This photo always gets to me.
In the early 1970s, Dave Crowley's sight in his right eye was deteriorating, prompting the man who took his British lightweight title from him, Eric Boon, to offer the donation of one of his eyes in 1973. These two men went to war with each other in the ring, so there was a special type of bond between them, you really can't understand it unless you've been in the ring and risked your permanent health and even your life in all-out physical, brutal combat. This is a photo of Boon and Crowley together at the time of Boon's ridiculously generous offer. Dave Crowley passed away on December 11th in 1974 at the age of 64.
This photo was taken on October 29th, 1958, at a farewell ceremony for Harringay Arena. Back row, from left to right: Randolph Turpin, Dave Crowley, Jack Petersen, Harry Mizler, Peter Kane, Bruce Woodcock, Ernie Roderick, Rinty Monaghan, Max Baer, Jack Solomons, Eric Boon, Len Harvey and Don Cockell. Front row, from left to right: Phil Edwards, Terry Downes, Henry Armstrong, Gus Lesnevich, Sammy McCarthy, Peter Waterman and Johnny Williams. A lot of greatness in this photo.
This is another angle of the photo. Left to right - front row - Joe Erskine, Phil Edwards, Terry Downes, Henry Armstrong, Gus Lesnevich, Sammy McCarthy, Peter Waterman, Jonny Williams. Centre row - Randolph Turpin, Dave Crowley, Peter Kane, Rinty Monaghan, Ronnie Clayton, Promoter Jack Solomons, Harry Mizler, Eric Boon, Eddie phillips, Len Harvey, Don Cockell. Back row - Jack Petersen (obscured), Bruce Woodcock, Ernie Roderick, Max Baer, Tommy Farr.
This is a photo of Eric Boon with Keith Castle. If you're not familiar with Keith Castle, he was the recipient of the UK's first successful heart transplant in August of 1979.
Of all the photos I've seen of Eric Boon, this is my favorite. It's just a bada$$ image, sitting there in his robe after a fight with his arms folded on his lap, the towel around his head, and a stoic look on his face. My final thoughts on Eric Boon, he was a never-back-down fighter, he punched like a wrecking ball, his style made for exciting fights, boxing fans really appreciate guys like him.
James "Bonecrusher" Smith has one of the coolest nicknames in sports history, he earned his nickname during his time in the U.S. Army while stationed in Germany, where his powerful right-hand punches in camp fights sounded like wood being chopped. The German audience dubbed him "Bonecrusher" because of the loud, impact-driven sound of his blows.
This is a sick card, 2021 Leaf Art of Sport Bonecrusher Smith, Red border variation numbered to /8. I actually own the Gold border /1 and a Silver border /2 of this card.
I love watching James "Bonecrusher" Smith, he was sort of robotic in the way he fought, but he was what he was, a good workmanlike slugger with a granite chin that threw crazy, hard punches out of nowhere, and it made him one of the most dangerous heavyweights of the 80s. He would be a handful in any era because of his power.
This is awesome, I found the photo that was used for the image on the 2021 Leaf Art of Sport Bonecrusher Smith card. Leaf tweaked it a bit but it's the image.
Love this shot of Bonecrusher at the airport and you can see the the passenger boarding bridge and planes in the background through the window, great photo.
Music break. One of the best songs from the golden era of hip hop. DMX switches his voice from peaceful to aggressive throughout this song to personify the internal conflict between his vulnerable, struggling persona and his aggressive, darker alter ego. This artistic technique highlighted the mental strain of poverty, with one voice sounding desperate and the other violent. The song acts as a conversation with himself, where his calmer voice represents a man struggling to survive, while the deeper, growling voice represents his violent, reactive side. It explores themes of desperation, mental health, and violent, "do-or-die" mentality needed to escape poverty. This approach allowed DMX to act out both sides of his personality, contrasting fear and anger in a single track.
Andy "The Sugarman" Ganigan, two-time NABF lightweight and one-time WAA lightweight champion champion that fought in the 70s and 80s. Ganigan participated in 39 fights during his career, only 9 men heard the final bell against him. He could bang.
(Andy) "the Sugarman" Ganigan also known as the original "Hawaiian Punch" is an American former lightweight boxer of Filipino descent. Born in Waipahu, Hawaii, he was notable for his punching ability, being named #97 in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Ganigan fought from 1972 to 1983, ending his career with an overall record of 34 wins (30 by KO) and 5 losses. He was a southpaw. Ganigan captured the NABF lightweight title by scoring a TKO in 8 rounds over Vicente Saldivar on March 28, 1978. He lost that title to Johnny Lira on a 6 round KO on August 1, 1978, but recaptured the crown from Saldivar on March 27, 1979 by winning a unanimous 12 round decision. Ganigan also won the WAA lightweight crown by scoring a KO in 2 rounds over Sean O'Grady on October 31, 1981. Ganigan then challenged legendary boxer Alexis Argüello on May 22, 1982 for the WBC lightweight crown. Ganigan knocked Arguello down in the first round, but was KO'ed in round 5. Ganigan's last fight was an unsuccessful attempt to take the USBA lightweight crown from Jimmy Paul on June 6, 1983. Paul stopped Ganigan on a 6 round TKO.
Not many fight photos available for Andy Ganigan so I'm just going to post whatever I can find, mostly newspaper clippings from his fights. This is from his fight with Tom "Rocky" Tarantino on May 17th in 1977 at Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Ganigan TKO'd him in seven.
This is a photo of Andy Ganigan in an article that appeared in a Honolulu newspaper before his second fight against the great Vicente Saldivar on March 28, 1978, at the Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu. Ganigan beat Saldivar by TKO in the 8th round to capture the NABF lightweight title. The rematch would happen a year later and Ganigan would defeat Saldivar by 12-round decision to recapture the NABF lightweight title.
This is an on-site poster for Andy Ganigan vs Gerardo Venzor on November 11th, 1980. Ganigan won by 7th round TKO, good article about the fight below.
Wednesday, November 12, 1980 Andy's comeback! What else? A TKO By Curtis Murayama Advertiser Sports Writer The result of Comeback No. 4 for Andy Ganigan was the same as Comeback No. 3 and Comeback No. 2 and Comeback No. 1.
The Waipahu lightweight boxer, who has recorded knockout victories in each of his three previous comeback fights, did so again last night, scoring a seventh round technical knockout over Gerardo Venzor at the Blaisdell Center. Following defeats in the ring and at home, Ganigan is usually served a noname opponent designed to give him booster shots that contain giant doses of confidence. Only this shot had a little different effect. While Ganigan pounded Venzor from the opening bell, the Waipahu Sugarman found him easy to hit but hard to put away. Ganigan floored Venzor at 1:46 of the opening round with an overhand right and rocked him around the ring for most of the six rounds.
But in his haste to end the proceedings, Ganigan himself took a few shots that stunned not only him but also his cornermen. Ganigan, who seemingly hasn't overcome his deficiency of defending himself, took a couple of solid rights to the jaw and uppercuts to the body in the fifth round. But Ganigan, known more for his knockout power than his staying power, retaliated each time and a good fight seemed to be in the making. Then just as Venzor seemed to be catching his second wind and Ganigan seemed to be losing his, the bout was stopped. "I called it because he (Venzor) wasn't coming out with some answers," said chief second Beto Martinez.
What kind of questions did he ask? "I asked him what round is this and he didn't know," said Martinez. "When fighters don't come up with quick answers, that means they're hurt. I know Ralph Aviles (left) "I need a lot of work; my timing was all off. Finally, I went through the domestic problems. Now, my mind is clear.
I can fight in the gym." Andy Ganigan he was hurt; he's still dizzy." Contrary to Martinez' analysis, Venzor seemed to be in total control of his faculties following the submission. "Ganigan hits so much," said Venzor. "But he's not that good a boxer. He's good but not like the others." The others Venzor has fought in compiling an 18-4 record were Jorge "Dynamite" Morales and Herman Montes. Ganigan was ahead on all cards before the stop.
Judges Louis Race and Robert Lee and referee William Pacheco scored it 30-24. The Advertiser scored it 30-23 Ganigan. Ganigan, who has not fought since his knockout victory over Robert Vasquez in February which signalled Comeback No. 3 showed the effects of the eight month layoff. He hit a few and missed a few.
"I need a lot of work; my timing was all off," said Ganigan, who is now 31-2 with 27 knockouts. "Finally, I went through the domestic problems. Now, my mind is clear. I can fight in the gym." "His mind is better," said manager Larry Ichinose. you could see his timing was off." Although some said Venzor was considered to be something you serve during Thanksgiving, he never lost the respect of Ganigan, who trained nearly two trades punches with Ernesto Garfias months for the bout.
"The guys I lost to, people thought they were nobodies. But look where they are now," said Ganigan. Ganigan, who means music to the ears of fans and dollars in the eyes of promoter Sad Sam Ichinose, proved his drawing power last night as 6,000 fans showed up. During Ganigan's layoff no other fighter could draw more than 4,000. In the 10-round semi-main event, Pahoa lightweight Ralph Aviles, who served as Sad Sam Ichinose's bread-winner in Ganigan's absence, scored a unanimous decision over Ernesto Garfias.
Andy Ganigan defeated Sean O'Grady by a second-round knockout on October 31, 1981, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to win the World Athletic Association (WAA) Lightweight Title. Ganigan dominated the fight, dropping O'Grady three times in the second round after a competitive first round. I love Sean O'Grady as well, he was nicknamed "The Bubblegum Kid" and was a hard puncher himself. O'grady earned his nickname because he chewed bubblegum a lot, often before fights. This win over O'grady would set Ganigan up for a shot at the great Alexis Arguello for the world lightweight title.
Andy Ganigan vs Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, June 13th, 1981, two hard punchers, a cracking fight. Ganigan lost by split decision, this is the final round.
In 1982, Andy Ganigan took a crack at the world lightweight title against the great Alexis Arguello, "El Flaco Explosivo" or "The Explosive Thin Man", but Arguello was just a bridge too far. Arguello retained the WBC lightweight belt by KO in 5 rounds over Andy Ganigan. Arguello was knocked down by a few left hands from the southpaw Hawaiian late in the 1st round, and he also wound up being staggered in the 3rd. Clearly Arguello was having issues with Ganigan's hard-hitting and somewhat unpredictable style, despite landing his fair share of punches. But by the 5th round, Arguello had begun to really find a rhythm, at and the end of the stanza, a series of right hands to the body put Ganigan down hard, and he was counted out.
Argüello was known for not only his skills and punching power, but his gentlemanly demeanor outside the ring. Throughout much of the 70s and a portion of the 80s, Argüello was a boxing mainstay and a welcome hero as Nicaragua's first world champion.
The fight was initiallly postponed when Argüello contracted a respiratory virus, but the virus didn't affect Argüello's eventual performance much—except for one mistake in the 1st round. As both fighters carefully felt each other out, Argüello didn't read Ganigan's southpaw left hand and ate a left that sent him to the canvas. Argüello took the shot and got back on his feet, and it only seemed to wake him up.
The champion gained some control in round 2, but the 3rd was bit more like Ganigan wanted. A right hand sent Ganigan down in round 3, but he rose and hurt Argüello before the bell. Round 4 had Argüello timing Ganigan and cutting off hisescape routes before bloodying the challenger's nose.
Ganigan was barely missing huge shots in round 5, and his corner urged him forward, which ended up being a mistake. As soon as he appeared to be gaining the upper hand, Argüello landed a combination that folded Ganigan in half and put him on the canvas for the count.
"I never saw that kind of style before," Argüello said. "[After he knocked me down] I was really positive that he hit hard. My left hand made the job tonight."
"I shall return," Ganigan said. "I knew he had a good left hook and a good right hand. The thing was to hit him first but I guess he hit me first."
Here are the highlights from Ganigan-Arguello. Watch Arguello get caught with a body shot-left hook combination and go down, gosh, Arguello was so cool and calm under pressure, never panicked, just got up and methodically went to work.
You know, it's driving me crazy, I can't figure out who Ganigan is fighting in this photo, anyway it's a great photo that shows you just how hard Ganigan punched. You don't make the top 100 greatest punchers of all-time list without having serious, serious power.
Andy Ganigan, aka "The Sugerman" aka "The Hawaiian Punch." Final thoughts, I think this sums it up pretty well:
He was named one of the world’s 100 hardest-hitting punchers by The Ring Magazine.
“The southpaw Ganigan’s right hook was a show-stopper but so was the overhand left he liked to run down guys’ throats,” said The Ring. “Between October ‘75 and October ‘77, Ganigan scored 16 straight knockouts. After 25 fights, his record read 25-0 with 23 KOs, a knockout rate of 92 percent. There was no pretense with Ganigan. He rushed in throwing knockout punches. That was it. If you could handle it and tag him back, you stood a good chance."
"My father was a tough man. He never told me sentimental words but, when l won the Olympics, he was already very sick. l called him on the phone that evening and he told me he loved me. He said, ‘Now l’m ready to take death’. l told him, ‘This is only the beginning for us, there are professional belts,’ but a few days later my mum called at 2.30am and said, ‘That’s it, Dad’s gone’.
l flew to Chernihiv, where they lived, and, when l entered the room, he was lying in a wooden coffin. l took the medal and put it in his hand and said, ‘Here you go’. l know he’s up there in the skies watching me and he’s proud. l think about him every day, and l never miss a chance to tell my children that l love them."
Sick photo of "California" Jackie Wilson with a stamp on the back from Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee, the legendary video rental store that was in North Hollywood for years. Wilson was one hell of a fighter, Silver medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympic games in the bantamweight division. In the pros he holds wins over Fritzie Zivic, Baby Arizmendi, Kid Azteca, Cocoa Kid, and Ceferino Garcia.
Comments
This photo always gets to me.
In the early 1970s, Dave Crowley's sight in his right eye was deteriorating, prompting the man who took his British lightweight title from him, Eric Boon, to offer the donation of one of his eyes in 1973. These two men went to war with each other in the ring, so there was a special type of bond between them, you really can't understand it unless you've been in the ring and risked your permanent health and even your life in all-out physical, brutal combat. This is a photo of Boon and Crowley together at the time of Boon's ridiculously generous offer. Dave Crowley passed away on December 11th in 1974 at the age of 64.
This photo was taken on October 29th, 1958, at a farewell ceremony for Harringay Arena. Back row, from left to right: Randolph Turpin, Dave Crowley, Jack Petersen, Harry Mizler, Peter Kane, Bruce Woodcock, Ernie Roderick, Rinty Monaghan, Max Baer, Jack Solomons, Eric Boon, Len Harvey and Don Cockell. Front row, from left to right: Phil Edwards, Terry Downes, Henry Armstrong, Gus Lesnevich, Sammy McCarthy, Peter Waterman and Johnny Williams. A lot of greatness in this photo.
This is another angle of the photo. Left to right - front row - Joe Erskine, Phil Edwards, Terry Downes, Henry Armstrong, Gus Lesnevich, Sammy McCarthy, Peter Waterman, Jonny Williams. Centre row - Randolph Turpin, Dave Crowley, Peter Kane, Rinty Monaghan, Ronnie Clayton, Promoter Jack Solomons, Harry Mizler, Eric Boon, Eddie phillips, Len Harvey, Don Cockell. Back row - Jack Petersen (obscured), Bruce Woodcock, Ernie Roderick, Max Baer, Tommy Farr.
A lot of great fights took place at Harringay Arena, here's a program from a card at the Arena promoted by Jack Solomons.
This is a photo of Eric Boon with Keith Castle. If you're not familiar with Keith Castle, he was the recipient of the UK's first successful heart transplant in August of 1979.
Another good shot of Eric Boon in his later years.
This is a photo of Eric Boon at a boxing event he held for charity, not sure what year this was taken.
Great shot of Eric Boon standing in the ring on November 25th, 1947.
Eric Boon in his prime.
The book Eric Boon wrote about boxing.
Of all the photos I've seen of Eric Boon, this is my favorite. It's just a bada$$ image, sitting there in his robe after a fight with his arms folded on his lap, the towel around his head, and a stoic look on his face. My final thoughts on Eric Boon, he was a never-back-down fighter, he punched like a wrecking ball, his style made for exciting fights, boxing fans really appreciate guys like him.
James "Bonecrusher" Smith has one of the coolest nicknames in sports history, he earned his nickname during his time in the U.S. Army while stationed in Germany, where his powerful right-hand punches in camp fights sounded like wood being chopped. The German audience dubbed him "Bonecrusher" because of the loud, impact-driven sound of his blows.
This is a sick card, 2021 Leaf Art of Sport Bonecrusher Smith, Red border variation numbered to /8. I actually own the Gold border /1 and a Silver border /2 of this card.
I love watching James "Bonecrusher" Smith, he was sort of robotic in the way he fought, but he was what he was, a good workmanlike slugger with a granite chin that threw crazy, hard punches out of nowhere, and it made him one of the most dangerous heavyweights of the 80s. He would be a handful in any era because of his power.
This is awesome, I found the photo that was used for the image on the 2021 Leaf Art of Sport Bonecrusher Smith card. Leaf tweaked it a bit but it's the image.
These are my all-time favorite images of Bonecrusher Smith.
Another great image of Bonecrusher Smith.
Wicked image of Bonecrusher after his fight with Mike Tyson.
Love this shot of Bonecrusher at the airport and you can see the the passenger boarding bridge and planes in the background through the window, great photo.
Music break. One of the best songs from the golden era of hip hop. DMX switches his voice from peaceful to aggressive throughout this song to personify the internal conflict between his vulnerable, struggling persona and his aggressive, darker alter ego. This artistic technique highlighted the mental strain of poverty, with one voice sounding desperate and the other violent. The song acts as a conversation with himself, where his calmer voice represents a man struggling to survive, while the deeper, growling voice represents his violent, reactive side. It explores themes of desperation, mental health, and violent, "do-or-die" mentality needed to escape poverty. This approach allowed DMX to act out both sides of his personality, contrasting fear and anger in a single track.
Andy "The Sugarman" Ganigan, two-time NABF lightweight and one-time WAA lightweight champion champion that fought in the 70s and 80s. Ganigan participated in 39 fights during his career, only 9 men heard the final bell against him. He could bang.
(Andy) "the Sugarman" Ganigan also known as the original "Hawaiian Punch" is an American former lightweight boxer of Filipino descent. Born in Waipahu, Hawaii, he was notable for his punching ability, being named #97 in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Ganigan fought from 1972 to 1983, ending his career with an overall record of 34 wins (30 by KO) and 5 losses. He was a southpaw. Ganigan captured the NABF lightweight title by scoring a TKO in 8 rounds over Vicente Saldivar on March 28, 1978. He lost that title to Johnny Lira on a 6 round KO on August 1, 1978, but recaptured the crown from Saldivar on March 27, 1979 by winning a unanimous 12 round decision. Ganigan also won the WAA lightweight crown by scoring a KO in 2 rounds over Sean O'Grady on October 31, 1981. Ganigan then challenged legendary boxer Alexis Argüello on May 22, 1982 for the WBC lightweight crown. Ganigan knocked Arguello down in the first round, but was KO'ed in round 5. Ganigan's last fight was an unsuccessful attempt to take the USBA lightweight crown from Jimmy Paul on June 6, 1983. Paul stopped Ganigan on a 6 round TKO.
Not many fight photos available for Andy Ganigan so I'm just going to post whatever I can find, mostly newspaper clippings from his fights. This is from his fight with Tom "Rocky" Tarantino on May 17th in 1977 at Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Ganigan TKO'd him in seven.
This is a newspaper clipping from Andy Ganigan vs Elpidio Valdez on January 29th in 1979 at Blaisdell Center Arena, Ganigan KO'd Valdez in the second.
An advertisement for Andy Ganigan vs Jose Talamantez in June 14th in 1977, Ganigan won by TKO in the 5th. It would be Ganigan's 16th straight KO.
This is a photo of Jose Luis Gonzalez down from a Ganigan uppercut during their fight in March 1st in 1977, Ganigan won by KO in the 10th.
This is a photo of Manuel Abedoy out on the canvas on March 14th in 1981 after being knocked out by Andy Ganigan.
This is a photo of Andy Ganigan in an article that appeared in a Honolulu newspaper before his second fight against the great Vicente Saldivar on March 28, 1978, at the Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu. Ganigan beat Saldivar by TKO in the 8th round to capture the NABF lightweight title. The rematch would happen a year later and Ganigan would defeat Saldivar by 12-round decision to recapture the NABF lightweight title.
An advertisement for Andy Ganigan vs Curtis Ramsey on December 9th, 1980, Ganigan won by TKO in the 2nd.
This is an on-site poster for Andy Ganigan vs Gerardo Venzor on November 11th, 1980. Ganigan won by 7th round TKO, good article about the fight below.
Wednesday, November 12, 1980 Andy's comeback! What else? A TKO By Curtis Murayama Advertiser Sports Writer The result of Comeback No. 4 for Andy Ganigan was the same as Comeback No. 3 and Comeback No. 2 and Comeback No. 1.
The Waipahu lightweight boxer, who has recorded knockout victories in each of his three previous comeback fights, did so again last night, scoring a seventh round technical knockout over Gerardo Venzor at the Blaisdell Center. Following defeats in the ring and at home, Ganigan is usually served a noname opponent designed to give him booster shots that contain giant doses of confidence. Only this shot had a little different effect. While Ganigan pounded Venzor from the opening bell, the Waipahu Sugarman found him easy to hit but hard to put away. Ganigan floored Venzor at 1:46 of the opening round with an overhand right and rocked him around the ring for most of the six rounds.
But in his haste to end the proceedings, Ganigan himself took a few shots that stunned not only him but also his cornermen. Ganigan, who seemingly hasn't overcome his deficiency of defending himself, took a couple of solid rights to the jaw and uppercuts to the body in the fifth round. But Ganigan, known more for his knockout power than his staying power, retaliated each time and a good fight seemed to be in the making. Then just as Venzor seemed to be catching his second wind and Ganigan seemed to be losing his, the bout was stopped. "I called it because he (Venzor) wasn't coming out with some answers," said chief second Beto Martinez.
What kind of questions did he ask? "I asked him what round is this and he didn't know," said Martinez. "When fighters don't come up with quick answers, that means they're hurt. I know Ralph Aviles (left) "I need a lot of work; my timing was all off. Finally, I went through the domestic problems. Now, my mind is clear.
I can fight in the gym." Andy Ganigan he was hurt; he's still dizzy." Contrary to Martinez' analysis, Venzor seemed to be in total control of his faculties following the submission. "Ganigan hits so much," said Venzor. "But he's not that good a boxer. He's good but not like the others." The others Venzor has fought in compiling an 18-4 record were Jorge "Dynamite" Morales and Herman Montes. Ganigan was ahead on all cards before the stop.
Judges Louis Race and Robert Lee and referee William Pacheco scored it 30-24. The Advertiser scored it 30-23 Ganigan. Ganigan, who has not fought since his knockout victory over Robert Vasquez in February which signalled Comeback No. 3 showed the effects of the eight month layoff. He hit a few and missed a few.
"I need a lot of work; my timing was all off," said Ganigan, who is now 31-2 with 27 knockouts. "Finally, I went through the domestic problems. Now, my mind is clear. I can fight in the gym." "His mind is better," said manager Larry Ichinose. you could see his timing was off." Although some said Venzor was considered to be something you serve during Thanksgiving, he never lost the respect of Ganigan, who trained nearly two trades punches with Ernesto Garfias months for the bout.
"The guys I lost to, people thought they were nobodies. But look where they are now," said Ganigan. Ganigan, who means music to the ears of fans and dollars in the eyes of promoter Sad Sam Ichinose, proved his drawing power last night as 6,000 fans showed up. During Ganigan's layoff no other fighter could draw more than 4,000. In the 10-round semi-main event, Pahoa lightweight Ralph Aviles, who served as Sad Sam Ichinose's bread-winner in Ganigan's absence, scored a unanimous decision over Ernesto Garfias.
Andy Ganigan defeated Sean O'Grady by a second-round knockout on October 31, 1981, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to win the World Athletic Association (WAA) Lightweight Title. Ganigan dominated the fight, dropping O'Grady three times in the second round after a competitive first round. I love Sean O'Grady as well, he was nicknamed "The Bubblegum Kid" and was a hard puncher himself. O'grady earned his nickname because he chewed bubblegum a lot, often before fights. This win over O'grady would set Ganigan up for a shot at the great Alexis Arguello for the world lightweight title.
This is the Ganigan-O'Grady fight, Ganigan's power is on full display in this fight.
Andy Ganigan vs Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, June 13th, 1981, two hard punchers, a cracking fight. Ganigan lost by split decision, this is the final round.
In 1982, Andy Ganigan took a crack at the world lightweight title against the great Alexis Arguello, "El Flaco Explosivo" or "The Explosive Thin Man", but Arguello was just a bridge too far. Arguello retained the WBC lightweight belt by KO in 5 rounds over Andy Ganigan. Arguello was knocked down by a few left hands from the southpaw Hawaiian late in the 1st round, and he also wound up being staggered in the 3rd. Clearly Arguello was having issues with Ganigan's hard-hitting and somewhat unpredictable style, despite landing his fair share of punches. But by the 5th round, Arguello had begun to really find a rhythm, at and the end of the stanza, a series of right hands to the body put Ganigan down hard, and he was counted out.
Argüello was known for not only his skills and punching power, but his gentlemanly demeanor outside the ring. Throughout much of the 70s and a portion of the 80s, Argüello was a boxing mainstay and a welcome hero as Nicaragua's first world champion.
The fight was initiallly postponed when Argüello contracted a respiratory virus, but the virus didn't affect Argüello's eventual performance much—except for one mistake in the 1st round. As both fighters carefully felt each other out, Argüello didn't read Ganigan's southpaw left hand and ate a left that sent him to the canvas. Argüello took the shot and got back on his feet, and it only seemed to wake him up.
The champion gained some control in round 2, but the 3rd was bit more like Ganigan wanted. A right hand sent Ganigan down in round 3, but he rose and hurt Argüello before the bell. Round 4 had Argüello timing Ganigan and cutting off hisescape routes before bloodying the challenger's nose.
Ganigan was barely missing huge shots in round 5, and his corner urged him forward, which ended up being a mistake. As soon as he appeared to be gaining the upper hand, Argüello landed a combination that folded Ganigan in half and put him on the canvas for the count.
"I never saw that kind of style before," Argüello said. "[After he knocked me down] I was really positive that he hit hard. My left hand made the job tonight."
"I shall return," Ganigan said. "I knew he had a good left hook and a good right hand. The thing was to hit him first but I guess he hit me first."
Here are the highlights from Ganigan-Arguello. Watch Arguello get caught with a body shot-left hook combination and go down, gosh, Arguello was so cool and calm under pressure, never panicked, just got up and methodically went to work.
You know, it's driving me crazy, I can't figure out who Ganigan is fighting in this photo, anyway it's a great photo that shows you just how hard Ganigan punched. You don't make the top 100 greatest punchers of all-time list without having serious, serious power.
Andy Ganigan putting in the roadwork.
And Ganigan receives some instructions in his corner.
Trainers putting the gloves on Andy Ganigan.
Andy Ganigan takes a break from training.
Andy Ganigan hitting the heavy bag.
Andy Ganigan is shown some card tricks by promoter Ashe Resnick ahead of Ganigan's crack at lightweight champion Alexis Arguello in 1982.
Phenomenal photo of Andy Ganigan in action against Hyung Kil Jun on May 30th, 1979.
Andy Ganigan lacing up his boots.
Awesome image of Andy Ganigan sitting in his corner with his trainer Albert "Quick" Silva to his left.
Andy Ganigan and a better shot of his trainer Albert "Quick" Silva.
Andy Ganigan, aka "The Sugerman" aka "The Hawaiian Punch." Final thoughts, I think this sums it up pretty well:
He was named one of the world’s 100 hardest-hitting punchers by The Ring Magazine.
“The southpaw Ganigan’s right hook was a show-stopper but so was the overhand left he liked to run down guys’ throats,” said The Ring. “Between October ‘75 and October ‘77, Ganigan scored 16 straight knockouts. After 25 fights, his record read 25-0 with 23 KOs, a knockout rate of 92 percent. There was no pretense with Ganigan. He rushed in throwing knockout punches. That was it. If you could handle it and tag him back, you stood a good chance."
Found another Johnny Tapia photo that I hadn't previously seen, cool stuff, can't get enough of Tapia.
Roberto Duran and Joe Louis, a lot of greatness in one photo.
"My father was a tough man. He never told me sentimental words but, when l won the Olympics, he was already very sick. l called him on the phone that evening and he told me he loved me. He said, ‘Now l’m ready to take death’. l told him, ‘This is only the beginning for us, there are professional belts,’ but a few days later my mum called at 2.30am and said, ‘That’s it, Dad’s gone’.
l flew to Chernihiv, where they lived, and, when l entered the room, he was lying in a wooden coffin. l took the medal and put it in his hand and said, ‘Here you go’. l know he’s up there in the skies watching me and he’s proud. l think about him every day, and l never miss a chance to tell my children that l love them."
Sick photo of "California" Jackie Wilson with a stamp on the back from Eddie Brandt's Saturday Matinee, the legendary video rental store that was in North Hollywood for years. Wilson was one hell of a fighter, Silver medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympic games in the bantamweight division. In the pros he holds wins over Fritzie Zivic, Baby Arizmendi, Kid Azteca, Cocoa Kid, and Ceferino Garcia.