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[QUOTE=FJRod;11222211]I met Tito a few times...in NYC at the hotel in 2007 I talked with him for quite a while and he was VERY COOL...I actually had to leave to be somewhere else and I felt bad about leaving...LOL...I honestly got the impression he would have stayed there talking for another hour if I wanted him to...really nice guy!!
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In the late eighties, I made it up to the "Times Square Gym" a couple of times. It was at the top of a long, steep narrow staircase of a building located on 42 street, between Broadway and 6th. avenue, in NYC. On one visit, I watched Saoul Mamby work the heavy-bag. The friend I'd walked up with introduced me to an older black gentleman who was training fighters. My friend had been a writer for "KO Magazine", so he knew many people in the sport. At the time, I didn't know nearly as much about boxing history as I do now, so I didn't know who I was shaking hands with. My friend must have realized that by my reaction, or lack thereof. As we left, he asked me if I "knew who that was," and started to tell me a little about the man I'd just met. It was boxing ATG Emile Griffith! I don't remember much about our brief talk, but Emile came across as a very nice guy. I remember his personable attitude more than the conversation.Comment
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the long old staircase leading to Times Square Gym brings back GREAT memories...Mamby was there when I sparring Lamar Parks in 1992...I LOVED THAT GYM...the epitome of an old school boxing gym...Comment
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You're talking 3-4 years after the day I had in mind, John. By then, Mamby was about 45 years old. Saoul had an interesting career. He had a real spotty record; but Mamby managed to win and defend the 140 lb. title a few times, beating such guys as Esteban De Jesus. He fought his last bout three years ago at age 60! I remember him really wailing on the bag that day....
The "Times Square Gym" was indeed as "old school" as they come. It was the sort of place you'd see in one of the old black and white, "Film Noir" movies, the kind with a lot of shadows and a private detective getting "double-crossed" by some hot "dame". lol I remember the creaky old wooden floors, and the ring right by the huge plate glass window facing the street. It's a shame the place is no longer there. When they started cleaning up Times Square in the early nineties, they took all the character along with it, too.Comment
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One of the coolest thigns ever to happen to me in boxing happened at that gymin 1993...I sparred 8 rounds with Lamar KIDFIRE Parks (HUGE PUNCHER) and when we were done the whole gym, including Mamby, Mark Gastineau and Luis Santana, gave us an ovation...I liked that u'd be in the ring sparring and right outside the open windows next to the ring you'd hear the hustle and bustle (sirens and all) of NEW YORK CITY...Comment
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Freaggin' awesome! You guys must've been really going at it!
And, yes, it must've been awesome to be working out in the ring with (arguably) the greatest city in the world so visibly (and audibly) beneath your feet.
It's funny you bring up Gastineau. I never saw Mark at the gym, but I saw him a few times in the street near the gym...big dude.
The last I knew, the last "big" boxing gym in the Times Square area was run by Mike "The Silk" Olajide's dad, Mike Sr. It was on the second floor, above the "Burger King" on 41 street and eighth ave., next to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.Comment
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Mark was a good dude, really...we hung out in Reno...I liked him...I liked Olijade's gym, too, I sparred with Darrin Van Horn there, also in 1992...I met Tokunbo there at that time, he was only a 15 year old kid then...real nice kid who I still keep in touch with to this day...Comment
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