Even though I did not see my Dad box, he remained a fan of the sport throughout his life. I can remember a couple of incidents that bear testimony. Growing up in Springfield I remember the Friday Night Fights broadcast on television. They were sponsored by Gillette and I still remember the theme song. You are probably familiar with the tune also. All I recall is Friday night fights, on television, in black and white and Dad watched it. Cassius Clay, later Mohammed Ali, came on the boxing scene in the early 1960's. When he fought Sonny Liston for the heavy weight title in 1962 or 63 we lived in Riverton, Illinois. We listened to the boxing match on radio. Title fights in those days, if televised, were closed circuit and shown in theatres or other venues. One had to purchase a ticket to attend and prices were pretty steep and only offered in limited markets. It wasn't until the mid to late 70's that I can remember seeing a heavyweight title fight live on television. One that stands out is Leon Spinks defeating Ali for the World heavyweight title. Within a short time there was a re-match, Ali won the title back and soon thereafter retired. As a side note, LaDonna, Matt, Susan and I took a vacation trip to New Mexico in 1999 and saw Mohammed Ali as the honored guest at the Taos Pueblo Indian Pow-wow. Matthew and Susan recognized who he was and were excited to see him.
When we moved to Lebanon, Dad took my brothers and I to a boxing match at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, MO. Dad was excited at the attempt to bring professional boxing to Springfield. There were a few good matches and some that were pretty one-sided. In one match a boxer had his mouthpiece knocked out and Dad said he "took a fall" and was only in it to collect his "purse". If there were more matches, I don't know. We only went the one time.
Some years later when I was away in college, Dad and some other people in Lebanon attempted to start a boxing club in Lebanon. Some boys from Lebanon were recruited to box a Club from Springfield (?) My brother Scott was one of the boxers. An article was written in the Lebanon Daily Paper about my Dad and Ralph Collins, whom he worked with at Central Bank. It seems the two of them had been in boxing matches together. Not that they boxed each other, but their two clubs boxed against each other. Somewhere in my collection of "stuff" I have that article.
I don't know if Dad was a fan of Ali or not, but I know Dad was a fan of boxing. Ali created an interest and popularity for the sport of boxing that has diminished in the past years. My Dad gave me an understanding and appreciation of the sport even though I was never able to fight my way out of a "paper" bag. -30-
