Sad to hear of the death of Angelo Dundee, in Tampa, Florida, yesterday. Angelo was corner-man for fifteen world champions, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilio, and Willie Pastrano. Famous for his motivational skills, he kept Ali on track for the fifteenth round against Joe Frazier in Manilla, when both men were unfit to come out for the last round. With Tommy Hearns well ahead of the title fight against Leonard, Angelo told Leonard straight "You're blowing it kid, you're blowing it". Leonard came out for the fourteenth and won. The promoter, Bob Arum described Dundee as the greatest corner-man by far that he'd seen in his 45 years in boxing. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. Angelo trained Russell Crowe for the film Cinderella Man (the story of Jimmy Braddock - world heavyweight champion, 1935-37). He attended the party for Ali's 70th birthday in Louisville last month. R.I.P.
He was certainly a larger than life chatacter who I certainly wouldn't have bought a second hand car from...RIP
Very sad news but he's had a good innings. I must admit my heart stopped this morning when i just caught the end of the ssn yellow ticker.....sugar ray Leonard has died. You two boxing fans then i take?
Good innings - yes, he was 90. Forgot to mention that in my post. Boxing fan? - Used to be, till about 1990. I think I can still reel off all the world heavyweight champions from 1892 to about 1990. Not so interested since. We got too many different authorities handing out world titles to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Some good fighters since then, of course, but the organization became a nonsense. Sickened me off.
A lot of us feel like that now CB. I remember being awake at some ridiculous hour of the morning to hear some Heavyweight Championship bout from the USA on the radio. Now I wouldn't even look out of the window if the fight was taking place in my back garden.
RIP but...... I will never forgive him for cheating Henry Cooper out of sparking Clay. Helped Ali back to his seat. Gave him smelling salts. Ripped his glove causing a 5 minute delay. All illegal. Gave Ali time to recover when he didn't even know where he was.
I don't mind the three major world bodies but theres too much politics in the modern fight game. Its often now hard to get the best fighters in the ring together ie mayweather and pacquio. That's why ufc is doing so well, they seem to have an event every week where they are matching up the best fighters in each division. Boxing will always be superior though in my eyes.
