Old School Boxing

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October 1949 cover of the Ring Magazine featuring Jake LaMotta.

LaMotta was a legendary middleweight boxer who was the first man to beat Sugar Ray Robinson. He held the middleweight title on a few occasions and despite lacking punching power, was a fan favourite for his action packed style and granite chin. 

LaMotta finished his career with a record of 83-19-4. He is 92 years of age and is a Bronx native, hence the title 'The Bronx Bull'. He is also known as 'The Raging Bull' and was played by Robert DeNiro in the film of the same name. 

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This painting by William Howard Robinson and entitled A Welsh Victory at the National Sporting Club depicts the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, congratulating Welsh boxer Jimmy Wilde who had just outpointed American Joe Lynch over 15 rounds.

This was the first time royalty had entered the prize ring and it legitimised the sport which had been illegal since the days of bare knuckle fights. 

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Dave Smith and Jerry Jerome moments before their fight at the Sydney Stadium on 19th April, 1913. The Stadium was owned and run by legendary Australian sportsman Reginald 'Snowy' Baker and you can see the sign above the ring that bears his name. 

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Willie Pep slams a left hook into the body of Sandy Saddler. Pep and Saddler fought four times with Saddler getting the best of the series winning three. They are both members of the hall of fame and two of the greatest featherweights to ever lace them up.

Pep has a record of 229-11-1. Saddler's record stands at 144-16-2.

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Four of the greatest to ever step in the ring. Sam Langford, Harry Greb, Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson. Between them, they have 796 wins, 101 losses and 90 draws. They dont make them like they used to!

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Muhammad Ali shadow boxes alone in the ring, long before the lights, cameras and crowds arrive.

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Jack Carroll, Welterweight Champion of Australia shapes up to Jack Portney, Welterweight contender from the USA. Carroll was at one time the number one contender to the Welterweight title held by Barney Ross but the fight never eventuated. 

Portney faced some great fighters in his career such as Holman Williams, Benny Bass and Cocoa Kid.

These two fought twice with Carroll winning one and the other a draw.

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The great Barney Ross was at different times in his career the holder of the World Lightweight, Junior Welterweight and Welterweight titles. He finished his boxing career with a record of 72-4-3. 

He was known to have ties to the mob and reportedly ran errands for Al Capone.

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Rocky Marciano lands a big right on Jersey Joe Walcott. This fight was for the World Heavyweight Championship. Walcott was leading on all three judges scorecards when Marciano landed this punch which won him the fight by knockout and cemented his place in boxing history.

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Two Ring Magazines I recently purchased. They are the April 1951 and May 1949 issues. On the covers are Sugar Ray Robinson fighting Jake LaMotta and on the other is the Cuban Hawk, Kid Gavilan. 

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Lionel Rose vs Fighting Harada for the World Bantamweight championship in 1968. Rose would go on to win the fight. Rose made three defenses of the title before running into all time great Ruben Olivares where he was knocked out in the fifth round.

[oldschoolboxing-blog]

Some excellent footage of Joe Louis knockouts. Whoever restored this footage has some talent! Enjoy.

[oldschoolboxing-blog]

Two Kid Chocolates.

On the left is Elgio Sardinias Montalvo or better known as Kid Chocolate. He was a world champion fighter from Cuba in the 1920's and 30's. He won titles at Junior Lightweight and Super Featherweight which were at the time considered to be minor weight divisions. He did fight for a major title at Lightweight but lost to the great Tony Canzoneri. His record stands at 135-10-6.

On the right is Peter Quillin who calls himself Kid Chocolate in homage to his hero. He is the current WBO Middleweight champion of the world. He is undefeated and his record stands at 28-0.

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Good documentary on Joe Louis, one of the best heavyweights of all time. He still holds the record today for most title defenses with an astounding 25.

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The great Henry Armstrong hits the heavy bag. Armstrong simultaneously held the Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight titles in a time when there was only eight titles. 

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Ticket from the Jack Dempsey vs Gene Tunney World Heavyweight title fight on September 23, 1926. 120,757 people attended the fight in which Gene Tunney took the title from Dempsey. 

[oldschoolboxing-blog]

Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier. The Fight of the Century. I'm sure most boxing fans have already seen this one but its definitely worth re watching again and if you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat!

Two of the greatest heavyweights to ever enter the ring.