A FANTASTIC ROLE MODEL
I WANT to wish Carl Frampton all the very best in his retirement. Carl has given us so many happy memories, from his early days as an amateur in the Ulster finals, to the great nights at the Odyssey Arena, the Scott Quigg fight in Manchester and the world title win against Kiko Martinez at the Titanic Quarter.
I feel truly blessed that I was able to take my two lads to their first fight on that fantastic (but wet!) night at Windsor Park against Luke Jackson. We have been lucky enough to meet Carl a few times – he is such a gentleman and a fantastic role model who has inspired the next generation of boxing fans. Thanks for the memories, Carl – a future Hall of Famer, in my opinion. Liam Haughton
THE REMARKABLE MR COOK
IT was another great article from Steve Bunce in the March 25 issue. I was lucky enough to MC a Saturday afternoon show at the Pedro club about five years ago. It felt as though the whole community had turned out to help and there was a real carnival atmosphere.
The boxing was held on the football pitch out the back and what struck me was the amount of boxers and ex-boxers who gave up their time to help that remarkable man, Mr James Cook. Off the top of my head there was Derek Williams, Colin Mcmillan, Sylvester Mittee, Michael Watson, Maurice Hope, Charlie Magri, PJ Gallagher and a whole host of others.
The show was a great success and they even had time to fit in one of the original Drifters for some entertainment in the interval. Good luck to the Pedro club on its reopening. Eddie Crispin
THE MUHAMMAD ALI SUITE
I ENJOYED the articles on the 1971 Fight of the Century in the March 4 issue.
I remember watching the recording on our old black and white TV the following night. The build-up to the bout was massive – everyone seemed to have an opinion on who was going to win.
When I made my first visit to New York to watch the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jnr fight, I stayed at the New Yorker Hotel, which is opposite Madison Square Garden. Unknowingly, it was also where Ali stayed for the legendary bout with Joe Frazier.
After breakfast one morning I went down to the basement to look at the archive photos, and there he was, “The Greatest” himself, back at the hotel with his swollen jaw the morning after the night before. That room is now known as the Muhammed Ali Suite.
There were also photos of Max Baer before and after his 1941 bout with Lou Nova, where he stayed for his contest at the Garden. Lee Townley