1880's Jacob Reed's Sons "Ye Great Men of Ye Day" - John L. Sullivan. I love this card, the image of Sullivan turned around checking his fist, spit bucket and a bottle of beer on the ground.
This is my favorite photo of the great John L. Sullivan, he looks so normal, like a common man waiting for a ride to work on a Monday morning, you would never know he was a bare-knuckle badass, world heavyweight champion for ten years, one of the greatest gladiators the ring has ever known.
Picked up this awesome type 1 original photo of Ceferino Garcia, the Filipino welterweight/middleweight champion of the 1930s. It's a wicked image of Garcia standing on the roots of a tree, hacking away at it. No doubt it helped him to develop his murderous punching power. Chopping trees is a highly effective, old-school training method for developing punching power. It builds the explosive core rotation, fast-twitch muscle fibers, and the upper-back and shoulder endurance that form the foundation of a devastating punch. The power is generated through a kinetic chain that starts in the legs, rotates through the core, and snaps into the target. Chopping trees replicates this exact sequence by forcing you to brace your core, rotate your torso, and drive your arms downward explosively. The swinging motion forces the obliques and abdominals to fire rapidly, training the exact muscles responsible for the rotational torque of a hook or cross. The explosive strike of the axe trains your muscles to generate maximum force instantly, which translates to a faster, sharper punch. Chopping heavily engages the lats, traps, and shoulders, providing the muscular support required to withstand the impact of throwing heavy punches. The number of big names on Ceferino Garcia’s ledger is truly astounding. Henry Armstrong, Barney Ross, Young Corbett III, Freddie Steele, Fred Apostoli, Ken Overlin, Lloyd Marshall, Billy Soose, Aaron Wade, Anton Christoforidis, Kid Azteca, Steve Belloise, California Jackie Wilson, Young Peter Jackson, and Baby Joe Gans were the cream of the crop between welterweight and middleweight during the 1930s and 1940s. Garcia faced them all, several of them multiple times, and most are in the Hall of Fame, and yet he is not. Garcia won more recorded fights (121) than any other Filipino champion. As hard as it is to believe, when heavyweight legend Joe Louis was at his bone-crushing peak, some considered Garcia “the most murderous hitter in the game.” Henry Armstrong said the Filipino phenom was the hardest puncher he ever faced. “I saw whole curtains of live flame and my head seemed to float into the air and bob up and down like a fishing cork,” Armstrong said of enduring a Garcia uppercut. Garcia lost to Armstrong in their first match in 1938 and held him to a draw in their 1940 rematch. He fought Barney Ross on three occasions, giving him hell in their 1937 welterweight title fight. On October 2, 1939, fourteen years into his career, Garcia scored a seventh round knockout over Hall of Famer Fred Apostoli to become the only Asian born middleweight champion of the world in history. Though he was inducted into The Ring Hall of Fame, and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, both are now defunct, and he has yet to be enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame though, clearly, he more than deserves the honor.
Right, but climate change and global warming are just a hoax. Just imagine how bad it's going to be in a few more decades when we keep pumping that crap into the atmosphere.
James Braddock was the World Heavyweight Champion from 1935 to 1937. Nicknamed the "Cinderella Man," he is famous for his incredible rags-to-riches story, rising from poverty and near-starvation during the Great Depression to shock the world and win the heavyweight title. Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, Braddock showed great promise as a professional fighter in the 1920s. However, following a loss for the light-heavyweight title in 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression, his career suffered a drastic downturn. Plagued by injuries, particularly to his right hand, Braddock struggled to find fights and was forced to retire in 1933. Destitute, he worked grueling shifts as a longshoreman on the docks and had to rely on government welfare to feed his family. In 1934, given a sudden opportunity as a replacement fighter, Braddock mounted an improbable return to the ring, stringing together a series of upset victories. His relentless work ethic and resilience earned him a shot at the Heavyweight Championship against the formidable Max Baer on June 13, 1935. Entering as a massive 10-to-1 underdog, Braddock fought a brilliantly tactical match to win a 15-round unanimous decision, securing one of the greatest upsets in boxing history. Braddock held the championship until 1937, when he lost it to the legendary Joe Louis. He fought one final match in 1938, retiring with a career record of 51 wins (26 by knockout) in 86 bouts. Following his retirement, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later worked as a contractor, helping build the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. His inspiring life story was adapted into the 2005 film Cinderella Man, which starred Russell Crowe. He was a versatile, crafty counterpuncher with a reputation for his spoiling tactics and an iron chin. He utilized tight, snapping jabs, looping but short crosses, and a powerful right hand to outmaneuver and frustrate his opponents. Legendary fighter. This is the 1930 Amalgamated Press - Champion the Sports Wallet - Jim Braddock.
This is Braddock's earliest card, his rookie card, and it's a beast, very rare as well. 1928 Exhibit Supply Company - Double Sided - James Braddock/Bushey Graham.
1935 JA Pattreiouex Sporting Celebrities - Small Variation - James Braddock. The small variation of this card can be a bastard to find and is quite expensive, the asking price for this card is $905.05.
This is really cool and very rare, the James Braddock Knockout Boxing board game circa 1935. These are the only two I've ever seen surface, the top one is signed on the left shoulder by Braddock himself.
If you haven't seen the 2005 film "Cinderella Man", I highly recommend it, one of the best boxing films ever made, it's directed by the legendary Ron Howard and Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger were brilliant as James Braddock and his wife Mae.
Panama Al Brown (born Alfonso Teófilo Brown in 1902) was a legendary Afro-Panamanian boxer who made history as the first Latino/Hispanic world champion in boxing. He held the world bantamweight title for six years (1929–1935), an all-time great. Unusually tall for his weight class, standing nearly 6 feet tall with a massive 76-inch reach, he used his height and power to dominate the bantamweight division. Beyond the ring, Brown was a fascinating cultural figure. Relocating to Paris during the 1920s and 30s, he became a celebrated icon of the Parisian cabaret scene, performing as a tap dancer with Josephine Baker, and was one of the first openly gay major athletes of his era, maintaining a well-known romantic relationship with French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. The two men—both gay outcasts who struggled with opium addiction—lived together in Paris in the 1930s, where Cocteau successfully managed the faded champion to a legendary comeback. Jean Cocteau described Panama Al Brown as "a poem written in black ink" (le poème à l'encre noire) because of the boxer's graceful, flowing movement in the ring and his striking physical presence. Cocteau also referred to Brown as the "Nijinski of the ring," comparing his agility to that of the legendary ballet dancer. Cocteau was deeply fascinated by him. Despite his massive success, Panama Al Brown faced intense racism and homophobia. He struggled with substance abuse later in life, returning to New York City to work as a sparring partner before dying penniless of tuberculosis in 1951. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. I love that the author of this book, Jose Corpas, chose the title "Black Ink", a nod to Jean Cocteau's description of Panama Al Brown.
Panama Al Brown fought as a uniquely tall, rangy, and slick boxer who used his staggering 76-inch reach and nimble, dancer-like footwork to control the ring. Despite his slender, seemingly fragile frame, he was a devastating puncher who secured 59 knockouts over his fight career, and he was incredibly durable, throughout his 163 professional bouts, he was never once stopped or knocked out. Brown was a master of distance, blending classic technical boxing with the graceful agility he later showcased as a cabaret dancer in Paris. Even though he competed in the bantamweight division (around 118 pounds), his reach and leverage allowed him to punch with shocking power, opponents rarely wanted to step into the pocket with him. He was a real freak of nature, his height and reach were nearly impossible obstacles to overcome, combined with his skills, power, and durability, his opponents might as well have been trying to climb the South Face of Annapurna blindfolded. It's not hard to see why he ruled the bantamweight division with an iron fist for six years. Absolutely fascinating and great fighter.
French writer, artist and filmmaker, Jean Cocteau holding a parasol over Panama Al Brown in 1925. Brown's trainer, Bob Robert is at far right. The relationship between Brown and Cocteau is fascinating , and "a poem written in black ink" is one hell of a fascinating description of Al Brown, "black ink" would make an awesome nickname.
This is one of my favorite photos of Al Brown, his attire blends in with the color of the photo and his face and bowtie dominate the image, it looks awesome.
Comments
2021 Super Products -Pieces of the Past - Handwritten Document - John L. Sullivan.
1882 E.B. Duval - Ye Jolly Miller - Sullivan. This is an awesome card, with the blood spraying from the guy's nose.
This is a really rare 1882 E.B. Duval, notice the "Bet. G&H" advertisement stamp on the front of the card.
1880's Jacob Reed's Sons "Ye Great Men of Ye Day" - John L. Sullivan. I love this card, the image of Sullivan turned around checking his fist, spit bucket and a bottle of beer on the ground.
Another cool Sullivan item, 1950s Lion Match Co. - Names to Remember Matchbooks - John L. Sullivan.
1946 Kid Herman - Black - John L. Sullivan.
1924 V137 Willard's Chocolates - John L. Sullivan.
1915 Cope Bros. & Co. - John L. Sullivan.
1888 Duke's Cigarettes - History of Poor Boys - John L. Sullivan.
I guess that about does it for the John L. Sullivan cards. This is an awesome image of Sullivan posing in his later years.
This is my favorite photo of the great John L. Sullivan, he looks so normal, like a common man waiting for a ride to work on a Monday morning, you would never know he was a bare-knuckle badass, world heavyweight champion for ten years, one of the greatest gladiators the ring has ever known.
Sullivan's autobiography.
Picked up this awesome type 1 original photo of Ceferino Garcia, the Filipino welterweight/middleweight champion of the 1930s. It's a wicked image of Garcia standing on the roots of a tree, hacking away at it. No doubt it helped him to develop his murderous punching power. Chopping trees is a highly effective, old-school training method for developing punching power. It builds the explosive core rotation, fast-twitch muscle fibers, and the upper-back and shoulder endurance that form the foundation of a devastating punch. The power is generated through a kinetic chain that starts in the legs, rotates through the core, and snaps into the target. Chopping trees replicates this exact sequence by forcing you to brace your core, rotate your torso, and drive your arms downward explosively. The swinging motion forces the obliques and abdominals to fire rapidly, training the exact muscles responsible for the rotational torque of a hook or cross. The explosive strike of the axe trains your muscles to generate maximum force instantly, which translates to a faster, sharper punch. Chopping heavily engages the lats, traps, and shoulders, providing the muscular support required to withstand the impact of throwing heavy punches. The number of big names on Ceferino Garcia’s ledger is truly astounding. Henry Armstrong, Barney Ross, Young Corbett III, Freddie Steele, Fred Apostoli, Ken Overlin, Lloyd Marshall, Billy Soose, Aaron Wade, Anton Christoforidis, Kid Azteca, Steve Belloise, California Jackie Wilson, Young Peter Jackson, and Baby Joe Gans were the cream of the crop between welterweight and middleweight during the 1930s and 1940s. Garcia faced them all, several of them multiple times, and most are in the Hall of Fame, and yet he is not. Garcia won more recorded fights (121) than any other Filipino champion. As hard as it is to believe, when heavyweight legend Joe Louis was at his bone-crushing peak, some considered Garcia “the most murderous hitter in the game.” Henry Armstrong said the Filipino phenom was the hardest puncher he ever faced. “I saw whole curtains of live flame and my head seemed to float into the air and bob up and down like a fishing cork,” Armstrong said of enduring a Garcia uppercut. Garcia lost to Armstrong in their first match in 1938 and held him to a draw in their 1940 rematch. He fought Barney Ross on three occasions, giving him hell in their 1937 welterweight title fight. On October 2, 1939, fourteen years into his career, Garcia scored a seventh round knockout over Hall of Famer Fred Apostoli to become the only Asian born middleweight champion of the world in history. Though he was inducted into The Ring Hall of Fame, and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, both are now defunct, and he has yet to be enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame though, clearly, he more than deserves the honor.
Right, but climate change and global warming are just a hoax. Just imagine how bad it's going to be in a few more decades when we keep pumping that crap into the atmosphere.
James Braddock was the World Heavyweight Champion from 1935 to 1937. Nicknamed the "Cinderella Man," he is famous for his incredible rags-to-riches story, rising from poverty and near-starvation during the Great Depression to shock the world and win the heavyweight title. Born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, Braddock showed great promise as a professional fighter in the 1920s. However, following a loss for the light-heavyweight title in 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression, his career suffered a drastic downturn. Plagued by injuries, particularly to his right hand, Braddock struggled to find fights and was forced to retire in 1933. Destitute, he worked grueling shifts as a longshoreman on the docks and had to rely on government welfare to feed his family. In 1934, given a sudden opportunity as a replacement fighter, Braddock mounted an improbable return to the ring, stringing together a series of upset victories. His relentless work ethic and resilience earned him a shot at the Heavyweight Championship against the formidable Max Baer on June 13, 1935. Entering as a massive 10-to-1 underdog, Braddock fought a brilliantly tactical match to win a 15-round unanimous decision, securing one of the greatest upsets in boxing history. Braddock held the championship until 1937, when he lost it to the legendary Joe Louis. He fought one final match in 1938, retiring with a career record of 51 wins (26 by knockout) in 86 bouts. Following his retirement, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later worked as a contractor, helping build the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. His inspiring life story was adapted into the 2005 film Cinderella Man, which starred Russell Crowe. He was a versatile, crafty counterpuncher with a reputation for his spoiling tactics and an iron chin. He utilized tight, snapping jabs, looping but short crosses, and a powerful right hand to outmaneuver and frustrate his opponents. Legendary fighter. This is the 1930 Amalgamated Press - Champion the Sports Wallet - Jim Braddock.
1935 Amalgamated Press - The Champion Album of Record Breakers - J. Braddock.
1935 Godfrey Phillips LTD. - In the Public Eye - James Braddock.
This is Braddock's earliest card, his rookie card, and it's a beast, very rare as well. 1928 Exhibit Supply Company - Double Sided - James Braddock/Bushey Graham.
1946 Propagandas Montiel - James Braddock.
1938 Churchman's Cigarettes - James Braddock.
1956 Adventure Gum - Braddock - - - Gentleman Boxer.
1991 All World - James Braddock.
1998 Futera Platinum - Boxing Legends #1250 - James Braddock.
1948 Topps Magic Photos - Number on Side - James Braddock.
This is really cool stuff, a 1948 Topps Magic Photos album.
2010 Monarch Corona Fan Club #/300 - James Braddock.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Base - James Braddock.
Heavy-hitter right here, 2008 Sportkings - Logos #1/1 - James Braddock.
Another heavy-hitter, 2008 Sportkings - Papercuts #1/1 - James Braddock.
1930 Exhibit Supply Company - James Braddock.
1940-70 Boxing News Photos - James Braddock.
1935 Jean-Donat Dupont - Max Baer/James Braddock. This is a very rare card.
2021 The Sporting Life - Luck of the Irish #1/1 - James Braddock.
2009 Score - Prize Fighters - James Braddock.
1935 JA Pattreiouex Sporting Celebrities - Small Variation - James Braddock. The small variation of this card can be a bastard to find and is quite expensive, the asking price for this card is $905.05.
This is really cool and very rare, the James Braddock Knockout Boxing board game circa 1935. These are the only two I've ever seen surface, the top one is signed on the left shoulder by Braddock himself.
I know, I know, you want to see the photo of James Braddock that was used for the image on his board game. Sigh. Ok, here it is.
If you haven't seen the 2005 film "Cinderella Man", I highly recommend it, one of the best boxing films ever made, it's directed by the legendary Ron Howard and Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger were brilliant as James Braddock and his wife Mae.
Music break. Scarface featuring Tupac Shakur. Tupac really was the Leonardo Da Vinci of hip-hop, such a genius.
1930s Magniez Baussart Chocolate - "Panama" Al Brown.
I love this presentation, like a trip back through time to the 1920s.
1937 Globo Chewing Gum Postcard - Al Brown.
1932 La Pie Qui Chante - Bio Back - Al Brown.
1932 La Pie Qui Chante - Bio Back - Al Brown.
Panama Al Brown (born Alfonso Teófilo Brown in 1902) was a legendary Afro-Panamanian boxer who made history as the first Latino/Hispanic world champion in boxing. He held the world bantamweight title for six years (1929–1935), an all-time great. Unusually tall for his weight class, standing nearly 6 feet tall with a massive 76-inch reach, he used his height and power to dominate the bantamweight division. Beyond the ring, Brown was a fascinating cultural figure. Relocating to Paris during the 1920s and 30s, he became a celebrated icon of the Parisian cabaret scene, performing as a tap dancer with Josephine Baker, and was one of the first openly gay major athletes of his era, maintaining a well-known romantic relationship with French poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. The two men—both gay outcasts who struggled with opium addiction—lived together in Paris in the 1930s, where Cocteau successfully managed the faded champion to a legendary comeback. Jean Cocteau described Panama Al Brown as "a poem written in black ink" (le poème à l'encre noire) because of the boxer's graceful, flowing movement in the ring and his striking physical presence. Cocteau also referred to Brown as the "Nijinski of the ring," comparing his agility to that of the legendary ballet dancer. Cocteau was deeply fascinated by him. Despite his massive success, Panama Al Brown faced intense racism and homophobia. He struggled with substance abuse later in life, returning to New York City to work as a sparring partner before dying penniless of tuberculosis in 1951. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. I love that the author of this book, Jose Corpas, chose the title "Black Ink", a nod to Jean Cocteau's description of Panama Al Brown.
And the design of the book is wicked, featuring a black ink silhouette of Al Brown.
Panama Al Brown fought as a uniquely tall, rangy, and slick boxer who used his staggering 76-inch reach and nimble, dancer-like footwork to control the ring. Despite his slender, seemingly fragile frame, he was a devastating puncher who secured 59 knockouts over his fight career, and he was incredibly durable, throughout his 163 professional bouts, he was never once stopped or knocked out. Brown was a master of distance, blending classic technical boxing with the graceful agility he later showcased as a cabaret dancer in Paris. Even though he competed in the bantamweight division (around 118 pounds), his reach and leverage allowed him to punch with shocking power, opponents rarely wanted to step into the pocket with him. He was a real freak of nature, his height and reach were nearly impossible obstacles to overcome, combined with his skills, power, and durability, his opponents might as well have been trying to climb the South Face of Annapurna blindfolded. It's not hard to see why he ruled the bantamweight division with an iron fist for six years. Absolutely fascinating and great fighter.
French writer, artist and filmmaker, Jean Cocteau holding a parasol over Panama Al Brown in 1925. Brown's trainer, Bob Robert is at far right. The relationship between Brown and Cocteau is fascinating , and "a poem written in black ink" is one hell of a fascinating description of Al Brown, "black ink" would make an awesome nickname.
This is one of my favorite photos of Al Brown, his attire blends in with the color of the photo and his face and bowtie dominate the image, it looks awesome.
Another awesome image of Al Brown getting his hands wrapped by his trainer Bob Robert.