Champions Maybe? & Military Service!

[Willie Pep 229]

We all pretty much know of the champions who had their careers interupted by military service but you have to wonder if it ever hurt any careers before they got rolling, snatching away a chance at a title and fame. Guys we never got to hear of . . .

I was reading the Tony DeMarco posts and I went to Boxrec to check him out in detail when I found an opponent named Art Suffoletta.

Suffoletta was 11-0 when he fought a 10-1 DeMarco.

DeMarco put him down in the first round but the kid came back and unleashed a relentless body attack that made DeMarco RTD at the end of the 4th.

By 1951 Suffoletta could boast a 21-1-1 record.

BUT then got his ass drafted. When he tried to comeback in 1956 he would go 3-4 dropping his last three decision against anybodys, and quit.

We know how having prime years taken from a champion can change things dramatically but I wonder how many (maybe) great fighters it caused to miss out on their chance, guys we never got to hear of.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Primarily WW2 for Americans, and 1&2 for Brits.

[markusmod]

We all pretty much know of the champions who had their careers interupted by military service but you have to wonder if it ever hurt any careers before they got rolling, snatching away a chance at a title and fame. Guys we never got to hear of . . .

I was reading the Tony DeMarco posts and I went to Boxrec to check him out in detail when I found an opponent named Art Suffoletta.

Suffoletta was 11-0 when he fought a 10-1 DeMarco.

DeMarco put him down in the first round but the kid came back and unleashed a relentless body attack that made DeMarco RTD at the end of the 4th.

By 1951 Suffoletta could boast a 21-1-1 record.

BUT then got his ass drafted. When he tried to comeback in 1956 he would go 3-4 dropping his last three decision against anybodys, and quit.

We know how having prime years taken from a champion can change things dramatically but I wonder how many (maybe) great fighters it caused to miss out on their chance, guys we never got to hear of.

When was the last time a great fighter was forced to head over to military duty during their career?

[Willie Pep 229]

When was the last time a great fighter was forced to head over to military duty during their career?

We went to an all volunteer military in April 1973.

I am pretty certain of the date but did not look it up so it might be off a little; As best I can remember I was 1A for one month (March of 1973) and then told to throw away my draft card.

Didn't matter much my draft number was 365, (February 26th) one short of the perfect date/number of 366 so I wasn't going anywhere near VN.

[Beercules]

Wasn't Rid**** Bowe in the Marines?

[Willie Pep 229]

Wasn't Rid**** Bowe in the Marines?

If I remember correctly after his career went south he announced he was going to reinvent himself and volunteered for the Corp.

There was much fan fare with the Marines using it as a publicity/recruiting ploy. It didn't go well and he was quietly dismissed without finishing basic training, I am guessing, on a medical - but that is a guess.

Needless to say Bowe had mental issues that probably made a tenure with the Marines unlikely.

Bowe had other things to do, such things as kidnapping and false imprisoning his wife and kids.

Later on when his wife filed for divorce they had to split up his estate - needless to say being a boxer with mental problems I was expecting the worst. But no, it turned out he was worth 90 million.

It looks like for all his faults Rock Newman didn't rob him and either he or someone else protected Bowe from the sharks.

[QueensburyRules]

Wasn't Rid**** Bowe in the Marines?

- -Washed out in boot camp. Could never wake him up save for mess time. His would be a lifetime of comedy if it weren't so tragic.

[Anthony342]

If I remember correctly after his career went south he announced he was going to reinvent himself and volunteered for the Corp.

There was much fan fare with the Marines using it as a publicity/recruiting ploy. It didn't go well and he was quietly dismissed without finishing basic training, I am guessing, on a medical - but that is a guess.

Needless to say Bowe had mental issues that probably made a tenure with the Marines unlikely.

Bowe had other things to do, such things as kidnapping and false imprisoning his wife and kids.

Later on when his wife filed for divorce they had to split up his estate - needless to say being a boxer with mental problems I was expecting the worst. But no, it turned out he was worth 90 million.

It looks like for all his faults Rock Newman didn't rob him and either he or someone else protected Bowe from the sharks.

Nah he just quit after 3 days. So sounds more like a dishonorable discharge.

[Willie Pep 229]

Nah he just quit after 3 days. So sounds more like a dishonorable discharge.

Wow he lasted only three days? Damn that embarrassing/sad.

[Anthony342]

Wow he lasted only three days? Damn that embarrassing/sad.

Yeah even worse than Graziano going AWOL after punching a captain in the army.