission impossible. The Aboro case have attracted big attention mainly from Dutch feminist groups. There´s been a documentary called "A Knockout" made on Aboro and her career in and out of the ropes.
Michele Aboro resides in Amsterdam and work a sound technician at the famed club Paradiso, is a boxing trainer on the side and is doing well. She is in debt though after her court cases and mamacash.nl are trying to raise money to help her out. |
Name: Björn Rudi
DOB: Oct 1, 1953 in Kristiansand.
Amateur: began boxing as 15-year old in 1968 for Aik-Lund in Kristiansand, a big, wellbuilt heavy already then, regarded as very promising (some say he was the biggest prospect ever from Norway), junior champ in 69, participated in the senior championships later the same year - a little too much too soon for the 16-year old who was knocked out but the year after Rudi was ready and won gold and did the same in 1972 and 1973. Bjorn was on his way to the 72 Olympics but suffered an upset ko-loss to German Gerhard Rissmann. Still, during the season 72-73 the now 19-year produced several good results and turned pro in 1973 - which may again have been a little too much too soon.
Pro: 17-4-0, began and ended his procareer in Norway but was also with Andy Smith in the UK. After a fine start in Norway Rudi with Erik Stenerud was discovered by British manager Andy Smith, who´s big star was Joe Bugner. Rudi sparred a lot with Joe and fought on the undercard to Ali vs Bugner II in Malaysia in 74. "There was a lot going on in my head, I was mentally shot and at the same time there was a lot of turmoil outside of the ropes as well." An an upset loss to Derek Simpkin followed. The talent was there but Bjorn came across as a notorious underachiever, a revenge win over Simpkin was followed by back to back losses against John L Gardner and Neville Meade - two matchups were the Norwegian was - especially against Gardner - thrown to the wolves. Rudi retired but came back in 78 going 2-1 and at the age 25 it was over. "The comeback wasn´t 100%, I had moved to Alesund, I was training myself and you just can´t do it that way" says Bjorn.
After career: Bjorn moved to Alesund, worked as a municipal employee, and became a trainer with the local amateur club. Among the fighters that came out of Alesund was the now renowned official Mikael Hook, who qualified for the Olympic Games in Barcelona but wasn´t allowed to participate after some boxing political turmoil. After eighteen years in Alesund Rudi moved back to Kristiansand, a prosperous oil town in the south of Norway, where he now resides and is a self employed truck driver. "I have very little contact with boxing these days" says Bjorn. "I follow the big heavyweight fights but not much more. With hindsight it´s easy to see it should have been done differently, I was so young, it´s takes a lot of time for a heavyweight to grow out but I didn´t think like that back then."
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N ame: Tommy Joyce
DOB: Aug 7, 1947, Edinburgh, UK, grew up in Doncaster and fought out of there throughout his career.
Amateur: won the ABA jr title at the age of 16, bronze in two senior ABA, represented Scotland 17 times, bronze medal at the Commonwealth games in 1970.
Pro: 26-23-3 at welter and jr middle, went 14-0-1 in his first fifteen fights but then suffered back to back ko losses to Mickey Flynn and high class South African Gert Steyn and most of the losses on Joyce´s ledger came inside the distance. Fought for the Midlands title in 73. While never a champ a solid pro. Retired in 1980.
After career: caretaker at a school in Mexborough where he now resides, picked up running to keep fit but started doing it for charities and began an amazing career as a marathon runner. Tommy began by doing five marathons in five days, then ten in ten days all the way to up to an incredible 20 marathons in 20 days, doing about 200 marathons, raising about 200 000 GBP. Received the prestigeus MBE award in 2007. Married to Jean since 1966, two kids, three grandkids. Topped a recent poll for unsung heroes and heroines in the Mexborough region, also named Yorkshireman of the year.
DOB: March 14, 1944, Jonkoping, Sweden.
Amateur: Swedish champ at flyweight in 1966 which topped a six year career in amateur boxing where he represented BK Ringen in Jonkoping..
Pro:
4-3-1, pro in 67, last fight was at the end of 1969, a points loss to then EBU fly champ Fernando Atzori, and Ulf became one of the last Swedes to enter a professional boxing ring in Sweden before the game was outlawed. Danielsson kept training (also prohibited for pros) and the gym was in the same building as the police department. "We got far more important matters to deal with than Danielsson´s training" stated the local police chief thus allowing Danielsson to carry on training. However, fights abroad failed to materialize and Ulf was forced to retire.
After career:
a truck driver turned photographer, check out bildvisning.com for an introduction to Ulf´s great work. Have visited Syria, Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Bolivia, Peru, Rwanda, India and coming up is a trip to Turkmenistan. Ulf was not invited to "the Return" show in Gothenburg January 27, 2007, that marked the return of professional boxing to Sweden. Not involved in boxing in any way. Married with two grown kids, resides outside of Jonkoping.
Name: Felipe "Pantera" Rodriguez
DOB: Dec 22, 1953, Vilaxoean.
Amateur: Spanish champ in 74 and 76, Spanish international.
Pro: 27-9-5, in a career that lasted from 77 through 87. "Pantera" quickly became a drawing card in North Western Spain and won the Spanish heavyweight title in 78. In 79 he drew with Alfredo Evangelista at home in Pontevedra. A points loss to EBU champ Lorenzo Zanon followed and a month later he lost to Belgian Albert Syben. Rodriguez fought his way back and again drew with Evangelista but lost twice to Frenchman Lucien Rodriguez, the last time again for the EBU title. For the remainder of his career "Pantera" was a good journeyman taking on the likes of David Pearce, Anders Eklund, Rainer Hartmann, Pierre Coetzer and Francesco Damiani always losing but always putting up a good fight. Rodriguez was a good allround boxer but didn´t have a big punch.
After career: "Pantera" worked as doorman in nightclubs in Pontevedra and appeared on a local TV show. In 2000 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and tragically passed away shortly thereafter
DOB:
May 14, 1947,
Vienna, Austria
Amateur:
23-4 (Orsolics´
amateur career have
previously been
unknown but as Dr
Sigi Bergman made
research for an
upcoming book about
Orsolics they were "disovered").
Johann, a chimney
sweeper by
trade, began boxing
with a good friend
and wasn´t a natural
southpaw but was
taught to box that
way and thus had a
powerful right to go
with his good left.
Pro:
42-7-4 in a career
that lasted from 65
through 74. Johann
Orsolics quickly
became a big ticket
seller and won the
EBU jr welter title
in his 12th profight.
In the years to come
Orsolics was a huge
star at home. He
lost the title to
Bruno Arcari in 68,
moved up to welter
and won the EBU
title by stopping
Frenchman Jean
Josselin. A world
title shot against
champ Jose Napoles
was agreeed on but
then Johann suffered
an upset loss to
Eddie Perkins. In
the fight that
followed, a defence
of the title against
Brit Ralph Charles,
Orsolics was ahead
on points going into
the 12th round but
turned to complain
to the referee about
a low blow and
Charles took
advantage of the
situation and
knocked out Orsolics.
It was a devastating
loss and it took
Orsolics two years
before he was back.
In 1973 Orsolics
challenged EBU jr
middle champ Carlo
Duran and appeared
to have won on
points after fifteen
rounds but ended
up a loser on a
split decision and a
big riot followed.
In 74 Johann got
another crack at the
EBU 154 lb title and
had Jacques
Kechichian out on
his feet in the
early rounds but
failed to close the
show and ended up a
loser on a ninth
round knockout. In
Berlin November 8,
1974, Orsolics was
stopped in the 14th
round by Spaniard
Jose Duran and that
ended his career.
After career:
Orsolics had lived
in the fast lane
already during his
fighting days and as
the owner of a bar
in Vienna he didn´t
slow down. Step by
step the once famed
fighter slipped down
the ladder. By the
early 80´s Johann
Orsolics was pretty
much down and out,
drinking
heavily, the bar
gone and had debts
that couldn´t be
paid. Dr Sigi
Bergmann, who had
followed Orsolics´s
career as TV
commentator,
reported on what had
happened to Johann
on the nationally
televised Monday
Night Sports. Singer
/ songwriter Charly
Kriechbaum watched
on TV and came to
the rescue: he wrote
a song for Johann to
sing. Orsolics did
some voice training
but was hardly a
skilled singer nor a
very good one when
he recorded "Mei
Patschertes Leben".
If it was the
quality of the song
or if it was an act
of solidarity by
Austrian fight fans
is hard to say but
the single hit the
charts big time and
stayed # 1 for four
weeks in the summer
of 86. The song led
to a change in the
lifestyle for
Orsolics, who
sobered up, got his
finances in
order and got back
on his feet. Today
Johan Orsolics is a
working man and is a
guest of honor at
most shows in
Vienna. His good
friend, Sigi
Bergmann, is
currently writing a
book about Orsolics
and his career.
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Name:
Bruno Arcari
DOB:
Jan 1, 1942,
Atina, Italy.
His family fled
the ongoing war
and Bruno grew
up in Genova and
have remained
there. Began
boxing at the
age of 15.
Amateur:
81-5, Italian
champ 62-63 at
lightwelter,
bronze in the
European
championships
63,
Mediterranean
champ 63.
Pro:
70-1-2, one of
the greats in
Italian boxing,
a tough, smart
southpaw with
great stamina
and feared for
his bodyshots,
who´s only major
weakness was a
tendency to cuts
that led to both
losses - he lost
his prodebut due
to cuts. Bruno
turned pro late
in 64 and kept
active until
1978. He won the
Italian title
late in 66 after
losing the first
attempt. In 1968
he won the EBU
jr welter, a
title he would
keep until he
relinquished it
early in 1970 to
go for the world
title in the
regime of WBC.
Arcari outscored
Pedro Adique
over fifteen and
kept the title
until he
relinquished it
in 74 due to
problems making
the weight,
politicial
pressure on who
to fight from
the WBC and
problems with an
injured
shoulder. A shot
at welter champ
Jose Napoles
failed to
materialize.
While Arcari
beat top
notchers such as
Rene Roque, Joao
Henrique, Percy
Pugh and
Everaldo Costa
Acevedo he would
never get full
recognition
outside of
Italy. Talks of
unification
fight with
Colombian great
Antonio
Cervantes never
got
anywhere. Bruno
stayed active
through
75-76 and drew
with future jr
middle champ
Rocky Mattioli
in what was his
last big fight.
In 1978 he
stopped Texan
journeman Jessie
Lara in five and
retired.
After career:
Bruno have
remained in
Genova and was
for many years
an ace trainer
and manager
working with the
likes of
Salvatore Fanni
and Giovanni
Nardiello, who
top class in
Europe, always
in collaboration
with his former
manager Rocco
Agostino. He
then joined the
Italian
Federation as an
advisor but have
kept a low
profile.
Arcari is
retired, in good
health,
financially
secure (but
declines to
speak about it)
enjoys life,
spends a lot of
time fishing and
with his family.
Name: Borge "the
Professor" Krogh
DOB:
April 4, 1942,
Aalborg, Denmark
Amateur:
225 fights, 5-time
Danish champ at
feather and
lightweight,
participated in the
Olympic Games 60 and
64. 30 nationals
representing
Denmark.
Pro:
43-8-5, Krogh
turned pro after 64
Olympics and quickly
became a headline
fighter for then
rising promoter
Mogens Palle and was
in tough right from
the beginning. Two
years after turning
pro Krogh, a very
skillful boxer, won
the EBU lightweight
title by beating
Maurice Travant on
points. In 1968
Krogh lost the title
to Spanish great
Pedro Carrasco.
Krogh never really
made it back, the
nickname "the
Professor" hinted
partly at Borge´s
clever boxing but
also about his
career outside of
the ropes where
he made a career in
the school system.
He was however still
in tough and took on
Eddie Perkins in
1969 losing on
points and two of
the three knockdowns
Krogh would suffer
in his procareer
came here. Another
problem got bigger
as the wear and tear
of many hard fights
began to show: cut
eyes. In 1970 Krogh
drew with then EBU
jr welter champ Rene
Roque in his last
big fight. He
retired in 1971
after a cut eye loss
to Pietro Ceru.
After career: Borge
Krogh worked for
many years as
teacher, then became
a principle and a
school inspector.
Krogh returned to
boxing as a trainer
and was for many
years the main man
for Danish pros, he
worked with Ayub
Kalule, Hans Henrik
Palm, Jorgen Hansen;
Racheed Lawal and
others through the
70´s and 80´s.
Comment: Borge is
the third of the
once feared Krogh
brothers who were
exellent amateurs,
Tage, the oldest,
have passed away but
Bjarne have been
active as a trainer
just as Kjeld, the
youngest, who have
trained Jimmi and
Johnny Bredahl,
Fredrik Alvarez,
Dennis Holbaek and
other very good
Scandinavian pros.
Name: Andrei Skhalikov
Born:
June 6, 1968, Chelyabinsk, Russia
Amateur:
began boxing at 22 and turned pro less than a year later,
participated in one Russian championship but that was it.
Pro:
43-7-2 or 56-7-2 - take your pick - the early years of professional
boxing in what used to be the USSR are virtually impossible to
track, fought four times in the US in 92-93 on a tourist visa going
3-1 and then returned home and began to make a name for himself. In
95 he stopped South African champ Mark Cameron and then fought in
France losing on points to Jean Claude M´Biye breaking his arm in
the early rounds. French promoter Michel Acaries saw the talent and
signed up Andrei, who from now on communicated between Russia and
France. He stopped Mauro Galvano to win the EBU supermiddle title 97
and lost on points to WBA ruler Frankie Liles in 98. Lost a split
call to French here in Bruno Girard in France but regained the EBU
title in 2000. Shkalikov lost - you got it - a split decision to
German hero Danilo Haussler in 2001 in Germany. Andrei thought his
last big fight in 2002 dropping a close call to Medhi Sahnoune but
wasn´t happy with his performance and decided to retire although he
closed out his career with four wins before finally calling it quits
in 2003.
After career & now:
boxer turned promoter. Andrei now lives in Moscow (wife and two
daughters are in Chelyabinsk) and is part owner of Pushka, one of
the biggest promoters in Russia. "In my day we had to fight abroad
to make any kind of money, look at me, I thought the big names
everywhere, South Africa, France, Germany, United States, but with
the improved economy here we can now do pretty big shows. The talent
is there for sure."
Shkalikov also co-owns the largest
boxing website in Russia -
allboxing.ru - which has
20 000 individual hits daily (in Russian only).
Name: Marcel Cerdan, Jr,
DOB: Dec 4, 1943, Casablanca,
Morocco, his father was
the future middleweight
champion of the World,
Marcel Cerdan, his
mother Marinette Cerdan.
Marcel was later very
close with famed singer
Edith Piaf, who was in a
relationship with Marcel
Sr until his death in
1949.
Amateur:
unknown
Pro:
56-5-2 at welter, fought
very much in the shadows
of his famous father and
didn´t mind, pro from
1964 through 1972 Marcel
kept busy, beat several
decent fighters in
Europe such as Robert
Gallois, Johnny Cooke
and Ricky Porter, drew
with Sandro Lopopolo
(late in the Italian´s
career), but lost to
world rated guys like
Donato Paduano (in his
sole US performance in
what was a fight between
unbeaten prospects),
Clyde Gray and his last
fight to Robert Gallois
for the French title.
Was close to a shot at
the European title but
it never materialized.
Marcel Jr was a good
boxer but not a puncher
like his father. "It was
to tough to be a stylish
boxer with a name like
mine" says Marcel Jr
today. All in all Cerdan
did pretty good.
After career:
Co-wrote a book about
his relationship with
Edith Piaf, "Piaf et Moi",
starred as his father in
the movie "Marcel and
Edith" from 1983, hotel
and restaurant owner. As
for now Marcel Jr states
simply that he "enjoys
life". Son Nicolas is
not a boxer but a
computer wizard and is
responsible for
www.marcelcerdan.com -
in French but with a
great collection of
pictures and with
memorablia for sale.
Marcel Jr don´t follow
boxing anymore.
Name: Svein Erik "Spiker´n" Paulsen
DOB:
March 30, 1946, Trondheim,
Norway.
Amateur:
135-25 (65), Norwegian champ
64-66, 68-70, 72, Nordic
champ 67 and 70, number five
in the 72 Olympics at
lightweight, should have
fought at the 68 Olympics as
well but suffered a knee
injury while playing soccer
(football). "Football is a
dangerous game" states the
now 60-year old Paulsen with
a smile.
Pro:
21-2-1-1, turned pro in 1973
with promoter Erik Stenerud,
"we never had a contract, it
was a gentleman´s agreement
and it worked out just
fine." Spiker´n (may
translate into something
like the Hammer) could punch
as seen by his amateur
record but developed into a
more careful boxer as a pro.
"The longer distance meant
that I couldn´t walk out and
trade punches the way I was
used to, I had to learn how
to pace myself and I
developed a more careful
style."
Svein Erik was very tall for
his weight division and was
almost a converted southpaw
which meant he had a very
powerful left hand. "I´m not
really left handed, fact is
I can do most things with
either hand," says "Spiker´n"
today.
Another thing that played a
big part in Paulsen´s career
was making weight: "I fought
at jr light and it was a
constant problem to make 130
and that probably also
affected my power."
Still, Svein Erik quickly
climbed the ladder in Europe
fighting in Norway and
Denmark. In 1974 he stopped
German Lothar Abend to win
the EBU 130 lb title,
defended the title four
times and then challenged
WBC titleholder Alfredo
Escalera in December of
1975.
"I wasn´t myself that night,
making the weight was almost
impossible and as my then
wife can tell you I took
stuff that is illegal in
today´s boxing to make the
weight. I was drained
psychologically as well, but
still I did well against
Escalera but got caught in
the ninth and the referee
stopped it. It was a good
call. I then came back as a
lightweight but lost a fight
to Jeronimo Lucas, I was way
ahead on points but got
caught."
Paulsen retired in 1978 to
concentrate on his day at a
telephone company - a job
Svein Erik kept up during
his fighting days as well.
"I would take a week off or
maybe two before a big fight
to travel to Oslo for
sparring. I worked for
Bravida for almost forty
years but was then laid off
and now I work as a
porter at the Trondheim
University. I´m married for
the second time and have two
kids, age 17 and 18. I
remained in boxing as a
trainer but had to quit a
few years back due to bad
shoulders."
Comment:
Svein Erik Paulsen is
without a doubt one of the
best Norwegian fighters in
history.
Name: Jorgen "Gamle" Hansen
DOB:
March 27, 1942, Aarhus, Denmark
Amateur: 136-21, Danish welter champ
66-69, reached quarterfinal in
the 69 European championships
before losing to East German
Manfred Wolke, participated in
the 68 Olympics but lost in the
first rounds - and according to
the legend Hansen was already
now asked by some sportswriter
to hang´em up. It was somewhere
Hansen picked up his nickname "Gamle"
which translates into "the Old
Man".
Pro:
78-14 in a hot and cold career
that began in 1969. Hansen
challenged then EBU welter champ
Roger Menetrey in 1972 but got
stopped in the tenth and
developed into a very erratic
performer. At best he was very
good, a tall upright boxer with
a sharp jab and powerful right
hand, at worst he just couldn´t
get untracked. As times were
tough for Danish proboxing in
the mid 70´s he was also forced
to fight on the road. But with
the arrival of future champ Ayub
Kalule Hansen picked up what was
needed to be sharp all the time
and the by now 30+ fighter
developed into a steady
performer. Hansen won the EBU
title for the first time in
1977, lost it on a controversial
dq later that year but regained
the title in 78 - only to lose
it - again - on a dq. In 1979
Hansen, promoted and managed by
Mogens Palle throughout his
career, took on touted Brit Dave
Green almost at home in Randers.
Hansen, 36 years old, had a face
only an aging fighter can
develop ... but underneath there
was a fighter who finally put it
all together. He stopped Green,
who was in line to fight Sugar
Ray Leonard, in three for what
probably was a career best
victory. Hansen remained EBU
champ until he relinquished the
title in 1982. He beat
compatriot and stablemate Hans
Henrik Palm in two Danish mega
fights - abroad the "old" Hansen
resurfaced and he flopped over
in one against Pipino Cuevas in
1981. In 82 Jorgen Hansen
retired after beating Spanish
veteran Perico Fernandez.
After career:
Hansen worked during his amateur
days and early years in the pros
as a welder in the Aalborg
shipyard. After his career he
picked up that career again,
another developed when he had
his nose fixed and a handsome
mature man came out and he got
work as model. But the shipyard
cut down, a divorce followed and
Hansen relocated to Copenhagen
where he until recently could be
found at the classic beer joint
Hviids Vinstue where he worked
as a porter. Hansen retired last
year. Jorgen is almost always at
ringside for the professional
boxing events in Denmark and
often helps out with duties such
as carrying the Danish flag.
Comment:
No other career in Danish sports
is surrounded with so many
anecdotes. Hansen, a rather
softspoken and modest man, could
crack oneliners like
no other. The many setbacks are
surrounded by numerous more or
less true stories. He remains
very popular with fans and
media.
Name: Anders "Lillen"
Eklund
DOB:
Dec 22, 1957 in
Skutskaer, Sweden.
Amateur:
66-25, Nordic champ
at superheavy 1980
and 1982, Swedish
champ 1982,
participated in the
1980 Olympics (lost
to Istvan Levai) and
in the World
championships 1982.
Pro:
19-5-1, pro in 82,
won the EBU
heavyweight title in
a huge Scandinavian
showdown against
Steffen Tangstad on
a stormy day in
March of 85, lost
the title to Frank
Bruno in London,
rebuilt with wins
over the likes of
Glenn McCrory and
Jesse "Thunder"
Ferguson, regained
the EBU title with a
ko win over Alfredo
Evangelista in 87,
lost the title to
Italian Francesco
Damiani, tried his
luck in the US but
was whacked out in
1.11 by "Terrible"
Tim Witherspoon in
1989, beat Garing
Lane in his final
fight in 1990 and
retired.
Eklund was a big,
ponderous heavy who
at his peak could
beat a lot of good
men - however, in
the really big
fights he just
didn´t have that
little extra. He
lost mentally in the
staredowns with
Frank Bruno, had
Damiani stunned but
didn´t follow up and
was sucked into a
battle of left jabs
with Witherspoon,
who then dropped in
his right hand for a
fearsome ko.
After career:
Eklund returned to
his old trade as a
carpenter but was
laid off in the wake
of early 90´s
financial recession,
divorced, got sued
(and lost in
court) by his former
trainers and had
rough couple of
years. "Lillen"
(might translate
into "Tiny"; a
suitable name for
6ft5 240 lb giant)
got back on his feet
though, remarried,
resides in
Uppsala, is back in
work and plays
bluegrass and
country with his
band (will perform
at home in Skutskaer
later this month -
August 06).
Comment:
no other Swedish
athlete, bar none,
have hit such highs
and lows with the
Swedish media as
Eklund. He was built
into a Gold
medallist in the
1980 Olympics, as he
was beaten by Levai
the same press wrote
him off in a pretty
nasty way. The thing
happend in the Bruno
fight (the win
against Tangstad was
viewed as something
as an upset), and
when Anders lost he
was "killed" again.
After the loss to
Witherspoon it
resembled personal
vengeance by certain
members of the
Swedish press - it
must be said though
that Eklund and his
advisors from his
amateur club, Falken,
in Gavle, were
pretty tough towards
some journalists,
which created a long
lasting feud. Name: Eckhard Dagge
DOB:
February 27, 1948, Probsteinhagen, Germany
Dead:
April 4, 2006, Hamburg, Germany
Amateur:
66-14, according the legend Dagge discovered
his talent for fighting during barrooms
brawls in Hamburg. He represented West
Germany in the European Championships in
Madrid in 1971 but lost in the first round
to the East German representative, Manfred
Wolke. When Eckhard wasn´t picked to
represent his country in the 72 Olympics he
turned pro.
Pro:
26-5-1, Dagge won the German middleweight
title in his sixth fight in 1973, the EBU
belt at jr middle in 75 and the WBC crown,
also at 154, in 76. In 1974 he lost a
challenge for the EBU jr middle title to
Jose Duran and in 76 he was outscored by
Vito Antuofermo. Later that year he beat
Elisha Obed to win the WBC title and
defended it against Emile Griffith. In 77
Dagge drew with Maurice Hope and then got
stopped by Rocco Mattioli. Eckhard came back
and went 3-0 but then took three years off
before returning in 1981 for a comeback that
ended with a tko loss to Brian Anderson.
Comment: Dagge was
a tall, upright boxer, who looked somewhat
frail but was tough as nails. He became the
second German since Max Schmeling to win a
world title of any kind although the WBC jr
middle title back then wasn´t as recognized
today as it is now. When this was pointed
out the newly crowned champ he commented "at
least I won my title standing" - referring
that Schmeling had won his title down from a
low blow. Another Dagge statement that will
live forever came when he stated that "had I
been sober I would have beaten him".
Eckhard was a
heavy drinker and said at one time that
"there are many world champs that have
become alcoholics but I´m the only alcoholic
who have become world champ". Dagge trained
at a gym underneath the Ritze nightclub and
was by all accounts a serious trainer
despite heavy drinking.
After his
career Dagge remained at the Ritze and also
trained fighters. He was among the first
coaches hired by the new promotional outfit
called Universum. Dagge was a good trainer
but eventually his bouts with alcohol got
the better of him and he was fired by
Universum. Eckhard would sober up for long
spells, continued to train fighters,
eventually he left Hamburg and Ritze but
would always fall back into heavy drinking.
When he was looking for help for his
alcoholism he was diagnosed with cancer and
spent his last months at a Hamburg hospice
not far from the famed Reeperbahn and the
Ritze where he began his fighting career.
Name: George Kandelaki
DOB:
Oct 10, 1975, Gori, USSR (today the Georgian
Republic)
Amateur:
110-12, outstanding career, one of the last
stars to emerge from the teak tough USSR boxing
schools. World champ 98, European champ 93,
silver World Championships in 93, bronze in the
96 Olympics all at superheavyweight and then
turned pro in 1998.
Pro: 1998-2003, 24-0, had some problems adjusting to
the pros but eventually appeared to be on his
way to to bigger things when he suffered a
serious eye injury which forced George to
retire. He was then the WBU heavy champ and had
scored a number good wins fighting mainly in the
UK and America.
After career:
Kandelaki is very much involved in boxing and is
since two years the President of the Georgian
boxing Federation, who have a very ambitious
national boxing program with professional boxing
events twice a month. Within 2006 the plan is to
begin with international shows also. There´s a
wealth of talent in the Georgian Republic where
boxing still have a very strong position.
Kandelaki is married with two kids and his son
Tarash, age 7, have already began boxing.
Name: Martin Marco Voto a/k/a Young Martin
DOB:
March 5, 1931, Madrid, Spain; Died June 16,
2006, in Madrid
Amateur:
unknown
Pro: 71-17-5, pro from 1950 through 1962, he won the
national title in 1953, challenged for the World
title in 1957 but was stopped in three by
Pascual Perez in Buenos Aires. Claimed when he
returned home to Madrid that someone had
tampered with the water in his corner.
Martin was
discovered at the age of 17 by Don Santiago
Bernabeau, who also headed great football
(soccer) team Real Madrid. Bernabeau also helped
another Spanish great in Fred Galiana. Martin
was a tough, strong southpaw, who back in the
days when professional boxing was a sport for
the masses was a big hero. His biggest win came
in the UK in 1955 when he knocked down Dai Dower
eleven times before winning on a 12th round KO
to win the EBU crown. He would capture the same
title three more times. Martin also challenged
for the EBU title twice, the last time was in
1959 when he lost a decision to Risto Lukkonen
in Helsinki.
After career:
Martin continued to live in the barrios of
Madrid and worked at the local market. His death
receives only a small write up in Spanish media.
Today Real Madrid play their games at the giant
Bernabeau Stadium and football / soccer rules.
DOB: May 28, 1987, Tunisia
Amateur:
Dutch champ 86-87, total record is around 66-5,
Louati´s beginning in boxing is classical for
the sport. After arriving from Tunisia to the
Hague Mourad got into trouble as a teenager and
then got into boxing. His mentor was John
Kristaljin, a local businessman, who also ran an
amateur club. Louati´s tougness and power was
quickly discovered but Kristalijn insisted his
fighter should take care of school as well and
even paid for his education.
Pro:
24-8-1 in a career that began in 1987 and ended
in 1996. Mourad won the Dutch jr middle title in
1990 by knocking out Kid Taylor and beat Said
Skouma for the EBU crown in 91 in what was then
regarded as a huge upset. Louati lost the title
in his first defence to Jean Claude Fontana.
Louati continued
his career in the 90´s but lost as many as he
won and had weight problems as well. In 1996
Mourad lost to Fighting Nordin, a then up and
coming prospect, and retired.
After boxing:
Louati have remained in boxing as trainer,
manager and sometimes promoter putting on events
around the Hague where he still resides with his
wife and two kids. As a trainer he´s been
involved with a number of decent fighters,
especially former WBF heavy champ Richel Hersisa
and Fred Westgeest. Mourad operated a successful
computer business and is now the co-owner of a
famous restaurant in the Hague. He remains close
with John Kristalijn, who was with him
throughout his pro career and promoted many of
his fights.
Name: Steffen Tangstad
DOB: June
22, 1959, Tonsberg, Norway
Amateur:
61-9, six-time Norwegian champ at heavyweight
1975-80. Turned pro in 1980 just before professional
boxing was prohibited in Norway.
Pro: 24-2-2, after his debut in Norway Steffen headed for
the US and after spell in Florida he settled in
Chicago, IL, where his career took off, among the
results is a draw with future heavyweight champ
Buster Douglas. In the fall of 83 he returned home
and with Norwegian soil unavailable fought out of
Denmark for the remainder of his career. In 84 he
won the EBU title for the first time, lost it to
Sweden´s Anders Eklund in a Scandinavian showdown,
regained the title with a win over John Westgarth
and that led to a shot at Michael Spinks, the then IBF
heavyweight champ but was tko´d in four. This was to
be the final fight of Tangstad´s career. He was in
line for a comeback for over two years but for one
reason or another it never materialized.
Steffen was big star
in Norway during his active days and this led to a
number of appearances on TV. He did well, hosted his
own show with Michael Spinks as special guest and
got further assignments when cable TV hit
Scandinavia. He became a producer and commentator
for TV 1000. Later on he became CEO for Modern
Sports & Events, a company that did it all from
managing fighters and promoting shows, to buying and
selling TV rights. MSE was later shut down buy its
main owners but Steffen is now (2006) back with a
new network, Fight+, that will televise boxing and
martial arts events in Scandinavia. Name: Albert Syben
DOB:
July 1, 1952, Hyeves, Belgium:
Amateur:
29-3, Belgian heavy champ in 1976.
Pro: 37-12-2, was 35-6-2
between 77-83, came back 85-86 and went 2-6. A good Euro
class heavyweight, went 2-1 with local rival Rudy Gauwe in
Belgian titlefights, beat Jean Pierre Coopman and put up his
career best performance in beating Spaniard Felipe "Pantera"
Rodrigiuez. Lost twice to then EBU champ Lucien Rodriguez,
the first time clearly on points in Paris, took the second
one on short notice since it was a good payday and was
stopped in the eighth. Retired after that but came back a
year and a half later fighting mainly on the road losing to
the likes of Stefano Vassallo, Dave Garside and Anaclet
Wamba.
Remains in boxing as a trainer
in for a club in Liege and works as a police officer in the
special forces. Name: Jean Pierre
Coopman
DOB:
July 7, 1946, Ingelmunster, Belgium
Amateur:
began boxing as a 24-year old in 1970, fought in the European
championships in 1971 and turned pro in 1972 after only 38 amateur
fights.
Pro: 36-16-1, fought Muhammad Ali in 1976
for the World heavyweight title with a record 24-3, was out of his
depth and knew it the moment Ali threw his first jab, eventually he
was knocked out in five. Coopman had for this fight been given
the "The Lion of Flanders" nickname. He did well in 76 and 77,
stopped Spaniard Jose Urtain in four rounds to win the EBU
heavyweight title. Jean Pierre had gotten the titleshot under the
condition that he would take on mandatory challenger Lucien
Rodriguez inside 60 days - he did and lost the title. Later in 77 he
was knocked out in one round by Alfredo Evangelista. He opened a
cafe called the San Juan at home in Roselaere but it would later go
bankrupt. A divorce combined with the long hours at the cafe led to
that Coopman couldn´t train the way a professional boxer needs to -
at the same he needed the paydays and he suffered a long string of
losses. He retired in 1981.
Coopman later worked as a maintenance
man in a museum. He also continued in boxing as a trainer but would
never work corners claiming he got too nervous when he watched the
kids he had trained being punched at. He is often seen at boxing
events though.
Jean Pierre Coopman has been pretty
ridiculed by American boxing writes for his performance against Ali
but in Belgium he is still pretty famous. Jean Pierre have one big
wish: it is to meet the Greatest again. Other than that Coopman keep
a low profile, is in good health, works out every day and have
participated in old-timer bouts with Freddie De Kerpel that were
very big events in Belgium. The two should have fought back in the
late 70´s but for one reason or another it took 20 years before they
got into the ring the first time.
Coopman is also a pretty acclompished painter
and have also worked as a sculpturer. He has made the statue of
the now gone former EBU champ Cyrille Delannoit, who won and lost
against Marcel Cerdan. Name: Norbert Grupe a/k/a Prinz Wilhelm
von Homburg
Dob: August 25, 1940,
Berlin, Germany
Amateur: none
it seems
Pro: 29-11-6
Career: Grupe
started his career as a pro wrestler in the US along with his father and was
the "bad guy" assuming the role of an aristocrat and that´s how "Prinz
Wilhelm von Homburg" was born. In 1962 he turned to professional boxing
while still living in the US but returned to Germany a few years later and
became a big ticket seller, the man the crowd loved to hate. He resided
in the famous nightlife quarters of St Pauli in Hamburg and had a reputation
as a bad guy - but he also picked up a modest career in acting. Grupe was
nicknamed the "Beatle Boxer" due to his long hair and became quite popular
with the non boxing hippie crowd.
Grupe wasn´t the best but he took on a lot of tough guys. In
his sole major title shot he lost controversially to then EBU lightheavy
champ Piero Del Papa on a disqualification. This was in 1966 and after that
his career took a downhill trend possible helped by his night life
activities. After a loss to Argentinian Oscar Bonavena in 1969 Grupe
appeared in a talk show on German TV but didn´t answer any of the questions
coming his way. He retired in 1970.
After his boxing career had ended Grupe continued in the high
life but was caught and sentenced for a number of crimes and all in all did
five years in German jails before returning to the US where he embarked on a
career as an actor.
Grupe got small roles, mainly as a bad guy, in a number of
movies such as Die Hard and Ghostbusters II. He was quite talented in what
he did. In 2002 German TV did a documentary on his colorful life called "der
Boxprinz". Grupe passed away in March of 2004 due to cancer.
Name: Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain
dob:
Born May 14 1943 Cestona, Spain
Amateur: 3-0 (3 knockouts), was a
champion rocklifter and was
"discovered" and turned into a
boxer and turned pro in a pretty
remarkable career that was like
out of a Budd Schulberg novel.
Pro:
56-11-4, pro from 68 through 77,
was built up fast with lots of
easy knockouts, there were
rumors already then that
something wasn´t right although
Urtain made it to the cover of
Ring Magazine. Was a big hero in
Spain. Urtain won the EBU title
in 1970 with a knockout win over
Peter Weiland (a fight some
critical voices claims were the
first "real" for Urtain) suffered
his first loss later that year
when he was disqualified against
Alfredo Vogrig in a dubious
fight, then Brit Henry Cooper
burst the bubble and stopped the
Spaniard in the ninth
round. From now on Urtain was
reduced to a pretty normal
fighter. He regained the EBU
title in 71 with a knockout over
Brit Jack Bodell, who came to
Madrid just four weeks after
being whacked out by Jerry
Quarry in New York. In 72
Urtain lost the EBU title to
Juergen Blin and was bascially
finished as a main event fighter
although he would build up a
string of wins then lose the big
ones. He retired in 1977 after
getting stopped by Belgian Jean
Pierre Coopmans.
Style:
Short, stocky, could punch and
was physically very strong as
indicated by his rocklifter
career - but was pretty limited
in everything else.
After career: Everything went
wrong for Urtain in retirement,
or perhaps it went all wrong
during his fighting days, his
first marriage failed, a second
went the same way he lived his
life in a very fast lane, all
business ventures went wrong and
finally, he committed suicide in
1992. A nephew, Pablo Ibar, is
on death row in a Florida jail -
a case that is appealed. Name: Olli Maeki
DOB: Dec
20, 1936 in Kokkola, Finland
Amateur: 326 fights, Finnish champ at
lightweight, two-time Nordic champ,
silver in the European championships
in Prague 1957, Gold in Luzern 1959
- all at lightweight.
Pro:
28-14-8, was quickly in against the
big boys and lost a controversial
decision to Howard Winstone in
Nottingham in his sixth profight. A
chance to fight World featherweight
Davey Moore came along in 62. It was
the biggest professional boxing
event in Finland yet with 20 000
spectators at the Olympic Stadium
but Olli had big problems making 126
and was stopped in the second.
The career that
followed was pretty remarkable: as
times got tougher for professional
boxing in Finland Olli Maeki,
campaigning mainly at jr welter, was
forced to go on the road. He won the
EBU 140 lb title in 64 in Helsinki
and defended it in what he himself
considers as the best fight of his
long career when he stopped
Frenchman Aissa Hashas in October of
64. He lost and drew with Willy
Quator and Conny Rudhoff in Germany
in 65, lost to Rudhoff in a crack at
the EBU 140 lb title (he had
relinquished the title earlier).
Maeki´s best weight was still at
lightweight and he
challenged Spanish great Pedro
Carrasco in 68 losing a disputed
call. Other tough fights followed;
Olli took on the likes of Rene Roque,
Sandro Lopopolo, again Carrasco
and Miguel Velazquez. His final
fight was in 1973.
After career:
Olli went into the construction
business, did well and also remained
involved in boxing as a trainer,
stayed in top shape and completed
his last marathon in 2001 (at 64).
Now:
Enjoys retirement with his WIFE
Raija, have ten grand children. "I
have a lot of nice memories from my
boxing career and it gave me a lot
of good friends over the years"
states the now 69-year old ex-champ.
Comment:
Olli Maeki was throughout his career
managed and promoted by former EBU
135 lb champ Elis Ask. Son Pekka is
now a renowned trainer and also
promoter. Pekka Maeki is the man
behind the likes of Amin Asikainen,
Juho Tolppola and amateur ace Joni
Turunen. Maeki´s career has been
recognized by the Finnish Government
who gave him the Pro Sport Award in
2003 (which isn´t just a medal but a
sizeable sum of money). Name: Juergen Blin
DOB:
April 7, 1943, Grossensee, Germany
Amateur:
German champ at lightheavy in 64
representing the classic Hamburg club "Heros".
Pro:
31-11-6 in a
career that began 64 and ended in
73. Began his career as lightheavy and
became national champ, moved up to heavy
and challenged Jose Manuel Ibar Urtain
and Joe Bugner for the EBU title but
lost. Later beat Urtain and became
European champ but lost to again to
Bugner. Fought Muhammad Ali in 71 but
was kayoed in seven. Ended his career in
73 with a knockout loss to Ron Lyle.
Beat Manuel Ramos, Gerard Zech, Wilhelm
Von Homburg and Ray Pattersson.
After
career:
Juergen grew up poor and set as a life
goal never to be poor again. Worked as a
butcher throughout his career. Bought a
fast food establishment that have
developed into three nice bars in the
Hamburg subway system, Blin is divorced
with three sons. One, Knut, was a good
heavyweight boxer but faded from boxing
due to mental illness and later
committed suicide. Juergen is often
ringside for the boxing events in
Germany and is in exellent shape - one
can´t help to think he could still sweep
the floor with some of the pretenders in
the ring. He was ringside along with his
former opponent Muhammad Ali December 17
2005 in Berlin but as far as I could
tell the two didn´t meet. Blin is often
described as "not very good" in
comparasion with the likes of Ali. It´s
true he wasn´t in Ali´s league but he
was a tough, solid professional boxer of
high European class who used boxing as a
tool to make some money and give his
kids a better start in life than
he himself had growing up in post WWII
West Germany. Name: Hans Henrik Palm
Dob:
July 19,
1956 in Lyngby, Denmark.
Amateur:
55-4, Danish champ
at bantam 74, at feather in 75, lightweight
in 76, Scandinavian champ in 76.
Participated in the 76 Olympics in
Montreal, took on Sovjet´s Vasili Solomin and
went on even terms with him but lost a close
call.
Pro:
39-3, won the EBU title at welter in 82,
lost it to Colin Jones, a devasting puncher,
later that year. Planned to continue his
career but was in 83 forced to retire due to
an eye injury. Also fought his good friend
and stablemate Jorgen Hansen for the EBU 147
lb title in 80 and 81 in Danish megafights,
lost both but the second was quite disputed.
Beat the likes of Clinton McKenzie, Henry
Rhiney, Joseph Pachler and George Warusfel.
Style: the European style to
its perfection, tall, upright, used his
reach well, was famous for his body punching
topped by a sharp left hook to the liver
region.
After
career: Hans
Henrik began a modest career as a fitness
instructor already during his fighting days
and grew it into a nationwide chain of gyms
during the 80´s and 90´s. Also trained a
number of good amateurs and pros such as
Johnny and Jimmi Bredahl and Anders Eklund, and
assisted his former promoter and manager
Mogens Palle. Eventually his own business
grew bigger, he left boxing and concentrated
on his chain of fitness gym.
Now:
when Danish press mentions Palm as the "King
of Fitness" it´s not his exellent physical
shape they talk about: it´s his new
nationwide chain of gyms, fitness.dk, it´s
referred to. Fitness have made Hans Henrik a
very wealthy man. He is looking into
promoting boxing in some kind of partnership
with the still active Mogens Palle and his
daughter Bettina. Palm is often seen at
boxing events and it was of course at a
fitness.dk gym where Mike Tyson trained when
in Denmark in 2001. Name: Policarpo Diaz
DOB: Nov 21, 1966, Palomeros (Vallecas),
Spain
Amateur:
59-2, won the Spanish title at feather in 1985.
Pro:
44-3, turned pro in 1986 and won the Spanish
lightweight title already in his seventh fight.
Won the EBU title in 1988 and was pretty
dominant in Europe with his tough, brawling
style of boxing. Beat some very good fighters in
Steve Boyle, Gert Bo Jacobsen and Alain Simoes,
Eventually he became the mandatory challenger
for the then WBC, WBA and IBF 135 lb king
Pernell Whittaker. Diaz was outclassed but it
was often claimed that it wasn´t the beating
Diaz took but the money he earned that ruined
him. When he returned home the hot Madrid
nightlife got the better of him and he got into
drugs and alcohol.
It was over two years before Poli
was able to embark on a comeback of sorts and it
lasted only for a few months. Diaz was still
tough enough to beat whoever they put in front
of him but fought a losing battle with drugs and
alcohol outside of boxing. The comebacks 96 and
97 ended in tko losses to guys he would have
beaten had he been in shape.
Diaz was back again in 1999, 2000
and 2001. Word was that he finally had gotten
his act together but eventually he faded away
from boxing. He never fought for a title again
after that loss to Whittaker.
Now:
After a TV program in Spain showed off Poli in a
very bad shape due to drug abuse the ex-fighter
emerged to everyone´s surprise as a clean man.
He´s says in an open letter to Spanish media
that the pictures used in this TV program were
three years old and that he is now clean, lives
with his girlfriend, holds down a dayjob, is in
good health, works out on a regular
basis and have no financial problems.
Name: Tom Bogs
DOB: November 21, 1944, Copenhagen,
Denmark
Amateur:
Danish champ at lightmiddle, fought in the 64
Olympics where he lost on an unfortunate cut eye in
the second round. Represented CIK in Copenhagen just
as current WBA 168 lb champ Mikkel Kessler.
Pro Record:
77-8-1-1
Career:
EBU champ at lightheavy in 68, at middle in 69 and
73, fought for the World middleweight title in 72
against Carlos Monzon (tko´d by five), fought for
the EBU 175 lb title in 74, split two fights with
Italian Carlo Duran, lost to Emile Griffith, beat
Dub Huntley, Jo Gonzales, Fabio Bettini, Wally
Swift, Chris Finnegan, split fights with Juarez De
Lima. Only draw came against Don Fullmer. Overall
Tom was in tough all the way and handled it very
well.
Style:
Not a big puncher but everything else was topflight.
A big crowd pleaser and ticket seller during an era
when boxing in Denmark was redhot. Was the star of
the stable built by then relatively new promoter
Mogens Palle.
After
career: If Tom hit the highs in the 60´s and early
70´s he gradually hit the bottom in the mid-70´s.
More or less forced to retire in 74 after several
poor performances burnt out by the many hard fights
and a hectic lifestyle. Divorced twice and lost his
job as a prison guard. Media that have loved Tom a
few years earlier now made headlines like "BOGS
UNEMPLOYED".
Now: remarried (since
82), work as garbage collector for the city of
Copenhagen. A new book, "Mesterbokseren" paint of a
nice picture of Tom´s great career and his life now.
Comment: Tom, like Ingermar
Johansson in Sweden before him, represents not just
boxing but also a different era where everything was
better than it´s now. All the rich and famous were
ringside when Bogs fought and he, a workingclass kid
from small beginnings, got caught in the limelight.
He fell hard but came back.
Name: Alessandro "Sandro"
Mazzinghi
DOB:
Oct 3, 1938, Pontedera, Italy
Amateur:
Inspired by the career of his older brother Guido Sandro began boxing at
14 and became military champion in 61.
Pro:
64-3-0-2, pro in 61 through 1970, retired but came back in 77 just to
prove he still had it, won three fights against good opponents (so he
did indeed have it) and retired.
Career:
Got the chance to fight for the World 154 lb title in 63 without even
having contested for the national crown. Sandro took the chance in style
beating Ralph Dupas. Stayed busy with two title defenses in 64 and
number of non-title performances. Was involved in bad car accident that
saw his wife killed. Sandro was seriously injured, unconscious for a
long while but was back in the ring inside two months. He won the fights
but wasn't back to 100 % when he was forced into a fight against Italy's
other big star at the time: Nino Benvenuti. It was fight or be stripped
of the title. Mazzinghi fought but was below par and lost. The rematch
later in 65 ended with a controversial win for Benvenuti - to this day
Sandro insists it was boxing politics that was behind it all as Nino was
the darling of the TV executives. Sandro picked up the pieces of his
career and won the EBU jr middle title. His defense against Bo Hogberg
in Sweden is still being talked about. Defended the title a number of
times and then regained the World title with a points win over Korean Ki
Soo Kim (who just had beaten Benvenuti) in front of 60 000 fans at the
San Siro Stadium in Milano. Relinquished the title after a defense
against American Freddy Little had been declared No Contest. Little had
been declared a loser by DQ for causing a bad gash with an illegal
punch by Mazzinghi´s right eye. Sandro came back in 69 but got another
NC on his ledger after a dubious "lack of action" call by the referee.
Mazzinghi put together a string of wins after that but retired well off
in 1970 having achieved all he wanted in his career.
Now:
Remarried with two grown sons. Sandro is well off, lives in a big villa
in the Tuscany region and grows grapevines. Still works out and is in
great shape. Have a whole section of the house filled with memorabilia
from his career. Have written two books.
Comments:
Sandro have an excellent homepage -
sandromazzinghi.com - for a complete update on his career. Mazzinghi is
without a doubt an European all time great - a tough, tough, brawler, a
warrior in the best sense of the word. His career is always linked with
Nino Benvenuti´s and Sandro went 0-2 in their meetings - but Mazzinghi
beat all their common opponents easier than Nino did. Both were world
class performers in their own right.
DOB:
Sep 19, 1963, Naples, Italy.
Amateur:
Around 200 fights, bronze at heavyweight in
the 84 Olympics after a controversial loss against Henry Tillman.
Pro:
20-1(13).
Career:
Managed by Giovanni Branchini, pro in 84 and did well in the buildup
stages. Beat Louis Pergaud in 86 and Leon Spinks in 87. Suffered an
upset loss to Steve Mormino in August of 87 and never fought again due
to kidney problems and was forced to retire.
Style:
AA tough brawler with a decent dig in both hands, should have been able
to make it far in the pros.
Now:
A counselor with the Italian Federation and an international referee
with a Hungarian license to avoid a conflict of interest. Have an
intellectual look about him and I had to check twice if this indeed was
that very same tough looking guy I saw fight in the 80´s.
Name: Thomas Classen
DOB:
April 24, 1962, Nettmann,
Germany
Amateur: national
champ, 38-18-2, became
the first German in 16
years to be the
legendary Peter Hussing.
Pro Record:
15-2-4 in a career that
lasted from 1983 through
1988.
Career:
The victory over Hussing
made Classen a hot name
in German boxing and he
got a big signing up fee
from then new promoter
Wilfried Sauerland. But
Thomas was unable to
make the transition from
prospect to star or from
good amateur to a good
pro and never developed
into a main attraction.
Instead he plugged away
on the undercards to
Sauerland´s big shows.
He did win the German
title - under
controversial
circumstances - in 85
but was stopped by
Dutchman Andre Van Den
Oetelaar the same year
and suffered a career
ending defeat in 86
after a knockout loss to
Brit Al Malcolm. Came
back in 87 and 88 and
was close to it in 1990
as well.
After career:
became a tiler and
opened his own business
but went bankrupt. Is
now employed as a tiler
and do well. On his
career Thomas honestly
says "they put me in
shoes that didn´t fit"
and admits he wasn´t
ready for the pros and
never could adjust to
the lifestyle needed for
a professional boxer.
Name: Bo "Bosse" Hogberg
DOB:
Dec 18, 1938, Mollosund,
Sweden.
Amateur:
began boxing when
residing in Gothenburg
and won the Swedish
championship at
lightweight at 17,
drifted away from boxing
as a Merchant Marine
sailor but returned and
won Swedish titles in 61
and 61 as well. Was
already then very
popular and known for
his toughness. He came
from a poor workingclass
family, never had it
easy and had several
runins with the law
already then.
Pro Record:
37-6-1
Career:
pro in 62 and quickly
reached headline status.
Won the EBU title jr
middle title in 66 but
lost it just six weeks
later. Fought for the
same title later in 66
but was stopped. Drifted
away from boxing in 68
but came back for two
fights in 73 losing
both.
Style:
Ruggedly handsome, mean,
hardpunching with a
"take no prisoner" style
of fighting Hogberg was
the type who talked the
talk and walked the
walk. Was feared and
respected and his
workouts are still
talked about. Almost
worldclass but his lack
of defence made him
vulnerable.
Biggest achievements:
beat the likes of Bruno
Visintin, Fabio Bettini,
Manuel Gonzales and
Johnny Cooke. Drew with
Bob Cassidy. Lost to
exellent Italian Sandro
Mazzinghi, future world
champ Jose Duran and
hardpunching Brit Harry
Scott.
After career:
Hogberg became a
household name in 66
after losing to Yolande
Leveque in a famous
fight that saw Bosse
fight on despite a
broken jaw. A marriage -
a true love / hate
relationship - to then
famed singer and actress
Anita Lindblom made the
two reach superstardom
partly for all wrong
reasons but both were -
in different ways - very
capable of what they
did. Hogberg´s shady
business deals and a
love affair with a young
lady named Liz Oberg
made the tabloids use
wartime headlines. As it
was Hogberg divorced
Lindblom married,
divorced and remarried
Oberg. As Bosse slipped
away from boxing he got
into business of various
kinds and seemed to have
a courtcase on hand
every time you read
about him. Served a few
years in jail, released
a memoir book called
"the Counterpunch" and
remained a big name in
Swedish media. It all
changed in the late 80´s
when Hogberg suffered a
bad stroke. He was soon
back on his feet but had
lost the ability to
speak and never got it
back. Bosse led a quiet
life in Gothenburg with
his wife Liz. Was
diagnozed with cancer a
few years back and
passed away in his home
November 8 2005.
Comments:
Hogberg remains one of
the big classic names in
Swedish sports and
whenever his name comes
up the word "tough"
follows. All the stories
on Bosse and his life
are probably by now more
myth than fact but one
can´t dispute he was
quite special. There´s
painting of his battered
face (allegedly after
getting beat up by the
police) and a picture
taken of his beaten up
mug after the loss to
Jose Duran won several
awards. They both show
the face of defeat - but
also how the man behind
it refuse to give in and
battle on no matter the
odds against him.
Name: Mustapha Wasajja
DOB:
July 16, 1953, Kampala,
Uganda
Amateur:
fighting at welter and
lightmiddle Mustapha was
a part of the famed and
feared Ugandan bombers
(Cornelius Boza-Edwards,
Vitalis Bege, Ayub
Kalule etc) that cleaned
up amateur boxing in the
mid 70´s. As African
champ he also did an
exhibition with the
feared dictator Idi Amin
- he wasn´t allowed to
win ...
Pro Record:
24-3-1 (5).
Career:
Followed compatriot Ayub
Kalule to Denmark and
turned pro as a
lightheavy in 1977. The
low knockout percentage
indicates a non-puncher
but Mustapha was in very
tough from the beginning
taking on 100+ fight
veteran Avenamar Peralta
in his third fight where
he salvaged a draw. Beat
tough guys like Bunny
Sterling and Tom Bethea
in his first year as a
pro. Fought Michael
Spinks for the WBA 175
in 82 and was knocked
out in the sixth. Claims
in an interview
with Ugandan paper the
Monitor there was foul
play involved. Also lost
to Tony Mundine and
Lottie Mwale and
retired.
Style:
southpaw, not the most
exciting but very
capable.
After career:
as with Kalule he moved
to Nairobi in Kenya
and invested most of his
savings there. In the
beginning it all looked
fine but later most of
the money disappeared.
It´s claimed that their
partners cheated them.
Later drove a truck
before returning to
Uganda where he resides
with a childhood friend.
Now:
The Monitor reveals the
former fighter lives in
poverty in the slums of
Mulago, he is not in the
best of health (part of
the problems is
attributed to
boxing) but works out
daily and advice other
fighters. Mustapha have
five kids.
Comment:
was world ranked in what
is now regarded as a
golden era for
lightheavies. Fought a
lot of good names but
almost always in the
shadow of his stablemate
Ayub Kalule.
Name: Ivan Abreau Camacho
DOB:
Sep 9, 1968, Havana, Cuba
Amateur:
Reportedly
a good amateur back home in
Cuba, who later defected and
ended up in Denmark. Quickly
made a name for himself but also
became known for his wild
lifestyle.
Pro:
16-2, began his career in
Florida 95, then returned to
Denmark, was moved fast and
looked good but lost a fight for
the IBF I/C super-middle title
on a controversial
disqualification after his
opponent Salvatore Di Salvatore
overplayed a punch to the back
of the head. Ivan lost his
temper, rushed across the ring
and kicked Di Salvatore. This
resulted in a lengthy suspension
which led to further problems
outside of the ropes. Returned
in 97 and looked good but got
caught with possession of drugs
early in 98 and another
suspension followed. Returned in
June of 98 but was forced to
retire in 99 after an eye injury
he had received in the amateurs
got worse.
Style:
Good, all-round boxer/puncher
but ill disciplined and there
was a constant change of
trainers. During a particular
hot moment one was heard
shouting "Why the f-k can't you
ever do what I tell you to do"
and that was unfortunately the
story of Ivan's promising
career.
After career:
Helped out training fighters at
his old gym but later drifted
away from boxing.
Now:
Serves an eight-year sentence
in a Danish jail for his part in
an armed robbery in 03. Will be
expelled back to Cuba after he's
done his time.
Comment:
A big
talent, a true couldhavebeen.
Name: Freddy Demeulenaere
DOB:
Nov 18, 1962, Brugges, Belgium
Amateur:
Was only amateur for two and a half
years won the national title before
turning pro with a 35-6-3 ledger.
Pro Record:
40-35-8 (which
is believed to be a record in number
of fights for a Belgian).
Career:
BeNeLux champ in three weight divisions
(147-154-160), Belgian champ at 154,
fought for the EBU jr middle title in
90. Pro in 86 and through 99, then came
back in 01 with a farewell fight (a win
at home) in 02
Style:
Not a puncher, not the best boxer but
had the heart of a lion, always in shape
taking on all comers fighting all over
Europe. A warrior in the best sense of
the word. One that matchmakers just
loved. "Some guys get a phone call three
weeks ahead of the fight and they train
for three weeks - not me, I was always
training and always ready to go."
Best fights:
Win over
ex-EBU champ Mourad Louati in 92 at a
sold-out Ahoy Sports Palace. A tough
loss against future WBO 160 lb ruler
Bert Schenko must also rate up there.
"For me the EBU title fight in Monte
Carlo was also great" says Freddy. "I
didn't win but I was staying there for
ten days, you know, first class
accommodation, the Mediterranean in the
spring, the casino, it was just great."
Was also in
against the likes of Laurent Boudoani,
Michael Loewe and Juan Ramon Medina
Padilla.
After career:
Boxing was never a fulltime job for
Freddy, he works at the same factory
he's done for a number of years, stays
in touch with boxing and is now a
trainer at the very same club he
represented throughout his career.
Name: Charles Graf, Sr.
DOB:
Nov 16, 1951, Mannheim, Germany
Amateur:
9-1-0 - never fought at senior level.
Record (pro):
18-4-4
Career:
Pro in 69 (with a special permission of the
German Federation as he was under-aged) fought
on and off through 75, then a long layoff due
to a prison term 76-81, back 82 then off 83
before returning in 84 and kept busy through 85.
Style:
good boxer and a showman, late in his career
more mature and skillful.
Biggest Achievements:
German heavyweight champion (the first man of
color to hold the title) in 85,
beat Reiner Hartmann and Andre Van Den Oetelaar,
controversial loss to Thomas Classen.
After career:
Did jail time, construction worker.
Now: unemployed, still lives in Mannheim and on
the side works as a boxing trainer with troubled
kids and is said to be doing great in that
capacity.
Comment:
Son Charly jr went 4-0 in the pros but retired
after finding out how difficult professional
boxing can be - outside of the ropes. Later
worked as model in Paris and is now a social
worker in Berlin. German journalist Uwe Betker
is currently writing a book about Graf, Sr, and
his life.
Name:
Erich Schoppner (or Schöppner)
DOB:
June
25, 1932, Witten, Germany
Amateur:
246-14-16 or 246-15-15 (sources vary), fought in the
Helsinki Olympics in 52 at jr middle, won the
European championships at light heavy in 1955.
Outstanding at national level.
Record (pro):
34-1-5.
Career:
Turned pro in 56 fighting mainly in the then fistic
hotbeds of Dortmund, Berlin and Hamburg, won the
German title in 58 and the EBU title later that
year, held the title until 61 when he moved up to
heavyweight and won the German title, challenged for
the EBU title at 175 again in 63 but lost a disputed
decision to Giulio Rinaldi in Italy. Came back again
in 66 for a ten round draw with Wilhelm Von Homburg
for the German heavyweight title.
Style: A
very good counter puncher.
Biggest achievements:
The two victories over Willy Hoepner (both were for
the German and EBU titles) stand out as classics.
Also worth mentioning it's the 15-round points win
over tough Italian Sante Amonti
After career:
Worked for a steel
mill, then became a fireman before establishing
himself as wholesale dealer for tobacco and liquor.
Got into financial difficulties in the 90´s but the
city of Dortmund, remembering their old hero, came
to the rescue and offered him a job at the city
council. Later opened a hotel with his wife Ingrid
and their son Erich jr.
Now: Passed
away September 12, 2005, at the age of 73 but news
didn't break until early October.
Comment:
Big time drawing card at the Westfalenhalle in
Dortmund during a golden age for German boxing. The
news of his passing was headline news in all major
German media.
Name: Marijan Benes
DOB:
June 11, 1951, Banja Luka, Yugoslavia
Amateur:
277-23, won gold in the European championships in 1973 at
light welter, also participated in the World
championships in 72 at welter. Feared for his punching
power, a big star.
Pro:
32-6-1 (with some
question marks around the last two "wins" that came in
the 90´s), turned pro in 77, rose quickly to the top in
Europe, won the EBU title at jr middle in 79, made four
defences, lost on points in 1980 to then WBA champ Ayub
Kalule, lost the EBU crown to Louis Acaries in 1981. Exactly
when he suffered the serious injury that led to his
retirement isn't known but not confirmed persistent rumors
have it that Benes fought blind on eye in his last major
fight, a points loss to Luigi Minchillo in 1982 and
then fought through 83 as well before being forced to
retire.
Style:
A southpaw, a puncher who was a terror in the amateur ranks,
couldn't really make the same impact in the pros, could be
out boxed but gave his all. The fight against Kalule (L 15)
is regarded as one of the toughest fights in Denmark ever.
After
career: Had made
some money but left boxing in a bad shape with injuries to
both eyes. During the war in Bosnia & Hercegovina Benes lost
almost everything, lived for a few year as a refugee in
what is now Croatia but was later able to return to Banja
Luka, which is in Bosnia.
Now:
Single, lives in a small flat under poor circumstances, is
almost blind and Croatian press reports indicates other
health problems related to boxing. A big national hero in
his day he isn't forgotten though and there's been a
documentary named "Champion" made on his colorful life. He
remains very popular and is well remembered. Attempted
ill-advised comebacks, won both but under very dubious
circumstances and should never have been allowed to box..
Comment:
Anyone who saw Benes in the amateurs remembers him, he
wasn't the best but could punch, somewhat limited as a
pro and not always in tiptop shape which led to some upset
losses. Fought with an Austrian license for most part of his
career.
Name: Fritz Chervet
DOB:
Oct 1, 1942, Berne,
Switzerland
Amateur:
Inspired by his two older brothers Fritz began boxing (a fourth
brother would follow; all were good with Paul Chervet also
turning pro). Had around 40 bouts, became Swiss champ and won a
bronze in the European championships.
Record (pro):
57-9-2-1
Career:
Pro 62 but didn't really hit the big time until 72 when appeared
to be in a class of his own in Europe beating the likes of John
McCluskey, Fernando Atzori and Mariano Garcia, losing to WBC
world champ Chartchai Chionoi in 73 and 74 (in Thailand and
Switzerland). Fritz took his time to realize just how good he
was and following a draw with Guido Locatelli in 64 he took over
a year off. After being stopped by Japanese Masao Ohba, then the
WBA 112 lb king, in a non-title fight in 71 Chervet suddenly
realized he could compete with the best and his career took off.
Style:
Excellent boxer, not a puncher, at best almost impossible to hit
cleanly.
Biggest
achievements: EBU
flyweight champ 72-73, challenged for the EBU belt the first
time in 67, fought for the WBC title twice. Both fights were
close, the first ended on a cut eye loss for Fritz in the fifth
(the judges were split after four) and in the second Chervet was
declared a loser on points on a split call after fifteen hard
rounds.
Best
performance: The second
win (their third fight) over Italian Fernando Atzori. Also his
second fight with Thai great Chartchai Chinoi rates up there -
the decision in the WBC's champs favour was regarded as very
dubious.
Now: works as assistant clerk for
the Swiss National Parliament, in excellent shape, enjoys life
and visits his favorite place Thailand every now and then.
Comment: retired in 1976 after
three straight wins despite an offer to take on then WBC light-fly
champ Luis Estaba. Had - among others - the current EBU
vice-President Peter Stucki as sparring partner.
Name: Paul Thorn
DOB:
July 13, 1964, Tupelo, MS.
Amateur:
The son of a Pentecoastal preacher, Paul talked his uncle Merle, an
ex-pro, into teaching him how to box at around 12, won some regional
titles and turned pro in 84.
Record:
15-3-1 (or so - this is what Fight Fax have).
Career:
Fought in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi
before getting a fight with Roberto Duran in Atlantic City in 88. "Duran
survives bloodbath" read the headline in the New York Post the day
after. Thorn lost on a sixth round tko. Both men headed to the hospital
after the fight to be stitched up.
Style: Tall for his weight division, upright
boxer, decent puncher.
After career:
Worked in a furniture factory while picking up
on his big love from the childhood: music - schooled in the churches he
learned to love gospel and just like Elvis and many others before him
heard that great thing called "American Music", blues, country, soul,
rock´n roll ...
Now:
Accomplished musician, singer, songwriter,
tours all over the US, several albums under his belt, have headlined
with his band in the very same New Daisy Theatre in Memphis where he as
a pro won the Mid South 160 lb title. His music can be described as
"southern-fried roots rock".
Name: Pekka Kokkonen
DOB:
Jan 18, 1934, Helsinki, Finland
Amateur: Began as light middleweight in 51, won
Finnish titles at light heavy 54, 55 and 57. Did not participate 56.
Began boxing to develop more confidence in himself (which you might say
he did considering the career he had).
Pro:
36-16-4 (28).
Style:
Orthodox, good puncher with either hand but the special one were the
left hook.
Career:
Fought professionally 1957-67 in what was the golden years in Swedish
and Finnish boxing. Challenged Piero del Papa for the EBU
light heavyweight title. Was at his peak close to world-class, fought the
likes of Harold Johnson, Eddie Cotton and Yolande Pompey.
Biggest achievements:
According to himself the fight
against Harold Johnson - and getting through a long and hard career
with health and faculties intact.
After career:
Comes from a family of gardeners and kept that line of work up
throughout his boxing career. Became a big time commercial gardener but
was forced into bankruptcy during the recession in the early 90´s. Came
back well though.
Now:
President of the Professional Boxing Federation of Finland (since 96),
still sells flowers at the Hakaniemi market square enjoys sharing a joke
with his customers and goes hunting and fishing.
Comment:
Sparring partner for Ingemar Johansson leading up to the third Floyd
Patterson fight. Suffered a surprise loss on the undercard but had
traveled back and forth to Sweden for fights in the weeks leading up to
the show. Very popular in both Sweden and Finland. Promoted by Elis Ask,
Edwin Ahlquist and Per Ola Dahl. A Nordic mega fight against Swede
Lennart Risberg never materialized though.
NAME: Rene Weller
DOB:
Nov
21, 1953, Pforzheim, Germany.
Amateur:
298-21-16,
nine German championships, silver and bronze in European and World
championships.
Pro:
51-1-2 plus a number of unlicensed fights.
Style:
with his long hair, tan and good looks Weller seemed like a victim of
the 70´s disco fever but he was a stylish performer, smart, well
schooled and one of the few from what used to be West Germany that
could handle the fighting machines from behind the iron curtain. Always
in tip top shape despite a hectic lifestyle. Turned pro in 1981 when
proboxing in Germany was at rock bottom and along with promoter Wilfried
Sauerland helped revive the game.
Biggest achievements:
EBU 135 lb champ 84-86 and 88, German ruler 86-88. Also WAA "world"
champ. Beat Lucio Cusma, Daniel Londas, George Feeney and Frederic
Geoffrey. Disputed loss to Gert Bo Jacobsen.
After career:
already a gold smith by the time he retired (well, he never really did).
Always mixed with all the wrong people and got caught in a drug related
case. Did several years in jail, editor for the prison paper, wrote
poetry, quickly got his tan back once he got out and embarked a comeback
of sorts but denied a license by the German Federation, still fought a
few times, in very good shape and a true survivor of the ups and downs
in life. Designed a line of sports clothes, did personal appearances and
remains popular with media and fans.
Now:
resides in Isernhagen, involved in various
business projects and show business, advisor for young prospects.
Fighting days are now almost over, but only almost. Weller says he
trains every day, weighs in at about 135 lbs and have plans for coming
back.
Ingemar
"Ingo" Johansson
Intro: "Where are they now" intends to bring you the news on retired fighters where
abouts concentrating on Europe. In some cases the storied will be based on
interviews with the fighter directly in others based on media reports or with talks
with people around him. I would like to begin with Sweden's Ingemar Johansson.
Name: Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson.
DOB: Sep 22, 1932, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Amateur: 61-10, Swedish champ 50-51-52, silver in the 52 Olympics.
Pro: 26-2, EBU champ 56-59, 62-63, undisputed heavyweight champion of the World
59-60. Went 1-2 with Floyd Patterson in world title fights, stopped Eddie Machen in one,
knocked out Henry Cooper in five, Dick Richardson in eight, Joe Erskine in 13, outscored
Brian London.
Style: Well-schooled upright boxer with a good jab, weak left hook that helped set up
a dynamite right called "Ingo's Bingo" or "Torts Hammer" by American sportswriters.
Not regarded as one of the all time greats at world level but a dominating force in
Europe, not the best of chins something that was highlighted in the last few years of his
career. Superstar in Sweden.
After career: Johansson left boxing a wealthy man and got into different business
ventures including boxing promotions, owned a fishing boat called "Ingo", a bar in
Gothenburg called "Ingo's" etc. Moved to the US where he operated a hotel in Pompano
Beach, FL. Began running and completed the Stockholm Marathon 1985. Regained much
of the popularity that had been lost during the late 60´s and 70´s during the 80´s.
Began a career as TV commentator during the 90´s and it was then clear something
wasn't right with the champ. Now resides in a nursing home outside of Gothenburg
diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. Media paints a nice picture of Johansson's
life but anyone who's been close to anyone suffering from this kind of illness knows how
tragic it is. Financially secure, married and divorced twice, five kids.
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The
Retired Boxers Foundation was started by Alex "The Bronx Bomber" Ramos in 1998.
