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hhascup · 12-19-2006, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCC

Hey, Henry. Appreciate you sharing that!

No doubt handlers and trainers today could learn some lessons from the older guys like Al Certo. I think there are a lot of handlers and trainers today that just don't know much. They just don't have the experience. They haven't served their time.

You know my dad is an ex-fighter and near Al's age and had spent a lot of years there but not as trainer or handler but as good featherweight and lightweight in his day, and he's got a lot of recollections and stories of those days that I could and have sat and listened to for hours.

It has often made me wish that I had been a fighter back in those days instead of the time much later in which I was even in the amatuer ranks. Of course, that's from where the pros came from; I just think there was by far more talent in boxing in those days. You know guys like Willie Pep, Sandy Saddler, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano as well as many others that could also be named.

Every time I watch tapes of the old fights from back in those days that were before my time. Always I wish I could have been there. In my veiw, those were the days when boxing had its greatest fighters, and you really, I mean REALLY had be salty to fight pro back in those days.

JC, your right on with this one. Al told me last night that anyone can be a trainer now a days, all you need is a 10 dollar bill. There aren't many good trainers out their anymore to teach the up and coming boxers the right way.

JCC · 12-19-2006, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hhascup

JC, your right on with this one. Al told me last night that anyone can be a trainer now a days, all you need is a 10 dollar bill. There aren't many good trainers out their anymore to teach the up and coming boxers the right way.

Yeah, I know. So often here in the forum I tend to grab a hold of the negative, and I do so not even really meaning to do so. Its just I can at least in part remember the way it one time was, and there were more good trainers and handlers than there are today and they were all ex-fighters. How can you train a guy to fight if you weren't a fighter?

To kids today that have interest in taking up boxing, my advice would be to go get you some old fight tapes of the greats, and to watch those tapes, and just keep watching those tapes and you are going to see how its done.

I remember when I had first taken up boxing when I was a kid at the gym in 1960 at age 9. Back in those days the fights were televised regularly and weekly and there was by far more interest in boxing than today.

I would watch those fights and practice everything I saw the pros do that were really good fighters and you know what? It worked. There's so much to know, so much to learn. So many young fighters today think its all about power and speed. Power and speed is good but its more about strategy, focus and skill and that comes with experience and having a really good trainer.

**bill1234** · 12-21-2006, 09:17 PM

Just yesterday at larry's gym there was a 16 that was sparring a 24 year old. The 16 year old had more experience, speed, and skill, but the 24 year old had strength, power, and size. Guess who won?........The 16 year old!!! the 24 year old tried to take his head off and got beaten up doing that. of cource he wasn't that good, a 13 year old almost dropped him twice before, and beat the crap out of him. So taht is an example on how speed, power, and strength means nothing if you don't have skill and knowledge on how to use it. And the style to use it effectively.

stejay · 01-13-2007, 09:04 AM

This is my Top 5-

1. Rocky Marciano

2.Joe Louis

3. Sugar Ray Robinson

4. Ali

5. Willie Pep

stejay · 01-13-2007, 09:11 AM

Bill 1234- I seen a similar event about 5 years ago.

I was fighting in Madrid, and I was on the undercards. 2 fellas were fighting. They were welterweights.Anyway, one was very muscley, especially for a welterweight,and the other was speedy and buzzing about the ring. Anyway, after 4 rounds the big, muscley puncherwas all worn out from punching big ones, and the smaller one was just throwing the odd hook, but more jabs and crosses. Anyway, he went for one big shot....and ko'd him. It proves that skill and speed are more important these days thanpunching power and how much muscle you have.