MEMORY-LANE-L Archives

From: "brian w. zelley" <>
Subject: Memories "Ring of Fire" & "old Black Bess"
Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 01:36:31 -0800

Interesting memories:

Looking back to my section of the memory road
I would have to say meeting Rocky Marciano in 1967
and Muhammad (Cassius Clay to some) Ali in 1972
were two magic moments tucked away on my memory lane.

But, recently picking up a copy of the DVD and watching
Ring Of Fire "The Emile Griffith Story" brought back a flood
of memories of the "Sizzling Sixties". It is safe to say, for me,
that Emile was the Champion of Champions, the best of the best.

It was good to see old faces such as Gaspar Ortega, Jose Torres,
Gene Fullmer, Gil Clancy and Howie Albert But the biggest thrill of
all was
going beyond the tragedy of 1962, and seeing Emile meeting
Benny Paret Jr. in the ending scenes of the film.

It was also in 1972 when I met one time contender Manuel Gonzalez
from Houston, Texas. Manny was past his prime, but was still slick.
In earlier days he had won and lost against Griffith, so we talked about
Emile and some of those Lone Star State boxers such as
Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams, and the contender that did two tours of
duty in Vietnam. Sadly, Garland "Ripper" Randall was lost on his
voluntary tour.
So, Texas and the boxing world lost a potential star.

However, back in London, England as a child, I heard of Dick Turpin and
Randy Turpin. However, it would be a number of years before I would
understand that Randy defeated the best ever boxer Sugar Ray Robinson
and Dick Turpin was some ancient "Robin Hood" that rode old "Black Bess"
in Hampstead Heath and the country roads leading to London Town.

This thread:

• Memories "Ring of Fire" & "old Black Bess" by "brian w. zelley" <>