The Fun of Finding New Fighters (new to you)

[DeeMoney]

So I feel like I have a good knowledge of most of the fighters who were contender level and above during my lifetime, and maybe even a little before that (say the last 50 years or so). And like most of use I know quite a bit about those fighters who were greats of the past.

But sometimes, when I have the time, I like finding some fighter from 60+ years ago who was good but not great. Someone who, if they fought 25 years ago I'd probably have seen them a dozen times, but as of now I know nothing about. Its always really fun. I usually just pick out a random year of Ring Magazine end of year ratings, then go to a mid to lower ranked fighter in a weight classes given top 10 and find someone new.

Try and read up on them, and then, hopefully, find some footage of them on youtube.

Anyone else do something like this? Even if you know about a lot of fighters, there may be someone new out there.

FWIW- my most recent find was Rory Calhoun. I chose 1957 and his name stood out as the same as the old actor (for Simpsons fans the guy who was always standing on his hind legs). Calhoun the boxer was fun. A ball of muscles at middleweight who worked his way into the top 3, throws a lot of wide power punches but doesn't protect himself as well as he should.

[Willow The Wisp]

Absolutely . It's a derivative of growing up falling asleep reading the old Ring Record Book more than half a century ago.

Look for Rory Calhoun alongside Willie Pep, Paolo Rosi, Gus Lesnevich, Abe Simon, Tony Galento and others, at the bar in 1962's Requeum for a Heavyweight. Perhaps the best of all Boxing films.

[Willie Pep 229]

Absolutely . It's a derivative of growing up falling asleep reading the old Ring Record Book more than half a century ago.

Look for Rory Calhoun alongside Willie Pep, Paolo Rosi, Gus Lesnevich, Abe Simon, Tony Galento and others, at the bar in 1962's Requeum for a Heavyweight. Perhaps the best of all Boxing films.

Have you had a chance to see the restored version of the 1956 TV version of Requiem for a Heavyweight? (On YouTube)

This version has Jack Palance as Mountain McClintock, Keann Wynn as Maish, and father Ed Wynn as Army. With cameos by Maxie Rosenbloom, and Max Baer. (Probably sitting at the same bar as in 1962).

Search for it under Playhouse 90 then the title, otherwise the 1962 film will lead you down a rabbit hole.

Sponsored by Camel Cigarettes. "Next time have a real cigarette, smoke Camels."

[Willie Pep 229]

Does anyone want to fix a Google page? Anyone know how?

Requiem for a Heavyweight 1962 has the wrong Rory Calhoun pictured under cast. Maybe someone here wants to give the fighter his due by correcting their mistake.

So much misinformation!

P.S. IMDB page needs a pitcure for the 'real' Rory Calhoun (the boxer).

Boxrec has a photo of the man but IMDB does not.

So much needs to be cleaned up. Somerimes I think the Internet has more factoids than facts.

[Mr Mitts]

Just how many Calhouns are there and how many Rorys?

[DeeMoney]

Just how many Calhouns are there and how many Rorys?

Technically, there are zero Rory Calhouns. The boxer's real name was Herman Calhoun, the actor's name was Francis McCown. I imagine the boxer changed his ring name to "Rory" to piggyback some on the fame of the actor, who was already going by the name Rory Calhoun by the mid 40s.

To make it more confusing, Rory Calhoun (the actor) once played Jim Corbett in a movie about John L. Sullivan

[Willie Pep 229]

Technically, there are zero Rory Calhouns. The boxer's real name was Herman Calhoun, the actor's name was Francis McCown. I imagine the boxer changed his ring name to "Rory" to piggyback some on the fame of the actor, who was already going by the name Rory Calhoun by the mid 40s.

To make it more confusing, Rory Calhoun (the actor) once played Jim Corbett in a movie about John L. Sullivan

The Great Jon L (1945) -- Looks to have been a small part -- I wonder if there was a fight scene at the end.

Revenge of Big Foot (1979) -- I want to smoke some weed and definitely see this one.