When I met some of the greatest US Olympic teams!

Via Ken Hissner: The 1976 US Olympic boxing team was the greatest the 78-year-old writer had ever seen. They went to Montreal, Canada, and conquered. Unlike in 1984, the team won more Gold but they did not have to face the Russians or Cubans due to the boycott.

I remember being in “Smokin” Joe Frazier’s gym on North Broad Street in Philadelphia, known as the city of “Brotherly Love,” also known as the “Brotherly Shove” if you’ve ever been. arrive there.

There that day was none other than “Sugar” Ray Leonard, an Olympic Gold Medalist who had just fought in Tucson, Arizona, scoring his first stoppage-time goal against Daniel “Canonozo” Aldo Gonzalez of Argentina. , 52-2-4, improving his record. to 20-0.

Behind Ray in one group was the 1976 Olympic replacement in heavyweight, Philly’s Marvin Stinson.

I asked Ray, “I see you just fought in Arizona. Did you see Chuck Walker while you were there? ” He replied, “do you know Chuck?” I replied, “No, but I saw him in the 1975 AAU final defeating Keith Broom, the All-Service champion. I can’t believe Chuck’s actions! After his win, when asked what he did outside of boxing, he said, “I’m a professional tap dancer!” He has appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour.

Stinson commented, “when Chuck hits you, he makes your **** hard! Walker at 165 lbs. and competed multiple times with Michael Spinks, who won Gold at 178 lbs. and said, “I hate fighting Chuck!” I contacted Walker, nicknamed “White Chocolate” by his teammates, shortly after. He is from Mesa, Arizona, now lives in Conroe, Texas, produces movies.

Speaking of Michael Spinks, he will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame on July 24 in Philadelphia. Although coming from St. Louis, MO, and now lives in Delaware, he fought twice in Pennsylvania. He was a real laid back guy when I met him at a Philly boxing show and gave him color photographs on a team page in 1976.

When you met Michael’s brother, another Olympic gold medalist on Team Leon Spinks in New York in December 1985 through IBHOF matchmaker Don Elbaum as he was about to take on Kip Kane, he was the man you wanted. hug. He is always smiling and very friendly.

When he met Olympic Flyweight Gold Medalist Leo Randolph at Frazier’s Gym, future IBHOF coach George Benton was working with him along with his Tacoma Boy Club teammates in Washington State, the athletes Johnny Bumphus and Rocky Lockridge on the same team that Joe Clough coached. He is a very quiet young man, always with a smile.

I’ve never met the winner Val Barker for the best boxer of the 1976 Olympics, Howard Davis. However, when I spoke to him on the phone, I made the mistake of saying, “I think you were lucky enough to get a decision in the Olympic Tests ahead of Aaron” Hawk “Pryor.” Needless to say, the call ended a few seconds later.

I also met at Frazier’s Gym, the only silver medalist who didn’t turn pro, Charles Mooney, who made his career in the Army. He won 5 games before losing in the final.

Among others, he will coach WBC World heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne. That’s several teams!