The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Retirement from boxing pays off for 72-year-old
It’s been a long time since the Madison resident went by “Irish” Billy Wagner — more than 40 years ago.
It’s been a long time since he went by “Irish” Billy Wagner — more than 40 years ago.
Those 40-plus years signify just a number these days. Wagner, strong and sturdy at 72, still flicks a left jab with precision and bite.
Despite two new hips, a knee replacement and bum shoulders, Wagner isn’t complaining. He works out every day — “except for Sunday,” he said — at the East End YMCA in Madison.
The rigors of 45 career professional boxing matches from 1968 to 1976 have no doubt taken a toll on his body, but fortunately for Wagner, not his mind.
“Unlike so many professional athletes, this story has a happy ending,” says Wagner’s wife Sandy. “We are very blessed.”
Wagner and Sandy are retired and live in a quiet neighborhood in Madison. It’s been an eventful life for Wagner, one that almost led to the doorsteps of worldwide fame in the ring.
Those hopes pretty much ended 45 years ago on July 21, 1973. Wagner was upset at the time following the result of the biggest match of his life, but he looks back now with no regrets.
Wagner followed his first career as a boxer with a second career as a firefighter for the Euclid Fire Department.
“I thought I beat him. I was popping the jab, keeping the guy busy.” — Billy Wagner, on a nationally televised fight that ended in a draw
He spent 29 years there. Before there was Stipe Miocic — the former UFC heavyweight champion of the world and Northeast Ohio firefighter — there was Wagner.
Nowadays, Wagner and his wife enjoy traveling — the married couple of more than 50 years went to Africa last year — and spending time with their three daughters and one son. It’s all possible thanks to the health Wagner enjoys today.
He walked away from boxing in 1976 after making his pro debut in early 1968 as a light heavyweight. That era was a boon for the sport with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman.
Wagner learned about the sweet science from his older brother Larry. By age 17, he was an Ohio Golden Gloves light heavyweight champion.
“I thought (boxing) was an easy way to make a lot of money,” said Wagner, who grew up in the Collinwood area and graduated from then-St. Joseph High School in 1963.
Most of Wagner’s pro bouts were held at the Akron Armory or Cleveland Arena, but he also fought in Wickliffe, Willoughby, Mayfield Heights, Lorain and at St. Joe’s.
His first bout was a draw, but then Wagner won 11 straight. By early 1970, he was 25-2-1, and rising among the ranks of light heavyweights. Three years later, he was 32-51, and ready for the biggest fight of his career against Mike Quarry for
the North American Light Heavyweight Championship in Madison Square Garden.
The July 21, 1973, fight was nationally televised on ABC’s “Wide World of Sports.” Wagner came to fight, and used his strong left jab throughout the 12-round fight.
“I thought I beat him,” said Wagner, who earned $5,000 that night. “I was popping the jab, keeping the guy busy.”
Referee Petey Della scored the fight 6-5-1 in favor of Wagner. Judges Joe Eppy had it 8-4 in favor of Quarry, and Bernie Friedkin had it 6-6. The winner of the fight was expected to get a shot at Bob Foster’s world light heavyweight title, but the draw sent everyone home unfulfilled — Wagner included.
“He had the name, and I
think (the judges) stole the fight from me,” he said.
Mike Quarry was the brother of popular heavyweight Jerry Quarry of the 1960s and 1970s, and fought more than 80 times in a career. He lasted another decade after his bout vs. Wagner. Quarry died in 2006 following a bout with dementia — an all-too-familiar fate for many boxers.
After their fight, neither Wagner nor Quarry ever took on Foster for the world light heavyweight title. Wagner fought just six more times, then retired in 1976.
“I didn’t care much for boxing after that,” said Wagner.
His goal was to become a champion, but the Quarry decision was a stain he couldn’t erase. After boxing, the problem was Wagner’s competitive fire was still there.
Two years later, he decided to run the Boston Marathon without much training.
“I finished it,” said Wagner. “Wasn’t that hard.”
At the point, he was five years into the next phase of his life. He joined the Euclid Fire Department in September 1973, and remained until he retired in March 2002 as fire chief.
He’s forever grateful to his late manager Sid Terris of Brooklyn. Terris is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and, according to Wagner, was one of the most talented cut men in the sport.
“He’d cut your throat, and stop the bleeding,” said Wagner. “That’s how good he was.”
Terris and others close to Wagner also gave sound advice in 1976 — it was time to retire from the ring.
“I had good people around me, and sometimes you have to be smart enough to take their advice,” said Wagner, who finished his career 34-92. “Maybe things would have been worse for me. You never know. I’ve been lucky.”
Shoulder injuries from years of swimming prevent Wagner from hitting the heavy bag, but the 72-yearold isn’t afraid to show off his shadow boxing skills.
He wasn’t sure if he ever loved the sport of boxing, but Wagner knows he was good at it. And he knows he walked away at the right time.
“Everything’s work out well for me,” said Wagner. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I think everything happens for a reason, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I don’t think I could have been happier.”