Entries tagged with "Willie+Pastrano":
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Noble Art, ignoble son – March 30th, 2018
I met James J. Braddock when he came to our house prior to an appearance at the local Eagles club where my dad, Art Ehrmann, was a poohbah…
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Ten-Count for Terry Downes – October 6th, 2017
Downes decisioned 41-year-old Sugar Ray Robinson in 1962. “I didn't beat Sugar Ray," he said. "I beat his ghost…”
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Two Memories, One Regret – September 11th, 2017
About the only one who visited McMurtry in the dressing room before the fight was “Blinky” Palermo, top henchman for Mobster Frankie Carbo…
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Doug Jones: The Man Who Nearly Beat Cassius Clay – November 20th, 2015
The determined and business-like Jones was very much his own man. He was never in awe of Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali or anyone else…
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Puerto Ricans and the Garden: A Perfect Match – June 13th, 2015
“Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto showed me the way to represent our island in the Garden and around the world…”
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Remembering Harold Johnson – February 20th, 2015
There are so many Harold Johnson stories I could tell that would fill up an entire book. Here’s one of them…
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Willie Pastrano: Rollin’ Down the Lazy River – September 23rd, 2013
Behind the humor and an eternally rampant desire to seduce any passing female, Pastrano was one of the great boxing troubadours of his golden era...
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And Still Champion! The Story of Archie Moore – March 24th, 2013
Archie Moore, aka The Old Mongoose, had one of the longest and most illustrious careers in history. He had his first fight in 1935. His final bout was in 1963. When he retired his record stood at an amazing 185-23-11. There were few men who didn't cross swords with Moore at one time or another. He fought…
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Joe Frazier: The Heavyweight Who Would Be King – February 16th, 2013
“I’m going to do things to him that nobody else ever did." And Smokin' Joe was as good as his word. Not that Ellis did badly…
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Willie Pastrano: “Survival of the Fleetest” – October 31st, 2012
He wasn't a hard puncher. His style was to stick and run. He could take a punch but didn’t like to mix it up…
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Downes: The English U.S. Marine – September 2nd, 2012
Calling on all his old street knowledge, Downes became the Sergeant Bilko of Paris Island and soon set up a thriving black market...
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Boxing by the Book: Haft the Man I Used to Be – August 14th, 2012
Harry Haft lived in a displaced person’s camp where he easily won the Jewish Boxing Championship. In doing so, he was presented with a statue of Apollo...
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A Real Fight: Mayweather vs. Cotto – May 4th, 2012
It’s sad when a fighter loses his reservoir of skills; it’s justice when he walked on everyone in his path on the way up...
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Spartans and Badgers – February 15th, 2012
Boxing had a good run at MSU. Under Coach George Makris, Spartan boxers dominated opponents at regional and national competitions…
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When Fans Go “Oooh and Aaah” – February 3rd, 2012
Sometimes cuties are flashy or stylish, but more often than not, their calling card is reliance on a crafty persona…
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Ten-Count for Angelo Dundee – February 1st, 2012
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One Tough Cat: Dick Tiger – October 18th, 2011
The need to call upon my golden memories becomes ever greater in order to ward off despair...
