CANASTOTA MEMORIES - 2002

We (two Dave McTaggarts, Charlie Summer, Ken Goering, and Mike Paul)
stayed at the John Milton Inn on the edge of Syracuse.  A ten minute
drive to IBHOF.  Inferior quarters but superior rates.

Made a bee-line for GRAZIANO's Inn about 3:30 Friday. I showed up with
name tags on cap and shirt identifying myself as a member of IBRO
(International Boxing Research Organization).

Mike DeLisa was going to meet IBRO types there.  We never did find him.
I did meet Dan Cuoco (publisher of the IBRO JOURNAL), Chuck Hasson, Don
Cogswell and Joe Lannon, all tried and true, paid up members of IBRO!

Joe Lannon (his epynomynous grandfather has seven registered fights
in my site) showed us his gramps' image on T-shirts and photos. 

Schmoozed with Tony Zale, the great middleweight champion's nephew.
He told me that at his uncle's funeral in Chicago, a fire chief broke
down in tears.  The old champion was that much revered by police and
firefighters for his untiring charitable works!  What a man he must
have been!  The young Zale was very close to and fond of his uncle.

Irish Micky Ward's father hoisted a few with us at the unofficial
IBRO table at Graziano's.  He was what Micky will morph into by the
year 2030!

There were lots of glove stars and champions there.  Marlon Starling,
Carmen Basilio (well, he LIVES there!), Simon Brown, Jeff Fenech,
Jimmy Ellis and SIR Henry Cooper.
  That's RIGHT!
  He's a KNIGHT!

Terry Norris, Gaspar Ortega (50's welter), Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney,
Paulie Ayala and Micky Ward all mingled with us fans.

Angelo Dundee, Gil Clancy and Lou Duva answered questions from a
stage.  (No, no, not the 4 o'clock stage for Buffalo, silly!)  After
the session I asked Duva what he thought of the RING's new (really 
a revival of the OLD) policy of recognizing ONE champion per
division.  He said that's what they used to do, and that it's good
for fight fan(atic)s, but bad for the big money guys.  I had no
opportunity for a follow-up, so I did my own translation.  I'm sure
he meant it would hurt gates, number of viewers and thus fighters
purses, because the 'suckers' would fall away.  Multiple fake
"championships" are needed to fool the gullible into buying!

I wonder.  You hear a lot of "Yeah, but who's the REAL champion?"
these days.  I think the masses (even you!) aren't as uninformed as
the elite think we are!

I shook hands with Jese Torres and started to ask him the 'RING'
question, but was cut off by joyous Spanish speaking fans.  They
took him over!

I schmoozed a bit with Bert Sugar.

Charley Summer talked at length with George Chuvalo (they're both
Canadians, eh?)  I didn't see Chuvalo.  I used to train with him
at Earlscourt A.C. in Toronto before he turned pro.  That was 99
years ago!

Anyhoo, a wonderful time was had by all, and already plans are
underway to come back next year!  And the year after!  And ... !!