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Here's a bio in NJ Boxing HOF of my trainer Jimmy "The Cat" Dupree. Anyone have any stories about him?
Jimmy "The Cat" Dupree
Inducted on November 13, 1987
James (Jimmy) Dupree was born on April 27, 1936, in McClellanville, South Carolina. One of five children, he is the older of two boys. When Jimmy was about fifteen years old, he heard the Joe Louis/Ezzard Charles fight on radio and felt "vibrations." That was when he decided to become a boxer. He had always liked boxing, but since there was no way to become a boxer in McClellanville, he forgot about it.
In the late fifties Jimmy went to New York, and through manager and trainer Willie Grunes, became involved in amateur boxing. In 1961, after four amateur fights, Dupree turned professional. For five years he tried unsuccessfully to obtain a professional bout and quit. When he went to the gym to get his belongings, he met manager Gary Garafola and his fighter, Frankie DiPaula. Garafola told Dupree that he thought he was a good boxer and that he would help Jimmy if he would come to New Jersey.
Jimmy's first professional fight was against Johnny Pitts at the St. Nicholas Arena on West 166th Street, New York City. Dupree stopped Pitts in twenty-six seconds of the first round. It was the second quickest knockout in the history of St. Nicholas Arena. From 1969 to 1971 Jimmy Dupree was the Number One contender for the light heavyweight championship of North America. After winning a twelve-round decision over Ray White at Santa Monica, California, in 1971, Dupree took the light heavyweight crown. He was known as Jimmy "The Cat" Dupree.
Jimmy Dupree has fought Charlie "Devil" Green, Johnny Persol, Vincente Rondon and Mike Quarry, among others. However, his most memorable fight was against Eddie "Boss Man" Jones from California at the Jersey City Armory. With that win Dupree became the Number One contender for the World Championship. Another reason for remembering that particular bout is that, in addition to the purse, the winner received the Marciano Memorial Trophy. The trophy has special significance
to Jimmy because Rocky Marciano was one of the great boxers and champions of all times. When Dupree retired in February 1975, he had won forty-nine fights, lost seven and fought to two draws. In 1970 he opened a gym in Jersey City, since in that area of the city every other sports activity except boxing was offered to young people. He saw how many troubled youngsters could be helped through boxing; it could help them develop the confidence to face the world and believe in themselves. The gym is for the community and is open to young men of all ages..
As a runner, he is known as The Man Who Runs For a Cause. Jimmy decided to run for I worthy causes after much soul-searching and an almost religious experience at Coney Island. Dupree was looking at the moon's reflection on the water when the water seemed to move violently. From that moment on, Jimmy's outlook on the world changed. He had challenged God to show him the way he must go. Running means love, giving of self; and he never worked so hard, even when he was boxing.
His important runs have been from City Hall in Jersey City to City Hall in Newark (June, ]975) to fight sickle sell anemia; across thirteen bridges from Fort Lee, New Jersey (George Washington Bridge) to Willowbrook Hospital on Staten Island (Bayonne Bridge to call attention to the plight of the Mentally ******ed: from Jersey City City Hall to New York City for the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy; from Jersey City to the Meadowlands to welcome the football Giants to the new Meadowlands Stadium; and from Arlington National Cemetery to the White House on Palm Sunday, 1978, to present palm from the people of Jersey City to the President, in the interest of peace.
On May 12 and 13, 1978, he ran from Newark Airport to Bayonne and from Bayonne to Jersey City to raise blood for senior citizens of Jersey City and Bayonne.. In the future, Jimmy plans to write a book and make a film, either with live actors or with cartoon figures. Above all, he wants to make children and senior citizens smile.
Jimmy "The Cat" Dupree
Inducted on November 13, 1987
James (Jimmy) Dupree was born on April 27, 1936, in McClellanville, South Carolina. One of five children, he is the older of two boys. When Jimmy was about fifteen years old, he heard the Joe Louis/Ezzard Charles fight on radio and felt "vibrations." That was when he decided to become a boxer. He had always liked boxing, but since there was no way to become a boxer in McClellanville, he forgot about it.
In the late fifties Jimmy went to New York, and through manager and trainer Willie Grunes, became involved in amateur boxing. In 1961, after four amateur fights, Dupree turned professional. For five years he tried unsuccessfully to obtain a professional bout and quit. When he went to the gym to get his belongings, he met manager Gary Garafola and his fighter, Frankie DiPaula. Garafola told Dupree that he thought he was a good boxer and that he would help Jimmy if he would come to New Jersey.
Jimmy's first professional fight was against Johnny Pitts at the St. Nicholas Arena on West 166th Street, New York City. Dupree stopped Pitts in twenty-six seconds of the first round. It was the second quickest knockout in the history of St. Nicholas Arena. From 1969 to 1971 Jimmy Dupree was the Number One contender for the light heavyweight championship of North America. After winning a twelve-round decision over Ray White at Santa Monica, California, in 1971, Dupree took the light heavyweight crown. He was known as Jimmy "The Cat" Dupree.
Jimmy Dupree has fought Charlie "Devil" Green, Johnny Persol, Vincente Rondon and Mike Quarry, among others. However, his most memorable fight was against Eddie "Boss Man" Jones from California at the Jersey City Armory. With that win Dupree became the Number One contender for the World Championship. Another reason for remembering that particular bout is that, in addition to the purse, the winner received the Marciano Memorial Trophy. The trophy has special significance
to Jimmy because Rocky Marciano was one of the great boxers and champions of all times. When Dupree retired in February 1975, he had won forty-nine fights, lost seven and fought to two draws. In 1970 he opened a gym in Jersey City, since in that area of the city every other sports activity except boxing was offered to young people. He saw how many troubled youngsters could be helped through boxing; it could help them develop the confidence to face the world and believe in themselves. The gym is for the community and is open to young men of all ages..
As a runner, he is known as The Man Who Runs For a Cause. Jimmy decided to run for I worthy causes after much soul-searching and an almost religious experience at Coney Island. Dupree was looking at the moon's reflection on the water when the water seemed to move violently. From that moment on, Jimmy's outlook on the world changed. He had challenged God to show him the way he must go. Running means love, giving of self; and he never worked so hard, even when he was boxing.
His important runs have been from City Hall in Jersey City to City Hall in Newark (June, ]975) to fight sickle sell anemia; across thirteen bridges from Fort Lee, New Jersey (George Washington Bridge) to Willowbrook Hospital on Staten Island (Bayonne Bridge to call attention to the plight of the Mentally ******ed: from Jersey City City Hall to New York City for the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy; from Jersey City to the Meadowlands to welcome the football Giants to the new Meadowlands Stadium; and from Arlington National Cemetery to the White House on Palm Sunday, 1978, to present palm from the people of Jersey City to the President, in the interest of peace.
On May 12 and 13, 1978, he ran from Newark Airport to Bayonne and from Bayonne to Jersey City to raise blood for senior citizens of Jersey City and Bayonne.. In the future, Jimmy plans to write a book and make a film, either with live actors or with cartoon figures. Above all, he wants to make children and senior citizens smile.