“Please help me”-- A Tormented Mike Webster Former world lightweight champion Paul Spadafora was arrested Wednesday night after being accused of stabbing his brother and assaulting his mother during a domestic argument in Pittsburgh. Police used pepper spray, stun guns and a spit mask to subdue the boxer known as "The Pittsburgh Kid." Spaddy, who looks more like Max Cady … [Read more...]
Ten Fights to Remember
Over the years, I have seen literally thousands of fights and to name my top ten will do injustice to many others and I apologize for that up front. Still, I'll give it a go and list them in order of preference. Rightly or wrongly, I used the following criteria: I had to see them live or when they were first televised (no tapes, YOUTUBES, and/or videos), ebb and flow, sudden … [Read more...]
Old School: Part One
By Ted Sares Back in the day, Joe Louis was everyone’s hero. When he lost to Rocky Marciano, many wept, for Joe had transcended the sport and was viewed as America’s fighter. Fact is, Joe Louis was neither brown nor white; he simply was the most beloved champion in boxing history. Old school Boxing, thanks to television, was big in the ‘50s. Names like Stillman’s Gym. … [Read more...]
Old School: Part Two
By Ted Sares A pier six mind-set involving an inclination to engage in brutal street-like brawls was a part of the old-school mix. The Basilio-DeMarco wars were the sin quo non of Old School, but for a pure, visual definition, the best I can do is recommend the Monroe Brooks-Bruce Curry fight in 1978 in which the fighters fought with both skill and savagery and let it all … [Read more...]
“Gentleman Gerry” vs. Big George
Defying the odds and fighting in a more relaxed intelligent, and economical manner with no stamina issues caused by the tension that had haunted him in his “first” career, the second version of Foreman won his first 18 bouts by KO until Everett Martin took him the distance in 1989. In 1990, the famous “Geezers at Caesars” promotion was held in Las Vegas. It was George’s … [Read more...]