It was really cool, but also little sad kinda like your story about Tommy, but maybe worse. Now that you make me sound cool coming up with that line I have to admit I thought about it beforehand lol.
Yeah it’s always sad seeing fighters when their health has noticeably deteriorated.
Hahaha so did I mate.
That’s amazing man! I’m super jealous you got to meet Ali, I’d have been so nervous meeting him, I don’t think I’d have the balls to even make a joke, I’d probably go all shy haha. I’m actually more of a Frazier fan tbh but Ali is essentially bigger than sport IMO, he had a such a big impact on the world. He’s the one fighter/sporting figure I’d loved to have met.
It was really cool, but also little sad kinda like your story about Tommy, but maybe worse. Now that you make me sound cool coming up with that line I have to admit I thought about it beforehand lol.
That's funny as hell about the handshake. I met Ali once and said something similar I told him " I want to shake the hand that shook the world" he winked at me and I was over the moon. Then I watched the next few guys in line and he gave them all the same look and wink lol. He was in bad shape maybe 5ys before he died. Cool story about meeting Tommy and SRL I have never met either.
That’s amazing man! I’m super jealous you got to meet Ali, I’d have been so nervous meeting him, I don’t think I’d have the balls to even make a joke, I’d probably go all shy haha. I’m actually more of a Frazier fan tbh but Ali is essentially bigger than sport IMO, he had a such a big impact on the world. He’s the one fighter/sporting figure I’d loved to have met.
Yeah I’d have loved to have visited the original Kronk myself, would’ve been a surreal experience.
It was quite bittersweet meeting Hearns, he had a couple of manager/promoter type guys with him and it almost felt like they were wheeling him out so they could charge fans for photo’s. I said to him “can I shake that same right hand that knocked out Duran” and he smiled at that but then you had these promoter type a-holes trying to get you to pay for a picture or trying to move you on so they could get the next person in line over.
I also met SRL at Everton Red Triangle Gym when he came to visit in 2015. He was a really cool guy, he made lots of time for everyone their, he gave a talk to all the kids, even shadow boxed in the ring and jumped rope. I remember Kev Satchell who was European Champion at the time was completely star struck and could barely put a sentence together haha.
That's funny as hell about the handshake. I met Ali once and said something similar I told him " I want to shake the hand that shook the world" he winked at me and I was over the moon. Then I watched the next few guys in line and he gave them all the same look and wink lol. He was in bad shape maybe 5ys before he died. Cool story about meeting Tommy and SRL I have never met either.
Yea Tommy has been slurring his words for awile now, its sad. He is my fave of the 5 kings(Benitez 5th king), not the best, but my fave. Breland I think worked out there before the 84 games, and might have fought there VERY late in career, but for most part as a pro he was not Kronk. I know SRL worked out there a few times as an amateur esp right before 76 games. E Steward said everyone at Kronk was a HUGE SRL fan and while he was there they all called him "Superbad". That of course would change as Tommy came up. E Steward also said SRL was maybe the hardest hitting AM he ever saw, and that hand probs made him hold back sometimes in pros. Yea I forgot the McCrory bros, and also even back then he had a few "outsiders" training there like J Benavidez. Would have loved to have seen the old Kronk before it was torn down. BTW very jealous you got to meet " The Hitman".
Yeah I’d have loved to have visited the original Kronk myself, would’ve been a surreal experience.
It was quite bittersweet meeting Hearns, he had a couple of manager/promoter type guys with him and it almost felt like they were wheeling him out so they could charge fans for photo’s. I said to him “can I shake that same right hand that knocked out Duran” and he smiled at that but then you had these promoter type a-holes trying to get you to pay for a picture or trying to move you on so they could get the next person in line over.
I also met SRL at Everton Red Triangle Gym when he came to visit in 2015. He was a really cool guy, he made lots of time for everyone their, he gave a talk to all the kids, even shadow boxed in the ring and jumped rope. I remember Kev Satchell who was European Champion at the time was completely star struck and could barely put a sentence together haha.
I’m a big Hearns fan myself, was such an exciting fighter due his explosive power and also his own vulnerabilities. I actually got to meet him at a convention in Las Vegas in 2018, it was pretty sad though as he seem kind of punch drunk tbh.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s the Kronk stable was something else. Didn’t Breland train there as well around that time, I might be getting that mixed up. The McCrory bro’s were good fighters as well.
Yea Tommy has been slurring his words for awile now, its sad. He is my fave of the 5 kings(Benitez 5th king), not the best, but my fave. Breland I think worked out there before the 84 games, and might have fought there VERY late in career, but for most part as a pro he was not Kronk. I know SRL worked out there a few times as an amateur esp right before 76 games. E Steward said everyone at Kronk was a HUGE SRL fan and while he was there they all called him "Superbad". That of course would change as Tommy came up. E Steward also said SRL was maybe the hardest hitting AM he ever saw, and that hand probs made him hold back sometimes in pros. Yea I forgot the McCrory bros, and also even back then he had a few "outsiders" training there like J Benavidez. Would have loved to have seen the old Kronk before it was torn down. BTW very jealous you got to meet " The Hitman".
Your memory is better than mine, I could only recall the McCrorys and Thomas.
What stuck with me was one of group winning a title and another losing his (or a title bid?) on the same night.
I know Milton McCrory won the WBC 147 title because he beat one of the better British fighters not to win a world title called Colin Jones.
Thomas definitely won a title too cause he beat Mugabi and Jimmy Paul possibly lost his 135 title on that same card, what you said about one wining and other losing definitely rings a bell.
Unsure about the other 3, but pretty sure Steve McCrory didn’t as he was one of those great amateurs that didn’t transition well.
That was the McCrorys, Jimmy Paul and his brother (forgot his name tbh) Duane Thomas, who was the 6th guy? I forgot his name as well.
They were all outstanding amateurs but some never faired that well in the pro’s if I remember correctly.
Your memory is better than mine, I could only recall the McCrorys and Thomas.
What stuck with me was one of group winning a title and another losing his (or a title bid?) on the same night.
I remember reading about the Marx Street Six when I was a kid, might've been in The Ring magazine.
Fascinating story.
That was the McCrorys, Jimmy Paul and his brother (forgot his name tbh) Duane Thomas, who was the 6th guy? I forgot his name as well.
They were all outstanding amateurs but some never faired that well in the pro’s if I remember correctly.
I’m a big Hearns fan myself, was such an exciting fighter due his explosive power and also his own vulnerabilities. I actually got to meet him at a convention in Las Vegas in 2018, it was pretty sad though as he seem kind of punch drunk tbh.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s the Kronk stable was something else. Didn’t Breland train there as well around that time, I might be getting that mixed up. The McCrory bro’s were good fighters as well.
I remember reading about the Marx Street Six when I was a kid, might've been in The Ring magazine.
Fascinating story.
Agree Tommy was one of my 1st favorites. Also loved the team concept Kronk had esp in the early 90s when Steward had a young Moorer, G-Man, Carr, ect and a forgotten Jemall Hinton who was a very good prospect who retired after 15 fights or so because he became Muslim.
I’m a big Hearns fan myself, was such an exciting fighter due his explosive power and also his own vulnerabilities. I actually got to meet him at a convention in Las Vegas in 2018, it was pretty sad though as he seem kind of punch drunk tbh.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s the Kronk stable was something else. Didn’t Breland train there as well around that time, I might be getting that mixed up. The McCrory bro’s were good fighters as well.
He is. The first time I saw him I described his appearance to my father as “a 6’7 heavyweight Tommy Hearns.”
My thoughts exactly. A lot to live up to, but the Olympic medal gave me hope.
Crazy thing is, Wilder's built like your prototype Kronk fighter as well as being blessed with the right hand.
He is. The first time I saw him I described his appearance to my father as “a 6’7 heavyweight Tommy Hearns.”
But expecting Sugar to train Fury like a Kronk guy is as effective IMO as Brieland training Wilder to fight like a Kronk guy (and Brieland WAS a Kronk trained fighter)
Crazy thing is, Wilder's built like your prototype Kronk fighter as well as being blessed with the right hand.
Fury is out for blood and is about to punish Wilder into pure purgatory!
A focused and motivated Fury is the most dangerous in the sport, good luck Deontay Wilder...you’ll need it!
The best shorts in boxing IMO. Fury loves a gimmick ring attire.
Agree Tommy was one of my 1st favorites. Also loved the team concept Kronk had esp in the early 90s when Steward had a young Moorer, G-Man, Carr, ect and a forgotten Jemall Hinton who was a very good prospect who retired after 15 fights or so because he became Muslim.