Some of Boxings greatest moments

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 5^th 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 8^th and 9^th 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 5^th before he went on knock Durelle out in the 11^th 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 10^th 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.