Jake Lamotta
In early July of 1921 a boy from a poor and rough back round named Jake LaMotta was born to a very exceptionally violent part of the Bronx in New York. At an early age Jake learned to Fight not just on the streets but in the Ring as well. He was forced by his father into fighting other children of his neighborhood to entertain neighborhood families not just the adults, who often times threw pocket change or even cash into the ring. LaMotta's father collected the money and used it to help pay the rent. In 1941, at the age of 19, LaMotta turned professional. he quickly became known as the “Bronx bull” for his very aggressive fighting style, Jake wasn’t much of a boxer but he knew how to fight and get you out of t there. He was also known to have one of the hardest chins to date, you simply couldn’t hurt the guy.
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| Lamotta scores KO in last 13 seconds |
The Bronx Bull
LaMotta became most known for being the first man to not only beat “sugar” Ray Robinson but hurt him as well. He knocked Robinson down and nearly out of the ring in their first bout and Ray could never find a way to truly hurt Jake.
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| Lamotta knocks Robinson out of the ring and gives him his first loss. |
LamMotta being known for his take two punches to land one bully style of fighting was really what made him stick out. To this day Jake is still alive at nearly 90 years of age, he has written several books and is an avid speaker of the sport today. He was the first man to beat the late great “sugar” Ray Robinson and the toughest middleweight who ever fought inside or outside of the ring. Although Jake was not a top notch boxer this was a time when being purely a hard man and a hard fighter could tally up wins even against the best. He fought Ray a total of 6 times and produced a professional record of 83 wins with 30 by way of knockout with 19 loses and 4 draws. Never knocked out and knocked off his feet only but one time in his career he was a special fighter who was fun to watch and truly the Mike Tyson of his era. He was a top 10 middleweight of the last 80 years and will not be forgotten long after his life comes to an end. A true hard worker , a true champion.
Jake, long and retired at 90 years old.
sugar” Ray Leonard
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| Sugar. |
The 1970’s and 80’s produced a lot of remembered fighters to date, from the sweet science of Tommy Hearns to a more aggressive style to say the least in “Iron” Mike Tyson. When talking about the late 70’s and 80’s boxing days a man named “sugar” Ray Leonard is never off topic with the elite’s of the day. Ray was born in May of 1956, Ray was 5th of the 7 children in his family and most definitely the most successful .
Leonard started boxing at the recreation center in Palmer Park, MD in 1969. His older brother Roger started boxing first. Roger had helped start the boxing program. Roger won some trophies and showed them off in front of Ray, goading him to start boxing. By 1973 Leonard had won the national golden gloves in the lightweight division Quickly becoming known, and moving up the ranks in the amateur circuit Ray had made the Olympic team and represented the United States in the light welterweight division. After winning gold in the games he finished his amateur career with an astounding 145-5 record. Ray, after his major achievements in the ring considered going to school in his home state of Maryland. After many life changing events and having a child he had decided he would pursue a professional career in boxing. With quick success , leonard found himself talking with a legend in the sport, Angelo Dundee. Dundee most famous for training the great Muhammad Ali. He saw great potential in Leonard and Dundee became his trainer. In 1979 Leonard won his first world title against Wilfred Benitz, the fight was very close and Ray was able to come up victorious by way of TKO in round 15. Named fighter of the year in 1979 , Ray found himself a top elite boxer of the 80s and fought the likes of Roberto Duran , Tommy Hearns and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler.
Ray being known for his big mouth outside of the ring and quick moves inside the ring made him quite the character, fighter and boxer to watch. Ray was one of the more mentally talented fighters of his era he was Much more of a boxer than a fighter, however Ray was usually game for the fight if it happened, some matches are toe to toe , Ray always found a way to out box you. Marvin Hagler brought that fight to him in there fight during the mid 1980’s . Ray being so quick on his feet was able to stay away from the more bully style fighter in hagler and win a narrow decision over Hagler. Ray had many retirements and comebacks threw out his career and was almost always successful. To date Ray is still much involved in boxing , commentating , writing and even training fighters, He was Truly a legend then and is still living proof of one now.
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr.
The greatest of the greats in boxing had always come from the east or west coast, then came 1988. At the end of the 60’s Roy Jones Jr. was born, he was one of the first fighters to come from a very different back round than most, which most developed a boxing career very different than most. Roy was born in a very country setting in Pensacola Florida growing up in the south near the gulf. He had developed an interest in boxing at an age when most children were starting pre-school. At only 4 years of age Roy had started boxing at his local gym. His father , Roy Jones Sr. was his trainer ever since he could hit a bag. When Roy was only 6 years old his father would have him fight bigger boys, sometimes with one hand tied behind his back. With a very strict father and a relentless trainer Roy found himself quickly rising in boxing. In his teens he had won every armature boxing award you could imagine. By 1988 Roy and his father had one goal, and that was to go represent his country in the Olympic games. After making the team with ease and finding himself competing in Korea only a few months later, he was thought to be a shoe in for the gold. Roy had defeated every opponent with ease, his fight for the gold medal things would start going sour. The final fight for the gold medal was against south Koreas Park Si-Hun. The fight started with Roy stalking Hun and scoring points on the Korean, gaining a quick lead. It was very apparent after round 2 that Roy had already won. At the end of the 3 round bout, the crowd was on its for Roy. Even Hun himself was congratulating Roy. When the scorecards were collected, started the most sizeable robbery in the history of the Olympics. All cards read 3-2 for Hun. Roy being shocked and in disbelief quickly left the ring with a towel over his face to cover his tears. As Roy awaited the soonest Flight home, a large group of Korean monks and Hun himself came to Roy at his hotel to apologize for their countries disrespect to not only Roy himself, but the Olympic games, and boxing as a whole. Roy vowed never to box again, however this surely changed. By 1989 Roy debuted at junior middle weight as a professional. Quickly racking up 15 wins all by way of knockout he decided to step up to middleweight. Roy had always been a special fighter in skill, but also stylistically. He could fight with only 1 hand in the air and the other down at the waste or knee and was just to fast for any fighter he came across. In may of 1993, he came across his best opponent to date, he was fighting for his first world title. The man on the other side of the ring was Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins was taller and was a hard defensive fighter, he was hard to find and hit cleanly and many had the thought
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| Roy Jones Jr. at super middleweight. |
“can Roy beat a real opponent?” . It was quickly and clearly noticed that Roy was something special. He beat Bernard in there 12 round middle weight world championship fight by decision, the fight was very close and competitive but Roy walked away with his first world title. Climbing threw the middleweight division for Roy seemed more astounding for any fan or analyst than any fighter to start the 90’s. With his first crown Jones quickly looked to go up in weight and concur another division the 168 pound super- middle weight division and then the 175 pound light-Heavy weight division. Jones defeated the likes of James Toney , Mike McCallum , Montell Griffin , Glen Kelly with other great fighters in between every belt Roy took with absolute ease in the 90’s Roy became a star somewhat a “savior of boxing” . March 1st, 2003, Roy looks even higher to cap off an achievement that only one boxer had ever completed, the 2nd man to be a former middle weight champion to fight all the weigh up to nearly 200 pounds and win a heavy weight title. The only time this had been done was nearly 110 years earlier. Roy now had his eyes set on the heavyweight title. Roy being 5’11 and 199 pounds was approaching a fight that many viewed impossible. The man to fight at the time was John Ruiz, whom weighed in at 226 pounds. The fight started very tactical, Roy staying weary of the far larger champion in front of him, he found a way to slowly step in and be faster than Ruiz’s power. Speed was always Roy’s trademark and was not appearing to stray away from that.
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| Roy Jones Jr. defeats John Ruiz at Heavyweight. |
Halfway threw the fight Jones had nearly had Ruiz on the defensive, anywhere Ruiz went Jones found him before he could get there. Nearing the last rounds it was clear that as long as Roy stuck with his plan he would outpoint Ruiz with ease. Roy stayed very cautious and scored quick points getting out of range of Ruiz immediately . Roy won the fight by unanimous decision and had proved nearly the whole boxing world wrong. He still fights today and has had his first loses as he is now 41. When Roy finally hangs up his 37 year old gloves, he will be more than a living legend.
Highlight vids of fighters below
