[scribbs]

Part 1

By Ken Hissner (May 6, 2008) Doghouse Boxing

Australia has a rich history of producing some outstanding boxers. The likes of Kostya Tszyu, Jeff Fenech, Vic Darchinyan, Anthony Mundine, and Danny Green, are being talked about by fight fans all over the world today.

There hadn’t been an Olympic medal winner since 1908 when Reginald Baker took silver until Kevin Hogarth, took bronze in 1956 at the Australian Games. In 1960 at Rome Ollie Taylor and Tony Madigan each won a bronze medal. The latter lost to USA’s Cassius Clay in the semi finals. Grahame Cheney won a silver medal in the 1988 South Korea Olympics.

Taylor turned pro scoring a knockout and won 10 decisions over 12 rounds with 1 draw before losing back to back fights to Bob Allotey (33-1) and for Johnny Famechon’s (18-1-2) Australian feather title over 15 rounds. He then retired with an 11-2-1 record.

Famechon, born in France, came to the continent at age 5. Having no amateur bouts he won all but one of his first 25 fights, which he reversed, then won the Australian feather title in 1965 and the Commonwealth title in 1967. He returned to Paris, France in 1968 and was held to a draw by Rene Roque, French lightweight champion. In London, he beat the WBC feather title from Cuba’s Jose Legra (109-6-4), in January 1969. In his only defense in Australia he defeated two division world champion Fighting Harada (54-5). Referee, Willie Pep, gave the decision to Famechon 70-69. In a return match in Tokyo he stopped Harada in the 14th round. In his last bout he lost to Mexican Vicente Saldivar (35-1), in Italy, over 15 rounds. His record stood at (56-5-6, 20KOs). He was voted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.

Jimmy Carruthers represented Australia in the 1948 London Olympics. He won his first two bouts but sustained an eye injury and had to withdraw in the quarter finals. Turning pro in 1950, he won the Australian bantam title in 1951. In 1952 he defeated previously unbeaten Vic Toweel (26-1-1) in Johannesburg by a 1st round knockout winning the world bantam title becoming Australia’s first universally recognized world champion. Fighters of the past, holding the Australian version of the world title were Young Griffo (78-10-4), Mick King, in his 13th fight, and Les Darcy. Carruthers repeated his victory over Toweel 4 months later in the 10th round. In 1953 he defeated American Henry “Pappy” Gault (44-7-1) by decision. After this bout it was discovered Carruthers was carrying a 30-foot-long tapeworm.

In May 1954 he traveled to Bangkok against former Thai kick boxer Chamroen Songkitrat (6-1-1), who had just defeated Gault. After 3 days of rain, the bout was taking place outdoors before 69,819 people during a Monsoon rain. The fighters fought in the only barefoot world title bout, before or since. Carruthers won and retired unbeaten in 19 fights. After 7 years he made a return to the ring losing 4 out of 6 matches before calling it quits in June 1962. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of fame in 1995.

Les Darcy and Dave Sands are widely considered to be the two best ever boxers from Australia. Both middleweights also held the heavyweight title. Both died at an early age. Darcy of complications from an infected tooth received from an injury in a fight along with the removal of his tonsils while Sands from a car accident.

Darcy, from Stradbroke, winning 46 of 50, reversed his 4 losses. Turning pro in 1910 at age 15, this 5:06 boxer won his first 16 fights before losing to Bob Whitelaw (21-12-4) for the Australian welter title. Darcy stopped Whitelaw in the rematch in 5 rounds. In 1914 American Fritz Holland (13-3-7) defeated Darcy over 20 rounds, making Australia his home. Holland won the rematch by foul in 18 rounds. Darcy would post 3 wins before again losing by foul, this time to Jeff Smith (16-8-1) for the Australian Version of the World Middleweight Title. Before the rematch he twice defeated Holland, including a 13th round stoppage. Darcy then beat Smith by foul in the 2nd round.

Darcy won 22 fights after the loss to Smith, including the Australian heavy title from Harold Hardwick. Darcy defeated such top visitors as Americans Eddie McGoort (71-10-5), Billy Murray (50-11-6), Jimmy Clabby (79-17-25), George Chip (57-18-8), and Buck Crouse (73-14-6).

Darcy had the misfortune to become embroiled in the politics of World War I, and left Australia for America after the Chip fight in September of 1916. His last fight of his life would be in a hospital bed, after collapsing on April 27th, 1917. He had his tonsils removed but developed pneumonia and died on May 24th at the age of 21. It’s been said he died of a broken heart after leaving Australia. His body was returned to Australia where an estimated half-million people paid their respects. Darcy would become a member of both the World Hall of Fame and the International Hall of Fame.

Sands, in an 8 year career had 110 fights, winning 97, with 63 by knockout, 10 losses, with 1 draw. From Newcastle, Sands won 25 out of 26 losing only to Jackie Marr (15-9) in the first of 3 meetings. A draw and a Sands decision would follow. Sands won the Australian middle and light heavy titles. He reversed a loss to Emory Jackson (13-3-2) in 1947. Then won 21 straight including American Alabama Kid (164-48-19). He lost to American Tommy Yarosz (76-4) in London after suffering from a swollen, vaccinated arm. Sands then won 5 fights including ‘fight of the year’ with France’s European champ Robert Villemain (35-2-1) and Commonwealth champ Dick Turpin (73-15-6) in the 1st.

In 1950, Sands returned to Australia defeating American Carl “Bobo” Olson (38-2) in a close fight. They would have a rematch in Chicago Stadium, with Sands winning. In London he lost to Yolande Pompey (13-0-2) of Trinidad. Ahead on points he lost by cut in the 7th. Pompey would later challenge Archie Moore for his light heavy title.

In Australia in 1952, Sands won defenses of his Commonwealth and Australian middle titles to Al Bourke (25-1-1) and Jim Woods (31-14) at heavy. This would be his last fight July 9th, 1952. On August 11th Sands would die from a car accident at the age of 26. Sands later became a member of the World Hall of Fame.

The first well known heavyweight of Australia was Peter “Black Prince” Jackson, from St. Croix, Virgin Islands. He would defeat Tom Leeds in 1886 for the Australian title and Jem Smith for the British Commonwealth title, by knockouts. In 1888 he went to America defeating George Godfrey for the ‘Coloured’ title while winning 13 fights.

In the UK he won 13 straight before returning to America winning 4 fights. He would return to Australia after 28 months for a 3 month period. He drew with Joe Goddard (9-0-1) for the Australian title. In 1891 returning to America in his most famous bout he fought 61 rounds with future world champion James J. Corbett (12-0-2) with both fighters too exhausted to continue. A no contest was declared.

In 1892 in the UK he knocked out Australian Frank “Paddy” Slavin (30-0-5) who had been unbeaten for 10 years, for the Commonwealth title. With only 1 fight in 1895 he lost to future champion James J. Jeffries (5-0-2) in 1898. In all Jackson had some 98 fights winning 46, losing 3, with 3 draws and the rest being no contests. He was inducted into the International and World Hall of Fames.

Vic Patrick, from Sydney, won the Australian titles in the light (1941) and welter (1942) divisions. He won his first 21 fights before losing to Tod Morgan (136-44-33) by foul. Less than a month later they fought for the Australian lightweight title with Patrick winning the decision. They would meet 2 more times with Patrick winning. After the loss to Morgan, Patrick ran off 16 more wins before losing to Les Sloane due to an injured shoulder. Before their rematch Patrick would win the Australian welter title by knockout over Hockey Bennell (54-15-7). He then stopped Sloane in 3 rounds.

In 1946 down to 131 he defeated Eddie Miller (66-13) in the 6th round re-winning the Australian lightweight title he had won 5 years previously. In his next fight before over 14,000 people he stopped Eddie Marcus in the 1st round.

In 1947 American Freddie Dawson (47-5-2) stopped Patrick in the 12th. Dawson would later challenge for the world title and end his career in Australia in 1954 winning his 101st fight. In 1948 he drew with Mickey Tollis (30-4-5) and finished up with a pair of wins including a 12 round decision win over American Tommy Stenhouse (28-2-1). His record was 52-4-1, 45 knockouts.

George Bracken, Palm Island, fought from 1953-62 winning the Australian light title in 1956 only to lose it in 1958 and regain it in 1960 only to lose it again in 1962 while compiling a 41-15-3 record.

In the 60’s Rocky Gattellari won his first 16 fights including the Australian fly title in his 4th fight. He lost to WBC champ Salvatore Burruni (81-5-1) from Italy in the 13th. He won 5 straight before being stopped by Lionel Rose (26-2). Turning pro in 1964 after failing a birth on the Olympic team, Rose would win the Australian bantam title in 1966. His defense against Gattellari put him into a WBC/WBA title bout 2 months later in Tokyo where the 1964 games had been held. Finally making it to Tokyo the 19 year old would upset 2 weight division champion Fighting Harada (50-3) by majority decision. Rose was accorded the biggest welcome of any Australian sporting champion after returning home from his title winning trip to Japan before over 100,000 people. He defended his title in Japan defeating previously unbeaten Takao Sakurai (22-1) by majority decision. In California he won a non title bout over Jose Medel (64-23-7) by majority decision and a split decision over Chucho Castillo (33-7). In 1969 he won a split decision over Commonwealth champ Alan Rudkin (36-4) in Melbourne. He lost his title to Ruben Olivares (51-0-1) in August of 1969 by knockout. In 1971 he lost to WBC super feather champion Yoshiaki Numata (43-6-3) in Japan by decision. He didn’t fight for 4 years before retiring in 1976. His record was 42-11. For a teenager who started sparring with rags on his hands in a ring made from fencing wire stretched between trees to become a world champion was quite an accomplishment.

The 70’s produced 4 fighters including 2 world champions. Rocky Mattioli was born in Italy and would migrate to Australia where he made his debut in 1970. He only lost 2 times in his first 35 fights while beating this year’s hall of fame inductee former WBC/WBA light welter champ Eddie Perkins. A loss of his Australasian welter title on cuts to Ali Afakasi in 1975 did not discourage him. He came back in his next fight stopping former WBC/WBA welter champion Billy Backus (39-18-4) in the 5th round. After a loss to American Harold Weston (18-6-2) he ventured back to Italy.

In April of 1976 he drew with Italy’s former WBC light welter champ Bruno Acari (67-2). After winning 10 fights besides the Acari fight he would travel to Germany to fight Eckhard Dagge (20-3-1) whom he stopped in the 5th round for the WBC light middle title in August of 1977. He defended his title in Melbourne stopping former WBC light middle champ Elisha Obed (67-4-4) in the 7th round. It would be his only fight in Australia in the last 7 years of his career. In Italy he stopped Jose Manuel Duran (63-6-9). In 1979 he would lose to Maurice Hope (26-2-1) in the 9th round. He would score 6 knockouts in a row before being stopped in the 11th by Hope in London. He finished his career in America scoring 4 knockouts before retiring August 19th, 1982. His record was 65-7-2 with 52 knockouts.

Tony Mundine, born in Baryulgil, won his first 4 bouts before finding himself on the canvas in the 1st round against current Australian boxing writer Ray Wheatley before coming back to win in the next round. He won 20 of his first 21 bouts including the Australian middle title. He drew with Bunny Sterling for the Commonwealth title after 15 rounds. He was stopped by former welter champ Luis Manuel Rodriguez (104-9) in the 1st round. He then won 8 straight knockouts winning the Australian heavyweight title over Foster Bibron in the 11th round though giving up 46 pounds in February of 1972.

In Mundine’s next fight he won the rematch with Sterling stopping him in the final round for the Commonwealth title. He had scored 19 straight knockouts including American Denny Moyer (83-23-4), Brazilian Juarez DeLima (40-13-5), South American champ Antonio Oscar Aguilar (69-9-7) and in France, Nessim Max Cohen (31-7-8) along with former WBC/WBA welter and middle champion Emile Griffith (77-14-1).

Mundine’s 22 fight win streak was broken by American Bennie Briscoe (48-12-1) in the 5th round in France. He then won 3 straight knockouts before getting a WBA title bout with middle champ Carlos Monzon (82-3), being stopped in the 7th. It would be his only title shot though fighting another 10 years and move all the way up to an elimination bout in 1979 losing to cruiser Mate Parlov (23-2-1) in Italy.

Mundine added the Commonwealth light heavy title in 1975 stopping Victor Attivor (7-4-1). In 1981 he beat Steve Aczel (27-4-1) for the Australian heavy, cruiser, and light heavy titles. He stopped Monty Betham (38-9) in 1980 and Jamaican Bunny Johnson (54-15-1) in 1981. He retired in 1984 with an 80-15-1, 64 KOs, record.

 

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Part 2

By Ken Hissner (May 7, 2008) Doghouse Boxing

Barry Michael would come to Melbourne, Australia from the UK at the age of 2. He would turn pro in 1973 and run up an 18-2-1 record before challenging Billy Moeller (29-9-3) for the Commonwealth and Australian super feather titles losing a 15 round decision in 1976. He would move up in weight suffering losses to Argentina’s Juan Jose Gimenez (56-5-4) and fellow countryman Jeff Malcolm (38-16-9) but keep going until he won the Australian light title from Billy Mulholland (33-8-2) in 1978. In 1981 he would win the Commonwealth title stopping Zimbabwe’s Langton Tinago (59-12-3) while later losing it to former WBA lightweight champ Claude Noel by split decision in 1982. He would move up to light welter defeating Frank Ropis (34-8-4) for the Australian title.

In 1984 Michael went to Indonesia against Muhammed Juhari and got a draw in 12 for the OPBF lightweight title. This caused a riot in the ring after his cornermen complained about the decision. He followed up with wins over Juan Arroyo (21-2-1) of Puerto Rico, and previously unbeaten Graeme Brooke (19-1), again for the Commonwealth light title. In July 1985 he defeated fellow countryman and IBF super feather champion Lester Ellis (16-1), over 15 rounds.

In 2 defenses in Australia he stopped South Korea’s Jin-Shik Choi (17-1) in 1985 and the American Mark Fernandez (17-1-1), in 1986. He went to the UK and decisioned British champion Najib Daho (30-18-1), of Morocco. His next fight would be a year later in the UK, losing to American Rocky Lockridge (40-5), the former WBA super feather champion, not being able to answer the bell for the 9th. His record was 48-9-3, 15 KO’s.

Jeff Malcolm, of Cowra, fought from 1971-2002, starting at 15 and finishing at 46. Among his many titles were Australian and Commonwealth light welter, IBC, PABA, WBF and WBA Fedelatin welter champ.

He defeated Michael, Moeller, and Mulholland, while losing to Hector Thompson (67-7-2), Pat Leglise (23-1-1) and in his only world title bout to American Manning Galloway (46-11-1) for the WBO welter title in 1991. He would win his 100th fight stopping Sam Aukuso in Australia. He took his 17-0-1 win streak into his final bout in Manila losing to Fernando Sagrado (17-4-1), career ending fights for both. Malcolm ended up 100-27-11.

Hector Thompson, from Brisbane, turned pro in 1970 and won the Australian light welter title in 1971 beating Leo young (25-9-2). In 1972 he fought to a draw with Tongan Manny Santos (30-7-2) of New Zealand while on a 22 fight win streak. In a rematch defeated Santos for the Australasian light title. He defeated Ghana’s Joe Tetteh (44-22-6) for the Commonwealth light welter title. In 1973 he was stopped in the 8th by WBA lightweight champion Roberto Duran (35-1) in Panama. Thompson won 10 straight after this fight including American Jimmy Heair (36-1) and former WBA light welter champ Alfonso Frazer. He would get one more shot at a title in Panama losing to Antonio Cervantes (73-9-3) for the WBA light welter title due to cut eye stoppage. Thompson would retire in 1980 with a 73-12-2 record.

Charkey Ramon, born in Gulgong, residing in Sydney, won both the Australian and Commonwealth light middle titles. Ramon turned pro in July 1970 going 15-0-1. He defeated Eddie ‘Mardi’ Manuela twice. Manuela, 5 days later beats Fred Etuai (9-2) of Samoa who 6 weeks later upsets Ramon by an 8 round decision having a 10 pound weight advantage. This would be the only loss on Ramon’s record over 35 fights.

For Ramon 9 wins later, he captures the Australian light middle title from Paul Lovi (14-3-2) with a 3rd round knockout ending Lovi’s career in June of 1972. Ramon knocked out Eddie Tavui (4-0) who had knocked out Tony Smith, who had drawn with Ramon. Ramon knocked out Tavui. Several fights later Ramon stopped Pat Dwyer (33-8-2) of the UK in the 8th round to win the vacant Commonwealth light middle title in Oct 1972.

The following March Ramon beat French champion Jacques Kechichian (22-4-2) in New Caledonia over 10 rounds. Kechichian had gone the distance with former world champ Emile Griffith and 4 months after the Ramon bout would win the European title. This would be Ramon’s only fight outside of Australia. Then Ramon’s stopped Italian born, Donato Paduano (33-5-1) of Canada in the 11th of a Commonwealth defense.

Next he stopped in 6 Don McMillan (29-17-5) who had just stopped Alan Minter handing him his first loss. Minter would later become WBC and WBA middleweight champion.

It would be 8 ½ months before his next and final fight on May 31, 1974 stopping Mexican born Manuel Fierro (16-5-1) of the USA in the 7th. It was Ramon’s 19th straight win and 14th by knockout. His record was 33-1-1, with 21 knockouts.

Lester Ellis would hold numerous titles, but none better than the IBF super feather title. Though born in England, he came to Melbourne, Australia and became the amateur bantam champion. He turned pro that same year in 1983 winning his first 14 straight including the Commonwealth super feather title with a split decision over previously unbeaten John Sichula (14-1-1) of Zambia. This won the IBF title bout in February of 1985 by a split decision over South Korea’s champ Hwan-Kil Yuh (25-1-3) in Victoria.

Ellis had his first defense 2 months later against Filipino Rod Sequenan (43-9-3) whom he stopped in the 13th. Just 3 months later he lost to fellow Victorian, Barry Michael (44-8-3) by decision over 15 rounds. He would move up to the lightweight division defeating American Marvin Garris (8-2), stablemate of Charley “Choo Choo” Brown. Then at the end of 1985 in a rematch with Sichula he was stopped in the 4th round. He won the Australian lightweight title 5 fights later defeating Dale Artango (18-1) by 6th round knockout in 1987. The following year he won the Australian light welter title over Pat Leglise after flooring him twice in the 5th round. At the end of 1988 he won the Commonwealth title stopping Robert Harkin (12-3-1) of Scotland.

Ellis had his 13 bout win streak stopped by Steve Larrimore (14-2) in 1989. He won the vacant WBF welter title in 1993 stopping American Rocky Berg (60-34-2). He was beaten by 1 point to former IBF feather champion Calvin Grove (44-5) who had just stopped Jeff Fenech. He won the IBO light welter title in 1994 stopping Al Coquilla (22-8-3). In 1995 his weight jumped up to 150 and he won the vacant IBO light middle title over Eric Alexander (10-5-1). In 1996 he got his rematch with Grove as a lightweight and was stopped in the 4th. Some 6 years later he makes a comeback at 163 getting stopped by Anthony Mundine in 3. Ellis was 41-8 with 28 knockouts.

Jeff Harding, Sydney, won the WBC light heavy title in 1989. Turning pro in 1986 he won his first 14 bouts, 11 by knockout, including the OPBF light heavy title over Doug Sam (21-4) by 5th round stoppage. He stopped South American champion Jorge Juan Salgado (36-17-6). Then his win over Argentine’s Nestor Giovannini (27-3-2) propelled him into a WBC light heavy bout. In June 1989 he stopped Dennis Andries (34-7-2) in the 12th and final round in Atlantic City for the WBC title in just his 15th fight.

It would be 14 months before the rematch. Harding won 3 non-title bouts in Australia in the mean time. The title bout would take place in London with Andries regaining the title by majority decision. Andries vacated the title to move up to cruiser. In June 1992 Harding stopped the former WBA super middleweight champion Christophe Tiozzo (30-1) of France, in the 8th in France to regain the WBC light heavy title.

Harding, in a rematch, decisioned the American USBA champion David Vedder (15-10-3), who had lost in a title bout with WBA champion Virgil Hill in 1990. In July of 1994 in his last bout Harding lost to former WBA light middle and middle champion Mike McCallum (46-2-1) by decision in North Dakota. His record was 23-2, 17 knockouts.

Two of the countries favorite brothers were Guy and Troy Waters. Both fought for 3 world titles and always gave the fans something to cheer about. Troy, though a year younger, turned pro first in 1984 winning his first 5 fights before being sent off to Seoul, South Korea to fight In future IBF super middle champ Chul Baek (35-1, 35 KOs) for the OPBF light middle title. All Baek’s wins were by stoppage, but Waters managed to do the 12 rounds. In Waters next fight he won the Australian title over Paul Toweel (22-2). Several fight later he won the Commonwealth title putting UK’s Lloyd Hibbert (19-3) into permanent retirement in 4. In his 16th fight and on a 9 fight win streak he goes to Italy losing to Gianfranco Rosi (46-3) for the IBF light middle title. His second attempt at a world title came 6 wins later losing to WBC light middle champ Terry Norris (34-3) in 3. Just 2 fights later he loses to Simon Brown (40-2) in Las Vegas by majority decision. Next he defeats Mexican champ and former WBC welter champ Jorge Vaca (54-13-1). He then wins 6 straight including American Lonnie Beasley (27-3-2) and loses in a WBC eliminator match to future champion Felix Trinidad in the 1st. He ended his career stopping Ambrose Mlilo (17-4-1) to finish at 28-5, with 20 knockouts.

Older brother Guy turned pro in 1985 giving up 22 pounds fighting for NSW cruiser title in a losing effort. He wins both the Australian and OPBF light heavy titles in his 5th fight. In his 12th wins Commonwealth title over Willie Featherstone (19-4-1) in 1989.

Just like his brother, he gets a world title in his 16th bout losing to Dennis Andries (38-8-2), conqueror of Jeff Harding, for the WBC light heavy title in 1991. In his next bout he defeats former WBA champion Leslie Stewart (29-7). In 1993 in the US he loses to WBA champion Virgil Hill (37-1). In 1997 he wins the WBF title over Gavin Ryan (13-4). In 1999 he gets his 3rd and final title bout with the Cuban Juan Carlos Gomez (23-0) being stopped in the 6th in Germany. His final record was 25-7-1, 11 knockouts.

Today, Sydney’s Jeff Fenech may still be the most popular Aussie boxer. As a member of the 1984 Olympic team he won 2 bouts before losing. In his 5th fight he stopped Wayne Mulholland (20-7). Just 6 ½ months and 6 wins as a pro he would stop Japan’s Satoshi Shingaki (8-1-1) on April 26, 1985 for his IBF bantam title in the 9th round. This was the 3rd fastest a fighter won a world championship, in just his 7th bout.

Fenech gave Shigaki a rematch and stopped him in the 4th. In his next defense he would defeat previously unbeaten American Jerome Coffee (26-1). The next opponent in a non-title bout was former WBC bantam and future super bantam champ Daniel Zaragoza (28-3) whom decisioned. Then Steve McCrory (11-0-1) the gold medal flyweight of the 1984 Olympics would get stopped in the 14th. Fenech would then move up in weight.

Fenech won the Australian feather title over Tony Miller (19-2-1) and stopped the previously unbeaten Samart Payakaroon (14-1) of Thailand for the WBC super bantam title in May of 1987. In his first defense he stopped American Greg Richardson (22-2). Next would be Mexico’s Carlos Zarate (66-2), Fenech winning by technical decision after 4. Fenech had won all the rounds but suffered a bad cut.

In 1988 Fenech won the title in his 3rd weight class over WBC feather champ Puerto Rico’s Victor Callejas (24-1) in the final round, well ahead on points. He won by knockout in his next 2 title defenses over Trinidad’s Tyrone Downes (28-5) and American Georgie Navarro (17-2). He decisioned Mexico’s Marcos Villasana (49-6-3) who had just fought a draw for the WBA feather title. He would move up to super feather winning a WBC eliminator bout with Mario Martinez (48-5-2) by decision in 1989. It would be 7 months before he fight for the first time outside of Australia traveling to Las Vegas and fighting WBC champ Azuma Nelson (34-2) to a draw. Most observers thought Fenech deserved the decision. He would beat the South American champion Miguel Angel Francia (32-9-6). With the rematch with Nelson set for Melbourne in March of 1992. For 7 rounds they fought on even terms per the judges with Nelson scoring a 8th round stoppage in what Ring Magazine voted the upset of the year in 1992.

After a 15 month lay-off, Fenech was stopped by the former IBF feather champion American Calvin Grove (43-5) in 7, while ahead on the scorecards. After 2 wins in the next 3 years he made a bid for the IBF lightweight title losing to South Africa’s Philip Holiday (27-0) in 2. His final record was 28-3-1, 23 knockouts. In 2002 he was inducted into the International Hall of Fame and World Hall of Fame. Fenech has served as trainer for world champions Mike Tyson, Lovemore N’dou, Danny Green and Vic Darchinyan.

 

[scribbs]

Part 3

By Ken Hissner (May 8, 2008) Doghouse Boxing

Grahame “Spike” Cheney, New South Wales, was a silver medal winner at the 1988 Olympics. In order to get to the final he defeated future WBA welter champion Ike Quartey from Ghana and American Todd Foster who also had a successful pro career. Cheney stayed amateur until the Commonwealth Games 1990 winning a bronze medal.

He turned pro in 1991 winning the Australian welter title in his 5th fight stopping Attila Fogas (8-2-2). In his 8th fight he won the WBC International title from Hector Vilte (52-10-3) of Argentina. He stretched his unbeaten streak to 10 stopping American Don Wilford (18-2) but lost to Alex Tui (10-9-2) in 3. He won the rematch 5 months later in September of 1993 stopping Tui in the 4th winning the IBF Pan Pacific light middle title. In 1994 he stopped American Tom Alexander (17-5) and had his first fight off the continent stopping UK’s Gary Logan (26-1) in London. Then he went to the USA and won a decision over Tony Rodriguez (12-1). Back in Australia for his next fight he challenged for the light middle title losing to Leo Young, Jr. (10-0) by TD in 11.

After taking a year off, in July of 1995 he defeated former 3 time world challenger Terrence Alli (52-10-2) of Guyana. Next up was American Pat Coleman (22-4) whom he decisioned. In March of 1996 the Russian Viktor Baranov (25-7-2) came in and ended Cheney’s career with a 5th round stoppage. Cheney’s record was 17-3, 11 KOs.

In 1991 the amateur world championships were held in Sydney. A Russian fighter named Kostya Tszyu would win the gold medal in the light welter division. Little did anyone know at the time when the collapse of the Soviet Union came about in 1992 that this exciting Russian would be returning to become one of the legendary Australian boxers becoming a citizen in 1993.

“The Thunder from Down Under” turned pro in 1992 winning his first 3 fights by knockout. In his 4th fight he faced the former WBC feather champion Juan La Porte (37-12) who in 1990 challenged WBC super feather champion Azuma Nelson in Sydney losing a close decision. Tszyu won every round on the judge’s scorecards.

Next up was the Argentine Daniel Cusato (16-1) whom he stopped in the 7th round. Next came in future WBO light welter champion Sammy Fuentes (23-10-1) who never survived the 1st round. By his 10th fight he was in with former WBA lightweight champion Livingstone Bramble (34-11-3) whom he had down in the 1st round and easily decisioned. NABF champion Hector Lopez (26-2-1) was the next victim, then he ended the career of former WBC title challenger Angel Hernandez (40-1-2) of Puerto Rico in 7.

Dominican champion Pedro Sanchez (26-1-2) would be the only thing standing between Tszyu and the IBF light welter title shot. He would fall in the 4th round. Off to Las Vegas to challenge Puerto Rico’s Jake Rodriguez (26-2-2) for the IBF title. Winning every round the referee finally stopped the one sided fight in the 6th crowning Tszyu champion in his 15th fight on January 28, 1995.

Tszyu’s first defense would be back in Australia winning almost every round over Roger “Black Mamba” Mayweather (54-11), the former WBC light welter and current IBO champ. Knockout defenses would follow over previously unbeaten Columbian Hugo Pineda (27-1) in 11, American Corey Johnson (20-1-1) coming off a draw with then unbeaten Aussie, Shannon Taylor (14-0-1), stopped in 4, and previously unbeaten South Africa’s Jan-Piet Bergman (32-1), in 6.

Starting in 1997 Tszyu would travel back to the USA taking on Puerto Rico’s Leonardo Mas (23-2) in Las Vegas. This is a fight he would like to forget. After dropping Mas 2 times referee Joe Cortez (Puerto Rican) stepped between the fighters as Tszyu was throwing a punch out of a clinch. Mas went down and Cortez ruled it a no contest in the very first round.

Tszyu was trying to get a fight with WBC champ Oscar De La Hoya. De La Hoya chose to fight Pernell Whittaker instead. So in what Ring Magazine called the upset of the year in 1997 Vince Phillips (35-3) scored a 10th round stoppage of Tszyu in Atlantic City. The cards were even going into the 10th. Strange, but there would never be a rematch.

Now it seemed like the goal was to go after the WBC title. It started from December of 1997 winning an elimination match over Ismale Chaves (40-5-3), who was stopped for the first time, followed by stoppages of 2 former world champions Calvin Grove (49-9) and Rafael Ruelas (52-3) to another elimination match in November of 1998 with Cuban Diosbelys Hurtado (28-1). In the Hurtado fight Tszyu found himself on the canvas twice in the first while Hurtado was down once. Tszyu would finally stop his opponent in the 5th. Some 18 months and 2 elimination matches and still no title fight. Tszyu stayed idle for 9 months before the title finally became vacant. In August of 1999 he was matched with Mexico’s Miguel Angel Gonzalez (43-1-1) and stopped him in the 10th as Gonzalez trainer climbed up into the ring due to the beating his fighter was taking.

In his first defense of his new title Tszyu had Ahmed Santos (26-2-4) down twice in the 8th before the referee stopped it. In July of 2000 it became the meeting of 2 legends, Julio Cesar Chavez (103-4-2) and Tszyu in Phoenix. Chavez down to 140 for the first time in 2 years trying to recapture the title he lost to De La Hoya. Tszyu won in 6.

In early 2001 in Las Vegas, Sharmba Mitchell (47-2), the WBA champion cannot continue due to a knee injury in the 7th. Earlier in the 4th round Tszyu was penalized a point for pushing. What seemed like an easy defense next was not so easy. The previously unbeaten European champ Oktay Urkal (28-1) of Germany gave Tszyu fits at times. The outcome was never in doubt but it was not a pleasing performance on the champion’s part. Next would be the vocal IBF champion Zab Judah (27-1). Halfway through the first round Judah rocked Tszyu with a left uppercut and had him holding on. With 30 seconds to go in the round again Judah stunned him. He seemed too fast for Tszyu. Between rounds his corner must have come up with something because when he came out for the 2nd he landed a lead right that put Judah down. He got up but fell down which is an automatic stoppage. Referee Jay Nady was correct in his decision.

In May of 2002 in Las Vegas, granite chinned Ghana fighter Ben Tackie (24-2) was next with Tszyu winning every round. It would be the champions only fight that year. In 2003 in Melbourne, American Jesse James Leija (43-5-2) the former WBC super featherweight champion whose 4 fights with Nelson (won 2, lost 1, drew 1) made him a worthy challenger. Though Tszyu was ahead it was an interesting fight until at the end of the 6th when Leija could not continue due to a perforated right eardrum.

The rematch with Mitchell (55-3) happened in November 2004 in Phoenix. Tszyu had been off for 22 months with various injuries. Mitchell had won 8 in a row including wins over Phillips, Tackie and Lovemore N’dou. In Mitchell’s mind he had lost due to knee injury in their first fight. Tszyu went through Mitchell like a buzzsaw stopping him in the 3rd after 4 knockdowns. Mitchell was no match for him.

The stage was set for what would be Tszyu’s last fight on June 4, 2005. Due to American television, the fight would take place in the wee hours in the UK. Ricky Hatton (38-0) was the celebrated hero there. He could do no wrong. There are different points of view with this fight. American Emmanuel Burton who was Tszyu’s main sparring partner was at ringside. His account was similar to this writer’s. When Hatton wasn’t holding Tszyu he was getting his ears boxed off. The referee Dave Parris seemed to allow Hatton to do whatever he thought fit. Hatton rabbit punched, head butted and held throughout the 10 rounds. The judges had Hatton ahead. Press Row judges Ron Borges 95-95, John Dillon 96-95 Hatton, and Colin Hart 96-95 Tszyu. Tszyu quit on the stool at the end of the 11th, to a stunned audience. That was no way for a champion to go out. Tszyu was too gracious a loser afterwards. Tszyu has kept his hand in promoting fighters from Russia.

Lovemore N’dou was born in South Africa. The “Black Panther” turned pro in 1993 winning 10 of his first 11 fights. He traveled to Australia in 1995 losing to Cliff Sarmardin (22-0) who 2 months won in Chicago in his final bout. N’dou returned to South Africa drawing with Mthobeli Mhlophe (25-4-1) for the countries super feather title. He has never fought there since.

In May of 1996 N’dou returned to Australia for good winning 17 straight before PABA champion Guillermo Mosquera stopped his streak. After 3 wins he made his USA debut in 2002 losing to Jose Luis Juarez (23-4-1) by majority season in California. Off to Hawaii the next month scoring a stoppage over Jun Gorres (25-2-1) and then back to California losing to Steve Quinonez (28-6-1) though scoring a 1st round knockdown.

N’dou would win 5 straight including a TD in 8 over Damian Fuller (21-2) after receiving a nasty gash above his right eye. He had Fuller down twice earlier in the fight. Returning to Australia he won his first ever title over Cesar Leiva by 7th round knockout for the IBF Pan Pacific light welter title. This all lead to his first world title bout in Atlantic City losing to IBF champion Sharmba Mitchell (52-3).

Several months later he lost to future champion Miguel Cotto (19-0) in an eliminator bout for the IBF title. In 2005 N’dou lost another eliminator match to the UK’s future WBC champion Junior Witter (30-1-2) in Los Angeles. After 5 straight wins in Australia he would be matched with the Tunisian Naoufel Ben Rabah (24-2) Australian based, living in Perth. Ben Rabah had won over Juan Urango 8 months prior to this for the title. It was February of 2007 while ahead on all judges’ cards at the end of the 11th, Rabah failed to come out for the final round making N’dou the new champion. Ben Rabah has not fought since.

It would be short lived. N’dou traveled back to the USA in June 2007 losing almost every round to Paul Malignaggi (22-1) whom most people felt had no chance. The rematch with Malignaggi is set for May 24th.

Paul “Hurricane” Briggs has been a hard man for most of his life; he used his anger and aggression to become the world kick boxing champion at 19. But after a detour into the underworld as a drug dealer and standover man, Briggs decided to turn his life around. He won his debut by a majority decision in 10 rounds over Ronald Doo (43-11-5) in June of 1994 at 158. Since he was still kickboxing (54-5, 39 KOs) he didn’t have his second fight until January of 1997 coming in at 172. “I wasn’t interested in training or getting fit. My ego got in the way and I got smashed”. He was stopped by southpaw Larl Zada (5-1) in the 3rd. Zada would never fight again while Briggs did not come back until late 1999 at the heaviest of his career 191. He would stop Ken Suavine (3-7-1) in the 4th.

In his 6th bout in July of 2000 he won the IBF Pan pacific cruiserweight title by TD in 5 over Daniel Roswell (12-1-1), the current PABA and Australian champ. He followed up by scoring 13 knockouts in winning his next 14 fights including the Australian and OPBF light heavyweight titles. The latter was over Glen Kelly (28-1-1) in the 4th. Then came the former WBA middleweight champion from Argentina Jorge Castro (122-8-3). Though the scoring was not close it was a fight that earned Briggs a 6 month rest. “The break was awesome” said Briggs.

Briggs was put into a WBC title eliminator bout with Mexico’s Jesus Ruiz (18-3) who had Briggs down in the 2nd. Briggs came back to win the decision and the right to meet the European champion from Croatia and previously unbeaten Stipe Drews (26-1). It was his second elimination match. He won on all scorecards and would finally get his title bout going to Chicago to meet Poland’s Tomasz Adamek (28-0) for the vacant WBC light heavy title. Chicago had a very big Polish population which could have influenced the judges. In what most people felt could have been a candidate for fight of the year Briggs lost a majority decision. It would take two wins and 17 months to get the rematch with Adamek. The champion had one successful title defense and had been off a year. In another brutal bout in which Briggs had Adamek on the canvas in the 1st and gained a point in the 9th from low blows, Briggs again would lose by majority decision. Briggs has had only one fight since that night winning the vacant IBF Australasian title over Ruper van Aswegen (12-4-1) in Sydney over 12 rounds.

Gary St. Clair came to Australia from Guyana in 2001. He started his career in Guyana in 1994 having 4 fights before coming to the USA in 1996 and won his first 14 up until 1998. St. Clair was held to a draw by Bernard Harris (14-3-1) but followed up with a win earning an IBF super feather title eliminator with future champion Diego Corrales (25-0) in California losing a decision in 12. He went back to Guyana winning their title over Vincent Howard (14-6-2) in 12 in 1999. At the end of the year he returned to the legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia losing to another future champion in Vivian Harris (15-0) by decision.

In 2000 he in Montreal he lost to yet another future champion, Romanian Leonard Dorin (15-0). He came to Australia winning 19 out of 20 fights with 1 draw. He had captured the WBF International super feather title from Bart Abapo (13-1-2) and the WBO Inter-Continental feather title from Decho Bankluaygym (16-3-1). A win over American Shamir Reyes (17-2-2) earned him an IBF and IBO super feather title bout. On July 29th, 2006 he won a close decision over Cassius Baloyi (32-2) in South Africa for the titles.

On a return to South Africa he lost a split decision to Malcolm Klassen (18-3-2). In with Baloyi for a title eliminator bout, he lost in November of 2007. Baloyi is scheduled April 12th to meet Mzonke Fana (27-3) the new champion who had defeated Klassen. A month after losing, St. Clair jumped up to lightweight winning a 6 rounder. In February he took on the Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan (15-0) on short notice for the Commonwealth title and lost by a shutout. St. Clair is 39-6-2 with 17 knockouts.

Robbie Peden of Brisbane was a member of the 1992 and 1996 Olympic teams. He would win 3 out of 5 bouts. He turned pro in the USA in late 1996 easily winning his first 8 fights. He would return to Port, Vanuatu in September of 1998 and then in Auckland winning the IBF Pan Pacific super feather title from Solomon Catarogo (6-7) with a 1st round knockout. He returned to the USA winning 6 more times and once in Poland. In his 16th straight win he won a split decision over the South American champion from Argentina Carlos Rios (48-3-2) for the NABF super feather title in Las Vegas in March of 2000. In his next fight he would lose that title to John Brown (21-7).

In his next bout he went down to feather and won the NABF title over Edgar Barcenas (19-5-3) of Mexico. After several more wins he would fight future world champion Juan Manuel Marquez (37-2) for both NABF and USBA titles in a title eliminator in Pittsburgh being stopped in the 10th round. Peden would take a year off returning with several wins including stopping Lamont Pearson (20-2-1) for the vacant USBA super feather title. Then he was in California against the current light champion Nate Campbell (24-1-1) in an elimination bout. Campbell was having his way with Peden for 5 rounds when he dropped his hands and taunted Peden to throw a punch. He threw a right hand and dropped Campbell who failed to beat the count. You had to see it to believe it. After 11 months and 1 fight he met Campbell again for the vacant title in Melbourne Park in February of 2005 winning this time in the 8th for the IBF super feather title.

In September of 2005 he met the legendary WBC champion Marco Antonio Barrera (60-4) with both titles on the line in Las Vegas. Barrera would easily outbox Peden taking both titles. Peden didn’t fight again for 18 months upon returning to Australia. He moved up to lightweight taking on Filipino Ranee Ganoy (21-10-2) for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title. Ganoy, now living in Sydney, dropped Peden in the 7th and stopped him in the 8th in March 2007. Peden has not fought since. His record is 25-4, 14 knockouts.

 

[scribbs]

Part 4

By Ken Hissner (May 15, 2008) Doghouse Boxing

Vic Darchinyan was born in Armenia having an amateur record of 158-18 with 105 knockouts with all but 20 fights in his homeland. He represented his country in the 2000 Olympics flyweight division winning 2 out of 3 matches. He moved to Australia turning pro in November of 2000. He became an Australian citizen on July 7, 2004.

Known as the ‘Raging Bull’, this hard punching southpaw took the Australian title in his 7th fight, in the 7th round over Sande Kizito. In his 11th fight he won the OBA bantamweight title when he stopped Junior Farzan Ali (12-1) of
Fiji in the 6th. He won the IBF Pan Pacific fly title stopping Thailand’s Wandee Singwancha (38-6) by 5th round knockout in December of 2003. They would fight 6 months later in an IBF title eliminator and he would again stop Singwancha in the 5th.

In his 22nd fight he would win the IBF fly title stopping previously unbeaten Columbian Irene Pacheco (30-1) in the 11th, in Hollywood, Florida. It was on December 16th, 2004 and his first fight as a pro out of Australia. He would return to Australia and score knockouts over the IBO champion, South Africa’s Mzukisi Sikali (29-6) in the 8th and Columbian Jair Jimenez (23-3-1) in the 5th. Going back to the USA in 2006 he would stop Filipino Diosdado Gabi (26-2-1) who had won 13 straight, and Mexico’s previously unbeaten Luis Maldonado (33-1-1), both in the 8th.

In his 3rd defense in 2006 he won every round before winning by technical decision over Filipino Glenn Donaire (16-2-1) in the 6th. In 2007 he dropped Mexico’s Victor Burgos (39-14-3) in the 2nd round and finally stopped him in the
12th. A defense in July against the brother of Glenn Donaire, Nonito (17-1), ended in the 5th round but with Darchinyan the loser for the first time in 29 fights. Two of the judges had the fight even at the time. The fight took place in Connecticut. He would move up to super fly in his next fight in Sydney winning the vacant IBO title stopping Filipino Federico Catubay (20-13-3) in the 12th. In February of 2008 he would travel to the Philippines to take on Z Gorres (27-2-1) and battle to a 12 round draw. Darchinyan's record is 29-1-1 with 23 knockouts.

Anthony Mundine, born in Newtown, living in Sydney, son of Tony, turned pro in July of 2000 giving up a rugby career. He took the Australian super middle title in his 5th fight stopping Marc Bargero (23-7-2) in the 6th. Next he won the PABA title stopping Timo Masua (13-3) in the 3rd. He won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific title with a split decision over the former Commonwealth champion Sam Soliman (12-6).

He knocked out Guy Waters (25-6-1) the former 3 time world title challenger in 2 for his 10th straight win. With limited experience but a large ego he accepted the challenge of IBF super middleweight champion Sven Ottke (24-0, 4 KOs), the former amateur star of Germany in Dortmund. Claiming that Ottke had no punch to beat him he aggressively went after the counter punching champion for 9 rounds. It looked like Mundine was on the verge of winning the title when suddenly in the 10th Ottke scored a knockout!

After 8 straight wins he would get another shot at the vacant WBA title in Sydney winning a decision over American Antwun Echols (29-4-1) in September of 2003. At the beginning of 2004 Mundine would defend against the OPBF champion, Japan’s Yoshinori Nishizawa (24-13-5). Mundine found himself on the canvas in the 2nd. He would come back to drop Nishizawa in the 4th and again in the 5th to retain his title.

Puerto Rico’s 3 time world challenger Manny Siaca would drop Mundine in the 2nd. This seemed to be the difference on 2 of the 3 judge’s scores in taking the title from Mundine by split decision in May of 2004. He challenged the unbeaten Dane Mikkel Kessler, conqueror of Siaca, for his WBA title. The match was in Sydney and Kessler seemed to have no problem retaining his title by decision.

In May of 2006 Mundine took on fellow Australian and current WBA light heavyweight champion Danny Green (21-2) in a WBA title eliminator. They broke the attendance record of 37,000 held by Fenech and Nelson. There was a lot of name calling between these 2 rivalries. The fighters pocketed a combine 10 million dollars (Mundine 6.25). Mundine’s power seemed to wear down Green by the 7th. He won the decision.

Several fights later came the rematch between Mundine and Soliman (33-8). The latter had won 21 of his last 22 fights and that one loss a close decision to former world champion Winky Wright. Since Kessler now held both WBA and WBC titles, the WBA considered a dual champ a super champ. This meant a portion of the WBA title was vacant. Mundine was too strong scoring knockdowns in the 2nd and 3 in the 9th winning the title in March of 2007. Mundine has made 3 successful title defenses over some of the lower ranked contenders to increase his win streak to 8. Mundine now has a 31-3 record with 23 knockouts.

This brings us to the current WBA light heavyweight champion, Danny Green, the “Green Machine” from Perth. Green qualified for the 2000 Olympic team and stopped current 5th ranked IBF super middle, Laudelino Barros of Brazil, in the 4th round. In the next round he was ahead after 2 rounds while nursing a broken hand and nose. “With a crowd of 8,000 roaring so loudly it sounded like 100,000, I kept on going on raw emotion - it was overwhelming” he said. The fight was stopped in the 4th against the eventual gold medalist Alexander Lebziak of Russia. Strange, but Lebziak only had one pro fight, winning by knockout in Uzbekistan in September of 2001.

Green turned pro in June of 1961 stopping his first 16 opponents. He won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super middle title in the 8th over Paul Smallman (20-15-1) in his 9th fight. He followed up with his only fight out of the continent going to Las Vegas and stopping Rhon Roberts (9-5) of Guyana in the 3rd. In his 16th fight he fought Jason DeLisle (11-1-2) whom he lost to as an amateur in 2000. This time Green would be the victor in 5. Like Mundine before him, he would travel to Germany to fight for the world title. He would meet WBC champion Markus Beyer (27-1). He had Beyer down in rounds 1 and 2. Green incurred a point deduction for an accidental headbutt (WBC rules) in the 2nd. Green worsens Beyer's cut with intentional headbutt per the referee. Beyer cannot continue (doctor’s ruling) and therefore wins by foul. This fight caused quite a stir. Seems Green was well on his way to winning when the controversy happened.

In his next match Green won in the 6th for the Interim title over Canada’s former WBC super middle champ Eric Lucas (36-5-3) in Montreal in December of 2003. It would take 19 months for the rematch with Beyer. In the mean time in 2004 against Argentine’s Omar Gonzalez (27-5) he found himself on the canvas in the 2nd only to come back and win by stoppage in the 5th.

In March 2005 came the rematch in Germany. Green tried to pull out all the stops in the 12th and final round dropping Beyer, but couldn’t finish him off. It was not enough as he lost a majority decision. Later in 2005 Green won 2 fights before signing to fight Mundine, with both fighters taking 5 months off meeting in a WBA title eliminator in May of 2006. There was bad blood between the two. As stated earlier, they would break all attendance and gross receipt records.

Mundine was too strong for Green by the halfway point and won going away. Green would move up to light heavyweight and meet DeLisle (18-5-2) again scoring a 9th round knockout. He started 2007 off by stopping Paul Murdoch (26-6-1) in the 2nd having scored knockdowns in each round winning the IBF Pan Pacific and PABA titles.

American Otis Griffin (18-1-2) was brought in 6 months later. Griffin hadn’t lost since his debut. Green would score a knockout in 3. The Green camp had been negotiating for a fight with former champion Antonio Tarver. When Tarver didn’t agree with the terms it set the stage for a December title fight with Croatia’s 6:05 southpaw Stipe Drews (32-1), the WBA champion, fighting out of Germany. His only loss was a 12 round decision in August 2004 against Paul Briggs in a title eliminator. Green beat the back pedaling Drews easily over 12 rounds to become the first light heavy champion from Australia since Harding in 1994. His first defense would be April 27th against the Argentine Hugo Garay (30-3), the #2 contender, who failed in 2 previous title bouts losing to Zsolt Erdei by majority (2004) and split (2005) decisions.

On March 25th Green shocked the boxing world by announcing his retirement. “Boxing is always going to be part of my life, but instead of dealing with the sharks of the sport out there, I will be dealing with any prospective boyfriends (of daughter, Chloe)” said Green. “I am getting out on my terms with my dignity and respect in tact”, said Green.

Green has decided to retire while at the top of his game – a feat few fighters before him have managed.

The mystique about Australia from outsiders will continue. Of the visitors, some have stayed, and others returned several times. There is something that draws people towards and back to the people and the continent itself from down under.

 

[scribbs]

@Roe - Could this be moved to Aussie forum - it might be better over there, no probs if not.

 

[Sox]

Fuck, that's a long read, thanks for the effort though. :cheers

 

[DB Cooper]

@scribbs

If you keep posting major article stuff like that I'll need to take a day off to read it. My productivity has already fallen to a dangerously low level since I joined this forum.

 

[scribbs]

@scribbs

If you keep posting major article stuff like that I'll need to take a day off to read it. My productivity has already fallen to a dangerously low level since I joined this forum.

That's it really mate. Might do a Young Griffo one with some articles further down the road. This was posted a while ago & I do these kind of threads in the Historic section. They are a reference really so peeps can dip in & out if they want.

 

[DB Cooper]

That's it really mate. Might do a Young Griffo one with some articles further down the road. This was posted a while ago & I do these kind of threads in the Historic section. They are a reference really so peeps can dip in & out if they want.

I knew I'd seen that article before. It was probably while I was bumbling my way through the Historic section and a couple of hundred posts ago.

 

[joogaray]

That's it really mate. Might do a Young Griffo one with some articles further down the road. This was posted a while ago & I do these kind of threads in the Historic section. They are a reference really so peeps can dip in & out if they want.

..nice work mate..keep it up..this stuff needs good men to promote it so it is not lost..:good

 

[joogaray]

That's it really mate. Might do a Young Griffo one with some articles further down the road. This was posted a while ago & I do these kind of threads in the Historic section. They are a reference really so peeps can dip in & out if they want.

..nice work mate..keep it up..this stuff needs good men to promote it so it is not lost..:good