no.268 april-may, 2013

Chrysanthemum Joe (Don't let the name fool you) Also: Joe Palooka, Sonny Liston twisting, rare program, new ads, Robinson by the pound, 2 pop quizzes and saying goodby to an original. 24 pages. 1 JO SPORTS, INC. SALE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.josportsinc.com Thousands Of Boxing Items For Sale! SPECIAL ITEMS: 1. ALI-CHUVALO II ON SITE POSTER: May 1, 1972, EX on linen, 22” x 34.” $2,000.00 2. CLAY-SILER ON SITE POSTER: Decem- ber 27, 1960, Clay’s 2nd Pro Fight, EX, 14” x 22.” $20,000.00 3. JAMES CORBETT- POSTER: Police Gazette 1894, EX on linen, 16 ½” x 23.” $2,500.00 4. IDOL OF MILLIONS POSTER: 1929, EX on linen, 28 ½” x 42.” $2,000.00 5 FIGHT WORN ROBE (BUGNER FIGHT):July 2, 1973, - won by Frazier, EX, Collection of Joe Fra- zier. $15,000.00 6. N.A.A.C.P. IMAGE AWARD (1989):1989, 14” high, EX. $3,500.00 7. SUGAR RAY ROBINSON-DON LEE OFFICIAL PROGRAM:April 11, 1949, EX, Rare.$1,250.00 8 SIGNED BUSI- NESS CHECK: Ratliff Fight, Dated 9/17/86, EX, Signed by Tyson & Jimmy Jacobs $500.00 9. JESS WILLARD BUFFALO BILL SHOW FULL TICKET: 1917, Full with stub, EX’ Illustrated. $750.00 10. -PHIL TER- RANOVA ON SITE POSTER:June 4, 1943, Linen Backed, EX, One Sheet-28 ½” x 41.” $1,500.00

TERMS: 1. Please add $10.00 for shipping/handling. Foreign orders billed sepa- rately. 2. NYS residents add 8.625% sales tax. 3. All autographs are guaranteed for life. 4. Check or money order payable to: JO Sports, Inc. 5. Visa, Mastercard & American Express accepted. WANTED: Autographs, Antique & Wire Photos, Cabinet 6. Paypal to our account: [email protected] (no L in account name) Cards, Rare Books, Posters, Programs, Tick- 7. Payment is due within 10 days of order. ets, Championship Belts, Awards & Trophies, JO SPORTS, INC. - Craig Hamilton Fight Worn Equipment, Advertising Pieces and Bound Volumes of The Ring, Boxing Il- P.O. Box 607 lustrated, Boxing & Wrestling and The Police Brookhaven, NY 11719 Gazette (pre-1930). Loose copies of The ring and Police Gazette pre 1930 only if clean. Phone/fax 631-286-0970 Email: [email protected]

2 This issue we are interspersing some of those Snap . photos we have gathered through the years, especially lately, that even with all the wire Smile, you're in BCN and press photos coming out to choose from, we couldn't pass on. These are not historically important or any of that BS, they are just fun. How about this one...

The most priceless kayo photo EVER. If this expression on Luc Van Dam's face doesn't say, "But his name is "Sugar" why does he hit so haaa-aarrrd? God help Luc but he goes down in BCN's ten photos-I-am-glad-it- wasn't me" file.

BOXING COLLECTORS' NEWS is solely pub- lished and owned by Don Scott Consulting and ADDRESSES Publishing, LLC. No material herein can be used without permission. Boxer addresses are not guaranteed authentic by BCN but are collected from SUBSCRIPTIONS are $24 for first class mail deliv- readers and BoxingHelp.com and passed on as related. We always need addresses. ery. Canada is $30 per 11 issues and other non-US is $40 (all funds US). Please note that overseas will be mailed first class . Watts,Bobby "Bugaloo",Joe Hand Boxing Gym, AD RATES: are as follows: : 1/4 page $25; 1/2 page 543-547 North Third St., Philadelphia, PA, $50, 3/4 page $75 and full page is $100. All ad 19123 submissions must be submitted digitally unless Tarver,Antonio and Lennon Jr, Jimmy c/o Show- prior agreement is made. There us a 10% discount time Boxing, Showtime Networks, Inc., 1633 for full year of ads paid in advance. All ads must Broadway, New York, NY, 10019 be in our hands by the 10th of the month with Popoca,Rey Ivan,c/o 8 Count Productions, 2160 payment. No faxed ads. NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED FOR SUBS OR N. Maplewood Ave., Chicago, IL, 60647 ADS but Paypal accepted. Molina,John,c/o Goossen Tutor Promotions, OUR HOMEPAGE: www.boxingcollectors.com. Our 15300 Ventura Blvd., Suite 400, Sherman email and Paypal address: Oaks, CA, 91403 [email protected]

3 Okay, okay but how about this for a statement of the early influence of technology on us all?Call this one: Look, it's just like being there...

So here's a stand-by fighter who awaits to see whether he will get a fight that night in Cleveland, 1955 (he didn't) but what is classic is that he is seeing on the TV monitor the fight being televised right next to him. Like watching kids sitting at the same table texting each other today. They will pick virtual over real every time.

Daaaaa-aad!

It is the solemn duty of every parent, old or young, to insure that you never, ever forget to make every effort to embarrass your child when she or he is old enough to understand they are being embarrassed. It is our God given right and here, Jack Dempsey does just that to his daughter, Barbara on her wedding day.

4 5

Manuel Ortiz – right hand fight worn Ben Lee Amateur BOXING Poster: MEMORAL Manuel BILIA Ortiz vs. FOR Phil Ortiz SALE glove vs. Rush Delma 1-­‐10-­‐1941 Brawley Arena 2-­‐22-­‐1937 $1,000.00 Hollywood Legion $750.00

Lauro Salas fight worn Seyer gloves vs. Fabela Chavez 9-­‐28-­‐1951 $350.00

On site Poster 22” x 27” Joseph Golinkin Artwork – Louis vs. Carnera Manuel Ortiz vs. Enrique Esqueda signed by Golinkin $2,000.00 12-­‐10-­‐1955 México City $300.00

On site Poster 8” x 30” Manuel Ortiz -­‐ large poster/photo autographed vs. David Abad by Ortiz, Tommy Farmer $300.00 vs. Frankie Wallace

México City 3-­‐31-­‐1935 $1,500.00 Artwork – Oils, 1 of a kind by Ring Mundial

Editor/Artist for his magazine: Manuel Ortiz, Kid On site Poster 8” x 30” Gavilan, Panama Al Brown, Jose Ortiz, Juan Zurita, Baby Arizmendi vs. Fidel Labarba Ritchie Lemos, Romeo Anaya, Alphonso Zamora & Battling Shaw vs. Luis Portilla Carlos Zarate, Alphonse Halimi, Nato Marcel. México City 1-­‐1-­‐1932 $1,200.00 $6,000.00

Manuel Ortiz autograph photo Full ticket Bantanweight Championship Hollywood Legion Stadium Lou Salica vs. Ortiz 7-­‐7-­‐1942 $350.00

On site Poster 22” x 28” Manuel Ortiz vs. Bobby Carroll San Diego 9-­‐25-­‐1942 $500.00

On site Poster 22” x 27”

Manuel Ortiz vs. Carlos Chavez Hollywood Ballpark 9-­‐30-­‐1944 $400.00 Lauro Salas – fight worn Ray Flores gloves vs. Cisco Andrade $400.00 On site Poster 22” x 27” Manuel Ortiz vs. Joey Dolan Manuel Ortiz’s glove scissors $400.00 Portland, Oregon 4-­‐27-­‐1948 $400.00

Tommy Farmer, Ortiz Manager Hand written letter $100.00 Last of my “personal collection”. All memorabilia sold,

collecting boxing art, would like to sell collection, will Manuel Ortiz -­‐ right hand fight worn glove hear and negotiate all offers. Lou Salica Hollywood Legion 8-­‐27-­‐1942 Contact: Bill Griego -­‐ (562) 371 5903 Ortiz wins World Bantam Title $800.00

6 Leaving a Lasting Impression

One of my favorite photos. That's in the middle just coming back from picking up his winnings versus Dempsey. On either side are his bodyguards and the guy to his left in the porkpie hat is doing some picking of his own with his thumb. Here we are, 86 years later and this is what that guy's photo legacy likely is. His mother must have been so proud. POP Quiz #1... I can identify 5 of the 6 people here but I will bet you that if you can match that you are older than 65 years. Answer in 15th Round.

7 Childhood memories of... Palookaville

This entire lot sold in Legendary's February auction for $1,434

When people ask when He looked a lot like Tony Galento. and why I started collecting He asked Joe not to hit him there boxing, I tell them I collected in respect of his dear departed Ma. baseball cards as a kid in the Joe, who was a lot of things but ‘50’s but watched boxing on TV unfortunately gullible was one of with my Dad and when I went them and smart was not, agreed. back to collecting in the late Palooka was losing the fight until 70’s, baseball cards held no real in the late rounds when the tattoo interest for me but boxing did. began to run and the challenger Then I did a little research on was revealed not just as a fraud this article and it brought back but, predictably, a guy who could maybe another reason. be knocked out with one good In the early ‘50’s I hur- right hand to mama’s melting face. riedly opened the comics in the I also have a clear memory Sunday Mobile Press Register of seeing my first boxing and went straight to Joe Pa- though it would be over 20 years looka. Weekdays I had two- before I saw another. My parents sport (baseball/football) Ozark often brought me to local fast pitch Ike but he held no candle to softball league games at Sage Palooka who ranked even above Park. Dad had played for years Dick Tracy for me. until health issues intervened. My favorite Palooka plot Anyway, there was a concession was the challenger who had a The comic strip. stand beyond right field where one picture of his mother tatooed on his stomach. evening I purchased a box of Joe Palooka candy.

8 cameo, Jimmy Mclarnin. Jimmy Durante started off in 1934 playing manager Knobby Walsh with Stu Irwin as the champ. Leon Errol took over after that with Joe Kirkwood as the champ. In Movie posters several Vitaphone shorts of the 30’s, Shemp Howard, of Three Stooges fame, played Walsh. Please ignore the The back panel of that box would be what has been recent attempt to resurrect Joe as a UFC fighter, we know classified as R437 Joe Palooka Boxers. I remember two heresy when we things about the purchase. First, I threw the box away see it. because I collected “cards” and I couldn’t rationalize that Our Joe was the back of a candy box was a “card.” also on the Second, the candy was wrapped salt radio and had water taffy like the kind thrown at the a short-lived Mardi Gras parades in Mobile. The TV series. And big difference was that this candy of course there was stale and hard and inedible. I were comic never bought another box. Hey, a books as well as nickel was big money to me! boxing gloves, It turns out that Joe Palooka, toys, and other initially drawn by Ham Fisher, ran Palooka memo- from 1930 to 1984. The character of rabilia. Joe Palooka was based, according to But Wikipedia, on Pete Latzo, who Fisher there's just this met outside a poolroom in the ‘20’s. one thing Joe I have seen at least two of the has that most fighters will The comic book 12 Palooka movies made over the never have, there is a statue years and periodically posters and erected in his memory in , originally created lobby cards turn up. The best of these because Palooka enlisted as a private and fought in has to be posters of “Joe Palooka, WWII and thus was an inspiration. Champ,” from 1946 since these may So maybe boxing collectors my age owe our feature pictures of the cameo stars in boxing and collecting interest to more than just the that movie, , Henry Armstrong, and some have Friday night fights. Manuel Ortiz. I have not seen items picturing the other See you in the funny papers.

9 Early in our history, BCN ran a photo and story on Get yer this program, rarer than Sullivan-Corbett and which actually has a colorful cover (we ran this grayscale PROGRAM image).

But the item shown below is also a program for that fight, albeit a souvenir, we guess. It also has lots of pages and is shaped like a boxing glove. At left is the cover and the image at right is an inside page. The ads all come from and it was published in SF but that's where most of the fans likely came from on trains. There are pages with photos on the undercard fighters as well: Dal Hawkins, Martin Flaherty, Billy Smith, and George Green as well as the main event combatants. Has a place to score the fight, too. Nicest 'souvenir" we have seen.

10 Twelve Pounds of Sugar So I am looking through what didn’t sell in the last MEARS auction and find that two lots of Ray Robinson original photos did not get the minimum. The two lots to- gether are about 600. That’s photos, not dol- lars. So what would I do with 600 photos? What I have done, however, is buy them and what I am going to do, is bring back some low cost fun to Canastota. The package ar- rived and weighed 12 pounds. There are action photos and photos with celebs. There are those showing him in later years and in movies and in 1951 in Eu- rope and training and even being measured for a suit in Paris. I now have taken out about 100 of the photos that I am going to keep and may sell the rest at Canastota for 10 bucks a piece with discounts given to 40 or more. Cool, huh? Of course somebody makes me an at-

tractive offer for them all then all bets are off. Some of the ones I am keeping have duplicates in those I am selling, so all tastes of “Sugar” are covered. First come first served. Shown are 3 I am keeping and, sorry, they are not duplicated. See you there!

Shots from 2 Basilio fights and chipping in the pro shop with Gene. Man, Fullmer looks like a kid here, doesn't he?

11 $ 4,374

$11,950

$5,635

$ 2,169.68

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF PRICES REALIZED IN THE 100 LOTS FROM OUR LAST AUCTION, GO TO lelands.com

12 $ 1,445.95

$ 1,549.78

$ 8,523.71

$ 1,792.50 $ 1,195

$ 1,445.95

$ 4,991.80

13 Chrysanthemum

Corbett, Sullivan, Fitzsimmons, Sharkey, Jeffries, Ruhlin, McCoy, Maher, Armstrong, Goddard, Johnson and more, between 1890 and 1910 the elite fighters of that era were a select and impressive fraternity of sorts, especially the heavy- weights. Photos of these guys, most of whom fought much of the rest of the fra- ternity at one time or another, also toured with other members, helped each other train and sometimes hung out together. Most of you have seen the great photo of the introductions at the Johnson-Jeffries fight. Those guys were a large part of that fraternity. Two guys in that group stand out because they were never world champions but were incredible Hall of Fame fight- ers, and Joe Choynski. We have profiled and shown memorabilia of Sharkey before. This time let’s take a look at “Chrysanthemum Joe” Choynski who is also a Hall of Famer. Sparring with Peter Jackson

14 Joe Choynski was a Polish Jew, born in 1868, whose family settled in San Francisco just a short distance from Jim Corbett’s family. He began fighting at the age of 19. Before long folks recognized him as a force to be reckoned with. He could punch. No, other fighters could “punch,” Joe could “destroy. According to different reports at the time, , , Jim Corbett and Jim Jef- fries singled him out as the hardest puncher they ever faced. Choynski actually knocked out the upcoming Johnson and fought Jeffries to a draw. Corbett said his 1889 fight with Choynski was the toughest fight he ever had and that he sustained more punishment in it than all his other fights combined. Choynski hit Jeffries so hard in their 20 round draw that Jim’s teeth were driven through his upper lip and Jim’s corner had to pry them loose with a knife. Jeffries outweighed him by Two signed contracts: vs. Wild Bill Hanrahan over 50 pounds, incidentally. Of course, rarely did Choyn- and vs Kid McCoy ski ever enter the ring much over 170 pounds. The Johnson fight was also an interest- ing one and is typical of the great stories of the time. As told in Burns’ “Unforgiveable Blackness,” in 1901 Choynski was brought to Galveston to whip this young upstart and he did just that in the third round. The Texas Rangers arrived at the end and jailed both men, together, for 23 days before they were released. The Sheriff allowed the public to come to the jail each afternoon and watch them spar. You couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried. If Choynski’s victories were impressive, look who were the only men to defeat him between the time of his first recorded fight in 1889 and 1900. These were: Jim Corbett, , , Bob Fitzsimmons, Tom Sharkey, , Gus Ruhlin, Kid McCoy, and Joe Walcott yet he had at least 55 fights in his career and gave some of those guys the fight of their lives, including who he drew with in a murderous go in 1903 . Go to .com and find out the list of guys he beat and/or beat up. When he retired in 1904 at the age of 36, he went on the stage in Uncle Tom’s Cabin with Peter Jackson and was the athletic instructor for the Pittsburgh A.C. Later he became a licensed chiropractor and even worked as a consultant on the film, Gentleman Jim.

He passed away in 1943.

15 16 POP Quiz #2...Who are the 3 guys in the front row. Hint: Miguel Diaz would know. Answer in 15th Round.

This new book on referees is now avail- able, along with other books that I have written on and at reduced rates, as well as the rest of my boxing book col- lection of books and magazines by contacting me via phone at (608) 201-8808 or emailing me at [email protected].

I will also be in Canastota, N.Y. and have a table reserved for the June 8th show at Ca- nastota High School. I will gladly now take pre-order reservations of Third Man in the Ring for $20 to be delivered June 8th in Canas- tota. The book will potentially be selling for the listed cover price of $26.95 over Hall of Fame weekend in Canastota. The book is also cur- rently available on Amazon.com or by calling Potomac Books directly at 1 (800) 775-2518.

17 Ronald Terlizzi P.O. Box 56 Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 13) Fights For the Championship-The Men and Their Times Call: (973-)226-6528 from 5P.M. To 7P.M. by Fred Henning two volumes. Original red hardcov- ers. Spines Faded. London, Vol 1. 334 pages, Vol 2. All items are sent out after check or money orders clear. No 529 pages. Overall very good condition. Circa 1900. credit cards or foreign orders. Mail you check or money or- $350.00 der to the above address. I will pay to send out items insured 14) Pugilistica-The History of British Boxing by Henry mail. Buyer pays return shipping insured mail. Downes Miles in 3 volumes. Weldon and Co. London. 1880 1st edition. Only second volume dated as called All items are in very good condition unless stated otherwise. for. Once the property of Philadelphia Club. Original hardcovers gilted in very good condition. $975.00 Books 15) Two Fisted Jeff: Life Story of James J. Jeffries World’s 1) Lives of Tom Hyer, Yankee Sullivan, , J. Greatest Champion by Hugh Fullerton. In D. Heenan by Richard D. K. Fox, N.Y. 1889, 85 pages scarce original dust jacket. 1st edition 1929. Consolidat- plus ads. Hard cover. Original pictorial wrappers in ed Book Publishers, Chicago. Tight and very good copy. binding. Very good condition $650.00 $2,000.00 2) The Art of Boxing and Self-Defense by Prof. Donovan, 16) Black Dynamite 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. Volume 1 signed and Street and Smith, N.Y. 1902. 185 pages plus ads. Very inscribed to J. E. Georgalos. “I hope you’ll enjoy this good condition. $500.00 series and etc. Nat Fleischer. All five volumes are 3) A Bit of My Life by Jas. J. Corbett. Training and Body bright orange hardcover. Books are near fine condition for Supervitality. 24 pages. James M. Corbett Institute $850.00 24 and 26 Stone Street, . Very rare item. 17) The fighting Man by William A. Brady. Bobbs-Merrill Fine condition. $350.00 Co. with dust jacket. 1916. 227 pages. Very good condi- tion overall. $600.00 4-thru 7 Nat Fleischer Books 18) Black Champion, The Life and Times of Jack Johnson 4) “Gentleman Jim” The Story of James J. Corbett 1942. by Finis Farr. Inscribed and signed by Farr. With dust 128 pages. Very good condition. $150.00 jacket. 245 pages. Charles Scribner and Sons, N.Y. 5) The Flaming Ben Hogan Signed by Nat Fleischer “Best 1964. Very good plus condition. $125.00 wishes Nat Fleischer” on the inside cover. 1941. 32 19) Nat Fleischer’s All-Time Ring Record Book 1941 E. pages. Very good plus condition $150.00 Ditton. Inscribed and signed by Dr. Renfro. 548 pages. 6) Reckless Lady-The Life Story Of Adah Isaacs Menken Green hardcover. Fine condition. $500.00 1941. 16 pages. Very good condition. $175.00 7) Jack McAuliffe-The Napoleon of the Prize Ring 1944. 20) Special Deal 77 pages. Fine condition. $125.00 1) Bucks and Bruisers, Pierce Egan and Regency England, by J.C. Reid, with dust jacket 1st edition. Fine condition. 8) James J. Corbett Jabs 1907. 95 pages. Buckeye Publish- 2) Jack Johnson and His Times by Denzil Batchelor, 1956. ing Co. Very good condition. $550.00 Printed in Great Britain with dust jacket. Very good 9) The Life and Battles of John C. Heenan Published by Ed condition. James, N.Y. Circa 1873. 24 pages plus ads. Very good 3) The Great Prize Fight by Alan Lloyd, 1977, 1st edition. condition. $650.00 Very good condition with dust jacket. 10) Romantic Career of the Black Prince-Peter Jackson All three for $100.00 Wright and Brown. Printed in Great Britain by A. G. Hales. Hardcover. No dust jacket. 352 pages. Very Autographed Letters, Signed good condition $950.00 1. Pierce Egan the Elder (1799-1849) author of 11) John Gulley and His times by Bernard Darwin, Harper Life in London. Autograph letter signed to Mr. Knight, and Brothers. 230 pages. Dust jacket in good condition. sending him “a couple of tickets for the jolly row on Book in fine condition $125.00 Monday night, but perhaps as you wish to serve a friend, 12) Boxing by , Jr. son Jem Mace (the retired I have also sent you a character ticket. Look to the direc- champion of the world) Inscribed to the Earl of Londs- tion. Send in a few advertisements if you can.” One dale with the authors compliments. Brown hardcover page. 133 Strand, 10 Feb. 1825. In very good condition. with gilt lettering in very good overall condition. 30 $2,500.00 pages with a number of ads selling boxing items. Excel- lent association between the Mace family and the Earl of 2. John Gully Autographed letter signed April 3, 1834. One Lonsdale. $350.00 page, 12 lines. Also signed J. Gully on the verso side of the letter for mailing. General content. $1,500.00

18 19 Sonny,what were you thinking?

No issue with some strange photos would be complete without a visit to the Liston's. Ready?

Oh, no, they dint!!!

But they did. They are in their new Chicago home in 1962, holding a press conference, Sonny in his overcoat and hat, Geraldine in a nice dress and, well, what would you do if you were in his place? Certainly, it's time to twist again like we did last summer!! Well at least this clears up one mystery for we folks who lived through this period. Now we know who and what finally killed the twist!

No.... Really, NO!!!!

So it's 1963, he's in Scotland. Peter Keenan the fighter is there. Somebody decides it would be a good idea to dress the champ up in tartan plaid with a kilt and a tam-o'-shanter. I'll bet you anything the guy who talked him into this is the same guy who talked Obama into wearing that Indonesian outfit Fox News got the giggles over. Anyway, according to the photo caption, they asked Liston what he thought of the kilt and he replied (wait for it) "It's real cool."

20 Everybody needs a hobby.

1962 again and this time we find out that Liston (Sonny, not Geraldine) collects china figurines. Oh, shut up, you collect boxing crap. At least his collection doesn't make the house smell like mold all the time.

Court? Sh--! Now here is the REAL Sonny Liston. It is May 1964 and he sits in a Denver courtroom and hears that he must "suffer" a 30 days suspended sentence and pay a $600 fine for reckless driving and carrying a concealed weapon. But look at his face. This time we think we know what he was thinking, "Court? Sh--, this ain't no court. I been to court, jail, too. Just do what you gotta do and leave me the f--- alone." Sonny, no twist, no kilt, no china dog. Love this photo. Would have paid a lot for it but I didn't have to.

21 Fifteenth Round

Had some visitors recently. Bruce Trampler and Miguel Diaz stopped by for a couple of hours and pe- Boxing Mailing rused the collection. They were in Austin for some Top Rank fights. Those two are Abbot and Costello funny. Address Directory ….. Miguel was impressed most with the hand-tooled leather Since 1996 BoxingHelp.com has published a directory of scrapbook Evita Peron gave to Archie Moore. An Argen- mailing addresses for the sport of boxing. This directory includes over 3, 000 mailing addresses for boxers, promoters, managers, tinian, Diaz grew up while the Peron drama played itself trainers, matchmakers, gyms and clubs, etc. Contact your favorite out. Which brings us to POP quiz #2. Okay smart guy, boxer/request autographs or use the directory to assist your you recognized Archie Moore and Jack Dempsey, right? business or boxing career…. But have you recognized that guy between them yet? Diaz would have recognized dictator, Juan Peron. These Annual Subscription guys were laughing at a basketball exhibition... Now a Directory & quarterly updates for 1 year chance to beat the editor in POP Quiz #1. Left to right: Ray Robinson, unknown but familiar looking old guy, $32.95 Glen Campbell, Marlo Thomas, Danny Thomas, Georgie International $50 (US$) Jessel. If you know the mystery guy, email me. Don't We accept cash, checks or money orders. Please make checks and money orders payable to Ultimate Boxing Address List. know the occasion but when the Thomas's got together with celebs, it was likely a St. Jude's Children Hospital fundraiser... Check out the auction over at MEARS right Ultimate Boxing Address List now.... Like it or not, the guy who blurted into the mi- PO Box 112 crophone following the Peterson- Westmoreland, NY 13490-0112 Matthysse fight that Matthysse is Web: http://www.BoxingHelp.com the "new Manny Paquiao" may be Email: [email protected] right. Tell me you don't enjoy a real puncher over the shoulder up roll out of the way BS we get from Floyd when faced with a puncher. You dispute that and I got your conscience right here. --> Keep punching.

You can read a lot about the late Johnny Bos's contribution to the sport and guys are lining up to sing his praises, some of whom have written elequent elegies but this is...

The Bos I Knew I'm 69 now, feel great and look back over the folks I won. He'd call me all hours of the night and first announce have met in life. I few have met some real characters. You "Don, Johnny Bos!" as if anyone could miss the rasp and know the type, you are so glad you met them, not for the Brooklyn accent. And then, with almost no input or com- wisdom or entertainment they offered but because they ment on my part, would go into his hour long plus boxing showed you that some of us are just remarkably differ- news of the day mixed in with a patented Bos rant that left ent. Not better, understand, but way different. Not bad, you speechless anyway. There was always included a, "I got just unique. Johnny Bos was that sort of man. One HOF Joe Crapinskiola on dere, you see dat?" Well, I knew "got" weekend, there he was, tall, blonde and in some weird T- was an autograph purchased and "dere" was eBay but I shirt, parachute pants. sneakers, chains around his neck, a wouldn't know Crapinskiola from my neighbor's house cat. red, white and blue headband, and sunglasses. At around 50 To my undying credit I would listen to who the crap-man years old, he looked as he sounded that day in Canastota, fought and what happened after the fight with someone I raspy and totally THERE but from somewhere nobody else actually had heard of, as if I was an idiot for not knowing had ever been. There was a Wizard of Oz festival going on who he was in the first place. And I loved it. Absolutely nearby and one of the original munchkins was in attendance loved it. No more. Johnny passed away this month. He had at the HOF in full outrageous munchkin attire. I remember been having heart issues for years but never slowed down. saying to someone, "Don't let Bos and that guy see each I am damn sure going to miss you, Johnny, and say hello to other or a fist fight will break out. They are the only two Crapinskiola for me, will ya? guys here vying for the weirdness award." Bos would have

22 Les Wolff, LLC Memorabilia

Call or Email for Prices!

LES WOLFF SPORTS, LLC PO. Box 917, Plainview, NY 11803 - (516) 933-7787 - Fax (516) 933-7747 email [email protected] Appraising, Auctioning, Collecting, Buying, Selling, and Trading Sports memorabilia since 1970 Visit my website: Leswolffsportsllc.com How much is it really worth? Don't wait, call today for you appraisal 23 PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.HEAVYWEIGHTCOLLECTIBLES.COM

FOR RARE, HARD-TO-FIND BOXING ITEMS SUCH AS, POSTERS, AUTOGRAPHS, VINTAGE PHOTOS, MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, ETC. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO PURCHASE UNIQUE ITEMS.

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24