By Ken Hissner, Doghouse Boxing. -
Once again Dave Ruff pulled in an
honored guest in the former world heavyweight champion “Smokin”
Joe Frazier to the Fraims B&G Club in Wilmington, DE. Wilmington
heavyweight Wesley Watson, former 1985 AAU champion and 17-3 as a
professional, had some words of wisdom for the kids as did former IBC
Super Middleweight champion Dave “TNT” Tiberi, who has raised
over a million dollars for the club.
Through Frazier’s agent Les Wolff,
Ruff was able to schedule Frazier for 2 hours on Wednesday, July
13th. “We just came back from a 10 city, 10 day tour in
the UK. Visiting places like Glasgow, Scotland, Liverpool,
Doncaster, Leeds and Luton among others,” said Wolff.
Along with this writer DE referee Vic
deWysocki had the camera rolling. It’s always good to go back
there. In January Ruff brought in former WBA Bantamweight champion
Jeff Chandler, formerly of South Philadelphia, now a Newark, DE,
resident. In March Benjy Esteves, Jr., a world traveling referee
based out of New Jersey was brought in. In September Steve “Double
SS” Smoger, another top world referee is planning on coming in for
Ruff.
After speaking to two groups of kids
the guests were treated to lunch by brothers Russell and Will
Applegate who run The Deerhead (Applegate Shp Ctr, Boxwood Rd) in
Wilmington. That’s where this writer interviewed Watson. Also on
hand was Tiberi, a legend in DE, who lost one of the most
controversial fights in the modern history of the sport in 1992 to
then unbeaten IBF Middleweight champion James “Lights Out” Toney.
It would be the last time Tiberi would enter the ring choosing his
integrity over a half a million dollar return bout offer. “I don’t
enter the ring without my belt” he told Top Rank’s President Bob
Arum. He was and still is a man of his word!
Director Phil Arendall handled the
introductions quite well and the kids had their questions. One asked
if Frazier ever fought George Foreman and Joe slipped it like a real
champ. When it came up again he simply said “he was too big and
strong. George is a really nice guy.” He went on to tell all
there he couldn’t straighten out his left arm fully due to “running
from a hog as a kid I was teasing that broke through the fence and I
broke my arm when I fell down. We didn’t have the money living on
our farm in South Carolina to fix it properly.” He also mentioned
meeting RSA President Mandela and giving him a championship belt he
had won. Rachel Morales, as always was right there on the spot
directing things. Ms. Candis the Assistant boxing trainer did an
exhibition with Donovan and Kevin which went over well.
Dave Ruff purchased the medals for the
kids and the trophy for “Smokin” Joe at Al’s Sporting Goods.
Ruff himself had over 60 exhibitions in his younger days including
several with Tiberi. He teaches the kids boxing and about life at
the club on a once a week basis. Wolff also represents former
lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Canadian champ and
title challenger George Chuvalo, former European and British champion
and title challenger Joe Bugner along with 2004 USA Olympic Trials
winner Roberto Benitez among others. Both Frazier and Chuvalo appear
in the documentary “Facing Ali”. This writer highly recommends
it.
All in all this was an unforgettable
event with 3 celebrity champions the kid’s and us adults will never
forget. It was heart-warming to see how they give back when it comes
to kids. How Dave Ruff is going to top this one we don’t know but
when top world referee Steve “Double SS” Smoger comes in
September he’ll certainly give it a shot!
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