I've always enjoyed the 'noble art' of Boxing, not only when I boxed myself, but also watching the greats such as Ali, Henry Cooper, and Brighton's own Chris Eubank.
When I was still at Prep' School (late 1950's) the two greatest boxers of the day were Swede Ingemar Johansson and American Floyd Patterson, and their big fight in June of 1959 was a massive international event.
I clearly remember being allowed to watch the fight on TV in the matron's room at school. Johansson won the bout after having knocked Patterson down several times. He became a true hero of the ring.
So why am I writing this? Well, my late mother-in-law (also a Swede) actually went to school with Johansson. She was always very proud of the fact that she'd once punched him on the nose, and sent him home crying. She claimed to have won his first ever fight. Had they met 20 years later in the ring, things might not have been quite the same; but who knows?
16 comments:
I also remember this fight. My father was a boxing fan and in fact l wrote about it last night and then deleted it before posting. I remember acting out the fight the next day with my best friend in the playground. Johansson was my hero for that day anyway.
How strange that we should both think about it!!!
I thought that too. It was remembering my mother and what she was saying around the kitchen table because they were also talking about boxing that night.
It is interesting that you both were thinking about the same thing. It is hapening here in blogland I noticed.( i hope Cro that the comments are ok now).
This was a touch before my time. I am familiar with him and this fight though from quite an early age. When I was around 10 years old I was given a copy of Pears Cyclopaediia which among other things had lists of sporting champions etc. I spent hours perusing this book. I'm not a big fan of boxing these days but the strongest memories relate to the Ali, Frazier, Forman era in the days when there was just one world champion.
This means I am only a few steps removed from another great figure - I blog with you, your mother-in-law punched him on the nose - so it seems that yet again it is correct that we are all only six steps at the most from a famous person.
Do you know whether Monty's problem stems from something he ate or a health problem. Hope he continues to improve.
The Vet' thinks it could be congenital; a genetic malfunction. Otherwise we really have no idea. Unfortunately it's all too common with pure breed dogs, that they have in-built problems.
Only 'one' this time Yael.
Since Ali, boxing has been a bit lack-lustre. I don't follow it any more; nor do any TV channels I watch.
My son-in-law was involved in making this TV programme about being six steps away from anyone. You may be interested.
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2003/jan/13/features11.g2
My Dad was an amateur boxer in the army and so was a boxing fan. I remember the whole family going over to a friends house to watch the Ali/Henry Cooper fight on pay television. I was very young and obviously not really interested at all, but the memory has stayed with me.
Jean
x
Never have been a boxing fan, I have had my share fist fights growing up with two younger brothers that never thought of consequences when shooting ones mouth off at neighborhood bullies.
Like most private schools, mine had boxing and rugby on the list. I enjoyed both, but unfortunately wasn't as good at boxing, It did teach me a bit about handling myself when the odd pub fight happened later in life came around though. Were you any good Cro?
My dad was a big boxing fan (he had competed in some semi-pro fights in his youth) and I remember him watching the Friday night fights on TV. It was very popular in the 50's and early 60's and the names of the fighters were well known by many. Today, not so much.
I only lost one fight, to the son of Eve Boswell (Pickin' the chickin); but he tripped me and I fell flat on my face. This was at Prep' school; my upper school didn't approve of boxing.
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