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OHIO' S BEST...Ray Anderson
Back in the early and mid 1970's, northeast Ohio had three world class
light heavyweight contenders campaigning for a world title shot. Ray
Anderson of Akron would be the one who was fortunate enough to receive a
shot at the brass ring. The other two, John Griffin and Billy Wagner of
Cleveland fell short of their title fight dreams but they did wage two
memorable wars against each other.
Ray Anderson was born in 1944 and began his professional career in
1965. Ray showed early promise as he won his first fourteen bouts before
losing by knockout to also unbeaten Willie McMillan in his Madison Square
Garden debut. Ray would regroup to win his next sixteen bouts. Among his
victims were respected boxers such as Amos Johnson, Hubert Hilton, Marion
Conner, Frank Niblett and Karl Zurheide. Then on December 10, 1969 Ray faced
a 5-0 heavyweight named Ted Gullick. Anderson was outweighed by twenty
pounds and although he took an early lead, the bigger Gullick who was a good
puncher wore Ray down and stopped him in round nine.
Two fights later Anderson drew with tough Allen Thomas. Then disaster
struck in the form of the devil. Charlie " The Devil " Green that is. The
ever dangerous Devil flattened Ray in 1:36 of the first round and his once
bright star was diminishing rapidly.
Trying to get back in to the thick of the title picture, Ray met the
talented John Griffin in Norton, Ohio. Griffin won a close ten rounder. The
two squared off again five weeks later in Akron and again Griffin outscored
Anderson. One month later Griffin would lose to the rugged Hal " TNT "
Carroll. Then Anderson was matched with Hal Carroll in Ashland, Ohio.
I grew up in Cleveland but Ashland, Ohio is my adopted hometown. I've
lived in Ashland since 1977 but I had no idea this bout ever took place here
until a week or so ago. With the help of the Ashland Public Library's Micro
Film Department I was able to gather the newspaper information and account
of this bout.
The Anderson-Carroll match was the headline bout of a live card at the
Ashland College Physical Education Center on November 18th, 1970. It
preceded the closed circuit telecast of the George Foreman-Boone Kirkman
bout from Madison Square Garden and then to Detroit for the world
heavyweight title bout between titleholder Joe Frazier and light heavyweight
champion Bob Foster. Wooster, Ohio native and All Star Major League pitcher
Dean Chance was the promoter. Ray Anderson was said to have sparred over 400
rounds with Joe Frazier up to this point in his career. Ray won a unanimous
decision over the game Carroll while Foreman mugged Boone Kirkman in two
rounds. Frazier ended the night by nearly decapitating Foster in round two.
Still when Foster next defended the 175 pound title, Hal Carroll would be
his opponent. Foster took Hal out in round four to retain his crown. Next
up, Ray Anderson.
On April 24, 1971 Bob Foster won a lopsided fifteen round decision
over Ray Anderson to retain his championship. The televised bout was
painfully dull even though Ray may have won a moral victory by going the
distance with the vicious punching Foster.
Anderson's career seemed to nose dive after the loss to Foster but
every now and then he would post a surprise victory. In 1972 he won a
decision over the clever Gregorio Peralta. In 1973 he was beaten in eight
rounds by the red hot Jorge Ahumada. Ray then came back to draw with Jimmy
Dupree. In 1974 he was stopped in two rounds by future champion Victor
Galindez.Then Ray lost a decision to the streaking James Scott. Surprisingly
in 1975 Anderson upset Ahumada over ten rounds.
Ray would go on to lose to three future champions, Miguel Cuello,
Marvin Johnson and Mike Rossman. Finally in 1977 Ray decided to hang them
up. He retired with a very respectable sixty bout career. He was 36-19-5 and
met top shelf opposition throughout most of his career.
NOTE ; Former middleweight contender Doyle Baird of Akron jumped up in
weight to take on W.B.A. light heavyweight title claimant Vincente Rondon.
That bout took place on December 15, 1971. Rondon halted Doyle in round
eight.
I would like to thank the Ashland Public Library for their assistance.
Back in the early and mid 1970's, northeast Ohio had three world class
light heavyweight contenders campaigning for a world title shot. Ray
Anderson of Akron would be the one who was fortunate enough to receive a
shot at the brass ring. The other two, John Griffin and Billy Wagner of
Cleveland fell short of their title fight dreams but they did wage two
memorable wars against each other.
Ray Anderson was born in 1944 and began his professional career in
1965. Ray showed early promise as he won his first fourteen bouts before
losing by knockout to also unbeaten Willie McMillan in his Madison Square
Garden debut. Ray would regroup to win his next sixteen bouts. Among his
victims were respected boxers such as Amos Johnson, Hubert Hilton, Marion
Conner, Frank Niblett and Karl Zurheide. Then on December 10, 1969 Ray faced
a 5-0 heavyweight named Ted Gullick. Anderson was outweighed by twenty
pounds and although he took an early lead, the bigger Gullick who was a good
puncher wore Ray down and stopped him in round nine.
Two fights later Anderson drew with tough Allen Thomas. Then disaster
struck in the form of the devil. Charlie " The Devil " Green that is. The
ever dangerous Devil flattened Ray in 1:36 of the first round and his once
bright star was diminishing rapidly.
Trying to get back in to the thick of the title picture, Ray met the
talented John Griffin in Norton, Ohio. Griffin won a close ten rounder. The
two squared off again five weeks later in Akron and again Griffin outscored
Anderson. One month later Griffin would lose to the rugged Hal " TNT "
Carroll. Then Anderson was matched with Hal Carroll in Ashland, Ohio.
I grew up in Cleveland but Ashland, Ohio is my adopted hometown. I've
lived in Ashland since 1977 but I had no idea this bout ever took place here
until a week or so ago. With the help of the Ashland Public Library's Micro
Film Department I was able to gather the newspaper information and account
of this bout.
The Anderson-Carroll match was the headline bout of a live card at the
Ashland College Physical Education Center on November 18th, 1970. It
preceded the closed circuit telecast of the George Foreman-Boone Kirkman
bout from Madison Square Garden and then to Detroit for the world
heavyweight title bout between titleholder Joe Frazier and light heavyweight
champion Bob Foster. Wooster, Ohio native and All Star Major League pitcher
Dean Chance was the promoter. Ray Anderson was said to have sparred over 400
rounds with Joe Frazier up to this point in his career. Ray won a unanimous
decision over the game Carroll while Foreman mugged Boone Kirkman in two
rounds. Frazier ended the night by nearly decapitating Foster in round two.
Still when Foster next defended the 175 pound title, Hal Carroll would be
his opponent. Foster took Hal out in round four to retain his crown. Next
up, Ray Anderson.
On April 24, 1971 Bob Foster won a lopsided fifteen round decision
over Ray Anderson to retain his championship. The televised bout was
painfully dull even though Ray may have won a moral victory by going the
distance with the vicious punching Foster.
Anderson's career seemed to nose dive after the loss to Foster but
every now and then he would post a surprise victory. In 1972 he won a
decision over the clever Gregorio Peralta. In 1973 he was beaten in eight
rounds by the red hot Jorge Ahumada. Ray then came back to draw with Jimmy
Dupree. In 1974 he was stopped in two rounds by future champion Victor
Galindez.Then Ray lost a decision to the streaking James Scott. Surprisingly
in 1975 Anderson upset Ahumada over ten rounds.
Ray would go on to lose to three future champions, Miguel Cuello,
Marvin Johnson and Mike Rossman. Finally in 1977 Ray decided to hang them
up. He retired with a very respectable sixty bout career. He was 36-19-5 and
met top shelf opposition throughout most of his career.
NOTE ; Former middleweight contender Doyle Baird of Akron jumped up in
weight to take on W.B.A. light heavyweight title claimant Vincente Rondon.
That bout took place on December 15, 1971. Rondon halted Doyle in round
eight.
I would like to thank the Ashland Public Library for their assistance.