ROCKY GRAZIANO PLAQUE
I RECENTLY found an old Rocky Graziano plaque [see image below] in a box of my grandpa’s stuff. I have no clue where it came from or its age. I was wondering if any readers had seen anything like it before and could maybe give me a little background on it? My email address is lizardman678@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance. Spencer Somberg
GOODBYE TO PLYMOUTH EBA
I AM sad to announce that the Plymouth Ex-boxers Association unfortunately dissolved on January 13. We started back in 1982, but have now had to come to an end due to a steep decline in membership. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who supported the association and helped with its running over the years. Thanks once again. Ronald Courtis, Plymouth EBA Secretary
A GOOD GUY
I WAS recently studying the career of Frenchman Guy Gracia, scourge of British and Commonwealth lightweights between 1955 and 1962. This rugged boxer’s record makes for a good read, as he fought 19 times in the UK, winning 12, drawing two and losing five, with two of these defeats coming at the end of his career. Among his most notable victims were Joe Lucy, Dave Charnley (twice), Sammy Mccarthy and those fine South Africans, Willie Toweel and Johnny van Rensburg. Some record for a visitor to these shores. Michael Hinton
ONE HELL OF A CAREER
WELL done to George Groves in announcing his retirement. Groves has had one hell of a career, fighting many great boxers. The two Carl Froch fights will never be forgotten! When Froch was put on his backside by Groves in the first round of their first fight, it was a huge shock. Groves had one of the best jabs in the sport, and with his awkward style he always proved a real challenge for opponents. True, he did tire sometimes in the later rounds, but he seemed to address this weakness later in his career. I hope you have a fantastic retirement, George. You’re still very young, and I’m sure you’ll find something to keep you occupied, whether in boxing or not. Patch Hammond
ELUSIVE REMATCHES
I ENJOYED reading the feature in the January 31 issue about rematches that should have happened but never did. How about Jack Dempsey-luis Angel Firpo II? I also remember watching the George Foreman-ron Lyle fight in 1976 and thinking that, if Muhammad Ali still had anything left, an Ali-foreman rematch would be a repeat of their first fight. Of course, Ali later proved against Earnie Shavers that although he was no longer at his physical peak, he still had his boxing brain, at least. Mark Taha
BRING ON THE SEQUEL
ACCORDING to reports, the mooted Deontay Wilder-tyson Fury rematch is not far off being officially finalised. I believe Fury has a great chance of beating Wilder in a return fight. However, in order to win, he will have to cut out the clowning around and just get down to business. If Fury does defeat Wilder, he would have a claim to being the best heavyweight around, although a clash with Anthony Joshua would really prove who the number one is. In my opinion, Joshua would be the favourite. Ian Owen