YOUNSTOWN'S L.C. MORGAN : " Have Gloves, Will Travel "

From his professional debut in 1954 until his final bout in 1969, Youngstown, Ohio's L.C. Morgan would fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. It is boxers like Morgan that keep the game alive. He was not good enough to be a champion or a top contender but he was tough enough and talented enough to test anyone who thought they could be.He had 125 recorded fights and walked away with an impressive 79-43-3 record while fighting some of the best boxers of his era. He went all over the world to ply his trade and had little hesitation boxing in someone's hometown. He knew if it was on the up and up he could compete with almost anybody.In only his second year as a pro he outpointed the great Glen Flanagan. That ushered him in to the big time and from this point on he would win two or three then lose one but most of his competition was top shelf.In 1957 he would defeat Don Jordan but later he would be stopped in three rounds by Stan Harrington. In 1959 he would defeat Joe Miceli.By 1961 he was crossing gloves with the very best. That year he would outscore Eddie Perkins but close the year losing in England to Dave Charnley.From 1962 through 1965, Morgan had several fights winning as many as he was losing facing some of the world's best. During this period he was doing a lot of fighting in Mexico and making quite a name for himself.The year 1966 saw L.C. engrave his name in the history books. In August he halted future World Welterweight Champion Jose Napoles. Later in the year he would split a pair of knockouts with former junior welterweight champion Carlos Hernandez.In 1967 he would lose twice to Ramon LaCruz. He would also lose to Hall Of Famer Nicolino Locche. Jose Napoles would avenge his loss to L.C. while marching to his tenure as welterweight champion.The last two years of his career saw L.C. losing on a regular basis. In fact his last two losses were to future junior middleweight champion Oscar " Shotgun " Albarado.Putting it all into context. L.C. defeated the following boxers during his storied career... Jose Napoles, Carlos Hernandez, Joe Miceli, Glen Flanagan, Eddie Perkins, Don Jordan and Battling Torres. On the flip side he also lost to Napoles, Hernandez, Stan Harrington, Dave Charnley, Ted Wright, Luis Rodriguez, Battling Torres, ramon LaCruz, Raul Soriano and Albarado.He fought in Hawaii, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Philippines, England and Italy. He was a true globetrotter he very rarely benefited from a " hometown decision ".

Jim Amato

A special thank you to Jim Borgen for assisting in researching this article.

WHEN DICK TIGER TAMED THE 60's

He was born Richard Ihetu in his native Nigeria in 1929. He died forty two years later in Nigeria. In between he established himself as one of the best pound for pound fighters of the 1960's. He was known to the boxing world as Dick Tiger. It was a very fitting moniker for the man who was crowned world champion on three occasions.Dick turned professional in 1952 after a brief amateur career. Within three years he established himself as the best middleweight in Nigeria.It was off to England in 1955 to try and broaden his horizons. He lost his first four fights on English soil. Hardly the stuff of legends right ? Tiger would not be discouraged. By mid-1956 he was starting to put together some impressive wins. He stopped future world champion Terry Downes in 1957.On March 27, 1958 Tiger halted the popular Les Mc Ateer in nine to win the British Empire middleweight title. Later in the year he lost to the talented Spider Webb.The year 1959 saw Tiger step it up. He met Randy Sandy, Rory Calhoun and Joey Giardello, two bouts with each. He also fought Gene Armstrong and Holly Mims. Talk about stiff competition.In 1960 he lost his British Empire title to Wilf Greaves but he would regain it by the end of the year. That started a seven fight win streak that would lead to shot at the world's title. Among his victims were Gene Armstrong , Spider Webb, Florentino Fernandez and Henry Hank.On October 23, 1962 Dick challenged the defending WBA middleweight champion, the rugged Gene Fullmer. They met in San Francisco and Tiger won the title by decision.On February 23, 1963 in Las Vegas, Tiger met Gene Fullmer in a rematch. They fought to a draw after fifteen rugged rounds and Tiger retained his title. When the " other " champion Paul Pender retired, Dick received full recognition as undisputed middleweight champion On August 10th Fullmer met Tiger one more time in an attempt to regain his title. This time Tiger stopped Fullmer in seven rounds.In his very next fight Tiger lost the title to old adversary Joey Giardello. While waiting for a return match Dick would defeat Jose Gonzalez and Don Fullmer. He was then upset by the slick Joey Archer. He came right back to defeat Rocky Rivero and score a huge win over Rubin " Hurricane " Carter.On October 25, 1965 Tiger beat the classy Giardello to reclaim the crown. Six months later Tiger lost the title to the one and only Emile Griffith.Tiger decided to move up to light heavyweight and he was granted a shot at the champion Jose Torres. The Puerto Rican Torres was fine fighter. He was a well schooled smooth boxer with power. Torres and Tiger met on December 16, 1966. Torres would box but Tiger kept boring in. It was Tiger's relentless aggression that upset Torres to capture his second title in a different weight class. They met again on May 16, 1967 and it was almost a carbon copy of their first fight. Tiger won another decision and retained his crown. Six months later he would halt highly regarded contender Roger Rouse to retain the title.In 1968 a lean, mean punching machine named Bob Foster was gunning for a title shot. the proud champion Tiger gave it to him. Foster was 6'3" and had a terrific jab. What he also had was terrifying power in either hand. Tiger tried his best to get inside and work on Bob's lean rib cage but he paid a heavy price every time he tried. Finally in the fourth round a devastating left hook from Foster put the champion flat on his back. The ever game Tiger tried to rise but it was over. The title reign of Dick Tiger was ended.Five months later Dick would meet Frankie DePaula in a barn burner. The crude slugger DePaula surprised everyone by puttng Tiger down a few times in the early rounds. Again Tiger dug deep within himself and rallied over second half of the fight to pull out the verdict.Next up middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti. It was rumored that Nino was foolishly thinking of moving up to challenge Foster. Dick Tiger drove those thoughts out of his head by winning a convincing decision. There were rumors that Tiger was offered a crack at Foster and his old title but he supposedly declined.Tiger would next out fight the tough as nails Andy Kendall. At this point Tiger was still the second best light heavyweight in the world.On July 15, 1970 the aging Tiger would meet his old nemesis Emile Griffith. For whatever reasons Tiger just could not fathom Griffith's style. This would be Dick Tiger's last boxing match. He would have a much tougher future foe.Dick Tiger lost his final fight to the dreaded disease, cancer. He passed away on December 14, 1971. Thirty five years have passed since his tragic death. Today he has been somewhat forgotten. With no disrespect, Dick Tiger would have been able to hold his own with anyone from 160 to 175 today. He was extremely strong. He was always in top condition. He was a tenacious fighter who would just wear an opponent down. Most of all he was durable. In 81 fights he was stopped once, by Bob Foster. No shame there as Bob is considered as one of the hardest punchers of all time.Here are some of the top quality boxers that Tiger met in his outstanding career;Champions ; Emile Griffith, Nino Benvenuti, Jose Torres, Bob Foster, Joey Giardello, Gene Fullmer and Terry Downes.Contenders ; Andy Kendall, Frankie DePaula, Roger Rouse, Jose Gonzalez, Rubin Carter, Joey Archer, Don Fullmer, Florentino Fernandez, Spider Webb, Henry Hank, Gene Armstrong, Yolande Pompey, Randy Sandy, Holly Mims Wilf Greaves and Rory Calhoun.Now that is impressive !

Jim Amato

" BAD " BENNIE BRISCOE

There are certain boxers from my past that in retrospect would be champions today. One such boxer was tough enough to be nicknamed " Bad ". He was Bennie Briscoe from Philadelphia and brother you better bet he was just that, " Bad ". He was probably the most feared middleweight of his era and it was a tough time just be a middleweight in Philly. If you were bad there, you were bad everywhere.Briscoe turned pro in 1962 and would win his first fifteen contests. Among his victims were Charley Scott and Percy Manning. In a return with Manning in 1965, Bennie would suffer his first setback. That year he would also lose to Tito Marshall and Stanley " Kitten " Hayward. In 1966 Bennie would halt the highly respected George Benton.Bennie was now among the middleweight elite. The year 1967 would see him lose two decisions to the great Luis Rodriguez. Sandwiched in between those losses was a draw in Argentina with a fella named Carlos Monzon. In 1968 he would lose to future light heavyweight titleholder Vincente Rondon. He would knock out Rondon in a 1969 rematch.In 1970 Bennie began to make his march to a shot at the world's middleweight title. He won eleven straight fights until he was upset by Luis Vinales in 1972. He would stop Vinales in a return match. Finally in November he would meet the reigning middleweight champion of the world, Carlos Monzon. Again they would be fighting in Argentina. This time Carlos clearly deserved the decision the retained his title but he was rocked to his heels by Bennie in the ninth round of that fight. Monzon would always have a great respect for Briscoe.Bennie would regroup in 1973. He destroyed Art Hernandez in three rounds. He also stopped Billy " Dynamite " Douglas of Columbus, Ohio. Billy's son Buster would shock the world in 1990 when he took apart Mike Tyson. Bennie closed the year by losing a decision to Rodrigo Valdez. These two would create some history together.Bennie put himself right back into the thick of the title picture in 1974 when he took out the streaking Tony Mundine of Australia. Later he would again meet Valdez for the WBC version of the title that had been taken away from Monzon. In a stunning display of punching power the vastly under rated Valdez sent Bennie down and out in round seven. Bennie came back but finished the year dropping a points call to all time great Emile Griffith.Briscoe would then go undefeated in his next thirteen bouts. He won nine and drew in four. In this span he would beat Eddie Gregory ( a.k.a. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad ). He would draw with the dangerous Eugene " Cyclone " Hart. In a return go Bennie blasted out Hart in one round. Bennie also drew in a return with Griffith.In 1977 after Carlos Monzon had officially retired, Bennie was again matched with Rodrigo Valdez for vacant title. Again Rodrigo had Bennie's number and won a very close decision.Starting with a decision loss to future champion Vito Antuofermo, Bennie would lose nine of his last seventeen fights. Later that year bennie would drop a verdict to another future champion named Marvin Hagler. At this stage of his career any middleweight who dreamed of becoming the champion had to go through Bennie first.By the early 1980's Bennie was becoming a stepping stone for young, talented fighters like Vinnie Curto. After a 1982 loss to Jimmy Sykes at the famous Blue Horizon in Philadelphia, hometown boy Bennie Briscoe decided to hang up the gloves. He left a legacy of 96 fights against many of the toughest welterweights and middleweights of his day. He won 66 fights and an amazing 53 of those by knockout. He was stopped only once in his career. His record reads like a who's who of boxing in that era.If ever a fighter who was never crowned a " world champion " deserved to be elected in to the Hall Of Fame, it is none other then Bennie Briscoe.
Jim Amato

JOE ALEXANDER ; NO "REGULAR JOE".

He had less then twenty professional fights but for anyone who followed the heavyweight division in the 1970's, they will not forget Joe Alexander. In twelve victories he scored ten knockouts. This guy could bang ! This New Yorker turned pro in 1968. He was short for a heavyweight at 5'9". In his second bout he suffered a one round KO defeat. Hey I didn't say he had Jake LaMotta's chin...In 1969, as a substitute he was halted by the capable Hal Carroll. No shame there. He came back in 1972 and in 1973 Joe outscored rugged veteran Leroy Caldwell. Two months later he shook up the heavyweight division with a shocking one round blitz of Jose Luis Garcia. In 1974 he was put in as a "tune up" for the highly ranked Jerry Quarry. Joe didn't read the script. Jerry was as tough as they come and he had a great chin. In the first round though Joe floored Jerry and Quarry was lucky to get up and survive the round. Jerry showed his pluck in round two as he gathered himself to halt Joe. Nevertheless Alexander had made a statement. Alexander would win three straight by one round knockouts. He followed that with a two round victory. Then he outscored tough journeyman G.G.Maldonado. Joe then went to Las Vegas where he dropped a ten rounder to talented Kevin Issac. Alexander would lose decisions in 1979 and 1981 and retire. His final ledger was 12-7. He may not have been a top contender but he was a dangerous man.

Jim Amato

JOHNNY LIRA

The city of Chicago has produced its share of outstanding professional fighters. One of them was a tough as nails lightweight who campaigned in the late 1970's and early 1980's. His name was Johnny Lira and he fought his way into the top echelon of the lightweight rankings.Lira turned pro in 1976 and quickly gained notice by winning his first twelve fights. In 1977 he drew with Manuel Lopez but defeated Lopez in a return bout. Johnny hit the big time in 1978 when he received a shot at the United States Boxing Association lightweight title. His opponent was the highly ranked southpaw bomber Andy Ganigan. Johnny was a decided underdog going in but he shocked the boxing establishment by stopping Ganigan in round six. Lira then went to New York's Madison Square Garden to outscore the talented Larry Stanton. Lira was now high in the ratings and in 1979 he received a shot at the World Boxing Association's version of the lightweight title. Their champion was a hard hitting bomber from Venezuela named Ernesto Espana. It was a gruelling fight but Espana emerged victorious stopping Johnny in nine rounds. Lira would suffer a broken jaw for his gallant effort. In 1980 Johnny traveled to Spain and dropped an eight round decision to Andoni Amana. He would later lose a ten round duke to the flashy Howard Davis Jr. In 1981 Lira would post a ten round win over Ohio's rugged Bobby Plegge. Johnny was then outdueled over ten rounds by Nicky Furlano and the was stopped in nine rounds by Willie Rodriguez for the USBA super lightweight title.Lira regrouped in 1982 scoring a points verdict over Canadian Al Ford. Johnny then lost a tough call to former world champion Alfredo Escalera. Lira would come back to win four fights but in 1984 he lost a ten rounder to Russell Mitchell. That was his last fight. Lira hung them up with a fine record of 29-7-1. He scored fifteen knockouts. Johnny himself was stopped on two occasions.

Jim Amato

HAROLD "THE SHADOW" KNIGHT

He was a classy boxer/puncher from New Jersey who appeared destined for greatness. Harold "the Shadow" Knight took a glossy 19-0 record into the ring in an attempt to win a world title. It would be his only chance...Harold became a professional fighter in 1983 at the age of nineteen. It would not take him long to establish himself as a hot prospect and soon a legitimate contender. Harold won his first twelve fights going into 1987. In his thirteenth bout he halted Rene Resto in two rounds. It was Harold's ninth knockout victory. One month later Knight scored an impressive four round stoppage of Darrell Savoy. This led to an important opportunity for Knight. He was matched with world ranked Kenny Baysmore for the USBA super featherweight title. Harold served notice that he was ready for the big time beating the game Baysmore in seven rounds."The Shadow" was now hoping for a shot at the world title. He scored kayo wins over Rafael Gandarilla and Sylvester Kennon. Then he put his USBA title on the line against slick Anthony English. Four rounds later Harold was still holding on to his USBA belt. Knight closed out a very successful 1987 campaign with a hard fought victory over tough Erskine Wade for the USBA title. Harold was now 19-0 with 15 kayo victories. He had his last nine in a row by knockout. It was now time to challenge for a world title. On April 2,1988 Harold met IBF super featherweight champion Rocky Lockridge at the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Lockridge had twice failed to win the WBA featherweight title from Eusebio Pedroza (1980 +83). In 1984 Rocky won the WBA version of the super featherweight title with a one round blitz of Roger Mayweather. He would lose that title on a horrendous verdict to Wifredo Gomez. In 1986 Rocky lost a majority decision to another all time great, Julio Cesar Chavez. That was for the WBC 130 pound title. In 1987 Lockridge stopped Barry Michael to win the IBF crown. Harold Knight was his second scheduled defense. Although Lockridge was a proved commodity, many gave Harold a good chance to win. It was not meant to be. Knight gave it his all but on this night Rocky was just too much for him. Lockridge won a convincing decision by scores of 145-140,145-139 and 146-139. Lockridge would lose his title in his very next fight. It was a barn burner against Tony "The Tiger" Lopez and it was the 1988 Ring Magazine Fight Of The Year. Rocky would lose a return go with Lopez. He would lose two of his next three bouts and retire in 1992. Harold Knight would never fight again after his lost title attempt against Lockridge. He failed a brain scan and retired. We would never get to see how far the talented Harold Knight could have gone.

Jim Amato

ATTILIO "ROCKY" CASTELLANI

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