No Gold & Glory At The End Of Boxing's Rainbow

[Brian Zelley]

Beyond the glory and gold, title fights and the limelight,
thousands of boxers have just faded into obscurity
with no gold or glory at the end of boxing's rainbow.

And, for some it's just another rainy day with dark clouds
and forty miles of bad road as they wind down life's long
and winding eternity road.

Even some of the ex-champions and former top contenders
have been left at the side of fast moving highway with nowhere to go.
At least with the ex-champions and some contenders.
they are remembered.

This is their story, who were they, how far did they go,
and why were they left in the dust to struggle in life
beyond the bright lights and the roaring crowds.:nono:beat

Welcome to the dark side of boxing life beyond the
flashy footwork, the snapping jabs and life against the ropes.:toney

[Brian Zelley]

ARTIE TOWNE (aka James "Sonny" Tufts)

Artie was one of those good fighters that never got the breaks.
During his fighting days he faced the likes of Yvon Durelle,
Charley Chase, Milo Savage and Pete Mueller.

When he left the ring, he did have a post office job,
but there was no gold or lasting glory at the end
of Artie's boxing rainbow. Funny thing, his gym buddy,
Sugar Ray Robinson would become one of the great
champions and remembered by many as the best ever.

[Brian Zelley]

GYPSY JOE HARRIS

Gypsy Joe Harris was like a comet flying through boxing's big sky.
A flash, a spark, a bright light then he was gone.

Along the way there were those bouts with Cokes and Griffith
and he just faded away to travel down life's lost highway.:boohoo:beer

[Brian Zelley]

WHERE ARE THEY NOW!

Take a look at any list, say British Commonwealth Boxers of 1981
and ask where are they now?

English heavyweights John L Gardiner and Neville Meade,
Canadian light heavyweights Gary & Murray Sutherland
Middleweights Eddie Melo (Canada) and Wally Carr (Australia)
England's welterweights Kirkland Laing and LLoyd Hibbert
Lightweights Charlie Nash (Northern Ireland) and Nick Furlano (Canada)
Featherweight Jimmy Flint (England) and flyweight Dave George (Wales).

Then what about world contenders such as:
Michael Dokes, Marvin Camel, Charley Weir, Pete Ranzany,
Monroe Brooks, Howard Davis Jr., Johnny Sato, and Nicky Perez.

Take a trip back to 1972 and where are they now?:hi:
Richard Dunn, Larry Buck, Donato Paduano, Mike Lankaster,
Manuel Gonzalez, Al Ford, Gaby Ferrari & Bobby (Boogaloo) Watts.

[GPater11093]

i watched a documentry on Kirkland Laing by Steve Bunce its on Youtube but i dont have a a link its 4 years old

he seems to be keeping well and was drinking and smoking but said he would give it up im not sure he has and if hes still on ganga is a?

he was living in London but was pushed out of a four storey flat so moved back to Nottingham where he lives now. Keeps him self to himself but in London lived as a Hobo almost, which i presume he does in Nottingham.

Richard Dunne has been working off shore on oil rigs. I heard he lost his leg and im not sure if he still works offshore as he lost his leg off shore in aan accident of some sort

also im sure murray sutherland is now a top pro trainer in the states now

[Brian Zelley]

i watched a documentry on Kirkland Laing by Steve Bunce its on Youtube but i dont have a a link its 4 years old

he seems to be keeping well and was drinking and smoking but said he would give it up im not sure he has and if hes still on ganga is a?

he was living in London but was pushed out of a four storey flat so moved back to Nottingham where he lives now. Keeps him self to himself but in London lived as a Hobo almost, which i presume he does in Nottingham.


There is a link in the British section, see Best Of British Boxing thread

[My dinner with Conteh]

I was thinking something similar a week or so ago when looking in an old Boxing News preview of the 76 ABA finals. Only Charlie Magri, Pat Cowdell and Colin Jones really made it. Others tunred pro an didn't really achieve anything (like Robbie Davies).

[turpinr]

I was thinking something similar a week or so ago when looking in an old Boxing News preview of the 76 ABA finals. Only Charlie Magri, Pat Cowdell and Colin Jones really made it. Others tunred pro an didn't really achieve anything (like Robbie Davies).

robbie davies was handing out the trophies one night in skem.he was a mean looking dude wasn't he.

[My dinner with Conteh]

robbie davies was handing out the trophies one night in skem.he was a mean looking dude wasn't he.


He still is. He needs a transplant to get out of that 'Olympics 76' coat he constantly wears too. :yep

[turpinr]

He still is. He needs a transplant to get out of that 'Olympics 76' coat he constantly wears too. :yep

one of his opponents wrote in the boxing news that he was terrified of davies before and during the fight!!!think his name was mills??

[My dinner with Conteh]

He looks even scarier now with no hair and his flat nose covers even more of his face.

[Brian Zelley]

TOMMY (Hurricane) JACKSON

Over the years there have been an interesting cast of characters
involved in boxing. One of the most interesting in the Fifties would
have to be Tommy Jackson. The "first hurricane" is likely best
known for his bouts with Floyd Patterson.

[Brian Zelley]

robbie davies was handing out the trophies one night in skem.he was a mean looking dude wasn't he.

So, beyond 1976, what is the story of the Oympic boxers of 2000.
How many turned pro, and of those, how many are till active of
the Canadian and USA amateurs.

[GPater11093]

bump

[Brian Zelley]

As the many amateur boxers prepare for regional tournaments,
let's hope the official see clearly when tallying the points.
Politics and rose-tinted glasses have left many hopes, wishes
and dreams scattered into the ring dust over the decades.

[red cobra]

As the many amateur boxers prepare for regional tournaments,
let's hope the official see clearly when tallying the points.
Politics and rose-tinted glasses have left many hopes, wishes
and dreams scattered into the ring dust over the decades.
this is a great thread B.Z.,...please keep it going, as I've often wondered "whatever happened to _____?" So many names of the past just seem to have disappeared.

[teeto]

robbie davies was handing out the trophies one night in skem.he was a mean looking dude wasn't he.
He's in my gym all the time. Always talking about his boxing career whenever you speak to him.

[turpinr]

He's in my gym all the time. Always talking about his boxing career whenever you speak to him.which gym is that ??
that boxing show was in 77 btw:good

[teeto]

which gym is that ??
that boxing show was in 77 btw:good
It's in Liverpool City Centre, the Adelphi, it's a massive hotel. You just go in the entrance and go in the basement before the main doors and the gym's right there. The gym's called Spindles but everyone just calls it the Adelphi. Not a boxing gym. But we got a bag downstairs.

[turpinr]

It's in Liverpool City Centre, the Adelphi, it's a massive hotel. You just go in the entrance and go in the basement before the main doors and the gym's right there. The gym's called Spindles but everyone just calls it the Adelphi. Not a boxing gym. But we got a bag downstairs.i've boxed in liverpool a few times.great atmosphere,especially at the little clubs:good

[teeto]

i've boxed in liverpool a few times.great atmosphere,especially at the little clubs:good
Really? Didn't know you boxed mate. I boxed in Everton Park and the United Services in Toxteth years ago. So you're from nearby? Lancashire?

[turpinr]

Really? Didn't know you boxed mate. I boxed in Everton Park and the United Services in Toxteth years ago. So you're from nearby? Lancashire?burscough.:good

i went sparring at the holy name once with jimmy price.we went for a run first and when i mentioned burscough he'd never heard of it.:lol:
how long ago did you box ??

[teeto]

burscough.:good

i went sparring at the holy name once with jimmy price.we went for a run first and when i mentioned burscough he'd never heard of it.:lol:
how long ago did you box ??
Hahaha, i'm 24 now and didn't have many fights, stopped at 18. Nothing of note like, still loved it though!

Yourself?

[turpinr]

Hahaha, i'm 24 now and didn't have many fights, stopped at 18. Nothing of note like, still loved it though!

Yourself?i'm 51 so i'm not thinking of having another go:lol:
i had 37 and like you i loved it :goodi was no great shakes either:?

[teeto]

i'm 51 so i'm not thinking of having another go:lol:
i had 37 and like you i loved it :goodi was no great shakes either:?
Haha, okay. 37 fights, you've got my respect forever and a day.

[turpinr]

Haha, okay. 37 fights, you've got my respect forever and a day.thanks mate.anybody who's been in the ring deserves respect:good

[AlFrancis]

one of his opponents wrote in the boxing news that he was terrified of davies before and during the fight!!!think his name was mills??


That might of been Mick Mills who's career got of to a good start until he got stopped by Joey Mack. Think I remember seeing that on Grandstand.

[AlFrancis]

He's in my gym all the time. Always talking about his boxing career whenever you speak to him.


There's some of his fights on Youtube now.

[turpinr]

That might of been Mick Mills who's career got of to a good start until he got stopped by Joey Mack. Think I remember seeing that on Grandstand.i think it was in the ABA's

[AlFrancis]

i think it was in the ABA's

Very well could of been. They both turned pro the same year.

[teeto]

There's some of his fights on Youtube now.
Yeah he told me to watch them! There's one of him training as well.

[turpinr]

Yeah he told me to watch them! There's one of him training as well.i remember him being sat on a table on the stage and his bird was stunning:hey:hey

[teeto]

i remember him being sat on a table on the stage and his bird was stunning:hey:hey
Haha, get in Robbie. True scouser!

[Stevie G]

I was thinking something similar a week or so ago when looking in an old Boxing News preview of the 76 ABA finals. Only Charlie Magri, Pat Cowdell and Colin Jones really made it. Others tunred pro an didn't really achieve anything (like Robbie Davies).
Pat Cowdell. There's a name !! Very good defensive boxer. I remember sitting down to watch his fight with Azumah Nelson. I thought Pat would make a good fight of it,and take Ghana's best the distance. No way did I think Cowdell would get sparked in the first !

[AlFrancis]

Pat Cowdell. There's a name !! Very good defensive boxer. I remember sitting down to watch his fight with Azumah Nelson. I thought Pat would make a good fight of it,and take Ghana's best the distance. No way did I think Cowdell would get sparked in the first !


Yes, he was a real good fighter. I remember listening to the Sanchez fight on the radio, he took him all the way. I think he was just unlucky with Nelson, he got copped with a huge shot early and that was it. another night he might of done a lot better, not that I think he could of beat him.

[Brian Zelley]

this is a great thread B.Z.,...please keep it going, as I've often wondered "whatever happened to _____?" So many names of the past just seem to have disappeared.

It has been awhile since we returned to this thread about past boxers
and whatever happened to them some of the ones that would be of interest include middleweight JOEY ARCHER. I wonder how many members saw his two fights with EMILE GRIFFITH in the mid-Sixties.

Then there was Seattle heavyweight BOONE KIRKMAN. At one time there was talk of a potential KIRKMan vs JERRY QUARRY fight.

Talking about Seattle - what ever happened to FRASER SCOTT or NEIL KNIGHT and former Seattle & Vancouver boxing coach BOB DECKER.

Or shift south to Portland and I wonder how my old opponent in the 1968
Tacoma and Seattle Golden Glove RAY LAMPKIN is doing.

Of interest former amateur boxer ALAN CURTIS (1960 BC Golden Boy)
was telling me about his time working out with the likes of DENNY and PHIL MOYER and being a friend of THAD SPENCER and other Oregon boxers.

Photo: Boone Kirkman

[zadfrak]

That book Fraser Scott wrote was a good one & that was pretty much at the end of his career.

I think the Norton loss was about it for Kirkman, wasn't it? And that was after a pretty bad loss to Foreman earlier and it's hard for the heavies to bounce back from bad ko's. If memory serves correct, it seemed like there were a lot of good regional type heavies at the time. Kirkman was a northwest guy & Norton was a southern California guy. Wepner was a Jersey guy & Shavers had a lot of bouts around that Ohio area. Lyle fought in Denver a lot.

The guy that travelled everywhere a lot and stayed busy in all those areas & not just regionally, on small cards was Foreman. It seemed like he was always somewhere and fighting on short notice, But at the time the news in the division was dominated by the 2 big names in the division.

[Brian Zelley]

Those were the days: Fast forward a short time later and FRASER SCOTT was fighting NINO BENVENUTI for the middleweight title

The 1968 action took place in Seattle at the Northlake Athletic Club and admission was $2 for adults and $1 for kids.

I had the opportunity to fight a future star in NEIL KNIGHT -
One of his many achievements was winning the 1969 BC Golden Boy special award. I believe Neil and Seattle teammate GARY FERRARI also won in the 1969 Tacoma Golden Gloves. Gary turned pro, but whatever happened to the classy NEIL KNIGHT?

Of interest, WILBUR SEALES was a last minute replacement for boxer
LES BOWLIN. The Canadian boxers were Frankie Scott,
Nicky McDonald, Freddy Fuller, Brian Zelley and John Gamble.

However, for the 1968 Seattle Golden Gloves/Pacific Northwest AAU Championships there would be 19 Canadians invading Seattle for a piece of the action. In the 1968 Oregon Golden Gloves at Portland, some of us arrived on a Thursday afternoon by car. To kill time we took in a movie.
And, I can still remember the movie and the theme song for
"Valley Of The Dolls", but that's another story that is still fresh 42 years
later and I can still remember parts of the song about getting of
"the merry-go-round". For many of us in 1968, life was a merry-go-round
of club shows and tournaments - I believe between four Golden Gloves tournaments, the Diamond Belt/BC Olympic Trials and a whole bunch of club shows from Seattle to Vancouver and various other towns - from January to May 1968, I had 15 fights including two with the "Portland Panther" RAY LAMPKIN. But, one by one, we left the merry-go-round without being dizzy.

[zadfrak]

Well Kirkman has not stood the test of time all that well but that's a common problem with the heavyweight prospects that don't quite make it. Or, stay there. But the guy was a top rated prospect at one time and a name folks were paying attention to. Man, boxing is such a high wire act and different things can cause a guy to fall off and never come back.

[Brian Zelley]

Well Kirkman has not stood the test of time all that well but that's a common problem with the heavyweight prospects that don't quite make it. Or, stay there. But the guy was a top rated prospect at one time and a name folks were paying attention to. Man, boxing is such a high wire act and different things can cause a guy to fall off and never come back.

That's funny :lol: I'm talking about boxing's "merry-go-round" and you bring-up
the "high wire act" - maybe at times boxing can be like a circus act or a
seaside carnival be it Blackpool's Pleasure Beach or Cony Island of days gone by.:happy:patsch:hi::bbb - It will take you up and pull you down as you spin along the boxing highway. And, sadly, along the way, :wall some crash land in the process.