Luis "El Feo" Rodriguez: World Welterweight Champion

By Peter Silkov

Luis Manuel Rodriguez was an exceptional fighter, who from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, mixed it with the best welterweights and middleweights of that era.
Rodriguez was born in Cuba and another great example of the technically brilliant fighters that are produced so often by that country. Rodriguez was a brilliant boxer-puncher, with picture-perfect boxing skills, that were backed up by blazing hand speed, and a decent stopping punch. The pinnacle of Rodriguez’s career came on March 21, 1963, when he out-pointed Emile Griffith for the World welterweight championship. Just three months later, Rodriguez lost his world title back to Griffith, when he was out-pointed by Emile. One year later, Rodriguez and Griffith met again for the World welterweight title and once more Griffith won a wafer thin decision over Luis. Following his losses to Griffith, Rodriguez moved up to middleweight and after an impressive string of victories he challenged champion Nino Benvenuti for the World middleweight title on November 22, 1969. Luis was doing well in the fight and seemed to be on his way to a famous victory, as he was out-boxing Benvenuti, until the 11th round, when a Benvenuti left hook caught him suddenly, and had him knocked out before he hit the deck.

Rodriguez carried on fighting on until 1972, when he retired with a final record of (107-13, 49koes).


Copyright © 2014 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com and www.theboxingtribune.com

Advice From A Father to His Son: Do Not Let Your Fears Get The Best Of You

By Peter Silkov

Buster Mathis and his son Buster Mathis Jr. are a father and son who both had substantial careers as heavyweight boxers. Mathis Sr. was born in Grand Rapids Michigan, on June 11, 1943, was an outstanding amateur boxer, and if the fates had been kinder, could have been Olympic champion. In 1964, Mathis scored two impressive wins over Joe Frazier and looked all set to go to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Bad luck intervened and a broken hand meant that Buster was forced to pull out of the Olympics and instead, he watched as Frazier went in his place, and duly won the gold medal. Mathis turned professional soon after his Olympic disappointment and put together a respectable string of victories under the guidance of Cus D’Amato. Mathis was a large man who stood 6’ feet 4” and during his amateur career weighed in at over 300 pounds. Despite this bulk, Mathis was an extraordinarily fast and fluid boxer, with a good jab and decent power. However, he was unlucky in that he was operating at a time where the heavyweight division was blessed with the greatest talent that it has ever seen in its history.

At the beginning of his career, Mathis weighed 300 pounds, but over the course of the next three years he worked off much of this poundage. After 23 wins in 23 fights, Mathis Sr. faced Joe Frazier on March 4, 1968, for Frazier’s New York State World heavyweight championship, but after a tough fight, found himself stopped in the 11th round. Mathis bounced back with a run of victories, including his career best win, on February 3, 1969, a point’s victory over the rugged George Chuvalo, after a wildly exciting fight. In his next fight, Mathis was beaten on points by Jerry Quarry and then stayed out of the ring for over two years. On his return, Mathis was facing ‘The Greatest’ himself, Muhammad Ali, and hindered by inactivity and a weight gain, Mathis found himself out-classed by Ali, but showed a lot of heart to last the distance, for a point’s defeat. Mathis had had two more fights, a comeback win over Claude McBride, was followed by a 2nd round knockout loss to the big-punching Ron Lyle. Mathis did not fight again, retiring with a record of 30(21koes)-4.

Mathis is often talked about regarding his weight, and sometimes ridiculed for this, but the truth is, that he was a very talented heavyweight boxer who just happened to operate at a time when the opposition was extraordinarily talented.

Buster Mathis Jr.was born on March 24, 1970, and took up boxing like his father had in order to boost his self confidence and fight back against the school bullies who ridiculed him because of his weight. Although shorter than his father, at 6 foot, Mathis Jr. shared his father’s heavy build, but also had the fast hands and fluidity, which seemed to belie his size. Turning professional in 1991, Mathis scored good wins over top contenders Carl Williams and Tyrell Biggs, but a fight with Riddick Bowe ended in controversy when he was hit and knocked out after going down onto one knee, and the fight was eventually ruled a no-contest. On December 16, 1996, Mathis Jr. faced Mike Tyson and after a good start was knocked out in the 3rd round. Mathis Jr. had two more contests and retired after being stopped in 7 rounds by Lou Savarese. Mathis Jr. retired with a 21(7koes)-2

Since retiring, Buster Mathis Jr. has formed the Buster Mathis Foundation, in memory of his father, who died in 1995. The foundation aims to make a positive difference for youths in foster care.

The objective of the Buster Mathis Foundation:

-To work with school systems and identify client-students that are motivated to enter the skilled trades.

-To counsel client-students on the merits and opportunities of entering the skilled trades.

-To instill pride and confidence in client-students who choose skilled trades rather than college.

-To assist client-students in acquiring quality training and apprenticeships in selected skilled trades.

-To develop entrepreneurial skills in client-students that plan to operate trade-based businesses.

Action Plan:

-Establish collaborative relationships with school systems throughout Michigan.

-Evaluate and certify high-quality skilled trades training institutions.

-Provide professional career counseling and physical training for client-students.

-Work with labor unions and businesses to acquire apprenticeship opportunities for client –students.

-Provide financial assistance based on motivation, commitment and need.

If you would like to learn more about the Buster Mathis Foundation check them out on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/bustermathisfoundation

http://bustermathis.org/WP/

Copyright © 2014 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com and www.theboxingtribune.com

Davey Moore Vs. Roberto Duran: WBA World Light-middleweight Championship

By Peter Silkov

On June 16, 1983, a legend was reborn when Roberto 'Hands of Stone' Duran brutally deprived Davey Moore of his WBA world light-middleweight championship, to win the third world title of his astonishing career, in front of a wildly ecstatic crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden. For Duran, it was a rebirth , after the humiliation of his 'No Mas' rematch loss to Sugar Ray Leonard. That defeat, followed by subsequent losses to Wilfredo Benitez and Kirkland Laing, had convinced many that the 'Hands of Stone' had crumbled and was no more a force in the boxing world. On this night, which also happened to be his 32nd birthday, Roberto Duran rolled back the years and brutally exposed the much younger Davey Moore, with a display of skilled violence that had not been seen from Duran since he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard in their first fight. Duran showed an incredible ability to return from the fistic dead and reclaim his place amongst the legends of the ring.

Copyright © 2014 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com and www.theboxingtribune.com

Les Darcy Documentary "Les Darcy The Maitland Warrior"

Les Darcy: The Maitland Wonder

 

 Les Darcy ‘The Maitland Wonder’ is one of the greatest ‘what ifs’ in boxing history.  He was Australia’s golden boy and by the age of 20 years old, he had built up a 46(29koes) -4 ring record and gained recognition as the Australian world middleweight champion, as well as winning the Australian heavyweight championship. There is little doubt that Darcy was one of the greatest boxers ever to come out of Australia and perhaps one of the greatest middleweights of all time; yet, so many questions remain about him because he was dead at the age of 21 and before he was able to show just how great he could be.

James Leslie Darcy was born in Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia, and started boxing after leaving school and becoming a blacksmith’s apprentice.  By the time he was fifteen Darcy had won numerous amateur competitions and decided to turn professional.  As a professional Darcy developed quickly, growing from a welterweight into a muscularly built middleweight, who was equally adapt at either boxing or slugging it out.  Darcy soon began to gain a huge following as he reversed early point’s defeats to Bob Whitelaw and Fritz Holland, and beat everyone else put in front of him with impressive ease.  Darcy was that most valuable of things, a boxing prodigy.  He was very soon becoming the star attraction at the Sydney Stadium and fighting 20-rounders.

At this time, the World middleweight championship was disputed between a number of fighters who claimed to be the world middleweight champion. On May 22, 1915, Darcy beat the renowned Jeff Smith on a 2nd round foul, to claim the Australian version of the World middleweight title.  Over the next 16 months, Darcy defended this title against top opponents such as Eddie McGooty, Jimmy Clabby, and George Chip, and strengthen his claim to being the best middleweight in the world, while at the same time, adding the middleweight and heavyweight championships of Australia to his growing title collection. Darcy seemed to have the boxing world at his feet, with his only problem being that he had fought his way through all likely opposition in Australia.  In order to further his career and prove he was the genuine world middleweight champion, Darcy needed to go to America and prove himself against the best opposition there, but there was a major stumbling block in the shape of WW1. Australians were being conscripted to join in the fight against the Germans and Darcy, when he asked permission from the Australian government to leave for America, was denied permission.  Darcy even offered a guarantee of $5000 dollars that he would return to Australia within 6 months and sign up with the Australian army, but he was again turned down. Darcy was to argue later that his main concern was to fight a few times in America in order to provide his family with enough financial security should something happen to him while he was conscripted.  It was an argument that would be largely rebuffed until after his death.

On October 27, 1916, just a month after what would prove to be his last fight, a 9th round knockout of the highly rated American George Chip, Les Darcy took what would prove to be a fateful decision.  Darcy and his manager E.T O’Sullivan stowed away on the cargo steamer ‘Hattie Luckenbach’ that was bound for Chile, at which point they would change to another ship bound for New York. The reaction to Darcy’s actions in Australia was immediate and unforgiving. He was branded a slacker and a traitor and the people who had worshiped him as a fighting hero rose in unison against him.  Darcy was vilified in the Australian press, and there were calls for the government to confiscate his property.

When Darcy finally arrived in New York, after a voyage of almost two months, he was received with open arms at first, as the top American promoters sought to gain his services.  Things went bad quickly, as the anger in Australia at Darcy’s actions, soon made its way to America and certain people who Darcy had left behind, such as his Australian promoter Snowy Baker, started writing to contacts in the United States, calling for Darcy to be blacklisted.  Within a short while, Darcy found himself pilloried in the American press as a coward and a traitor, who had placed money and fame before serving his country in a war.

For a while, Darcy was banned from boxing in America, but then even when the ban was lifted after a short while, he found that the bad publicity about his flight from Australia made promoters cold to having him on their bills. This was compounded in April 1917, when the US joined the war.  Darcy signed up to the American Flying Corps and took the oath of allegiance, intending to become an American citizen.  But still he was a pariah.

Darcy was still trying to gain a boxing fight, while training for the Corps, when he fell ill with septicemia and peritonitis, caused by infected teeth and tonsils.  Darcy then developed pneumonia, and died on May 24, 1917, barely six months past his twenty sixth birthday.

After his death Darcy was given a huge send off in America, by many of the people who had so recently rejected him while he was alive, and when his embalmed body arrived back in Australia some months later, he was hailed as a national folk hero, by the very same press whom just a little while before had vilified him as a traitor and a coward.  
Les Darcy’s final ring record was 46(29koes)-4.  He was never knocked down during his career.

Rocky Graziano in New York City: 1954

Jimmy Garcia: A Fallen Warrior Remembered

 

By Peter Silkov

Jimmy Garcia was born in Barranquilla Colombia, and like so many thousands of boxers through the years, he dreamed of escaping his modest beginnings by becoming a champion in the boxing ring. Turning professional at the age of 17 years old, Garcia wasn’t the most talented of fighters, but he was tough, with a big heart, and the will power to chase his dream.  After winning the Colombian Super-featherweight title, Garcia battled his way to the edge of realizing his dream, when he was granted a shot at the world championship.  In fact, Garcia was granted two consecutive shots at the World super-featherweight championship, but instead of achieving his dream, Garcia’s life took a fateful and tragic turn.

Garcia’s first world title shot took place on November 12, 1994 when he faced the skilful Genaro Hernandez, in a Mexican bullring, for the WBA world super-featherweight championship.  Despite showing a huge amount of heart, Garcia was widely out-pointed by the fast and clever Hernandez, who out-boxed him with ease, yet, couldn’t stop Garcia from coming forward constantly. After 12 rounds, Garcia was badly cut, battered, and had taken many punches, but he had fought like a warrior and lasted the distance.

It was Garcia’s toughness and bravery that got him his second chance at fulfilling a dream, when 6 months after his loss to Hernandez, he was handed a title shot at the dynamic box-fighter, Gabriel Ruelas, on May 19, 1995, for Ruelas’ WBC world super-featherweight title, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In the build up to his title fight with Ruelas, Garcia, who had not fought since his loss to Hernandez had to lose 30 pounds, and struggled to make the weight, right up to the day of the fight. The fight was one-sided, with Ruelas, a young and hungry world champion for whom big things were expected, punished Garcia round after round. Garcia was outmatched by Ruelas in every department, except for his heart and his will power.  As the fight progressed, Garcia took what the champion Ruelas dished out, and kept trying to find the one punch that would turn it all around and turn the night into the stuff of dreams for him.

Yet the miracle punch that so many boxers dream of at night never came, instead, Garcia kept taking the punches of Ruelas, and as the rounds went on, under the harsh Vegas lights and the champion grew frustrated at his inability to stop his challenger, so his attacks upon Garcia intensified. 

Garcia’s battered, weight drained body, refused to fall. In the end, Jimmy was still on his feet when the referee belatedly stopped the fight in the 11th round, a testament to how bravely he had held onto his dream. With the fight over, Jimmy Garcia collapsed in his corner, and was taken from the ring on a stretcher. Within forty minutes of collapsing, Garcia was having surgery to remove blood clots from his brain. Thirteen days later Garcia’s life support machine was turned off, his fight was finally over. He was 23 years old. 

Gabriel Ruelas was never the same fighter again after the death of Jimmy Garcia, the talented champion lost his title in his next fight and struggled to regain his previous form for the remainder of his career.  Sometimes dreams come with a high price.

Jimmy Garcia’s final record was 35(25koes)-5.  He may not have achieved his dream of winning a world title, but he should always be remembered as one of boxing’s fallen warriors, who gave his life for the sport he loved. 

Remembering Fritzie Zivic

By Peter Silkov

Fritzie Zivic May 8, 1913 - May 16, 1984

Fritzie Zivic was one of the roughest and toughest fighters ever to lace on a glove. Despite his reputation as an often 'dirty' fighter, Zivic was a skilled boxer who knew all the tricks of the trade, and made a lot of them up himself.
Zivic was one of five boxing brothers and turned professional in 1932 at 19 years old. After a unremarkable start to his career, Fritzie started making strides in the late 1930s, gaining the reputation as a rough and tough cutie who could give anyone trouble. Over the course of his career, Zivic fought just about all the top fighters from lightweight to middleweight, including Eddie Booker, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake Lamotta, Charley Burley, Kid Azteca, Sammy Angott, Lew Jenkins, Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery and Henry Armstrong... amongst others. In an era where many of the top white contenders tended to avoid the majority of the outstanding coloured fighters, Zivic fought everyone and anyone, regardless of race or reputation. Without a doubt Zivic’s greatest moment as a fighter was when he won the World Welterweight championship from the great Henry Armstrong, on October 4, 1940; out-pointing 'Hammerin Hank' in what was a huge upset at the time. Some months later, Zivic repeated his victory over Armstrong, defending his title and becoming the first man to stop Armstrong. Zivic lost his world title to the clever Freddie Cochrane, when he was out-pointed on July 29, 1941. After losing his world title, Zivic continued to fight at the top level for the next 8 years, always a test and a tough match for anyone, right up till his retirement in 1949. Fritzi retired with a final record of 158(82koes)-65-9 Fritzi was of the old school, fighting often and against anyone, asking for no quarter and giving none either. His career is a testament to when fighters fought and boxing thrived in clubs and arenas everywhere.

Copyright © 2014 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com and www.theboxingtribune.com