GREG HAUGEN ; HE DESERVES TO BE CALLED "CHAMP"
 
 
Toughness...Every fighter has a degree of mental and physical toughness. Some more then others. Even the toughest of the lot won't make it all the way in boxing without a certain degree of skills. The skills can be obtained by hours of hard work with a trainer. Skills can be taught. A trainer can not teach a fighter toughness. Either you have enough toughness or you don't.


There was a little bulldog of a fighter from the state of Washington who throughout the 1980's and early 90's was a fixture in the world ratings at 135 and 140 pounds. He developed some pretty good skills along the way. His name was Greg Haugen and he was good enough to be crowned a world champion no less then three times.


Haugen turned pro in 1982 and by 1985 he was making his move in the ratings. That year he scored wins over Jeff Bumpus, Freddie Roach and Chris Calvin. It was the Calvin fight that I first remember seeing Greg fight. It was on ESPN and it seemed to me that Calvin was the favorite going in. Haugen fought a beautiful fight and stopped the game Calvin in six. In 1986 Greg halted former world title challenger Charlie "White Lightning" Brown in one round. Later he defeated rugged Edwin Curet to claim the NABF lightweight title.
The stage was now set for Haugen to meet clever Jimmy Paul for the IBF lightweight crown. Paul had beat previously undefeated Harry Arroyo of Youngstown, Ohio in 1985 to win the title. He had since made three defenses. He was out of the Kronk stable and he was an astute boxer who earned the nickname, "The Ringmaster". Haugen never let Jimmy get started in the fight. His aggression and tenacity won over the crowd and two of the judges. Haugen walked off with a majority decision and the title.


In 1987 Haugen made his first defense against a red hot lightweight from Rhode Island named Vinny Pazienza. These two would develop quite a history together. In their first encounter Vinny would take the crown from Greg by a unanimous verdict. All three judges had it 144-141 for Pazienza. Haugen wanted his title back and in their 1988 rematch Greg did just that. He won a convincing decision over Vinny to regain the championship. Their paths would cross again.


Haugen made two successful defenses and then he met 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Pernell Whitaker. Try as he might Haugen was totally out-boxed by the ultra slick southpaw Whitaker. After fifteen rounds Greg left the ring without his belt. Nevertheless Haugen's career was far from over. In 1990 Haugen met Paz in their rubber match. This time Paz boxed and moved all night to win a ten round non title fight.


As 1991 rolled in Haugen signed to meet unbeaten Hector "Macho" Camacho. Hector was 38-0 and had won titles at 130 and 135 pounds. This bout would be for the fledging WBO's junior welterweight title. In a controversial fight.Camacho was deducted a point at the beginning of the twelfth and final round for refusing to touch gloves. Haugen had dogged Hector all through the fight. The point deduction cost Camacho the fight on the judges cards. Without the deduction it would have been a draw. Instead Camacho took his first career loss. They would meet again three months later and this time Camacho won a close split decision.
In 1992 the popular Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini decided to return to the ring. Ray had first retired in 1985 after losing his WBA lightweight title and then failing to regain it against Livingstone Bramble. Four years later he came out of retirement to lose a very debatable decision to Camacho. Now three years later he was returning again. This time to fight Haugen. The pre fight billing for the bout was "Tough Guys Don't Dance". It looked to be a great match up on paper but the bout itself was a mismatch. Haugen almost had Ray out in the very first round. The game Mancini fought on but Haugen dominated him. Finally Greg ended matters in the seventh round and with the victory he captured the vacant NABF 140 pound title.

The win over Mancini proved to be a springboard to a tile bout for Greg against one of the best fighters of the era. The one and only Julio Cesar Chavez. The bout was for Julio's WBC light welterweight title. It took place in Mexico City in front of over 132,000 fans. Chavez had a sterling 84-0 record going into the bout. To me the outstanding Chavez had two signature fights in his long career. His eleventh round beat down of the talented Edwin Rosario and his dominating victory over Haugen. It was not that Chavez beat Greg but how he defeated him. In this fight JC just took apart a world class fighter. Chavez may have been at his peak for this fight.


In 1994 Haugen was halted in ten rounds by former two division world champion Tony "The Tiger" Lopez. That turned out to be Greg's swan song. Over the next five years Haugen would go 6-4-1 with one no contest. He finally hung up the gloves in 1999. His career ledger stands at 40-10-1. He scored 19 knockouts and was only halted three times. He met seven world champions. He was truly a "Champ" in his own right.
                                

Jim Amato
 

 

 

CLEVELAND " BIG CAT " WILLIAMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams was one of three gifted heavyweights from the 50's and 60's. Williams, Eddie Machen and Zora Folley were a trio of hard luck boxers who met tragic deaths after a career of frustration. Machen who lost a decision to Ernie Terrell in a 1965 W.B.A. title bout may or may not have committed suicide. Folley who was stopped in seven by Muhammad Ali in 1967 died of injuries suffered in a poolside accident.

Machen and Folley passed on several years ago. Williams lived to be 66 before being struck down by a moving vehicle. All three finally received their title shots long after their prime. One wonders how they would have made out if they got their chance five years earlier against Floyd Patterson. To Floyd's credit he did win a twelve round decision over Machen in 1964, two years after he lost his crown to Sonny Liston.

Williams began his career in 1951 and won his first 27 fights, 23 by knockout. In 1954, he suffered a knockout loss to Bob Satterfield. Cleveland did not box in 1955 because he was in the Army. When he resumed his career he ran off 12 straight wins leading him to a match with the feared Sonny Liston. The two traded bombs until Sonny put over the sleeper in round two. Eleven months later they met again in another war with Sonny winning in round three.

In Cleveland's next 22 fights he went 20-1-1 with 13 kayos. He lost a decision to Terrell and he drew with Machen. He scored victories over Terrell, Wayne Bethea, Alex Miteff, Billy Daniels, and Tod Herring. This led to a title bout with Muhammad Ali in November of 1966. In 1965, Williams was badly injured when he was shot by a patrolman during a traffic stop argument. The bullet entered his stomach doing severe damage. That he was even able to fight again, is a testimony to his will and courage. The Williams that entered the ring against Ali was just a shell of his former self. In what many feel was Ali's best career performance, the champion dominated his aging rival. The bout was mercifully stopped in the third round. Cleveland would never again be a major factor in the division. He lost to Bob Cleroux and and Mac Foster and served as an opponent for upcoming fighters looking for a name on their record.

I had the opportunity to see Williams box a decent heavy weight named Ted Gullick at the old Cleveland Arena. Gullick would meet George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, and Duane Bobick during his career, but he was no match for Williams this night. Using a ram rod jab and a solid body attack, Cleveland outboxed his upstart foe to win a ten rounder. The consummate professional at work. That is how I'll remember Cleveland Williams.

Jim Amato=


 

 

 

 

 

DAVEY "BOY" GREEN

He turned professional in 1974 and in a short time he became a serious contender for the welterweight title. Dave ” Boy ” Green took England by storm. He won his first 24 fights as he quickly climbed the ladder. In 1976 he halted Billy Waith in an eliminator for the British junior welterweight title. Later in the year he stopped Joey Singleton to win the British title.

1976 continued to be a big year for the busy Green as he defeated seasoned veterans Ramiro Bolanos and Jimmy Heair. Dave finished the year by knocking out Jean Baptiste Piedvache to win the European 140 pound title.

Six months before Green’s win over Piedvache, John H. Stracey the man who had finally dethroned the great Jose Napoles surrendered the welterweight title to Carlos Palomino. The drums were now beating for a match between Green and Stracey. Finally in March of 1977 the two met at Wembley. This much anticipated fight ended with Green the winner in the tenth round.

Next up, a shot at Carlos Palomino and the WBC welterweight crown. This fight took place in June of 1977. What a fight it was. Green was never one to take a backward step and he forced the action from the beginning. Palomino was as tough as nails. He was a great counter puncher. He was also a devastating body puncher as Stracey had found out. Nevertheless Green forced Carlos to give ground early in the fight. As the bout wore on Palomino was working his way back in but after ten rounds it was a very close fight. Then in round eleven, boom and it was over. One punch left Green out on the canvas. Palomino had retained his title and Green had taken his first defeat.

Three months later the gritty Green bounced right back to outpoint the formidable Andy Price. A fighter who held victories over Palomino and WBA champion Pipino Cuevas. That was the start of a seven fight win streak for Dave. It all came crashing down in June of 1979 when Green was surprisingly stopped by Denmark’s Joergen Hansen in the third round for the European welterweight title.

Dave came back to win two fights and then found himself again challenging for the WBC welterweight title. Palomino had been out boxed by the clever Wilfred Benitez in losing his title. In turn Benitez was halted in the final round by Sugar Ray Leonard who was now the champ. On March 31, 1980 Green came to America to challenge Leonard. With one of the most devastating left hooks I’ve ever seen Leonard flattened Dave in round four. It was a brutal knockout.
It is hard to recover from a loss like that but Green put together four wins to stay in contention. Finally on November 3, 1981 Green lost in five rounds to Reggie Ford, a fighter with an 8-7-1 record. It was time to hang up the gloves.

Green ended his career with 41 fights. He won 37. In all four of his losses he was stopped. In turn he won 29 by the kayo route. He was a tough, game and rugged competitor. He was among the best welterweights in the world in an era when the welterweight division was loaded with talent.
 
                                                                                Jim Amato

resource ---Davey Green: Where are they now? Eastside Boxing.

MARTY MONROE: THE FORGOTTEN CONTENDER

Back in the late 1970’s and early 80’s there was a pretty good
heavyweight out on the West Coast. His name was Marty Monroe.
Marty was from Los Angeles and he turned pro in 1974. In 1976 he beat
another up and coming heavyweight named Randy Mack. In 1977 he defeated tough Joe Gholston. In 1978 he defeated Leroy Boone.
In 1980 Marty would lose a decision to the rough and rugged Scott
Ledoux. Marty bounced right back with impressive stoppage victories over
Lynn Ball and Eddie ” The Animal ” Lopez. Marty was now a force to be
reckoned with.

In 1981 Monroe would meet the streaking Greg Page. At this time Page
was considered one of the best heavyweight prospects in the game. Greg
proved to be too much for Monroe halting a game Marty in the sixth round.
That might have been the best performance in the career of Greg Page.
Marty would layoff for two years and then return to win two fights. He
ended his career in 1983 with a very respectable 25-2-1 record. He scored
sixteen knockouts and was stopped only once.

Jim Amato
 

A BOXER'S TALE OF THE TAPE . . .

ATTILIO "ROCKY" CASTELLANI
 
He may have been one of the best middleweights to never hold a title. He was a ranked contender for almost a decade but he received only one title shot. That was fairly late in his fine career. He fought in the days when there only eight weight divisions with ONE champion per division. By today's standards Attilio "Rocky" Castellani would have easily won a piece of a title.

Rocky was born on May 28, 1927 in Luzerne, Pennsylvania. He would die in the same town 81 years later. Rocky made his professional debut on February 14, 1944 fighting to a six round draw. He would lose his next two fights by knockout. It's very hard to believe at this point that Rocky would one day become a top contender. He was tenacious though and he soon began to win more then he lost. He was stopped in four rounds by Billy Kilroy in 1946.He would only be halted one more time in his career and that was not until 1952. In fact Rocky was only defeated by kayo only four times in 83 career battles. Seeing the competition he faced, that is quite amazing ! 

Rocky beat Kilroy in a 1947 rematch and then he made his Madison Square Garden debut against rugged Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini. The father of Ray Mancini was a pretty tough guy himself. Rocky won a decision in this fight. He would defeat Lenny again later in the year.1948 was a good year for Rocky as he moved steadily up the ladder with wins over Harold Green, Herbie Kronowitz and clever boxer out of Niles, Ohio named Sonny Horne.

In 1949 Rocky lost a decision to Charley Fusari at the Garden. Later though he would defeat the slick Tony Janiro in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Back at the Garden Castellani lost to the great Kid Gavilan. Rocky would then put together a ten fight win streak that would carry him into 1952 and establish him as a fighter to be contended with. Among his victims were Harold Green, Ernie Durando, Gene "Silent" Hairston and a rough fellow named Joey Giardello. In 1952 Rocky lost a controversial stoppage to Durando. He quickly regrouped to defeat Ralph "Tiger" Jones. He drew with the outstanding Billy Graham and he defeated another top notch guy in Johnny Bratton. As you can see Rocky ran in fast company.

In December of 1952 Rocky made his debut at the famous but now long gone Cleveland Arena. Rocky would become quite popular there. That night he defeated a good fighter named Jimmy Flood. In 1953 Rocky would again defeat Tiger Jones. He would split a pair of verdicts with highly regarded Pierre Langlois.He then stopped a gutsy Clevelander named Jackie Keough. Rocky finished the year with a big win over Philly's Gil Turner.

In 1954 Rocky would win a one sided decision over Durando. That set the stage for August 20th at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Rocky would face Carl "Bobo" Olson for the middleweight championship of the world. At this point Rocky had been a pro for a decade and a top contender for a half dozen years. The fight with Olson was well contested. Bobo was a very good fighter and he is in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Rocky gave a good account of himself. He had Bobo down in the eleventh. Rocky was down in the twelfth. In the end Olson retained his title with a few points to spare.

In 1955 Rocky took on the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. Ray was on the comeback trail and the winner of this fight would probably get another crack at the title. It was a very close fight Rocky floored Ray in the sixth round and had him hurt. Robinson survived and won a controversial split decision. Again Rocky was on the outside looking in. In 1956 at the Cleveland Arena Rocky took on Gene Fullmer. The bull like Fullmer took the early rounds as his strength and awkward style had Rocky on the defensive. By the middle rounds though Rocky had figured Gene out and was putting on a counter punching clinic. Still in the judges eyes it was not enough and again Rocky was on the short end of a split decision.

From this point Rocky's career began to wind down. He was still a viable contender but there were two losses to Joey Giambra. In 1957 Rocky lost to Bobby Boyd and Rory Calhoun and he decided to hang up the gloves. He put together a sterling record of 65-14-4 facing the cream of the crop. He was a fan favorite at the Garden, the Cleveland Arena and in Scranton. As a fan you knew, when Rocky Castellani stepped into the ring, you were going to get your money's worth. Rocky would become a popular and highly respected fight judge. 

I would like to thank Rocky's son David and the rest of the Castellani family for sharing information and photos of Rocky. He was loved and respected by his family, friends and the sport of boxing.

                                                                                  Jim Amato
VINCENTE SALDIVAR : A MEXICAN LEGEND
 
 
The 1960s spawned many great fighters: Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, Emile Griffith, Luis Rodriguez, and Carlos Ortiz just to name a few.  One of the best of this era was a 5'3" southpaw from Mexico City named Vicente Saldivar.  He ruled the featherweight division for three years and then retired.  He decided to come back and two and a half years after he gave up his crown, he reclaimed it.
 

This boxing legend was born on March 5, 1943.  He started his professional career in 1961 and quickly showed that he was a budding star.  Saldivar won his first sixteen fights and scored thirteen knockouts.  He suffered his first loss in December of 1962 when he was disqualified in a bout against Baby Luis.  In 1963, Saldivar made great strides in the rankings.  He halted the respected Dwight Hawkins in five rounds.  He avenged his loss by stopping Baby Luis in eight rounds.  There was also an impressive one round win over Eloy Sanchez.

On February 8, 1964, Saldivar captured the Mexican featherweight title by knocking out Juan Ramirez in two rounds.  He defended the title with a twelve round points win over tough Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero.  Then on June 1st, Vicente won a very important bout against future lightweight champion Ismael Laguna.  Saldivar outscored the clever Laguna in ten rounds.

On September 26, 1964, Vicente Saldivar won the featherweight championship of the world.  He battered the great champion Sugar Ramos and the bout ended in the twelfth round with a new champion being crowned.  Saldivar was about to begin a campaign that eliminated all opposition to his throne.  He started in 1965 by wearing down and finally stopping his game challenger Raul Rojas in the final round.  In his next defense, Vicente turned back the fierce challenge of Welshman Howard Winstone in fifteen rounds.  These two would get to know each other very well over the next few years.

Saldivar opened 1966 with a two round kayo over Floyd Robertson.  Next, Vicente faced the stern challenge of Japan's Mitsunori Seki.  For the Japanese tiger, it would be his third shot at a world title.  He failed in a 1961 bid to dethrone flyweight champion Pone Kingpetch.  In 1964, he was beaten in six rounds by featherweight king Sugar Ramos.  Seki gave Saldivar all he could handle, but Vincente pounded out a decision victory in fifteen rounds. 

Seki and Saldivar would meet again in 1967.  This time, Vicente left no doubt to his claim to the title, ending Seki's challenge in the seventh round.  Next was some unfinished business with Mr. Winstone.  Again, the spry and crafty Welshman traveled the fifteen round distance.  However, in the end he fell short.  The two bouts between Saldivar and Winstone were close enough to justify a third meeting.  This time, Saldivar ruled supreme, ending Winstone's dream in the twelfth round.

With really no one left to seriously challenge Vicente, he decided to retire.  Quickly, the World Boxing Council matched Saldivar's two toughest challengers Howard Winstone and Mitsunori Seki for the vacant title.  On January 23, 1968, Howard Winstone finally got his championship by beating Seki in nine rounds.  Howard's stay at the top was short lived as he lost the title to Spain's Jose Legra in five rounds.

Finally, there was some new blood in the division.  Legra in turn would lose his crown by decision to Australia's Johnny Famechon.  Saldivar still felt he was the best featherweight in the world, so he embarked on a comeback.  To prove he was worthy of a title shot, he outfought Legra to win a ten round verdict.  Then on May 9, 1970 in Rome, Italy, Vicente met the champion Famechon.  The Aussie was a very good fighter who had just sent the great Fighting Harada into retirement with a brutal fourteenth round kayo.  Against Saldivar, he was outboxed and outfought, but gamely went the distance. 

 The great Saldivar was king again.
 It all came crashing down in his next fight.  Vicente took on Japan's Kuniaki Shibata.  It seemed like Vicente grew old overnight.  At times, he boxed well and punched sharply, but at other times he seemed overwhelmed by the force of Shibata's attacks.  The Japanese fighter was very strong.  Try as he might, Vicente was unable to hold him off.  Finally, it was over.  It ended in the thirteenth round.  The reign of Saldivar was over.

Maybe Vicente was not yet convinced he was through or maybe he wanted to go out a winner.  Saldivar returned to the ring seven months later and outpointed the always tough Frankie Crawford.  Two years later, Saldivar again emerged to attempt to regain his throne.  Former bantamweight champion Eder Jofre of Brazil had won recognition by the WBC as featherweight champion by winning a majority decision over Jose Legra in May of 1973.  Vicente would meet Jofre on October 21, 1973 in Brazil.  What looked to be a great matchup on paper turned out to be a bitter disappointment.  Saldivar had nothing left.  His great skills had eroded.  Jofre was too strong and too powerful for the shell of this once great fighting machine.  It ended in the fourth round and so did Saldivar's career.  There would be no more comebacks.

Vicente only had forty fights in his career.  He won thirty seven of them.  He was a knockout winner on twenty-six occasions.  He was the whole package in his prime.  Pound for pound, he was one of the best fighters in the 1960s.  Saldivar was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999. 
 

 

Amato

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARVIN JOHNSON ; ASK NO QUARTER, GIVE NO QUARTER

One of the most exciting fighters of the 1970's and 80's was three time light heavyweight king Marvin Johnson. If ever a fighter lived by the sword and died by the sword, it was Marvin. He was a rangy southpaw who was constantly shuffling toward his opponent. His give and take pressure style created several memorable contests.

Born April 12,1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marvin would become an accomplished amateur boxer. He was a three time National Golden Gloves champion. He also represented the United States in the 1972 Olympics winning a bronze medal.

 Johnson turned professional in 1973 and won his first fifteen bouts. Twelve wins by knockouts. Among his victims were capable fighters like Gary Summerhays, Eddie Owens, Ray Anderson and Tom Bethea. On July 26, 1977 Marvin went to Philadelphia to meet hometown hero Matt Franklin (later to be known as Matthew Saad Muhammad). This was for the North American Boxing Federation light heavyweight title. In an absolute war, Johnson suffered his first defeat as he was halted in the last round. Johnson rebounded by winning five in a row scoring victories against Billy "Dynamite" Douglas and Eddie Davis. Johnson then traveled to Serbia where he lost an eight rounder to Lottie Mwale. Marvin returned stateside and outscored highly regarded Jerry Celestine.

On December 2, 1978 Marvin traveled to Europe and upset Mate Parlov by a tenth round stoppage to win the WBC light heavyweight crown. It was now time for a rematch with Matthew Saad Muhammad. This time though it would be on Johnson's home turf in Indianapolis. They clashed in April of 1979 and it was again a war ! Muhammad took everything that Johnson had to offer. He then put on a rally and stripped Marvin of his crown in the eighth round.

Johnson was not an ex-champion but not for very long. In November of 1979 he met long time WBA light heavyweight king Victor Galindez. Marvin punished the game Galindez until the fight was stopped in round eleven. Now Johnson had the WBA belt but just for a short time. In March of 1980 Marvin took a beating from an in shape and motivated Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Johnson lost his title in the eleventh. A year later it looked like Johnson was out of the title picture for good after losing to upstart Michael Spinks. Michael had won a Gold Medal in the 1976 Olympics and was streaking toward a world title. Johnson was to be his first stern test. Spinks knocked Marvin out cold with a devastating left hook in round four.

Johnson still believed he could become champion again. From 1982 to 1985 Marvin won fourteen straight. This included a win over Jerome Clouden in a "Closet Classic". Johnson also defeated Johnny Davis, future champion "Prince" Charles Williams and Eddie Davis for the United States Boxing Association light heavyweight championship. Finally on February 9, 1986 Johnson met the talented Leslie Stewart for the vacant WBA title. Marvin realized his dream of being crowned the champion again in round seven as a badly cut Stewart could not continue. In his first defense Johnson outlasted rugged Jean Marie Emebe to win in the thirteenth round. Next came a 1987 rematch with Stewart. This time Lady Luck was in the Stewart corner. Marvin gave up his crown in the eighth round. It was Johnson's last fight.

Marvin Johnson had nothing left to prove. He was the first to win the 175 pound title three times. He retired with a 43 - 6 ledger. He won 35 fights by KO. He lost five by the knockout route. Three men he fought, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Victor Galindez and Michael Spinks are inducted in International Boxing Hall Of Fame. Yes Marvin Johnson was a thrilling fighter and a worthy champion.

Jim Amato
 

FIGHTERS OF THE 20th CENTURY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGHTERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIGHTERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY