Love these photos with fighters posing in different locations, I've seen them pose on rooftops, on back dirt roads, in fields, this one is cool, Berg in a fight pose on a wooden deck in front of a swimming pool.
“Man, I hit [Muhammad Ali] with punches that bring down the walls of a city. What held him up?”
- "Smokin" Joe Frazier
A line that perfectly captures the brutality of the final chapter in one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
Under suffocating heat and relentless pressure, Frazier threw everything he had at Ali in a fight that pushed both men beyond exhaustion and pain. Neither fighter truly lost that night — they simply reached the absolute limits of what a human being could endure.
"Joltin" Jeff Chandler, 1980s bantamweight champion from Philadelphia.
He turned pro after just two amatuer fights and became one of the greatest bantamweight champions in history.
Jeff Chandler, another in the long line of great Philadelphia fighters, first captured the NABF and USBA titles en route to worldwide recognition. A tireless counterpuncher, Chandler was known as "Joltin' Jeff" for his considerable power. He was one of the first prominent fighters to be managed by a woman -- K.O. Becky O'Neill.
Chandler's busy style and action fights made him a regular on network television during the early 1980s.
He captured the world bantamweight title with a 14th-round knockout of Julian Solis on November 14, 1980. He made nine successful title defenses, including victories over former champ Jorge Lujan and future champ Gaby Canizales. In 1983, he avenged a non-title fight loss against Oscar Muniz with a seventh-round knockout over Muniz. The second time they met, they clashed with the title on the line.
Chandler was considered among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport when his title reign ended with 15th-round TKO loss to Richie Sandoval in 1984. It was his last fight.
Some great fighters have come from Philadelphia, great fighters, Frazier, Johnson, Liston, Hopkins, Briscoe, the list goes on and on, and Jeff Chandler was one of those. Fascinating story, walked into a gym at the age of 19 and turned pro with just a couple of amateur fights under his belt, ended up becoming bantamweight champion and making nine defenses of his title. Excellent boxer, but he could bang as well, love watching him fight. Eye problems ultimately ended his career.
PHILLY BOXING HISTORY
JEFF CHANDLER - STILL JOLTIN'
By Ken Hissner
Even at just 118 pounds, Philly's Joltin' Jeff Chandler was a giant of a man when it came to God-given talent. He walked into South Philly's Juniper Gym at age 19, and two amateur fights later he was on his way to becoming a world champion. "I fought on a Friday and a Monday in the amateurs. I lost to Johnny Carter in the second one. He had well over 50 fights. I knew we would see each other again. I turned pro figuring why fight for nothing,” said Chandler.
Chandler came to the Juniper Gym in 1976 where future world light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad had started two years before him. Both men would go on to become champions about a year apart (Saad in 1979 and Jeff in 1980).
Chandler was managed by Arnold Giovanetti and trained by Pat Patterson. But about seven fights into Chandler's career, when Giovanetti mysteriously disappeared, Saad Muhammad trainer Nick Belfiore took over the training duties, while the under-five-foot "KO" Becky O'Neill became Jeff's manager. Becky's husband, Willie O'Neill, filled the role of assistant trainer and advisor. “Becky and Willie were the greatest people ever. My life was never the same when they passed,” said Chandler.
“As small as Becky was she would stand up for me in an instant if someone said something negative about me. I told her I could stand up for myself,” said Chandler. After five years in the professional ring, Chandler made Willie O'Neill his head trainer.
“When I first started sparring in the gym Nick (Belfiore) would have the guys lined up on the bench waiting for me. I had just come from my construction job and was really tired. In time, I would walk in the door and yell to them to get ready,” said Chandler.
Chandler, at five feet, seven inches, was a giant in the 118-pound division. He made his debut in the coal mountain region of Scranton, PA, some two hours north of Philly. His promoter was future hall of famer J Russell Peltz, and Eddie "The Clot" Aliano was his cut man. “Eddie would be with me in every fight. There were times he would run the corner,” said Chandler.
Scranton's Catholic Youth Center Gym was over a bowling alley, and a familiar venue for Philadelphia fighters. This was the same place Philly’s uncrowned champion Tyrone Everett started his career. Philly’s Mike Dowling, 1-0, was Chandler’s first opponent. The fight ended in a draw. “I was 118 pounds, and I know they didn’t put weights down in those days because Dowling had to be 130.
Chandler was brought along slowly. His team knew they had something special in Chandler if he was brought along properly. In the 1970's, the east coast was not stocked with bantamweights. “Peltz put me in some of my first fights and when he saw something in me he signed me up,” said Chandler.
I fought Michael Frazier who lived two blocks from me (his third fight). I would use him as my sparring partner after I won the title,” said Chandler. Places like the Blue Horizon, Convention Hall, in Atlantic City and Fournier Hall, in Wilmington, DE, would provide Chandler with the needed experience that would benefit him.
Chandler’s first bout at the Spectrum in Philly was in November of 1976 against Tony “Pee Wee” Stokes, of NY, in a scheduled 4 rounder. Both Stokes and Chandler were 5-0-1. The main event featured WBC champion Alfredo Escalera defending against unbeaten Philly super featherweight Tyrone Everett, 34-0. “I had the walk out fight that night and only saw a couple of rounds. Later I would see it in its entirety and Everett really got robbed,” said Chandler. It was this writer’s opinion that the decision against Everett was boxing's worst ever. Everett was shot death six months later. [Note: Tyrone's brother Mike fought the walkout bout; Chandler fought earlier on the card.]
Chandler passed his first real test that night by beating Stokes. It was the real start of his career, and still almost two years before his first 10-rounder.
In another major bout, Chandler was under the main event of Marvin Hagler and “Bad” Bennie Briscoe. “Briscoe would fill the arena to the rafters,” said Chandler. Chandler defeated Sergio Reyes, 12-6, over 8 rounds. His brain trust, Peltz, was guiding him up the rankings slowly but surely. There hadn’t been a 118 champ from the US since 1943. “Maureen (Sacks, Peltz VP) takes care of you. She’s a wonderful lady and I have nothing negative to say about Russell (Peltz),” said Chandler.
In April of 1979, Chandler met former Olympian Davey Vasquez, 18-2, at the Spectrum and won in a 10 rounder. “He had good stuff,” said Chandler. In July, he faced one of the few other east coast bantam’s who happened to also be from Philly, Baby Kid Chocolate, 18-2. The fight, at Upper Darby's Forum, was for the USBA bantamweight title. “Before the fight, he said he was going to jump on me, but I jumped on him first, in the opening round,” said Chandler. He stopped Chocolate in the 9th round.
In February of 1980, Chandler would add the NABF title to his USBA crown, meeting Javier Flores, 26-4-3. Chandler drop Flores in the 9th round and stop him in the 10th to become the dual champion. What he wanted was the world title - and by year’s end it would happen.
In Atlantic City, Chandler defeated the Puerto Rican champion Andres Hernandez, 30-6-1, in defense of his two titles. Hernandez had lost to knockout artist Carlos Zarate in rounds 13 in a try for the champ's WBC belt. The fight was under the Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. John Conteh light heavyweight main event. “I would have liked to have fought Zarate,” said Chandler.
After a couple of knockouts in July, Chandler was matched with WBA champion Julian Solis, 21-0, of Puerto Rico. The fight occurred in Miami on November of 1980 with Solis' championship on the line. On the undercard, Alexis Arguello defeated Jose Luis Ramirez by split decision. Chandler said, “Can you imagine the great Alexis Arguello on my undercard?” Chandler was well ahead on two of the scorecards when he stopped Solis in the 14th round to become the first world bantamweight champion from the east coast in 33 years. “He was a good boxer with a lot of heart so I just kept being aggressive. I felt great. I knew what I had to do to win it (title) but I knew keeping it would be harder,” said Chandler.
Chandler’s first defense was in February of 1981 against former WBA champ Jorge Lujan, 22-3, who lost his title Solis in his 6th defense. "In order to get the Solis fight I had to agree to fight Lujan if I won." The clash with Lujan was held at the Franklin Plaza Hotel, in Philadelphia. Chandler won on all score cards 148-143, 146-143 and 146-142. Not only were all the judges Latino but so was the referee.
In April, it was off to Tokyo, Japan, to defend against the OPBF champ Eijiro Murata, 18-0-2. After 15 rounds, the referee had it even, while the judges scored it 147-146 for Murata and 145-142 for Chandler, a draw. “I was Jeff’s sparring partner even though I was 140 and supposed to go to Japan with him", said Vinnie Burgese (22-5-1 as a pro). "I went to the nationals instead and won them at 16. Jeff is the greatest and he made me a better fighter,” said Vinnie Burgese (22-5-1 as a pro). “I thought I won the fight. He kept coming in with his head causing a cut,” said Chandler.
There would be a rematch before the year was out, but first a rematch with Solis, 22-1, was next. Chandler made sure there would be no need for the judges after the Murata draw. In Atlantic City rematch, Chandler stopped Solis in the 7th round, while ahead on all scorecards. “He didn’t seem like the same fighter I first fought,” said Chandler.
Before the rematch with Murata in Atlantic City, “Belfiore dropped out as trainer and Willie O’Neill took over as trainer at this point,” said Peltz. Well ahead on all cards, Chandler stopped Murata in the 13th round to deal the Japanese opponent his first career loss.
In March of 1982 at the Philadelphia Civic Center, Chandler proved "what goes round comes round" in his rematch with fellow Philly fighter Johnny “Dancing Machine” Carter, 23-1, who Chandler had lost to in the amateurs. “We were in the ring getting announced when Carter gives me the “tomahawk” sign and started dancing around. I thought "you’re in the wrong spot this time". We had gone to night school together so I clapped for him,” said Chandler.
“He knew it was a lot different this time as early as the first round,” said Chandler, who was ahead on all scorecards going into the sixth round. “I got off the stool for the sixth round and Willie slapped me on the butt so hard I thought I was having a heart attack. He said "now go get him",” said Chandler. Referee Frank Cappuccino stopped it at 2:28 of the sixth round in favor of Chandler.
In Chandler’s only other fight in 1982, he stopped Miguel Iriarte, 12-1-1, in Atlantic City to end the Panamanian's eight-bout winning streak in the 9th round. “He came out throwing bombs the whole fight trying to kill me. I hadn’t fought for seven months but was able to avoid most of them,” said Chandler.
In March of 1983, Chandler met a future WBA and WBO champion and a Hall of Famer in Gaby Canizales, 24-1, who was then USBA champion and winner of 14 straight. “I said, where’s the easy one’s?” He had defended against No. 1 thru No.4. Canizales trainer Jesse Reid said, “Chandler was a great fighter.” Chandler won the Atlantic City bout by scores of 148-140, 147-140 and 145-141. It was his seventh defense.
Chandler had a return bout with Murata scheduled in September so he took a couple of non-title bouts to stay busy. In Atlantic City, he dropped Hector Cortez, 39-11-3, of Ecuador, in the 1st, 2nd and 7th rounds easily winning over 10 rounds. “I was really cracking that night,” said Chandler. To this writer’s pleasure Jeff got up in his kitchen and started throwing jabs and left hooks. He’s still very trim and quick at 54.
Chandler wasn’t so fortunate in his next fight, losing a split decision to L.A.’s Oscar Muniz, 36-3-3, the NABF champ who had won his last 10 fights in a row. “I was offered $100,000 to fight Muniz with one week's notice. I couldn’t turn it down and though I had only been in the gym one day, I thought I did all right, all things considered,” said Chandler.
They promised to give Muniz a title shot after a September defense in a rubber match with Murata. Once again Chandler travelled to Japan with knockout on his mind. Murata, 24-1-3, went down in round 2, round 3, and 3 times in the 10th before the referee Isidro Rodriguez stopped the one-sided fight in the 10th round.
In the December rematch with Muniz, it was a different fight. Chandler came in at his lowest weight in almost three years. “Every time he had an itch, I scratched it,” said Chandler. Muniz, 38-3-3, was no match for Chandler the second time around. Ahead on all scorecards Chandler, cut Muniz and then stopped him at the :23 mark of round 7. He had avenged the only draw and the loss marring an otherwise perfect record.
Next for Chandler would be the well regarded Richie Sandoval, 22-0, of CA, in an April Atlantic City in April of 1984 being Chandler’s 10th defense. “I had hurt my left shoulder several weeks before the fight. The day of the fight I got an injection for the pain. By the third round I told my trainer I felt like I was drunk. That shot really affected me,” said Chandler. Why he didn’t get it earlier for re-action purposes he didn’t know.
Chandler got dropped for the first time in his career in the 11th round. “I didn’t think it was a real knockdown,” said Chandler. Referee Arthur Mercante stopped it at 1:20 of the 15th and last round, declaring the end of an era - and the end of a career for “Joltin” Jeff Chandler. Two years later, Sandoval would lose the title (in his third defense) to Canizales and retire. It was his only loss in 30 bouts.
At the age of 27, Chandler announced his retirement with a 33-2-2 (18 KO) record with nine successful title defenses. “I was told I had cataracts on both eyes just prior to the Sandoval fight and knew it would be my last fight,” said Chandler.
Chandler was inducted into the IBHOF in 2000. “I knew I was that good,” said Chandler. He now resides in Newark, DE. He has three sons - Tarik, Jeffrey Jr. and Julius who live in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
This writer caught up to Chandler at the PA HOF in May and at the Briscoe Awards in October. We made arrangements to meet in November through John DiSanto who runs the Briscoe awards. “Jeff Chandler was probably the best fighter to come up at the Spectrum, and he’s on the list of all-time Philly greats,” said DiSanto.
Fellow Doghouse Boxing writer Dave Ruff , accompanied me on the interview. He asked Jeff if he would speak to the kids where he works in Wilmington, DE, at the Frains Boys & Girls Club. Chandler said to call him anytime and he will be there.
“Ali was the reason I got started in boxing. Joey Giardello (former world champ) told me how dangerous the sport was. That is why I always kept my hands up high - to take care of myself down the road. I couldn’t believe how guys like Giardello and Carmen Basilio would fight so many times and against so many tough opponents,” said Chandler.
“I loved my mom and she was great. She would put something away for me after my fights. When I was young she said you will be in jail before your 21 if you keep doing what you’re doing. That always stayed with me. God is always with me and looking out for me. Even when I was champ I tried staying away from people that were not good for my boxing career,” said Chandler. The family attended the “Light of the World Chapel” in South Philly.
Chandler brought out a beautiful portrait of himself wearing the Ring Magazine belt. He also showed us his picture on the cover of the July 1983 Ring Magazine. He signed a boxing Hall of Fame card for Ruff. Both Ruff and I agreed after talking and laughing with “Joltin” Jeff Chandler that he was a very modest person and a lot of fun to be with. Being one of the all time best Philly champions and a boxer who was tops in his field, it was our pleasure that he took so much time to talk with us.
Philadelphia’s J Russell Peltz, the IBHOF promoter of Chandler’s who has worked with many world champions and contenders for over 40 years summed it up by saying, “Jeff was the most talented fighter, physically and mentally, I ever promoted.”
Jeff Chandler was famously managed by the pioneering female manager K.O. Becky O'Neill, alongside her husband and trainer Willie O'Neill, after his initial manager disappeared; they formed a tight, family-like team, with Becky managing and Willie training, guiding Chandler through his championship run and after, with the O'Neills becoming like parents to him.
I'm going to attempt to get as many Chandler fights in here as I can find, enjoy the rollercoaster ride on his track of destruction.
PHILLY BOXING HISTORY
SEPTEMBER 26, 1979
CHANDLER KOS CHOCOLATE;
WINS USBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
On this day in 1979, South Philly's Joltin' Jeff Chandler won the brand new USBA bantamweight championship with a resounding knockout of Baby Kid Chocolate (a.k.a. Ronnie Walker) of North Philly at the 69yh Street Forum in Upper Darby.
Chandler started slowly but eventually established his superiority of his rival. He began landing his heavy blows after a couple of rounds and really started making headway in the middle of the fight. As Chocolate chugged forward pressing the action, Chandler out-worked him with his accurate attack. As the punches rained, Chocolate began to wear down and held more and more. By round eight, Chandler seemed to have his opponent on the brink of a stoppage. But with his back against the ropes for much of the period, Chocolate showed his grit by hanging in there.
In the ninth, Chandler moved in for the kill and got it with a devastating three punch combination. His initial left set Chocolate up. The quick, hard left hook that followed was probably all the Chandler needed, but just to ice it, he drilled a right hand home that put Chocolate down and out. Referee Bob Polis counted ten and Chocolate remained out for several minutes.
The impressive victory raised Chandler's record to 18-0-1 (6 KOs) and really was the beginning of his charge toward the world bantamweight championship that he won about one year later. Chocolate dropped to 18-3 with 8 KOs. It was his third straight loss and basically signaled the end of his career. Chocolate would win just one of five more bouts scattered over his last four years in the ring. He was a good fighter and a solid prospect, but unfortunate enough to come up at a time when Chandler ruled the bantamweights.
Jeff Chandler stops Javier Flores to win the NABF bantamweight title.
Philly Boxing History
FEBRUARY 1st
CHANDLER ADDS NABF TITLE
On this day in 1980, South Philadelphian Jeff Chandler won the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) bantamweight title by stopping Javier Flores in the 10th round at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Already the USBA titlist, Chandler ran his record to 20-0-1 (9 KOs) and continued to look like a future world champion to everyone who watched on.
After three more fights (W12 Andres Hernandez, KO4 Gilberto Villacana, KO8 Gustavo Martinez), Chandler traveled to Miami to take on WBA champ Julian Solis. Of course Jeff would take that world title (by TKO in 14 rounds) and go on to defend it nine times.
On Friday, November 14th, 1980 in Miami, Florida, “Joltin’” Jeff Chandler TKO'd Julian Solis in the 14th round to capture Solis’ WBA Bantamweight championship. Puerto Rico's Solis stepped in the ring with a record of 21-0 and making his first title defense since winning the crown only 3 months earlier by defeating, by 15-round split decision, Jorge Lugan.
Philadelphia's Chandler, turning professional after having had only 2 amateur fights, entered the fight with a 23-0-1 record, his first fight having been a draw. Chandler became the first American to win the world Bantamweight title since Manuel Ortiz did it over 30 years earlier.
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler proved the first time was no fluke when he made his third defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 7th round KO in a rematch with Julian Solís at the Resorts International in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1981.
Solís was a solid puncher from Puerto Rico, but he was beaten in 14 rounds by Chandler in 1980 for his WBA title. The end result was similar this time, but in half the time.
Chandler had serious issues with Solís' inside fighting early on, however. One report said:
"The first five rounds were almost boring, looking more like a taffy pull than a title fight. Solis tried to smother Chandler's expert ring skills by pulling and tugging on the champ. He was only partially successful in negating Chandler's stinging left jab leads."
In the 6th, Chandler broke through and changed the fight with a hard combination. When Solís rocked Chandler with a hook, he was punished for it and looked weary before long. In round 7, Chandler landed a 1-2 that put Solís down hard for the count.
"I could see from the initial punch that he was pulling away from the jab," Chandler said. "He was looking for a long shot. I just stepped in and put in the right. It was a clean punch."
Joltin' Jeff Chandler made the first defense of his WBA Bantamweight title against tough Jorge Lujan (W15) at Philadelphia's Franklin Plaza Hotel, on this day in 1981.
The great Chandler won his crown two months before against Julian Solis in Miami and went on to make nine successful defenses before ceding the title to Richie Sandoval.
His Hall of Fame career only lacked a unification bout with Lupe Pintor, who repeatedly avoided it.
Om April 5th in 1981, WBA bantamweight champion, Joltin' Jeff Chandler made the second defense of his world title in an uncomfortably close 15-round fight in the back yard of challenger Eijiro Murata. The Tokyo bout was declared a draw by split decision and Chandler made it back to the States with his belt still intact.
As the fight began, Murata established himself as the aggressor while Chandler used his boxing skills, his height, and his stiff left jab to score points. Most of the bout's action occurred in the middle rounds when both fighters exchanged harder punches. However, the fight was marred by a great deal of clinching. Still Murata worked well to the body as Chandler focused on headshots. Slowly Chandler's punches gained power and his shots became sharper. In the championship rounds, Jeff returned to his careful boxing and once again relied on his jab to control the fight. In the last round, Chandler landed a big right uppercut that hurt the tough challenger. It was closest either man came to a knockdown, but it was too little, too late. Murata survived and made it to the final bell.
The scores of the official judges read 145-142 for Chandler, 147-146 for Murata, and 146-146 even. Both fighters felt they had done enough to earn the decision and both called for a rematch. The pair would get their wish two more times. They would rematch eight months later in Atlantic City with Chandler scoring a TKO in 13 rounds. Two years after that, Chandler returned to Tokyo to KO Murata in 10 rounds.
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler made his sixth defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 9th round TKO of Miguel Iriarte at the Resorts International in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 27th in 1982.
Chandler complained about Iriarte's high ranking in the sanctioning organization prior to the bout in addition to the WBA's threat to take the title from him if he didn't take the fight. During the bout, Chandler appeared intent on proving his point.
Iriarte was out if his league. By the 6th round, Chandler had already cut the challenger and in round 9 he stepped up his offense, rocking Iriarte with a right hand. Chandler moved into finish the bout and landed a combination, and the fight was stopped with Iriarte on the verge of going to the deck.
"They had a clown in the ring with me, and so I clowned," Chandler said. "They put a novice in the ring with a world champion. That's not right."
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler avenged a previous loss, scored his final career win and made his final defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 7th round TKO of Oscar Muñiz at the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 27th in 1983.
Though Chandler fought to two draws, he lost for the first time as a professional when Muñiz defeated him in a non-title bout a few months earlier. Chandler, a tall and lanky bantamweight, had difficulty making the 118-pound limit and later said he had no legs in their first bout, which was also matched at the last minute. In this rematch, Chandler did indeed appear to be a more focused fighter.
Chandler sat down on his punches and rattled Muñiz in the 1st round, which seemed to ruin the challenger's plan to out-work Chandler and upset his rhythm with movement. Chandler went back to work in round 2 and cut Muñiz, then worsened the cut in round 3. Every time Muñiz landed a good right hand, Chandler used his left hook as a deterrent.
Over the next few rounds, Chandler beat Muñiz up and cut him some more. By round 7, Muñiz couldn't close his mouth and was getting a worse beating with each minute, prompting a stoppage.
"The first time, Muñiz got a lot of right hands in on me," Chandler said. "This time, I took that away from him. I threw the left hooks and they were the key to the fight."
Prime Jeff Chandler was a beast, here's a highlight video. I love at the beginning of this video, Chandler says he wants to catch Panama Al Brown and Manuel Ortiz, the man knew his boxing history and had a deep respect for the greats of the past.
February 16th in 1980, Marvelous Marvin Hagler scored a frightening 2nd round KO of Loucif Hamani in Portland, Maine. Hagler was coming off a highly-disputed draw against middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo, and poor Hamani paid the price. The knockout was particularly brutal, Hamani was sent through the ropes unconscious and into press row.
''I'd be in schooI and do you think I'd be Iistening to the teacher? Are you kidding? I'd be running kind of Iike a movie in my head of the day I'd win the championship, fighting in Yankee Stadium. Honest to God, that's all I thought about. Now, how many peopIe can say they achieved a chiIdhood dream? Not many. But I did.''
Terence "Bud" Crawford retires, five division champion, three times undisputed champion, undefeated 42-0, 38 years old with his health intact, enough money to be set up for life, enjoy your retirement Bud, enjoy your family, all-time great.
“Sugar” Shane Mosley, three-division world champion from Pomona, California — one of the fastest and most explosive fighters of his era.
A dominant lightweight champion before capturing titles at welterweight and junior middleweight, Mosley combined blinding hand speed with real knockout power. His victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Margarito, and Fernando Vargas cemented his legacy as an elite, all-time great competitor who was never afraid to face the best.
37-year-old Shane Mosley dominated Antonio Margarito from start to finish on January 24th in 2009, scoring a sensational stoppage 43 seconds into the ninth round to win the WBA welterweight title in a stunning upset at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Margarito, 30, was coming off an impressive victory over the previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto six months prior. But Mosley used his superior speed from the beginning, and Margarito was never able to display the power and strength he showed against Cotto.
“I trained so hard, and I was so focused,” Mosley said.
Mosley’s team caught Margarito with a Plaster of Paris-like substance on his hand wraps as they were being taped for the fight. Margarito was ordered to wash that off, some of it was gathered as evidence for future investigation by Mosley’s lawyer, and Mosley’s reaction was that it showed “Margarito was scared.”
Turns out, he had reason to be.
Later, Mosley acknowledged the controversy and said, “My trainer [Nazim Richardson] was on his job. He caught him. We both have to wrap our hands the same way.”
The California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito’s licence for one year, and that of his trainer, for having the illegal plaster-like substances on his hand wraps.
As a result we are left wondering if Margarito had used loaded gloves five months earlier when he stopped Cotto in July 2008.
Quick fact about Jimmy Mclarnin, "The Baby-Faced Assassin", McLarnin broke his right hand five times and his left hand three times during his career, but he said in later years that he had no regrets about his ring career. In an interview in 1989, he told Earl Gustkey of The Los Angeles Times:
"I got a dollar for my first fight and $25,000 for my last one. And of all the hundreds of fighters I came in contact with in my life, I can't think of one who I didn't like and who didn't turn out to be at least a halfway decent human being.”
Luis Rodriguez, all-time great welterweight and I do mean all-time great. Holds wins over Bennie Briscoe x2, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter x2, Joey Giambra, Curtis Cokes, Luis Federico Thompson, Virgil Akins, Holly Mims, Benny "Kid" Paret x2, Joe Miceli, and Emile Griffith. A complete fighter who could box or bang, a style nightmare due to his skill, movement, and iron chin.
Jack Sharkey, "The Boston Gob", won the World Heavyweight Title by defeating Max Schmeling on June 21, 1932, in a controversial split decision at Madison Square Garden. Sharkey was one of the most technically sound heavyweights in history, but didn't always live up to his potential. But when Sharkey was on, he was phenomenal. He could do it all, box, bang, fight inside, outside, he could fight in a number of different styles and do them all well. But like I said, he didn't always fight to his potential, didn't always have his head screwed on straight, you never knew which Sharkey was going to show up. William Muldoon once called Sharkey, "The best fighter in the world from the neck down." But when Sharkey was on, he was something to behold.
Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, 1980s junior welterweight champion, famed for his relentless motor, suffocating pressure, and one of the most nonstop punching styles boxing has ever seen.
Ralph "Tiger" Jones, 1950s welterweight and middleweight contender. I've had the privilege of watching him on film recently and I kid you not when I say he was tough as a $2 steak. He had an anvil for a chin. I just finished watching his fight against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1955 and I was impressed, VERY dangerous gatekeeper type of fighter, he upset Robinson in 55'. He was a slugger, a pressure oriented fighter, Robinson couldn't keep him off of him, Jones was very slick defensively as well. They called him "Mr. Television" because he was featured on the evening fight programs a lot back in the day.
IBRO
Articles / June 3, 2023
1950s TV Darling Ralph “Tiger” Jones
By: Dan Cuoco
Ralph “Tiger” Jones was born Ralph Josiah Jones in Brooklyn, New York, on March 14, 1928. He was a 5′ 8″, powerfully built boxer who fought in a bobbing and weaving style, constantly moving forward and throwing punches with both hands. Aided by a granite chin, he was only stopped once, on a cut eye, in eighty-nine professional fights against his era’s top welterweights and middleweights. Between February 1953 and August 1960, Ring magazine ranked him as high as the number three middleweight in the world. He never received a world title shot because of upset losses to lesser-named opponents at the most inopportune times during his career.
Tiger Jones was a fixture of televised boxing in the 1950s because of his aggressive fan-friendly style. He engaged in forty-five national and an estimated twenty regionally televised fights. His overall record was 52-32-5 (KO 13/TKO by 1). He earned the nickname “Tiger” because he was the type of fighter old-timers always talk about, that is, a rugged, rushing scrapper – always moving in with fists swinging, shaking off punches he couldn’t avoid, and delivering a barrage of his own, never holding or backing away.
Ted Carroll wrote in 1956: “Tiger Jones will never be ranked with Harry Greb or Stanley Ketchel, but he didn’t become a hero of the TV lanes fighting soft touches. Future generations, noting the number of losses in his record, may incorrectly infer that he was a toothless tabby cat, yet the names on the list tell another story. They were the top-notchers of the time.”
Before he turned professional in 1950, Jones had 25 amateur fights under the management of Bob Melnick and the tutelage of Gil Clancy, who was only six years older than him. Jones credited Clancy with teaching him how to box and turning him from a juvenile delinquent to a solid citizen. “Gil would always hook me up with fighters from the Salem-Crescent A.C., who tried to fight like Sugar Ray Robinson. They used a lot of fancy hand movements and wouldn’t throw punches. And I knew that if you stayed on top of them and didn’t give them distance, you could beat them using a straight jab and a right cross. So when I fought Sugar Ray in 1955, Gil reminded me how we used to beat those guys in the amateurs that tried to imitate him, and it paid off.”
Jones was a New York golden gloves standout from 1946 to 1950 and participated in the 1949 and 1950 National AAU tournaments in Boston, Massachusetts.
Earning his Tiger Stripes
Jones turned pro on May 27, 1950, and was undefeated in his first eight fights, three by kayo, before losing his first fight on a first-round technical knockout due to a cut eye to former victim Henry Burroughs on January 13, 1951. He fought ten more times in 1951, going 8-1-1. He won a six-round decision over Tommy McGowan; lost a six-round decision to Herbie Hayes; kayoed Armand Michaud in the second round; won a six-round decision over Al Niag; won a six-round decision over Ronnie Hopp; won a six-round decision over Shelby Langford; kayoed Roy Carter in the first round; won a ten-round decision over Bob Stecher in Portland, Maine, in his first ten-rounder; fought an eight-round draw with Sal DiMartino; and stopped Phil Rizzo in seven rounds.
In 1952 he fought eleven times, going 7-3-1. He fought an eight-round draw with Bobby Lloyd in New York; won an eight-round decision over Bobby Lloyd in a return match in Brooklyn; won a six-round decision over Tommy Bazzano in Brooklyn; lost a close eight-round decision to Rocky Castellani in Brooklyn; won an eight-round decision over Tommy Bazzano in a return match in White Plains; won an eight-round decision over Mike Koballa in Brooklyn; lost a close eight-round decision to Jimmy Herring in Brooklyn; won an eight-round decision over Sal DiMartino in Brooklyn; lost a ten-round split-decision to Johnny Saxton by the matter of two points in his first regionally televised fight in New York; won an eight-round decision over Mike Koballa in Syracuse; and closed out the year winning a major upset decision over top-rated welterweight contender Johnny Bratton in his first ten-round main event at Madison Square Garden.
The Bratton fight was televised before a huge nationally televised audience on December 5, 1951, when Tiger first gained the national attention of fight fans with his fan-friendly style. It also vaulted him into Ring magazine’s world middleweight ratings at number ten.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Johnny Bratton
With his father and grandfather at ringside, Jones, a 4-1 underdog, forced the fight from start to finish. He stayed on top of Bratton, refusing to let him get set or angle his deadly long-range punches from outside. The bout was bitterly contested and tense all the way. Jones won the first four rounds, darting left jabs and hooks into Bratton’s face. In the second, third, and fourth, he outpunched Bratton in torrid exchanges and had him in serious trouble with hammer-like right-hand punches. Jones slowed down a bit in the fifth to save energy but was still waging a rugged, aggressive battle with swinging lefts and battering rights. This allowed Bratton to find more openings in the middle rounds, and he made his best showing. In the eighth, Bratton landed a terrific right to the jaw that shook Jones badly, and he pounced on him. However, although he was hurt, Jones fought back furiously, slugging it out with the more experienced Bratton. Jones was still pressing his attack in the ninth and tenth rounds, actually outboxing the bleeding Bratton. Referee Harry Kessler scored it 5-3-2, and Judges Harold Barnes and Bill Healey scored the bout 8-2 and 7-2-1, respectively, for Jones. Jones, at 154 pounds, had a five ¼ weight advantage over Bratton. The defeat ruined Bratton’s possible rich bout with top-ranking middleweight contender Carl (Bobo) Olson that had been in the works.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Kid Gavilan
In 1953, Jones entered the ring nine times, going 6-2-1. He lost a ten-round decision to Rocky Castellani in New York; stopped Marvin Edelman in nine rounds in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Danny Womber in Milwaukee; fought a ten-round draw with Womber in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Jimmy Herring in New York; won a ten-round decision over Joe Tomasello in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Mickey Laurent in Brooklyn; ended his trilogy with Womber by winning an easy ten-round decision; and lost a competitive ten-round decision to Kid Gavilan in New York on August 26, 1953.
Following the Gavilan bout, Dr. Vincent Nardiello said x-rays at St. Clare’s Hospital disclosed Jones had suffered a fracture and dislocation of the right thumb. Consequently, Jones was out of action for six months when he had an operation on his broken right thumb and right elbow to remove bone chips. He finished his 1953 ring campaign as Ring magazine’s eighth-ranked world middleweight contender.
In the September 1953 issue of Ring magazine Lew Eskin wrote, “Jones’ two-fisted slam-bang action style has made him a big favorite with TV fans all over the country. He has been on network TV seven times this year, which is more than any other fighter. He has made over 20 appearances on TV, but only 10 have been on nationwide hook-ups.”
The Five Fight Losing Streak
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Hector Constance
In 1954, Jones entered the ring seven times, going 2-5. On March 8, 1954, he quickly got back into title contention with a thrilling come-from-behind technical knockout of 2-1 favorite Bobby Dykes in 2:12 of the final round of their nationally televised main event at the Eastern Parkway Arena. Trailing on all three scorecards, Jones dropped the fifth-ranking middleweight contender twice with rights to the jaw in the final round. Bobby took nine counts both times, but Referee Jack Watson halted the bout with Dykes out on his feet. A month later, Jones easily won a ten-round decision over Billy McNeece in a nationally televised main event at the Eastern Parkway Arena. The two victories moved Jones to number three in Ring magazine’s world ratings.
Tiger Jones never received a world title shot because of his propensity to lose to lesser-named opponents during his career at the most inopportune times. Back-to-back defeats to unranked underdogs Jacques Royer Crecy and Pedro Gonzales on May 14, 1954, and May 24, 1954, in nationally televised main events from Madison Square Garden and St. Nicholas Arena, proved costly. The losses were catastrophic and immediate. He went from number three in the world ratings in April 1954 and a potential world title shot to be dropped entirely from the top-ten world ratings in May 1954.
His losing streak continued as he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Joey Giardello in Philadelphia on September 24, 1954, a ten-round split decision to Hector Constance in New York on November 12, 1954, and a ten-round unanimous decision to Peter Mueller in Rochester, New York, on December 4, 1954.
Sugar Ray Robinson
On October 20, 1954, Sugar Ray Robinson announced he would begin training for a comeback. He said he wanted to fight again and win back the middleweight title. When asked if he was returning for financial reasons, he stated that finance is a consideration: “Right now, I weigh 157 ½ pounds…I think dancing has helped my legs…I worked a little in a gymnasium in Europe this summer. I’ll fight anyone who pays me.”
Ray Robinson Kayoes Joe Rindone
Robinson began his comeback in Detroit on January 5, 1955, against ring veteran Joe Rindone. Robinson was rusty and cautious for five rounds before flashing his old lightning-like form and knocking out Rindone at 1:37 of the sixth round to successfully launch his comeback before a roaring crowd of 11,973 in Olympia Stadium. Robinson told reporters, “I can’t say it was one of my better fights. It’ll take time to regain the touch. The point is I know I still can fight. Five or six more bouts, and then, if all goes well, I want Olson for the title.”
On January 8, 1955, Sugar Ray Robinson’s management team announced that Robinson would meet Tiger Jones at Chicago Stadium on January 19, 1955, exactly two weeks after Robinson’s non-TV return in Detroit and would give a national television audience its first chance to see Robinson since he retired and vacated his middleweight crown in 1952. The International Boxing Club (IBC) chose Jones because he hadn’t won a fight in the past eight months. Moreover, he had lost five fights in a row; in four of them he had been the betting favorite. (So ill-regarded was the opposition that the only top-rated fighter to beat him was Joey Giardello.)
Robinson’s co-manager Joe Glaser had objected strenuously, stating, “This is too soon to go again; you need some rest to build up the strength you’ll have to have. Jones loses fights, but he’s young and will be loaded for you.” Finally, Truman Gibson, secretary of the IBC, jumped in and told Robinson, “I wouldn’t let you fight anybody else. If you don’t take Jones, you lose the date. This guy just walks in, he’s made to order for you, believe me.” Robinson enjoyed hearing Gibson telling him that the public was hungry to see him, and he’d draw the best TV audience in years, and that there hasn’t been anyone to replace him or come close to him. Case closed! Robinson’s ego gave in, and the fight was on.
Ralph (Tiger) Jones was facing the fight with Robinson without illusions. He saw it as an opportunity to use his skill set to cope with fighters with the Robinson technique. “When I was a Golden Glover, we were always in tournaments when we’d come up against fellows from the Salem-Crescent A.C., Ray’s old club. He was the best to have come out of there. Naturally, they all copied him, but soon as they’d come up with a new ‘Robinson,’ I’d knock him off. I must have ruined a dozen of them.” As a pro, he beat a reasonable facsimile of Sugar Ray in Johnny Bratton. (Roger Donoghue, Jones’ former stablemate, told reporters, “Jones is the kind of fighter who tears apart fancy guys like Bratton.”)
Yet questions remained about Jones’ ability to beat Sugar Ray when fighters like Rocky Castellani’s off-beat cleverness made him look terrible. Moreover, what was the cause of his five-fight losing streak? His old friend and mentor, Gil Clancy, tried to explain him. “He’s a sensitive kid. He trains like his life depends on it. He puts too much into it and can’t understand why he should fail. And, when he gets off wrong, he broods. He takes a defeat home with him and gets into a mental rut. And nobody can pull him out of it but himself. But he has heart and common sense, and eventually, he gets himself going again when the public least expects it.”
The Fight
Jones Nails Robinson with Right Cross
Robinson was an 8-1 favorite to achieve the second straight victory of his comeback campaign. Jones stalked Robinson from the start. He took Robinson’s best punches and kept boring in to score with solid punches of his own. Robinson had trouble jabbing or hitting him in the first round with right hand shots. Jones kept moving under Robinson’s straight lefts and bobbing and weaving out of reach of his rights. Several times in the round, Jones backed Robinson to the ropes. One of Jones’ lefts drew blood from Sugar Ray’s nose.
In the second round, Robinson attempted to step up the tempo, and Jones answered with a left hook which cut Robinson over the right eye. Sugar Ray came out slugging with both hands in the third round, but Jones blunted his attack by moving his head and following up with lefts to the body and rights to the head combinations.
Jones continued to stalk Robinson effectively during the ensuing rounds, taking Robinson’s best punches and boring in to score with solid combinations. Robinson’s timing was way off, and he was forced to retreat the few times he sought to slug it out. Jones drove Robinson into the ropes and mauled him so severely in the late rounds that Robinson’s arms dangled as if weighted down. The decision was not surprising. All three officials scored it heavily for Jones. Referee Frank Sikora voted 99-94; Judge Ed Hintz, 100-88; and Judge Ed Walsh, 98-89. Jones said, “Robinson only hurt me once – with a hard left in the eighth round. I thought my right eye was going out.”
Tiger Claws his way back to the Top Ten
On February 16, 1955, one month after his upset decision over Robinson, Jones met middleweight champion Carl (Bobo) Olson in a nontitle bout at the Chicago Stadium. Olson boxed masterfully and viciously to win his nineteenth straight victory. Jones tried to carry the fight to Olson, but Olson countered brilliantly and effectively to pile up large margins in every round. Olson beat Jones to the punch all the way, except the few times Jones lashed out with stinging rights to the jaw that jolted the champion. Jones only won one round on the three cards of the officials.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Eduardo Lausse
Jones got back in the winner’s column on April 8 with a convincing fifth-round stoppage of Georgie Johnson in St. Louis; on March 13, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to highly ranked kayo artist Eduardo Lausse at Madison Square Garden. Lausse and Jones wowed the fans with their non-stop, virtually clinchless slugfest. On June 17, he battered tough Ernie Durando into helplessness in the sixth round at Madison Square Garden. Then, on September 23, he hammered out a ten-round unanimous decision over Chris Christensen at the Cleveland Arena. His victories over Durando and Christensen were impressive enough to bring him back into Ring magazine’s world middleweight rankings at number six.
On October 12, he ran his winning streak to three with an impressive ten-round decision over Al Andrews at the Dinner Key Auditorium in St. Louis. Johnny Saxton stopped his modest winning streak on November 9, winning a ten-round unanimous decision at the Oakland Auditorium. Jones’ loss to Saxton dropped his year-end ranking to number nine. Once again, because of his aggressive fan-friendly style, all eight of his fights were nationally televised.
In 1956, Jones entered the ring six times, going 4-2. On February 8, he kayoed Tony Baldoni in six rounds in Washington D.C.; on March 23, he won an upset ten-round decision over number two ranked Charles Humez in New York; on April 20, he lost a close ten-round decision to number seven ranked Gene Fullmer in Cleveland; on July 30, he won a ten-round decision over Jesse Turner in Portland, Oregon; on September 14, he won a ten-round decision over Wilfie Greaves in Washington, D.C.; and on November 19, in a rematch with Charley Humez, he lost a ten-round decision in Paris. Despite the loss to Humez, he ended his 1956 campaign as Ring magazine’s third-ranked world middleweight contender.
In and out of the Top Ten Ratings
Between January 1957 and August 1960, Jones was like a yoyo in and out of the world ratings. In 1957, Jones entered the ring eight times, going 3-4-1. On January 18, he won a ten-round decision over Hardy Smallman in Cleveland; on March 25, he won a ten-round decision over Arthur King in Toronto; on April 12, he won a ten-round decision over Chico Vejar in Syracuse; on April 25, he drew in ten rounds with Joe Gray in Flint; on June 7, he lost a ten-round decision to Gene Fullmer in Chicago; on August 24, he lost a ten-round decision to Glen Flanagan in St. Paul; on November 29, he lost a ten-round decision to Willie Vaughn in New York; and on December 27, he lost a ten-round decision to Joey Giardello in Miami Beach. His losses to Fullmer, Flanagan, Vaughn, and Giardello dropped him out of Ring magazine’s world ratings.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Joey Giardello
In 1958, Jones entered the ring six times, going 3-3. He split two decisions with Kid Gavilan on February 19 and April 4, winning the first in Miami Beach and losing the second in Philadelphia; on May 17, he lost a ten-round decision to Jimmy Hegerle in Albuquerque; on September 10, he stopped Mickey Crawford in the tenth round in Chicago; and then split two decisions with Rory Calhoun on November 21, and December 15, winning the first in New York and losing the second in Cleveland. He ended his 1958 campaign as Ring magazine’s tenth-ranked world middleweight contender.
In 1959, Jones entered the ring four times, going 2-2. On January 28, he avenged two previous losses to Joey Giardello, winning a ten-round split decision in Louisville; on March 17, now ranked number five by Ring, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Paul Pender in Boston; on May 18, Jones lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Joey Giambra in Dallas; on June 26, he won a ten-round decision over Victor Zalazar in New York. Jones ended his 1959 campaign unranked.
Jones Grows Cynical
Jones grew cynical near the end of his career knowing that there was no longer a chance at a title shot. He was quoted as saying, “When a fight is over, I don’t even listen to the decision. It doesn’t matter anymore. If I win, so what?
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Lazlo Papp
From 1960 through 1962, Jones fought eight times, going 3-4-1. In 1960, he lost a decision to Wilfie Greaves in Chicago, he stopped Willie Greene in seven rounds in Providence, won a decision over Joe DeNucci in Boston, earning him his last entry into Ring’s ratings at number ten, and lost decisions to Marcel Pigou in Boston and Joey Giambra in Buffalo. In 1961, he won a decision over Duane Horseman in Rochester, fought a draw with Joe DeNucci in Boston, and lost a decision to Rocky Fummerelle in Buffalo. In 1962 he lost decisions to Joe DeNucci in Boston and Laszlo Papp in Vienna. His fight with Papp on March 21, 1962, was the last of his career.
After he retired, Jones worked for a canning company and drove a cab. He passed away on July 17, 1994, at 66. He was pre-deceased by his wife of nearly forty years, Dora, and survived by three sons and two grandchildren.
Like I said, Ralph Jones had an anvil for a chin, he fought some hard punchers and none of them ever knocked him out, he was stopped on cuts in the last fight of his career but nobody ever stretch Jones out. I watched his fight against Sugar Ray Robinson recently, the fight took place in 1955 when Robinson was on the comeback trail, and I was impressed with Jones, he was tough as $hit. Robinson threw everything and the kitchen sink at Jones, hit him with some brutal shots and Jones just soaked it up and kept advancing like a tank, he drove Robinson into the ropes and mauled him, Robinson couldn't keep him off. Jones was extremely strong and I imagine a lot of fighters had a hell of a time trying to keep him at bay. Jones won that fight by unanimous decision and upset Robinson that night.
Prime example right here of how tough and rugged Ralph Jones was, he went toe-to-toe with the murderous punching South American Eduardo Lausse. He actually opened Lausse up during the fight.
Credit: New York Times
Eduardo Lausse, the 27-year-old middleweight from Buenos Aires, gained a unanimous ten- round decision over Ralph (Tiger) Jones of Yonkers in the feature bout at Madison Square Garden last night. This was the Argentine boxer's twenty-eighth straight victory. Although bothered by a bad cut at the side of his left eye, the South American fought in characteristic style. He kept after his foe and scored repeatedly with left hooks to the head. Ringsiders agreed the contest was one of the most free-hitting affairs seen in some time. Ref- eree Harry Kessler had an easy time of it. He didn't have to separate the men even once. Jones did particularly well in the sixth round. He caught the winner with a devastating right to the head which brought blood. Lausse, however, lost none of his effectiveness.
Physician Checks Lausse
Jones kept striking for the winner's wound through the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds. The cut bled enough to cause Dr. Vincent Nardiello, New York State Athletic Commission physician, to make two visits to Lausse's corner. The physician advised Kessler there was no need to halt the bout. He explained to the referee that while the cut was an open one, it was not actually blinding the South American. Meanwhile, Lausse seemed to thrive on adversity. The tenth round was one of his best. Midway in the session he had the tired Jones on the ropes. He connected repeatedly with solid lefts and rights but the loser refused to fall.
This is a just a beast of a photo, Tiger Jones on the attack against a bleeding Eduardo Lausse, you had to have some serious ball$ to stand toe-to-toe with Lausse, he was a brutal puncher. This photo tells you all you need to know about Ralph "Tiger" Jones, he was an absolute handful for anyone.
On December 5, 1952 at Madison Square Garden, Ralph Jones and Johnny Bratton battled in the featured match. Jones prevailed winning a unanimous ten round decision. Another beast of a photo showing Jones at his brutal best.
On August 26, 1953 at Madison Square Garden, Kid Gavilan and Ralph Jones met in the main event. Gavilan won a tough unanimous ten round decision. "This was no easy task for Gavilan, who changed his attack to a southpaw style in the eighth round and moved ahead in a commanding fashion after that. ... One of the best body punchers in his class, Jones proved a troublesome adversary for Gavilan until the Cuban switched his tactics in the eighth" - (William J. Briordy, New York Times)
Great photos of Jones and Gavilan down in the trenches, this shot really captures what it was like with two fighters up close winging punches at each other, the concussive power being thrown around was unreal, love this image with Jones bracing for impact.
September 24, 1954 at the Arena in Philadelphia middleweights Joey Giardello and Ralph "Tiger" Jones met in the main event. Giardello prevailed winning a ten round unanimous decision.
Ralph Jones and a bleeding Gene Fullmer in 1957, my goodness, what a photo. Two of the hardest mf'ers to ever enter a boxing ring. I'm not kidding, both these guys were made of galvanized steel.
Comments
Kid Berg in training, shoveling sand and cement.
Love these photos with fighters posing in different locations, I've seen them pose on rooftops, on back dirt roads, in fields, this one is cool, Berg in a fight pose on a wooden deck in front of a swimming pool.
Two all-time greats, Kid Berg and Len Harvey pictured together shaking hands at London's Waterloo station.
Kid Berg on the cover of The Ring magazine in March of 1930.
Up close shot of Kid Berg.
A cartoon of Kid Berg, showing his whirlwind intensity in the ring.
A dapper Kid Berg.
The book about Jack "Kid" Berg, "The Whitechapel Whirlwind."
“Man, I hit [Muhammad Ali] with punches that bring down the walls of a city. What held him up?”
A line that perfectly captures the brutality of the final chapter in one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
Under suffocating heat and relentless pressure, Frazier threw everything he had at Ali in a fight that pushed both men beyond exhaustion and pain. Neither fighter truly lost that night — they simply reached the absolute limits of what a human being could endure.
"Joltin" Jeff Chandler, 1980s bantamweight champion from Philadelphia.
He turned pro after just two amatuer fights and became one of the greatest bantamweight champions in history.
Jeff Chandler, another in the long line of great Philadelphia fighters, first captured the NABF and USBA titles en route to worldwide recognition. A tireless counterpuncher, Chandler was known as "Joltin' Jeff" for his considerable power. He was one of the first prominent fighters to be managed by a woman -- K.O. Becky O'Neill.
Chandler's busy style and action fights made him a regular on network television during the early 1980s.
He captured the world bantamweight title with a 14th-round knockout of Julian Solis on November 14, 1980. He made nine successful title defenses, including victories over former champ Jorge Lujan and future champ Gaby Canizales. In 1983, he avenged a non-title fight loss against Oscar Muniz with a seventh-round knockout over Muniz. The second time they met, they clashed with the title on the line.
Chandler was considered among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport when his title reign ended with 15th-round TKO loss to Richie Sandoval in 1984. It was his last fight.
Some great fighters have come from Philadelphia, great fighters, Frazier, Johnson, Liston, Hopkins, Briscoe, the list goes on and on, and Jeff Chandler was one of those. Fascinating story, walked into a gym at the age of 19 and turned pro with just a couple of amateur fights under his belt, ended up becoming bantamweight champion and making nine defenses of his title. Excellent boxer, but he could bang as well, love watching him fight. Eye problems ultimately ended his career.
PHILLY BOXING HISTORY
JEFF CHANDLER - STILL JOLTIN'
By Ken Hissner
Even at just 118 pounds, Philly's Joltin' Jeff Chandler was a giant of a man when it came to God-given talent. He walked into South Philly's Juniper Gym at age 19, and two amateur fights later he was on his way to becoming a world champion. "I fought on a Friday and a Monday in the amateurs. I lost to Johnny Carter in the second one. He had well over 50 fights. I knew we would see each other again. I turned pro figuring why fight for nothing,” said Chandler.
Chandler came to the Juniper Gym in 1976 where future world light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad had started two years before him. Both men would go on to become champions about a year apart (Saad in 1979 and Jeff in 1980).
Chandler was managed by Arnold Giovanetti and trained by Pat Patterson. But about seven fights into Chandler's career, when Giovanetti mysteriously disappeared, Saad Muhammad trainer Nick Belfiore took over the training duties, while the under-five-foot "KO" Becky O'Neill became Jeff's manager. Becky's husband, Willie O'Neill, filled the role of assistant trainer and advisor. “Becky and Willie were the greatest people ever. My life was never the same when they passed,” said Chandler.
“As small as Becky was she would stand up for me in an instant if someone said something negative about me. I told her I could stand up for myself,” said Chandler. After five years in the professional ring, Chandler made Willie O'Neill his head trainer.
“When I first started sparring in the gym Nick (Belfiore) would have the guys lined up on the bench waiting for me. I had just come from my construction job and was really tired. In time, I would walk in the door and yell to them to get ready,” said Chandler.
Chandler, at five feet, seven inches, was a giant in the 118-pound division. He made his debut in the coal mountain region of Scranton, PA, some two hours north of Philly. His promoter was future hall of famer J Russell Peltz, and Eddie "The Clot" Aliano was his cut man. “Eddie would be with me in every fight. There were times he would run the corner,” said Chandler.
Scranton's Catholic Youth Center Gym was over a bowling alley, and a familiar venue for Philadelphia fighters. This was the same place Philly’s uncrowned champion Tyrone Everett started his career. Philly’s Mike Dowling, 1-0, was Chandler’s first opponent. The fight ended in a draw. “I was 118 pounds, and I know they didn’t put weights down in those days because Dowling had to be 130.
Chandler was brought along slowly. His team knew they had something special in Chandler if he was brought along properly. In the 1970's, the east coast was not stocked with bantamweights. “Peltz put me in some of my first fights and when he saw something in me he signed me up,” said Chandler.
I fought Michael Frazier who lived two blocks from me (his third fight). I would use him as my sparring partner after I won the title,” said Chandler. Places like the Blue Horizon, Convention Hall, in Atlantic City and Fournier Hall, in Wilmington, DE, would provide Chandler with the needed experience that would benefit him.
Chandler’s first bout at the Spectrum in Philly was in November of 1976 against Tony “Pee Wee” Stokes, of NY, in a scheduled 4 rounder. Both Stokes and Chandler were 5-0-1. The main event featured WBC champion Alfredo Escalera defending against unbeaten Philly super featherweight Tyrone Everett, 34-0. “I had the walk out fight that night and only saw a couple of rounds. Later I would see it in its entirety and Everett really got robbed,” said Chandler. It was this writer’s opinion that the decision against Everett was boxing's worst ever. Everett was shot death six months later. [Note: Tyrone's brother Mike fought the walkout bout; Chandler fought earlier on the card.]
Chandler passed his first real test that night by beating Stokes. It was the real start of his career, and still almost two years before his first 10-rounder.
In another major bout, Chandler was under the main event of Marvin Hagler and “Bad” Bennie Briscoe. “Briscoe would fill the arena to the rafters,” said Chandler. Chandler defeated Sergio Reyes, 12-6, over 8 rounds. His brain trust, Peltz, was guiding him up the rankings slowly but surely. There hadn’t been a 118 champ from the US since 1943. “Maureen (Sacks, Peltz VP) takes care of you. She’s a wonderful lady and I have nothing negative to say about Russell (Peltz),” said Chandler.
In April of 1979, Chandler met former Olympian Davey Vasquez, 18-2, at the Spectrum and won in a 10 rounder. “He had good stuff,” said Chandler. In July, he faced one of the few other east coast bantam’s who happened to also be from Philly, Baby Kid Chocolate, 18-2. The fight, at Upper Darby's Forum, was for the USBA bantamweight title. “Before the fight, he said he was going to jump on me, but I jumped on him first, in the opening round,” said Chandler. He stopped Chocolate in the 9th round.
In February of 1980, Chandler would add the NABF title to his USBA crown, meeting Javier Flores, 26-4-3. Chandler drop Flores in the 9th round and stop him in the 10th to become the dual champion. What he wanted was the world title - and by year’s end it would happen.
In Atlantic City, Chandler defeated the Puerto Rican champion Andres Hernandez, 30-6-1, in defense of his two titles. Hernandez had lost to knockout artist Carlos Zarate in rounds 13 in a try for the champ's WBC belt. The fight was under the Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. John Conteh light heavyweight main event. “I would have liked to have fought Zarate,” said Chandler.
After a couple of knockouts in July, Chandler was matched with WBA champion Julian Solis, 21-0, of Puerto Rico. The fight occurred in Miami on November of 1980 with Solis' championship on the line. On the undercard, Alexis Arguello defeated Jose Luis Ramirez by split decision. Chandler said, “Can you imagine the great Alexis Arguello on my undercard?” Chandler was well ahead on two of the scorecards when he stopped Solis in the 14th round to become the first world bantamweight champion from the east coast in 33 years. “He was a good boxer with a lot of heart so I just kept being aggressive. I felt great. I knew what I had to do to win it (title) but I knew keeping it would be harder,” said Chandler.
Chandler’s first defense was in February of 1981 against former WBA champ Jorge Lujan, 22-3, who lost his title Solis in his 6th defense. "In order to get the Solis fight I had to agree to fight Lujan if I won." The clash with Lujan was held at the Franklin Plaza Hotel, in Philadelphia. Chandler won on all score cards 148-143, 146-143 and 146-142. Not only were all the judges Latino but so was the referee.
In April, it was off to Tokyo, Japan, to defend against the OPBF champ Eijiro Murata, 18-0-2. After 15 rounds, the referee had it even, while the judges scored it 147-146 for Murata and 145-142 for Chandler, a draw. “I was Jeff’s sparring partner even though I was 140 and supposed to go to Japan with him", said Vinnie Burgese (22-5-1 as a pro). "I went to the nationals instead and won them at 16. Jeff is the greatest and he made me a better fighter,” said Vinnie Burgese (22-5-1 as a pro). “I thought I won the fight. He kept coming in with his head causing a cut,” said Chandler.
There would be a rematch before the year was out, but first a rematch with Solis, 22-1, was next. Chandler made sure there would be no need for the judges after the Murata draw. In Atlantic City rematch, Chandler stopped Solis in the 7th round, while ahead on all scorecards. “He didn’t seem like the same fighter I first fought,” said Chandler.
Before the rematch with Murata in Atlantic City, “Belfiore dropped out as trainer and Willie O’Neill took over as trainer at this point,” said Peltz. Well ahead on all cards, Chandler stopped Murata in the 13th round to deal the Japanese opponent his first career loss.
In March of 1982 at the Philadelphia Civic Center, Chandler proved "what goes round comes round" in his rematch with fellow Philly fighter Johnny “Dancing Machine” Carter, 23-1, who Chandler had lost to in the amateurs. “We were in the ring getting announced when Carter gives me the “tomahawk” sign and started dancing around. I thought "you’re in the wrong spot this time". We had gone to night school together so I clapped for him,” said Chandler.
“He knew it was a lot different this time as early as the first round,” said Chandler, who was ahead on all scorecards going into the sixth round. “I got off the stool for the sixth round and Willie slapped me on the butt so hard I thought I was having a heart attack. He said "now go get him",” said Chandler. Referee Frank Cappuccino stopped it at 2:28 of the sixth round in favor of Chandler.
In Chandler’s only other fight in 1982, he stopped Miguel Iriarte, 12-1-1, in Atlantic City to end the Panamanian's eight-bout winning streak in the 9th round. “He came out throwing bombs the whole fight trying to kill me. I hadn’t fought for seven months but was able to avoid most of them,” said Chandler.
In March of 1983, Chandler met a future WBA and WBO champion and a Hall of Famer in Gaby Canizales, 24-1, who was then USBA champion and winner of 14 straight. “I said, where’s the easy one’s?” He had defended against No. 1 thru No.4. Canizales trainer Jesse Reid said, “Chandler was a great fighter.” Chandler won the Atlantic City bout by scores of 148-140, 147-140 and 145-141. It was his seventh defense.
Chandler had a return bout with Murata scheduled in September so he took a couple of non-title bouts to stay busy. In Atlantic City, he dropped Hector Cortez, 39-11-3, of Ecuador, in the 1st, 2nd and 7th rounds easily winning over 10 rounds. “I was really cracking that night,” said Chandler. To this writer’s pleasure Jeff got up in his kitchen and started throwing jabs and left hooks. He’s still very trim and quick at 54.
Chandler wasn’t so fortunate in his next fight, losing a split decision to L.A.’s Oscar Muniz, 36-3-3, the NABF champ who had won his last 10 fights in a row. “I was offered $100,000 to fight Muniz with one week's notice. I couldn’t turn it down and though I had only been in the gym one day, I thought I did all right, all things considered,” said Chandler.
They promised to give Muniz a title shot after a September defense in a rubber match with Murata. Once again Chandler travelled to Japan with knockout on his mind. Murata, 24-1-3, went down in round 2, round 3, and 3 times in the 10th before the referee Isidro Rodriguez stopped the one-sided fight in the 10th round.
In the December rematch with Muniz, it was a different fight. Chandler came in at his lowest weight in almost three years. “Every time he had an itch, I scratched it,” said Chandler. Muniz, 38-3-3, was no match for Chandler the second time around. Ahead on all scorecards Chandler, cut Muniz and then stopped him at the :23 mark of round 7. He had avenged the only draw and the loss marring an otherwise perfect record.
Next for Chandler would be the well regarded Richie Sandoval, 22-0, of CA, in an April Atlantic City in April of 1984 being Chandler’s 10th defense. “I had hurt my left shoulder several weeks before the fight. The day of the fight I got an injection for the pain. By the third round I told my trainer I felt like I was drunk. That shot really affected me,” said Chandler. Why he didn’t get it earlier for re-action purposes he didn’t know.
Chandler got dropped for the first time in his career in the 11th round. “I didn’t think it was a real knockdown,” said Chandler. Referee Arthur Mercante stopped it at 1:20 of the 15th and last round, declaring the end of an era - and the end of a career for “Joltin” Jeff Chandler. Two years later, Sandoval would lose the title (in his third defense) to Canizales and retire. It was his only loss in 30 bouts.
At the age of 27, Chandler announced his retirement with a 33-2-2 (18 KO) record with nine successful title defenses. “I was told I had cataracts on both eyes just prior to the Sandoval fight and knew it would be my last fight,” said Chandler.
Chandler was inducted into the IBHOF in 2000. “I knew I was that good,” said Chandler. He now resides in Newark, DE. He has three sons - Tarik, Jeffrey Jr. and Julius who live in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.
This writer caught up to Chandler at the PA HOF in May and at the Briscoe Awards in October. We made arrangements to meet in November through John DiSanto who runs the Briscoe awards. “Jeff Chandler was probably the best fighter to come up at the Spectrum, and he’s on the list of all-time Philly greats,” said DiSanto.
Fellow Doghouse Boxing writer Dave Ruff , accompanied me on the interview. He asked Jeff if he would speak to the kids where he works in Wilmington, DE, at the Frains Boys & Girls Club. Chandler said to call him anytime and he will be there.
“Ali was the reason I got started in boxing. Joey Giardello (former world champ) told me how dangerous the sport was. That is why I always kept my hands up high - to take care of myself down the road. I couldn’t believe how guys like Giardello and Carmen Basilio would fight so many times and against so many tough opponents,” said Chandler.
“I loved my mom and she was great. She would put something away for me after my fights. When I was young she said you will be in jail before your 21 if you keep doing what you’re doing. That always stayed with me. God is always with me and looking out for me. Even when I was champ I tried staying away from people that were not good for my boxing career,” said Chandler. The family attended the “Light of the World Chapel” in South Philly.
Chandler brought out a beautiful portrait of himself wearing the Ring Magazine belt. He also showed us his picture on the cover of the July 1983 Ring Magazine. He signed a boxing Hall of Fame card for Ruff. Both Ruff and I agreed after talking and laughing with “Joltin” Jeff Chandler that he was a very modest person and a lot of fun to be with. Being one of the all time best Philly champions and a boxer who was tops in his field, it was our pleasure that he took so much time to talk with us.
Philadelphia’s J Russell Peltz, the IBHOF promoter of Chandler’s who has worked with many world champions and contenders for over 40 years summed it up by saying, “Jeff was the most talented fighter, physically and mentally, I ever promoted.”
Jeff Chandler was famously managed by the pioneering female manager K.O. Becky O'Neill, alongside her husband and trainer Willie O'Neill, after his initial manager disappeared; they formed a tight, family-like team, with Becky managing and Willie training, guiding Chandler through his championship run and after, with the O'Neills becoming like parents to him.
I'm going to attempt to get as many Chandler fights in here as I can find, enjoy the rollercoaster ride on his track of destruction.
PHILLY BOXING HISTORY
SEPTEMBER 26, 1979
CHANDLER KOS CHOCOLATE;
WINS USBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
On this day in 1979, South Philly's Joltin' Jeff Chandler won the brand new USBA bantamweight championship with a resounding knockout of Baby Kid Chocolate (a.k.a. Ronnie Walker) of North Philly at the 69yh Street Forum in Upper Darby.
Chandler started slowly but eventually established his superiority of his rival. He began landing his heavy blows after a couple of rounds and really started making headway in the middle of the fight. As Chocolate chugged forward pressing the action, Chandler out-worked him with his accurate attack. As the punches rained, Chocolate began to wear down and held more and more. By round eight, Chandler seemed to have his opponent on the brink of a stoppage. But with his back against the ropes for much of the period, Chocolate showed his grit by hanging in there.
In the ninth, Chandler moved in for the kill and got it with a devastating three punch combination. His initial left set Chocolate up. The quick, hard left hook that followed was probably all the Chandler needed, but just to ice it, he drilled a right hand home that put Chocolate down and out. Referee Bob Polis counted ten and Chocolate remained out for several minutes.
The impressive victory raised Chandler's record to 18-0-1 (6 KOs) and really was the beginning of his charge toward the world bantamweight championship that he won about one year later. Chocolate dropped to 18-3 with 8 KOs. It was his third straight loss and basically signaled the end of his career. Chocolate would win just one of five more bouts scattered over his last four years in the ring. He was a good fighter and a solid prospect, but unfortunate enough to come up at a time when Chandler ruled the bantamweights.
Jeff Chandler stops Javier Flores to win the NABF bantamweight title.
Philly Boxing History
FEBRUARY 1st
CHANDLER ADDS NABF TITLE
On this day in 1980, South Philadelphian Jeff Chandler won the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) bantamweight title by stopping Javier Flores in the 10th round at the Philadelphia Spectrum. Already the USBA titlist, Chandler ran his record to 20-0-1 (9 KOs) and continued to look like a future world champion to everyone who watched on.
After three more fights (W12 Andres Hernandez, KO4 Gilberto Villacana, KO8 Gustavo Martinez), Chandler traveled to Miami to take on WBA champ Julian Solis. Of course Jeff would take that world title (by TKO in 14 rounds) and go on to defend it nine times.
On Friday, November 14th, 1980 in Miami, Florida, “Joltin’” Jeff Chandler TKO'd Julian Solis in the 14th round to capture Solis’ WBA Bantamweight championship. Puerto Rico's Solis stepped in the ring with a record of 21-0 and making his first title defense since winning the crown only 3 months earlier by defeating, by 15-round split decision, Jorge Lugan.
Philadelphia's Chandler, turning professional after having had only 2 amateur fights, entered the fight with a 23-0-1 record, his first fight having been a draw. Chandler became the first American to win the world Bantamweight title since Manuel Ortiz did it over 30 years earlier.
Chandler stops Julian Solis again.
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler proved the first time was no fluke when he made his third defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 7th round KO in a rematch with Julian Solís at the Resorts International in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1981.
Solís was a solid puncher from Puerto Rico, but he was beaten in 14 rounds by Chandler in 1980 for his WBA title. The end result was similar this time, but in half the time.
Chandler had serious issues with Solís' inside fighting early on, however. One report said:
"The first five rounds were almost boring, looking more like a taffy pull than a title fight. Solis tried to smother Chandler's expert ring skills by pulling and tugging on the champ. He was only partially successful in negating Chandler's stinging left jab leads."
In the 6th, Chandler broke through and changed the fight with a hard combination. When Solís rocked Chandler with a hook, he was punished for it and looked weary before long. In round 7, Chandler landed a 1-2 that put Solís down hard for the count.
"I could see from the initial punch that he was pulling away from the jab," Chandler said. "He was looking for a long shot. I just stepped in and put in the right. It was a clean punch."
Philly Boxing History
JANUARY 31st
CHANDLER DEFENDS
Joltin' Jeff Chandler made the first defense of his WBA Bantamweight title against tough Jorge Lujan (W15) at Philadelphia's Franklin Plaza Hotel, on this day in 1981.
The great Chandler won his crown two months before against Julian Solis in Miami and went on to make nine successful defenses before ceding the title to Richie Sandoval.
His Hall of Fame career only lacked a unification bout with Lupe Pintor, who repeatedly avoided it.
Om April 5th in 1981, WBA bantamweight champion, Joltin' Jeff Chandler made the second defense of his world title in an uncomfortably close 15-round fight in the back yard of challenger Eijiro Murata. The Tokyo bout was declared a draw by split decision and Chandler made it back to the States with his belt still intact.
As the fight began, Murata established himself as the aggressor while Chandler used his boxing skills, his height, and his stiff left jab to score points. Most of the bout's action occurred in the middle rounds when both fighters exchanged harder punches. However, the fight was marred by a great deal of clinching. Still Murata worked well to the body as Chandler focused on headshots. Slowly Chandler's punches gained power and his shots became sharper. In the championship rounds, Jeff returned to his careful boxing and once again relied on his jab to control the fight. In the last round, Chandler landed a big right uppercut that hurt the tough challenger. It was closest either man came to a knockdown, but it was too little, too late. Murata survived and made it to the final bell.
The scores of the official judges read 145-142 for Chandler, 147-146 for Murata, and 146-146 even. Both fighters felt they had done enough to earn the decision and both called for a rematch. The pair would get their wish two more times. They would rematch eight months later in Atlantic City with Chandler scoring a TKO in 13 rounds. Two years after that, Chandler returned to Tokyo to KO Murata in 10 rounds.
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler made his sixth defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 9th round TKO of Miguel Iriarte at the Resorts International in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 27th in 1982.
Chandler complained about Iriarte's high ranking in the sanctioning organization prior to the bout in addition to the WBA's threat to take the title from him if he didn't take the fight. During the bout, Chandler appeared intent on proving his point.
Iriarte was out if his league. By the 6th round, Chandler had already cut the challenger and in round 9 he stepped up his offense, rocking Iriarte with a right hand. Chandler moved into finish the bout and landed a combination, and the fight was stopped with Iriarte on the verge of going to the deck.
"They had a clown in the ring with me, and so I clowned," Chandler said. "They put a novice in the ring with a world champion. That's not right."
"Joltin'" Jeff Chandler avenged a previous loss, scored his final career win and made his final defense of the WBA bantamweight title with a 7th round TKO of Oscar Muñiz at the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey on December 27th in 1983.
Though Chandler fought to two draws, he lost for the first time as a professional when Muñiz defeated him in a non-title bout a few months earlier. Chandler, a tall and lanky bantamweight, had difficulty making the 118-pound limit and later said he had no legs in their first bout, which was also matched at the last minute. In this rematch, Chandler did indeed appear to be a more focused fighter.
Chandler sat down on his punches and rattled Muñiz in the 1st round, which seemed to ruin the challenger's plan to out-work Chandler and upset his rhythm with movement. Chandler went back to work in round 2 and cut Muñiz, then worsened the cut in round 3. Every time Muñiz landed a good right hand, Chandler used his left hook as a deterrent.
Over the next few rounds, Chandler beat Muñiz up and cut him some more. By round 7, Muñiz couldn't close his mouth and was getting a worse beating with each minute, prompting a stoppage.
"The first time, Muñiz got a lot of right hands in on me," Chandler said. "This time, I took that away from him. I threw the left hooks and they were the key to the fight."
This is one of my favorite photos right here, Jeff Chandler and Oscar Muniz, the blood running down Muniz's face, it looks like he's crying blood.
Jeff Chandler and Julian Solis.
Prime Jeff Chandler was a beast, here's a highlight video. I love at the beginning of this video, Chandler says he wants to catch Panama Al Brown and Manuel Ortiz, the man knew his boxing history and had a deep respect for the greats of the past.
The great "Joltin" Jeff Chandler.
February 16th in 1980, Marvelous Marvin Hagler scored a frightening 2nd round KO of Loucif Hamani in Portland, Maine. Hagler was coming off a highly-disputed draw against middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo, and poor Hamani paid the price. The knockout was particularly brutal, Hamani was sent through the ropes unconscious and into press row.
Here's the Hagler-Hamani knockout.
Mike Tyson with his $100K bonus after a first round KO in 1989.
''I'd be in schooI and do you think I'd be Iistening to the teacher? Are you kidding? I'd be running kind of Iike a movie in my head of the day I'd win the championship, fighting in Yankee Stadium. Honest to God, that's all I thought about. Now, how many peopIe can say they achieved a chiIdhood dream? Not many. But I did.''
Terence "Bud" Crawford retires, five division champion, three times undisputed champion, undefeated 42-0, 38 years old with his health intact, enough money to be set up for life, enjoy your retirement Bud, enjoy your family, all-time great.
“Sugar” Shane Mosley, three-division world champion from Pomona, California — one of the fastest and most explosive fighters of his era.
A dominant lightweight champion before capturing titles at welterweight and junior middleweight, Mosley combined blinding hand speed with real knockout power. His victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Margarito, and Fernando Vargas cemented his legacy as an elite, all-time great competitor who was never afraid to face the best.
Prime Shane Mosley, what a beast.
37-year-old Shane Mosley dominated Antonio Margarito from start to finish on January 24th in 2009, scoring a sensational stoppage 43 seconds into the ninth round to win the WBA welterweight title in a stunning upset at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Margarito, 30, was coming off an impressive victory over the previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto six months prior. But Mosley used his superior speed from the beginning, and Margarito was never able to display the power and strength he showed against Cotto.
“I trained so hard, and I was so focused,” Mosley said.
Mosley’s team caught Margarito with a Plaster of Paris-like substance on his hand wraps as they were being taped for the fight. Margarito was ordered to wash that off, some of it was gathered as evidence for future investigation by Mosley’s lawyer, and Mosley’s reaction was that it showed “Margarito was scared.”
Turns out, he had reason to be.
Later, Mosley acknowledged the controversy and said, “My trainer [Nazim Richardson] was on his job. He caught him. We both have to wrap our hands the same way.”
The California State Athletic Commission revoked Margarito’s licence for one year, and that of his trainer, for having the illegal plaster-like substances on his hand wraps.
As a result we are left wondering if Margarito had used loaded gloves five months earlier when he stopped Cotto in July 2008.
Quick fact about Jimmy Mclarnin, "The Baby-Faced Assassin", McLarnin broke his right hand five times and his left hand three times during his career, but he said in later years that he had no regrets about his ring career. In an interview in 1989, he told Earl Gustkey of The Los Angeles Times:
"I got a dollar for my first fight and $25,000 for my last one. And of all the hundreds of fighters I came in contact with in my life, I can't think of one who I didn't like and who didn't turn out to be at least a halfway decent human being.”
Multiple exposure portrait of Ali and his double clutch shuffle at Life Studios, New York, NY. December 30, 1966.
Credit: Neil Leifer
The Ali shuffle made an appearance on a 2021 Topps set dedicated to Ali.
Luis Rodriguez, all-time great welterweight and I do mean all-time great. Holds wins over Bennie Briscoe x2, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter x2, Joey Giambra, Curtis Cokes, Luis Federico Thompson, Virgil Akins, Holly Mims, Benny "Kid" Paret x2, Joe Miceli, and Emile Griffith. A complete fighter who could box or bang, a style nightmare due to his skill, movement, and iron chin.
Jack Sharkey, "The Boston Gob", won the World Heavyweight Title by defeating Max Schmeling on June 21, 1932, in a controversial split decision at Madison Square Garden. Sharkey was one of the most technically sound heavyweights in history, but didn't always live up to his potential. But when Sharkey was on, he was phenomenal. He could do it all, box, bang, fight inside, outside, he could fight in a number of different styles and do them all well. But like I said, he didn't always fight to his potential, didn't always have his head screwed on straight, you never knew which Sharkey was going to show up. William Muldoon once called Sharkey, "The best fighter in the world from the neck down." But when Sharkey was on, he was something to behold.
This is one of my favorite photos of Jack Sharkey, smoking his pipe.
Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor, 1980s junior welterweight champion, famed for his relentless motor, suffocating pressure, and one of the most nonstop punching styles boxing has ever seen.
Ralph "Tiger" Jones, 1950s welterweight and middleweight contender. I've had the privilege of watching him on film recently and I kid you not when I say he was tough as a $2 steak. He had an anvil for a chin. I just finished watching his fight against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1955 and I was impressed, VERY dangerous gatekeeper type of fighter, he upset Robinson in 55'. He was a slugger, a pressure oriented fighter, Robinson couldn't keep him off of him, Jones was very slick defensively as well. They called him "Mr. Television" because he was featured on the evening fight programs a lot back in the day.
IBRO
Articles / June 3, 2023
1950s TV Darling Ralph “Tiger” Jones
By: Dan Cuoco
Ralph “Tiger” Jones was born Ralph Josiah Jones in Brooklyn, New York, on March 14, 1928. He was a 5′ 8″, powerfully built boxer who fought in a bobbing and weaving style, constantly moving forward and throwing punches with both hands. Aided by a granite chin, he was only stopped once, on a cut eye, in eighty-nine professional fights against his era’s top welterweights and middleweights. Between February 1953 and August 1960, Ring magazine ranked him as high as the number three middleweight in the world. He never received a world title shot because of upset losses to lesser-named opponents at the most inopportune times during his career.
Tiger Jones was a fixture of televised boxing in the 1950s because of his aggressive fan-friendly style. He engaged in forty-five national and an estimated twenty regionally televised fights. His overall record was 52-32-5 (KO 13/TKO by 1). He earned the nickname “Tiger” because he was the type of fighter old-timers always talk about, that is, a rugged, rushing scrapper – always moving in with fists swinging, shaking off punches he couldn’t avoid, and delivering a barrage of his own, never holding or backing away.
Ted Carroll wrote in 1956: “Tiger Jones will never be ranked with Harry Greb or Stanley Ketchel, but he didn’t become a hero of the TV lanes fighting soft touches. Future generations, noting the number of losses in his record, may incorrectly infer that he was a toothless tabby cat, yet the names on the list tell another story. They were the top-notchers of the time.”
Before he turned professional in 1950, Jones had 25 amateur fights under the management of Bob Melnick and the tutelage of Gil Clancy, who was only six years older than him. Jones credited Clancy with teaching him how to box and turning him from a juvenile delinquent to a solid citizen. “Gil would always hook me up with fighters from the Salem-Crescent A.C., who tried to fight like Sugar Ray Robinson. They used a lot of fancy hand movements and wouldn’t throw punches. And I knew that if you stayed on top of them and didn’t give them distance, you could beat them using a straight jab and a right cross. So when I fought Sugar Ray in 1955, Gil reminded me how we used to beat those guys in the amateurs that tried to imitate him, and it paid off.”
Jones was a New York golden gloves standout from 1946 to 1950 and participated in the 1949 and 1950 National AAU tournaments in Boston, Massachusetts.
Earning his Tiger Stripes
Jones turned pro on May 27, 1950, and was undefeated in his first eight fights, three by kayo, before losing his first fight on a first-round technical knockout due to a cut eye to former victim Henry Burroughs on January 13, 1951. He fought ten more times in 1951, going 8-1-1. He won a six-round decision over Tommy McGowan; lost a six-round decision to Herbie Hayes; kayoed Armand Michaud in the second round; won a six-round decision over Al Niag; won a six-round decision over Ronnie Hopp; won a six-round decision over Shelby Langford; kayoed Roy Carter in the first round; won a ten-round decision over Bob Stecher in Portland, Maine, in his first ten-rounder; fought an eight-round draw with Sal DiMartino; and stopped Phil Rizzo in seven rounds.
In 1952 he fought eleven times, going 7-3-1. He fought an eight-round draw with Bobby Lloyd in New York; won an eight-round decision over Bobby Lloyd in a return match in Brooklyn; won a six-round decision over Tommy Bazzano in Brooklyn; lost a close eight-round decision to Rocky Castellani in Brooklyn; won an eight-round decision over Tommy Bazzano in a return match in White Plains; won an eight-round decision over Mike Koballa in Brooklyn; lost a close eight-round decision to Jimmy Herring in Brooklyn; won an eight-round decision over Sal DiMartino in Brooklyn; lost a ten-round split-decision to Johnny Saxton by the matter of two points in his first regionally televised fight in New York; won an eight-round decision over Mike Koballa in Syracuse; and closed out the year winning a major upset decision over top-rated welterweight contender Johnny Bratton in his first ten-round main event at Madison Square Garden.
The Bratton fight was televised before a huge nationally televised audience on December 5, 1951, when Tiger first gained the national attention of fight fans with his fan-friendly style. It also vaulted him into Ring magazine’s world middleweight ratings at number ten.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Johnny Bratton
With his father and grandfather at ringside, Jones, a 4-1 underdog, forced the fight from start to finish. He stayed on top of Bratton, refusing to let him get set or angle his deadly long-range punches from outside. The bout was bitterly contested and tense all the way. Jones won the first four rounds, darting left jabs and hooks into Bratton’s face. In the second, third, and fourth, he outpunched Bratton in torrid exchanges and had him in serious trouble with hammer-like right-hand punches. Jones slowed down a bit in the fifth to save energy but was still waging a rugged, aggressive battle with swinging lefts and battering rights. This allowed Bratton to find more openings in the middle rounds, and he made his best showing. In the eighth, Bratton landed a terrific right to the jaw that shook Jones badly, and he pounced on him. However, although he was hurt, Jones fought back furiously, slugging it out with the more experienced Bratton. Jones was still pressing his attack in the ninth and tenth rounds, actually outboxing the bleeding Bratton. Referee Harry Kessler scored it 5-3-2, and Judges Harold Barnes and Bill Healey scored the bout 8-2 and 7-2-1, respectively, for Jones. Jones, at 154 pounds, had a five ¼ weight advantage over Bratton. The defeat ruined Bratton’s possible rich bout with top-ranking middleweight contender Carl (Bobo) Olson that had been in the works.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Kid Gavilan
In 1953, Jones entered the ring nine times, going 6-2-1. He lost a ten-round decision to Rocky Castellani in New York; stopped Marvin Edelman in nine rounds in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Danny Womber in Milwaukee; fought a ten-round draw with Womber in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Jimmy Herring in New York; won a ten-round decision over Joe Tomasello in Brooklyn; won a ten-round decision over Mickey Laurent in Brooklyn; ended his trilogy with Womber by winning an easy ten-round decision; and lost a competitive ten-round decision to Kid Gavilan in New York on August 26, 1953.
Following the Gavilan bout, Dr. Vincent Nardiello said x-rays at St. Clare’s Hospital disclosed Jones had suffered a fracture and dislocation of the right thumb. Consequently, Jones was out of action for six months when he had an operation on his broken right thumb and right elbow to remove bone chips. He finished his 1953 ring campaign as Ring magazine’s eighth-ranked world middleweight contender.
In the September 1953 issue of Ring magazine Lew Eskin wrote, “Jones’ two-fisted slam-bang action style has made him a big favorite with TV fans all over the country. He has been on network TV seven times this year, which is more than any other fighter. He has made over 20 appearances on TV, but only 10 have been on nationwide hook-ups.”
The Five Fight Losing Streak
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Hector Constance
In 1954, Jones entered the ring seven times, going 2-5. On March 8, 1954, he quickly got back into title contention with a thrilling come-from-behind technical knockout of 2-1 favorite Bobby Dykes in 2:12 of the final round of their nationally televised main event at the Eastern Parkway Arena. Trailing on all three scorecards, Jones dropped the fifth-ranking middleweight contender twice with rights to the jaw in the final round. Bobby took nine counts both times, but Referee Jack Watson halted the bout with Dykes out on his feet. A month later, Jones easily won a ten-round decision over Billy McNeece in a nationally televised main event at the Eastern Parkway Arena. The two victories moved Jones to number three in Ring magazine’s world ratings.
Tiger Jones never received a world title shot because of his propensity to lose to lesser-named opponents during his career at the most inopportune times. Back-to-back defeats to unranked underdogs Jacques Royer Crecy and Pedro Gonzales on May 14, 1954, and May 24, 1954, in nationally televised main events from Madison Square Garden and St. Nicholas Arena, proved costly. The losses were catastrophic and immediate. He went from number three in the world ratings in April 1954 and a potential world title shot to be dropped entirely from the top-ten world ratings in May 1954.
His losing streak continued as he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Joey Giardello in Philadelphia on September 24, 1954, a ten-round split decision to Hector Constance in New York on November 12, 1954, and a ten-round unanimous decision to Peter Mueller in Rochester, New York, on December 4, 1954.
Sugar Ray Robinson
On October 20, 1954, Sugar Ray Robinson announced he would begin training for a comeback. He said he wanted to fight again and win back the middleweight title. When asked if he was returning for financial reasons, he stated that finance is a consideration: “Right now, I weigh 157 ½ pounds…I think dancing has helped my legs…I worked a little in a gymnasium in Europe this summer. I’ll fight anyone who pays me.”
Ray Robinson Kayoes Joe Rindone
Robinson began his comeback in Detroit on January 5, 1955, against ring veteran Joe Rindone. Robinson was rusty and cautious for five rounds before flashing his old lightning-like form and knocking out Rindone at 1:37 of the sixth round to successfully launch his comeback before a roaring crowd of 11,973 in Olympia Stadium. Robinson told reporters, “I can’t say it was one of my better fights. It’ll take time to regain the touch. The point is I know I still can fight. Five or six more bouts, and then, if all goes well, I want Olson for the title.”
On January 8, 1955, Sugar Ray Robinson’s management team announced that Robinson would meet Tiger Jones at Chicago Stadium on January 19, 1955, exactly two weeks after Robinson’s non-TV return in Detroit and would give a national television audience its first chance to see Robinson since he retired and vacated his middleweight crown in 1952. The International Boxing Club (IBC) chose Jones because he hadn’t won a fight in the past eight months. Moreover, he had lost five fights in a row; in four of them he had been the betting favorite. (So ill-regarded was the opposition that the only top-rated fighter to beat him was Joey Giardello.)
Robinson’s co-manager Joe Glaser had objected strenuously, stating, “This is too soon to go again; you need some rest to build up the strength you’ll have to have. Jones loses fights, but he’s young and will be loaded for you.” Finally, Truman Gibson, secretary of the IBC, jumped in and told Robinson, “I wouldn’t let you fight anybody else. If you don’t take Jones, you lose the date. This guy just walks in, he’s made to order for you, believe me.” Robinson enjoyed hearing Gibson telling him that the public was hungry to see him, and he’d draw the best TV audience in years, and that there hasn’t been anyone to replace him or come close to him. Case closed! Robinson’s ego gave in, and the fight was on.
Ralph (Tiger) Jones was facing the fight with Robinson without illusions. He saw it as an opportunity to use his skill set to cope with fighters with the Robinson technique. “When I was a Golden Glover, we were always in tournaments when we’d come up against fellows from the Salem-Crescent A.C., Ray’s old club. He was the best to have come out of there. Naturally, they all copied him, but soon as they’d come up with a new ‘Robinson,’ I’d knock him off. I must have ruined a dozen of them.” As a pro, he beat a reasonable facsimile of Sugar Ray in Johnny Bratton. (Roger Donoghue, Jones’ former stablemate, told reporters, “Jones is the kind of fighter who tears apart fancy guys like Bratton.”)
Yet questions remained about Jones’ ability to beat Sugar Ray when fighters like Rocky Castellani’s off-beat cleverness made him look terrible. Moreover, what was the cause of his five-fight losing streak? His old friend and mentor, Gil Clancy, tried to explain him. “He’s a sensitive kid. He trains like his life depends on it. He puts too much into it and can’t understand why he should fail. And, when he gets off wrong, he broods. He takes a defeat home with him and gets into a mental rut. And nobody can pull him out of it but himself. But he has heart and common sense, and eventually, he gets himself going again when the public least expects it.”
The Fight
Jones Nails Robinson with Right Cross
Robinson was an 8-1 favorite to achieve the second straight victory of his comeback campaign. Jones stalked Robinson from the start. He took Robinson’s best punches and kept boring in to score with solid punches of his own. Robinson had trouble jabbing or hitting him in the first round with right hand shots. Jones kept moving under Robinson’s straight lefts and bobbing and weaving out of reach of his rights. Several times in the round, Jones backed Robinson to the ropes. One of Jones’ lefts drew blood from Sugar Ray’s nose.
In the second round, Robinson attempted to step up the tempo, and Jones answered with a left hook which cut Robinson over the right eye. Sugar Ray came out slugging with both hands in the third round, but Jones blunted his attack by moving his head and following up with lefts to the body and rights to the head combinations.
Jones continued to stalk Robinson effectively during the ensuing rounds, taking Robinson’s best punches and boring in to score with solid combinations. Robinson’s timing was way off, and he was forced to retreat the few times he sought to slug it out. Jones drove Robinson into the ropes and mauled him so severely in the late rounds that Robinson’s arms dangled as if weighted down. The decision was not surprising. All three officials scored it heavily for Jones. Referee Frank Sikora voted 99-94; Judge Ed Hintz, 100-88; and Judge Ed Walsh, 98-89. Jones said, “Robinson only hurt me once – with a hard left in the eighth round. I thought my right eye was going out.”
Tiger Claws his way back to the Top Ten
On February 16, 1955, one month after his upset decision over Robinson, Jones met middleweight champion Carl (Bobo) Olson in a nontitle bout at the Chicago Stadium. Olson boxed masterfully and viciously to win his nineteenth straight victory. Jones tried to carry the fight to Olson, but Olson countered brilliantly and effectively to pile up large margins in every round. Olson beat Jones to the punch all the way, except the few times Jones lashed out with stinging rights to the jaw that jolted the champion. Jones only won one round on the three cards of the officials.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Eduardo Lausse
Jones got back in the winner’s column on April 8 with a convincing fifth-round stoppage of Georgie Johnson in St. Louis; on March 13, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to highly ranked kayo artist Eduardo Lausse at Madison Square Garden. Lausse and Jones wowed the fans with their non-stop, virtually clinchless slugfest. On June 17, he battered tough Ernie Durando into helplessness in the sixth round at Madison Square Garden. Then, on September 23, he hammered out a ten-round unanimous decision over Chris Christensen at the Cleveland Arena. His victories over Durando and Christensen were impressive enough to bring him back into Ring magazine’s world middleweight rankings at number six.
On October 12, he ran his winning streak to three with an impressive ten-round decision over Al Andrews at the Dinner Key Auditorium in St. Louis. Johnny Saxton stopped his modest winning streak on November 9, winning a ten-round unanimous decision at the Oakland Auditorium. Jones’ loss to Saxton dropped his year-end ranking to number nine. Once again, because of his aggressive fan-friendly style, all eight of his fights were nationally televised.
In 1956, Jones entered the ring six times, going 4-2. On February 8, he kayoed Tony Baldoni in six rounds in Washington D.C.; on March 23, he won an upset ten-round decision over number two ranked Charles Humez in New York; on April 20, he lost a close ten-round decision to number seven ranked Gene Fullmer in Cleveland; on July 30, he won a ten-round decision over Jesse Turner in Portland, Oregon; on September 14, he won a ten-round decision over Wilfie Greaves in Washington, D.C.; and on November 19, in a rematch with Charley Humez, he lost a ten-round decision in Paris. Despite the loss to Humez, he ended his 1956 campaign as Ring magazine’s third-ranked world middleweight contender.
In and out of the Top Ten Ratings
Between January 1957 and August 1960, Jones was like a yoyo in and out of the world ratings. In 1957, Jones entered the ring eight times, going 3-4-1. On January 18, he won a ten-round decision over Hardy Smallman in Cleveland; on March 25, he won a ten-round decision over Arthur King in Toronto; on April 12, he won a ten-round decision over Chico Vejar in Syracuse; on April 25, he drew in ten rounds with Joe Gray in Flint; on June 7, he lost a ten-round decision to Gene Fullmer in Chicago; on August 24, he lost a ten-round decision to Glen Flanagan in St. Paul; on November 29, he lost a ten-round decision to Willie Vaughn in New York; and on December 27, he lost a ten-round decision to Joey Giardello in Miami Beach. His losses to Fullmer, Flanagan, Vaughn, and Giardello dropped him out of Ring magazine’s world ratings.
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Joey Giardello
In 1958, Jones entered the ring six times, going 3-3. He split two decisions with Kid Gavilan on February 19 and April 4, winning the first in Miami Beach and losing the second in Philadelphia; on May 17, he lost a ten-round decision to Jimmy Hegerle in Albuquerque; on September 10, he stopped Mickey Crawford in the tenth round in Chicago; and then split two decisions with Rory Calhoun on November 21, and December 15, winning the first in New York and losing the second in Cleveland. He ended his 1958 campaign as Ring magazine’s tenth-ranked world middleweight contender.
In 1959, Jones entered the ring four times, going 2-2. On January 28, he avenged two previous losses to Joey Giardello, winning a ten-round split decision in Louisville; on March 17, now ranked number five by Ring, he lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Paul Pender in Boston; on May 18, Jones lost a ten-round unanimous decision to Joey Giambra in Dallas; on June 26, he won a ten-round decision over Victor Zalazar in New York. Jones ended his 1959 campaign unranked.
Jones Grows Cynical
Jones grew cynical near the end of his career knowing that there was no longer a chance at a title shot. He was quoted as saying, “When a fight is over, I don’t even listen to the decision. It doesn’t matter anymore. If I win, so what?
Ralph Tiger Jones vs. Lazlo Papp
From 1960 through 1962, Jones fought eight times, going 3-4-1. In 1960, he lost a decision to Wilfie Greaves in Chicago, he stopped Willie Greene in seven rounds in Providence, won a decision over Joe DeNucci in Boston, earning him his last entry into Ring’s ratings at number ten, and lost decisions to Marcel Pigou in Boston and Joey Giambra in Buffalo. In 1961, he won a decision over Duane Horseman in Rochester, fought a draw with Joe DeNucci in Boston, and lost a decision to Rocky Fummerelle in Buffalo. In 1962 he lost decisions to Joe DeNucci in Boston and Laszlo Papp in Vienna. His fight with Papp on March 21, 1962, was the last of his career.
After he retired, Jones worked for a canning company and drove a cab. He passed away on July 17, 1994, at 66. He was pre-deceased by his wife of nearly forty years, Dora, and survived by three sons and two grandchildren.
Like I said, Ralph Jones had an anvil for a chin, he fought some hard punchers and none of them ever knocked him out, he was stopped on cuts in the last fight of his career but nobody ever stretch Jones out. I watched his fight against Sugar Ray Robinson recently, the fight took place in 1955 when Robinson was on the comeback trail, and I was impressed with Jones, he was tough as $hit. Robinson threw everything and the kitchen sink at Jones, hit him with some brutal shots and Jones just soaked it up and kept advancing like a tank, he drove Robinson into the ropes and mauled him, Robinson couldn't keep him off. Jones was extremely strong and I imagine a lot of fighters had a hell of a time trying to keep him at bay. Jones won that fight by unanimous decision and upset Robinson that night.
Prime example right here of how tough and rugged Ralph Jones was, he went toe-to-toe with the murderous punching South American Eduardo Lausse. He actually opened Lausse up during the fight.
Credit: New York Times
Eduardo Lausse, the 27-year-old middleweight from Buenos Aires, gained a unanimous ten- round decision over Ralph (Tiger) Jones of Yonkers in the feature bout at Madison Square Garden last night. This was the Argentine boxer's twenty-eighth straight victory. Although bothered by a bad cut at the side of his left eye, the South American fought in characteristic style. He kept after his foe and scored repeatedly with left hooks to the head. Ringsiders agreed the contest was one of the most free-hitting affairs seen in some time. Ref- eree Harry Kessler had an easy time of it. He didn't have to separate the men even once. Jones did particularly well in the sixth round. He caught the winner with a devastating right to the head which brought blood. Lausse, however, lost none of his effectiveness.
Physician Checks Lausse
Jones kept striking for the winner's wound through the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds. The cut bled enough to cause Dr. Vincent Nardiello, New York State Athletic Commission physician, to make two visits to Lausse's corner. The physician advised Kessler there was no need to halt the bout. He explained to the referee that while the cut was an open one, it was not actually blinding the South American. Meanwhile, Lausse seemed to thrive on adversity. The tenth round was one of his best. Midway in the session he had the tired Jones on the ropes. He connected repeatedly with solid lefts and rights but the loser refused to fall.
This is a just a beast of a photo, Tiger Jones on the attack against a bleeding Eduardo Lausse, you had to have some serious ball$ to stand toe-to-toe with Lausse, he was a brutal puncher. This photo tells you all you need to know about Ralph "Tiger" Jones, he was an absolute handful for anyone.
On December 5, 1952 at Madison Square Garden, Ralph Jones and Johnny Bratton battled in the featured match. Jones prevailed winning a unanimous ten round decision. Another beast of a photo showing Jones at his brutal best.
On August 26, 1953 at Madison Square Garden, Kid Gavilan and Ralph Jones met in the main event. Gavilan won a tough unanimous ten round decision. "This was no easy task for Gavilan, who changed his attack to a southpaw style in the eighth round and moved ahead in a commanding fashion after that. ... One of the best body punchers in his class, Jones proved a troublesome adversary for Gavilan until the Cuban switched his tactics in the eighth" - (William J. Briordy, New York Times)
Man, awesome photo of Jones going at Gavilan.
Great photos of Jones and Gavilan down in the trenches, this shot really captures what it was like with two fighters up close winging punches at each other, the concussive power being thrown around was unreal, love this image with Jones bracing for impact.
Ralph Jones and Hector Constance in 54'.
September 24, 1954 at the Arena in Philadelphia middleweights Joey Giardello and Ralph "Tiger" Jones met in the main event. Giardello prevailed winning a ten round unanimous decision.
Ralph Jones lands a vicious fight on Pedro Gonzalez in 54'.
Ralph Jones and a bleeding Gene Fullmer in 1957, my goodness, what a photo. Two of the hardest mf'ers to ever enter a boxing ring. I'm not kidding, both these guys were made of galvanized steel.
Ralph Jones delivers a left to the head of Rory Calhoun in 1958.