Hi, my name is Geoff Booth
and I would like to welcome you to my very first blog and art gallery. I’m very
excited to be putting this together. I will be showing you 10 different pieces
all of which are paintings and drawings of fights from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.
What you will be viewing
today is something that is very dear to my heart and that is “SOME OF BOXING’S
GREATEST MOMENTS.” This will feature works from Robert Riggs, Lisa Bebi, George
Bellows, Sam Dillemans, John Murawski, Yill Haruni, Richard Slone, Miki De
Goodaboom, Edgar Brown, and Gerod Johnson II. This collection of works ranges
from the early pioneer days to the modern era of boxing. What is important here
is the historical significance of these works. Each one of them captures a
crucial moment in their lives that defines who they are forever and each one
signifies where boxing went thereafter. I have been a student of this sport for
a long time and have acquired so much information on the sport that I could
most likely give a course on the history of it myself. In making my selections
I made sure that the works were career defining moments that reflect pugilistic
immortality. You will see Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Ray Robinson Ray Leonard
Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Joe Walcott, and personal favorite...
The Amazing Archie Moore. I am very honored, humbled, proud and thankful to be
able to have this opportunity. I love this sport, and I really hope you enjoy.
This first Piece of fistic
immortality is by George Bellows(Date is not officially known but is from ring Magazine circa 1924, dimensions are 500x407) and it is entitled “Dempsey and Firpo.” As you
can see Firpo is knocking Dempsey out of the ring. Until this time Dempsey was
seen as unstoppable. He went through the ropes and out of the ring. For a brief
moment it looked to be over, But Dempsey cemented his place among the gods by
getting back into the ring and knocking Firpo out the next round. He truly was “The
Maunassa Mauler.”
Next we have “The Brown
Bomber” by Robert Riggs(Date Circa 1946 Dimensions 443x333). This was a rematch between Joe Louis and Max Shmeling
which saw Max hand Joe his first defeat. At the height of Nazi Germany Max was
Hitler’s fighter. This rematch was more than a fight between Louis and Shmeling
it was “US vs. Germany.” What took place was the greatest Revenge victory ever
which saw Joe mercilessly beat Max up and knock him down 3 times and out in the
first round. This is the third knockdown where Max is stopped and as you can
see even if the Referee didn’t stop it, the white towel from Max’ corner would
have. On this night Joe Louis represented America.
Now we fast forward to the
1980’s to the Era of Mike Tyson. He is seen here against Razor Ruddock "Tyson vs Razor" from
Artist Edgar Brown(Date 1990,Acrylic on Canvas, Dimensions 36"x48"). What is so important about this picture is that this is
truly the last time that the real “Iron” Mike Tyson stepped in the ring. What you’re
seeing here is the last exchange between the two before Mike Knocked him out on
his feet with a 5 punch combo (The artist says 6 but he’s wrong. I’ve watched
this fight many times, only 5 shots landed.) On this night he showed the
ferocity of Both Dempsey and Louis and reminded fans not only how dangerous he
was, but why they loved boxing in the first place.
Sticking with the 80’s for a moment we now look at Miki Goodaboom’s Painting of Tommy Hearns' and Ray Leonard entitled "Boxing 01"(Date 2001, dimensions 10"x 60"). These 2 will forever be connected. Their first encounter was a 14 round war which saw Leonard come from behind to knock out Hearns. This work however shows Tommy landing his trademark right hand which as a result dropped Leonard. Ray showed the most courage he ever had that night by getting up and taking quite a pounding the rest of the night. While the decision was ruled a draw, even Ray told Tommy he won the fight. This piece not only signifies brutality and bravery but also the end of the golden age of 80’s boxing.
Up next is Gerod Johnson’s
work of "Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Walcott"(Date 2009,Water color, 11x15). This fight is a symbol of “the punchers”
chance. Joe was by far the better boxer in ever definition and was winning the
first 12 rounds with ease. In the 13nth however Rocky feinted with a left hook
and landed the right hand you see here, called “Suzy Q.” This shot knocked Joe
Cold before he crumpled over in a heap. This was the end of Joe’s Brilliance
and the beginning of the Legacy of Rocky Marciano, who would be the only man
ever to retire undefeated as champion.
Now we move on to the next class of fighters. First is debatably the greatest of all time Ray Robinson, who is seen here with his greatest rival Carmen Basillo. John Murawski put this together in brilliant fashion "Ray Robinson vs Carmen Basillio" (Date 2009, Oil, Dimension 18x24). This represent both of their encounters to a T. Ray prepares to land another lightning right while Carmen who is bleeding profusely absorbs it and keeps coming. These two truly didn’t like each other and both men think they won their pair of split decisions. That made these fights so great and helped to mold the Legend of the great “Sugar Ray.”
You don’t have to be a
boxing fan to know who Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier are. This piece is of their
first encounter dubbed “Fight of the century,” "Ali vs Frazier"(Date 1995, Pastels, 24x36). Richard Slone captures the “left
hook heard round the world” in which knocked Ali down in the 15nth and secured
the win for Frazier. Like Robinson and Basillio these two hated each other, and
like Louis and Shmeling this was more than 2 men fighting. This at the height
of the Vietnam War and civil rights movement was Joe Frazier representing
America and Ali representing the world. On this night Joe Frazier beat what
most say was the greatest heavyweight boxer in his prime, thus making him the
undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world. These two would fight twice more,
but this was Frazier’s night.
"Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier"(Date 2011, oil canvas, 24x36) are seen
again here, this time by Yill Haruni. This was their third and most famous
fight entitled “Thrilla in Manilla.” This captures what took place for 13
rounds. Frazier crouched looking to land crushing hook after hook while Ali
swung away with jabs and lightning right hands. They fought in over 100 degree
weather in one of the most physically brutal and permanently impairing fights.
At the start of the 14nth round Frazier could no longer see and his corner
stopped the fight. What they didn’t know is that Ali couldn’t rise off his
stool and had they opted to let their fighter continue it would have been Ali
who would have quit, thus giving Frazier the win. This fight is the symbol of
both fighters Immortality. It represents that even though there was only one
winner, they both won so much of each other’s respect and lost so much of their
quality of living as a result. It’s sick to some, but these two are why people
love boxing.
Now we move on to one of
my favorites, Lisa Bebi’s work of The Great "Archie Moore" (Date 2011,Acrylic, 12"x16") down for the count
arms strung on the ropes. People who saw this fight between Archie Moore and
Rocky Marciano understand the symbolism. Archie dropped Rocky early and Rocky
came back to knock Archie down a total of 5 times. After the 5th round
it was a complete beating, and Archie’s corner, the ringside physician and the
referee all wanted to stop the bout. Archie being the Champion he was said “No
I’m a champion too and I want to continue.” In between the 8th and 9th
round his trainer begged to stop it and Archie said the bravest thing I’ve ever
heard someone say. “We both know what’s coming, just let me go like one last
desperado.” This picture represents that knockdown moments later where Archie
who tried to reach his feet was counted out. This to me symbolizes everything
that we humans possess. The heart to keep fighting even though we know we are
beat. I love this work.
Finally, we have my
favorite piece by Sam Dillemans"Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle 1958" (Date 2003-2006,oil canvas, 60 cm x 115cm). Another shot Of Archie Moore, this time lying
on his back as a result of a right hand from Yvon Durelle in the first round.
Once again if you haven’t seen this fight you don’t know what this means.
Referring to the previous work of Archie against heavyweight champion Rocky
Marciano, Archie showed his heart again. This piece only shows Moore down, it
does not tell you however that he was dropped twice more in the same round and
once more in the 5th before he went on knock Durelle out in the 11th
in the greatest comeback fight of all time to not only defend his Light heavyweight
title but to break Young Stribling's ko record and become the all-time knockout
king. A record that stands to this day and a record that was broken on this day
December 10th in 1958. What is even more Astonishing is that Archie was
anywhere from 42-48 (Real age only known to Archie) when he did it. When you
have seen this fight, you know that this picture symbolizes everything not only
in boxing but in life. Being knocked down time and time again, having all the
odds against you, overcoming everything in your way and satisfying glory of
knowing that you only lose when you give up and if you don’t give up you may do
something that no one will ever be able to reproduce again. This is the
greatest fighter of all time in his darkest moment in what would be his finest
hour.
Now that I have walked you
through some of the greatest moments in boxing history in the eyes of brilliant
artists, I would like to conclude with a few things I have learned. First off, I
loved putting this together and only wish there were more pieces from historic
moments in the sport. I enjoyed the different techniques used by various
artists and I have to admit, through my eyes, they captured the mood and
element of what was going on in every piece I displayed. I can honestly tell
you I do not think this will be the only blog or gallery I ever put together
because it is just too much fun. All the colors and styles, from the sweat and
the blood, to the pain in the faces, it’s violently beautiful. The one thing I discovered
in this process is that Artwork in relates to boxing is almost as ancient as
the sport it’s self. It’s a dying breed of character and quality from both
sides, but I’m truly grateful that these artists cared as much about what has
happened in the ring as I do, and I truly appreciate being given this
opportunity to not only display their work and learn something new about art,
but to find out that I love Boxing more today than yesterday. I’m sure these
artists feel the same way about what they love. Life is art, and art is
Beautiful.
