Charlie Mack
CHARLIE MACK was born Charles Fanelli. He was one of the many professional boxers who came out of Camden in the 1920s.
Charles Fanelli's older brother Matthew fought as Battling Mack, who was one of the more successful Camden boxers of the 1920s. Originally a bantamweight, he fought primarily as a featherweight. Late in his career Battling Mack founded a gym near South 3rd and Walnut Streets, where many of Camden's finest boxers of the era trained. It was at this gym in 1930 that Arnold “Jersey Joe Walcott” Cream was first introduced to the fight game.
Charles Fanelli got into trouble with the law in November of 1931. Arrested for a robbery, he plead not guilty but was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.
Charlie Mack's Known Boxing Record
W 1 (KO 1) · L 4 (KO 1) · D 0 (official) / W 1 · L 5 · D 3 (newspaper decisions) / 14 total bouts · 56 known rounds
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Rds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flinky Kaufman | Bijou Theater, Philadelphia, PA | L NWS | 4 | |
| Jack Sears | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, PA | L NWS | 6 | |
| Newspaper decision from Philadelphia newspapers. | ||||
| Frankie Ferro | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, PA | W NWS | 6 | |
| Mickey Martell | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, PA | D NWS | 6 | |
| Newspaper decision from the Philadelphia Inquirer (Paul Zabala). | ||||
| Frankie Ferro | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, PA | D NWS | 6 | |
| Newspaper decision from the Philadelphia Inquirer. | ||||
| Johnny Mulligan | Cambria A.C., Philadelphia, PA | L NWS | 6 | |
| Newspaper decision from the Philadelphia Inquirer (Jack Kincaid). | ||||
| Johnny DeMarco | Public Service Ball Park, Camden, NJ | L NWS | 8 | |
| Newspaper decision from the Logansport Pharos-Tribune (wire report). | ||||
| Angelo Giudici | Apollo Theatre, Gloucester, NJ | L NWS | 8 | |
| Philadelphia Inquirer. | ||||
| Freddie Jackson | Fairview Arena, Camden, NJ | D NWS | 6 | |
| Newspaper decision from the Chester Times. | ||||
| Lew Jackson | Fairview Arena, Camden, NJ | L KO 2 | 8 sched. | |
| From Boxing Blade, September 4, 1926, page 9. | ||||
| Billy Davis | Farber Arena, Vineland, NJ | W KO 2 | — | |
| Jack Kelly | Arena, Vineland, NJ | L PTS | 6 | |
| Eddie Silk | Millville, NJ | L PTS | 6 | |
| Larry Jackson | Millville, NJ | L PTS | 8 | |
Willis Wins Decision Over Tommy Golden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
One of the best shows of the season was held at the Cambria Club last evening and five fine bouts were put on for the approval of the many spectators.
The windup brought together Stanley Willis and Tommy Golden and this bout was a thriller from start to finish. For the first four rounds the men fought like tigers and neither seemed able to secure a decided advantage.
However, Willis began to weaken in the closing rounds and when the bell sounded for the eighth canto he was in bad shape. Willis survived the round, but was decidedly outclassed, and the judges had no trouble in awarding the fight to Golden.
The opener was probably the best bout of the evening and was between Frankie Ferro and Charlie Mack, of Camden. This battle was only a six-round affair, but it fairly bristled with action and at the end of the bout Mack was hailed as the winner.
Johnny Carton and Pat Deener fought a sensational six-round draw, while the other two bouts were stopped by knockouts. Pat Haley was the victim in one of these encounters being unfortunate enough to stop one of Joe Peck Martin’s shoots on the chin in the third round.
In the other engagement Soldier Kaparasky scored a knockout over Mike Kawalski in the third round.
Kid Sullivan Boxes Murray in Wind-Up
Trenton Evening Times —
MOUNT HOLLY, Oct. 8.—The Mount Holly Theatre will be the scene of Mount Holly’s next boxing show Monday, October 20, and the Holly Athletic Club announces quite an attractive bill. The wind-up of eight rounds will bring out Kid Sullivan, of Trenton, and Charlie Kid Murray, the fighting Hebrew from Philadelphia. Sullivan appeared at the armory here twice during last winter, once knocking out Young Ketchel, of Bristol, and the next pulling the shady side of a draw with Kid Emmons, of Trenton.
In the semi of six rounds, John Mayhook, of Ridgeway, Pa., will try to stop Andy Martel, of Philadelphia. They are 118 pounders. Eddie Fisher, of Riverside, a local favorite, is to go up against K.O. Stuckey, of Riverside, in another bout.
Kid Lambert, of Bordentown, is booked to go six rounds with Arthur Colby, of Chester and Philadelphia. Johnny DeMarco will tackle Charlie Mack, of Camden. In the first bout of four rounds, Young Firpo, of Beverly, is slated to oppose Young Schisler, of Florence.
2 Cops Go on Trial Tuesday as Echo of Election Row
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey City Democrat Charges Bakley and Truax Violated Law
2 COURTS IN SESSION
Two Camden police officers, Lieut. Ralph W. Bakley, commander of the Second district, and Sergeant Frank Truax, are scheduled to go on trial in Criminal Court tomorrow on an indictment charging them with violation of the election laws.
The charge resulted from the arrest of Joseph Tumulty, Jersey City attorney and Democratic challenger at the Camden city polls during the gubernatorial election last November. Mayor Roy R. Stewart will be summoned as a defense witness, according to the officers’ counsel, T. Harry Rowland. The latter added that Major Charles V. Dickinson, deputy superintendent of police; Captain Arthur Colsey, business men, several bankers and a score of other character witnesses will be called to the stand.
Two Courts in Session
The case is one of a large number listed for trial, pleas or sentences this week by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin in an attempt to clear up the Criminal Court calendar to permit adjournment in July. Two criminal courts will be in session today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Judge Samuel M. Shay will preside in the fourth-floor courtroom, while Judge Austin H. Swackhamer will hold court on the second floor.
Thirteen defendants will face court today, 11 for trial and two to enter pleas.
One of the two who will enter pleas is Mrs. Mable J. Steyer, of 4603 Conshohocken avenue, Philadelphia, who is under indictment on the charge of manslaughter by automobile. She is charged with the death of William Sharkey, of Berlin, on the White Horse pike last February. Six times Prosecutor Baldwin has endeavored to have the woman in court, but she refused to appear. She visited in the prosecutor’s office several days ago and was released under $1000 bail. She had previously forfeited the same amount of bail. She is charged with driving her automobile on the wrong side of the pike and crashing into the car operated by Sharkey.
The other defendant who is scheduled to appear to plead is Harry Willingmyer, charged with assault and battery.
The 11 defendants who are listed to stand trial today include Dr. C. N. Mason, of 85 Lincoln avenue, Delaware township. Dr. Mason is charged with false pretense in obtaining $1000 from Gustave Huseman, of 616 Rogers avenue, Merchantville. The other defendants are John Uboldi, larceny; Albert Cohen, false pretense; James Jordan, assault and battery; Herman Romaine, statuatory [sic] charge; Harold Nickturn, larceny, and four indictments against the much arrested Howard C. Franklin, Oaklyn automobile dealer who is charged with false pretense.
Tomorrow, Arthur “Gyp” Del Ducca, convicted disorderly house keeper, will be sentenced by Judge Swackhamer. Del Ducca was convicted in the criminal court last Wednesday of operating a resort at 764 Fairview street. Charles Fanelli, of 319 Penn street, who was convicted of holding up John Weeks, of Eighth and Tabor road, Philadelphia, on November 13, last, and robbing him of $50, will also be sentenced on Tuesday.
Several roadhouse proprietors whose establishments were recently raided, are also scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for trial. They include Harry Fleisher, 300 Rand street; John Cernivo, of Camden; Thomas Gibbons, of Gloucester; Walt Mills, alleged proprietor of the Maze Cafe in Stratford; Edward J. Walsh, alleged proprietor of the Little Grill, in West Collingswood Heights; Owen Sweeney, alleged proprietor of the Haddon Lake, at Mt. Ephraim; William Marshall, alleged proprietor of the Royal Haven Inn, at Berlin; Conrad Bittner, 456 Broadway, Gloucester, and Harry Underwood, also of Gloucester. There are two indictments against Underwood.
Walter Kennedy, former Camden boxer who fought under the ring name of Walter West, is also scheduled to go on trial tomorrow on a charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons. Kennedy, who is a shell-shocked World War veteran and former Camden soft drink parlor proprietor, is charged with attempting to hold up a Public Service bus on State street, four months ago.
Other defendants on tomorrow’s trial list are Louis Ward and Dean Kessler, larceny; Pasquale Massi, Jacob Melzer and Frank Atwater, attempted breaking and entering; Louis Scott, Edward Brady, Carl Pisco, Joseph Pisco, carrying concealed deadly weapons; Jim Jackson and Woodrow Stevens, breaking and entering; Frank Mucci, disorderly house; W. H. Seckel, false pretense; Davis Keese, statuatory [sic] charge, and Gustave Seletos, three indictments for false pretense.
On Wednesday ten defendants are scheduled to go on trial in the criminal courts. They are:
Roland Davis, desertion; William Bopergola, Tony Basile, Joseph Gogenti, Frank Carofolo, statuatory [sic] charges; Edward North, larceny; Joseph Carboni, larceny from person; George Huber, larceny; Roland Davis board bill; George Walters, tampering with meter.
Judge Shay will be asked tomorrow to sign court orders authorizing the prosecutor’s office to destroy all the liquors seized in the various roadhouse raids during the past year. The liquor is at present stored in the cellar of the old court house under lock and key.
3 Women Scream as Former Boxer Gets 5-Year Term
Camden Courier-Post —
‘Gyp’ Del Duca and ‘Charlie Mack’ Doomed to Hard Labor at State Prison
3 WOMEN SCREAM AS FORMER BOXER GETS 5-YEAR TERM
Fannelli Near Collapse, Other Man Smiles, as Penalties Are Pronounced
LENIENCY PLEAS FUTILE
Stiff prison sentences were meted out in Camden Criminal Court yesterday by Judge Austin H. Swackhamer, of Gloucester county, to Arthur “Gyp” Del Duca, and Charles Fannelli, both of whom were convicted last week.
Del Duca is well known to police. Fannelli, who lives at 319 Penn street is a former policeman and boxer, who fought under the name of Charlie Mack. Del Duca, convicted of maintaining a disorderly house, was sentenced to two years at hard labor in state’s prison, and a 5-year term was meted to Fannelli, on charges of highway robbery.
Del Duca turned around and smiled at his attorneys after hearing sentence pronounced. But Mack’s knees buckled, his face turned ashen and he seemed on the verge of collapse when he heard his sentence.
Three Women in Hysterics
Three women, believed to be relatives of Mack, became hysterical and were led from the courtroom.
Del Duca was convicted by a jury of operating a disorderly house at 674 Fairview street. When he was called to the bar by Prosecutor Clifford A. Baldwin, David Visor, one of his attorneys, moved for an arrest of judgment, contending the indictment was faulty. Judge Swackhamer refused the motion.
“This man,” Baldwin began his address to the court, “as proprietor of a resort had been warned, raided, fined and raided again without effect.
“His was the most notorious place of its kind in Camden, and the reason he never was caught before was that he never was there when it was raided. But his connection with the resort is common knowledge and despite raids he continued to be a flagrant violator of the social and criminal laws.”
Defense Appeals for Leniency
At this point James Russell Carrow, another of Del Duca’s lawyers, made a plea for a minimum sentence, pointing to the defendant’s army record and that he had never been convicted of a criminal offense before.
“In 1924,” Baldwin replied, “he was arrested for violating the Hobart state prohibition act and fined. He was arrested again for the same offense in the same year and sentenced to 30 days.”
“This is a serious case,” said Judge Swackhamer, “and a disorderly house keeper is a serious menace to the community. I am going to make the punishment commensurate with the crime. Del Duca, have you anything to say for yourself?”
Takes ‘Rap’ With Smile
“Your honor this is the first time I was ever here on such a charge,” the prisoner said.
Sentence was then pronounced. Del Duca smiled broadly at Carrow and Visor and was led away by attaches. Carrow notified the court he would appeal.
Fannelli then was called to the bar. He is convicted of holding up and taking $51 from Joseph Weska, of Philadelphia, whom he met in a speakeasy near Broadway and Kaighn avenue last November 10.
“Fannelli, or Mack, gambled with fate and decided on a jury trial in an attempt to beat the rap,” said Assistant Prosecutor Rocco Palese. Gene Mariano, Mack’s attorney, objected to the word “gambled,” and added that if the prisoner were sent to prison for a long term he would come out a hardened criminal.
“On the contrary,” Judge Swackhamer declared, “he might have a chance for reformation because I am going to give him a sentence under which he will have plenty of time to reflect and meditate upon his past conduct and make up his mind to do better when he comes out. I sentence you to five years.”
Apparently surprised at the sentence, Mack grabbed his chair for support. He finally regained his composure, however, just as three women in the back of the court began screaming and weeping, battling Mack, the prisoner’s brother, led them away, but before they left one of them shouted, “I hope you’re satisfied, now!”
At this point, seven state troopers, witnesses in another case, entered the room and order was restored.
Ex-Fighters Are Set for Charity Show
Camden Courier-Post —
Jersey Joe Walcott and Roxie Allen in Feature at Civic Hall Tomorrow
Present and past greats of Camden boxing will do their all for charity tomorrow night, when they appear on a card sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden, at the Camden Convention Hall.
Fifteen bouts of three rounds each are scheduled to be held, and the entire proceeds will be used to provide Christmas baskets for Camden’s needy. The boxers and referees have generously donated their services free of charge, and are to be complimented for their willingness to aid a worthy cause.
All 15 bouts are exhibition matches as most of the principals have been out of training for several years. However, they have done their best to get in pretty fair shape during the past two weeks and a number of interesting bouts should be presented.
Jersey Joe Walcott, still in active harness in heavyweight ranks, and Roxie Allen, who 10 years ago was Camden’s leading lightweight but who retired two years ago, hold the feature spot on the card. Allen and Walcott met here about two years ago and the latter knocked out Roxie in the eighth and final round of a scheduled eight-rounder.
However, Walcott held a 25-pound pull in the weights, scaling in around 185, while Allen weighed around 160. Although Walcott eventually knocked out Allen, Roxie had the satisfaction of flooring Jersey Joe in the first round, a left hook to the jaw sending the Negro down for a count of two.
Blairs Box Each Other
Allen quit fighting at this bout, but still is in good physical shape and should be able to box a fast three rounds against Walcott.
Frankie and Mickey Blair, both of South Camden, are two fighters who made names for themselves in out-of-town fights, and are slated to box each other. Frankie, a welterweight, fought his greatest fights in New York in the past two years, while Mickey was of [sic] the best featherweights in the East about eight years ago.
Tommy Ricco, another South Camden featherweight, and Mickey and Johnny Duca, both of Paulsboro, are the other three boys who are active in the game. Ricco is due to appear against Mickey Duca, while Johnny Duca squares off against Al White, also of Paulsboro.
The veteran of the card is Battling Mack, one of the finest characters ever to enter the fight game. Mack fought the best featherweights in the East shortly after the World War. George Chaney, Benny Bass, Kid Williams, Johnny Buff, Danny Kramer and Pete Herman were some of the boys Balling [sic] met in his prime. He is slated to face Lew Skymer, another South Camdenite who was a favorite with Camden fight addicts.
Hindle Battles Chaney
Jackie Hindle and Eddie Chaney, both local reisdents [sic], are due to meet. Hindle and Chaney were among the great crop of local lightweights who flourished here in 1926, ’27 and ’28. Allen, Hindle, Chaney, Shamus MaGuire, Charley Mack, White, Lew Jackson, Paddy Lyons, Joe Spearing, and Johnny Attell were included among the group which made boxing a major attraction in this city during those years.
Charley Mack meets Young O’Connor in tomorrow night’s bouts. Jackson mingles with Lyons; Spearing battles Frankie Rapp, downtown southpaw who also fought the best featherweights in the East a few short years ago, and Attell clashes with Billy Marino.
Young Firpo, of Pennsgrove, is known to all South Jersey fightgoers. Firpo, a lightweight, packed a great left hook and his record is dotted with knockouts. He will take on Joey Allen, South Camden featherweight who never fought a slow bout and who never side-stepped a match.
Pee Wee Ross undoubtedly was the best bantamweight ever developed in this city. Ross fought ’em all 10 years ago and finished with a great record. He meets Bobby Zimmerman, another local product who also was a pleasing performer and who was known as the “buzz saw” because of his rapid-fire punching.
Nick Nichols, one of the hardest-hitting welterweights ever to hold forth here, takes on Tommy McCann, East Camdenite who had one of the best left hands in the city.
Lucas Vs. Straiges
Johnny Lucas, South Camden welterweight who still could go to the wars, faces Joey Straiges, also of South Camden, who also could compete in featherweight ranks if it were necessary for him to continue boxing. In the other bout on the card, Young Palmer and Tommy Dundee, former featherweights, clash.
Jim Braddock, former world heavyweight champion, is expected to be on hand to referee at least one bout. Others invited to referee are:
Sgt. Ray Smith, Harry Shaw, Tom Walters, Al Ettore, Joey O’Donnell, Mike DeLeece, Young Lawrence, Charley Harris, Bill McFarlane and Walter “West” Kennedy.
The committee in charge of the boxing arrangements consists of Caesar Campana, chairman, Dominic Lombardo, Daniel Gallasso, James McSparrin and Paul Daly.
Nearly 4000 Witness Old-Timers in Action
Camden Courier-Post —
Past and Present South Jersey Boxers Go Through Paces in Charity Show
NO DECISIONS RENDERED
By FRANK KOPESKY
They turned back the sporting pages last night, month after month, year after year.
And out of the staring type and paling newsprint stepped the images of youths who in their bygone day had their names blazed across the headlines for their prowess in the boxing ring.
With nearly 4000 in attendance, these old-timers and some who still are or could be active engaged in a program of exhibition bouts at Convention Hall to aid the poor this Christmas.
The affair was sponsored by the United Democratic Clubs of Camden.
Braddock Gets Big Hand
The feature attraction and a man who received a thunderous ovation from the gathering was popular James J. Braddock, former heavyweight champion of the world, who refereed the final two bouts.
Roxie Allen, of Camden, and Jersey Joe Walcott, Merchantville slugger who still is active, paired off in the windup with Braddock serving as referee.
They boxed lightly most of the way with neither connecting with any serious blows and the spectators were handed a few laughs when both boxers “picked on” Braddock in the last round.
Braddock Gets Hand
Braddock was given a great ovation when he entered the ring to referee the bout between Frankie and Mickey Blair.
Strangely the well-known brothers fought one of the hardest bouts of the night. Frankie, one of the best boxers Camden has ever produced, tagged his older brother with several stiff lefts in the first round. Mickey also got in his share of hard blows, although Frankie was the better of the two.
Lou Skymer and Battling Mack, of South Camden, continued fighting after their three-rounder ended. So Referee Joey O’Donnell scurried from the ring. Skymer had the best of the fight.
Spearing and Rapp Even
Joe Spearing and Frankie Rapp, both from South Camden, boxed lightly for three rounds on about even terms.
Johnny Lucas, of Whitman Park, who did considerably campaigning several years ago, and Joey Straiges, active South Camden lightweight, went through three fast rounds. Straiges had the better of the exhibition.
Young Joe Firpo, of Pennsgrove, and Joey Allen, of Camden, who retired from the ring not so long ago, fought a hard fight in the first round. Allen knocked himself down in the second round when he socked Referee Ray Smith in the stomach. They both pummeled the Sargeant [sic] after the final bell and the bout got a great hand.
Comedy Bout
The spectators sang the “Beer Barrel Polka” when Buck Fleming of the Veteran Boxing Association entered the ring. Bricks and horseshoes were dumped out of Fleming’s gloves before his bout with Joe Shannon, another V. B. A. entrant, began.
It was the comedy bout of the night, meant as such, and the fans went into near hysterics.
Tommy Ricco, active South Camden lightweight, and Al Daly, of Fairview, staged a clever boxing exhibition. Although neither landed any telling blows, the fast bout was a crowd pleaser. Ricco had the best of it.
The parade of overgrown lightweights continued when Eddie Chaney, of Whitman Park, squared off with Jackie Hindle, of South Camden. These two also got “mad” at each other in the third round and Hindle seemed to have the better of it.
Ceaser [sic] Campana, chairman of the committee, who fought as Young O’Connors years ago, paired off with Charley Mack, well known lightweight of a decade ago. After two slow rounds, they really started slugging and the bell halted a furious exchange.
Lyons’ Wind Gives Out
Kayo Palmer, of Camden, and Pat Lyons, of Gloucester, got along for two rounds, but Lyons asked for a short third session when his wind gave out. Timekeeper Dave Lambert cut the round to 30 seconds. Palmer dropped Referee Young Lawrence, who was saved by the bell.
A howl went up from the throng when Announcer Archie McNew introduced Lou Jackson, of Pennsgrove, and Al White, of Paulsboro, as former lightweights. Both massive weight lines and looked like heavyweight wrestlers. They went three rounds and received a great hand for their efforts. Jackson appeared to have the better of it.
Employing several body slams and a flying tackle to good advantage, Young Palmer bested Tommy Dundee in three rounds. Both are former local bantamweights.
Pee-Wee Ross and Bobby Zimmerman, a pair of excellent flyweights in their day, opened the show. They knocked each other “out” in the second round, Referee Joe Mangold counting 10 over the fallen pair. After rising the two Camden men resumed “fighting” much to the crowd’s amusement.
Life Hereabouts
Camden Courier-Post —
DOWN MEMORY LANE with that Old Gang of Yours . . . in a few of the years when Our Town was as good a sport town as any in the land . . . from the time that Taylor and Gunnis promoted fights through the years to Roxey Allen . . . Mickey Blair . . . Eddie Chaney . . . Shamus Maguire . . . Pee Wee Ross . . . Jackie Hindle . . . Watson Finch . . . Georgie Abner . . . Nick Nicholas . . . Dixie Allen . . .
The days when Camden was the Mecca for Philly fight fans . . . with champions like Mike O’Dowd . . . Benny Leonard . . . Pete Herman . . . Jimmy Wilde . . . Gene Tunney . . . fighting in the Armory on Haddon avenue . . . for One, Two and Three . . . tax included . . . the days of John Smith . . . whose son, Lee, became one of our great friends . . . the days when Philly came to Camden to see the best fighters in the land . . .
AND THEN DOWN through the years with Lou McFarland . . . Higgins and Kaplan . . . Tommy James . . . the man named Doyle who always gave us a smile when we called him “Mister” because he was so kind . . . When Sergeant Ray Smith became a referee . . . “Pose” Robinson . . . the days of Willie Davis . . . Harry Smith . . . Jim Kelly . . .
Fights in the ball park at Twelfth and Federal streets . . . at the Fairview Ball Park . . . in the Temple Theatre . . . the Star Theatre . . . Newt Blanchard, the only promoter who gave us MORE money than we asked for . . . The Broadway Theatre . . . the early days of Convention Hall . . .
THE TIME they opened the Plaza Hotel Gym and all the fine lads on the program . . . with the late Mayor Stewart in the audience . . . and many other dignitaries . . . and being “dared” into a match with Ray Smith, because his opponent failed to show . . . the same guy who fought Tunney . . . Mike Brennan . . . Gibbons . . . Martin . . . Dempsey . . . Loughran . . . and seeing the Sergeant’s body covered with blood in the second round . . . our very own blood . . .
THE YEARS when Gloucester city was the fightenest town in the nation . . .
The days of K. O. Joey O’Donnell . . . who fought them all. . . Of Frankie Conway . . . who never took a backward step . . . and still has the same courage today. . . . Of Willie Spencer . . . who headlined show after show. . . . Charlie Daggert . . . now a referee in Philly. . . . Jimmy Rafferty . . . Eddie (Kid) Wagner . . . Young Sherlock . . . Abe Wustbond, later an instructor of boxing at Herman’s gym in Philly . . . Eddie Forrest . . . and his brother, who fought Battling Nelson . . . the crowd-pleasing Willie Fuller . . . Joey O’Connor.
Back when “Chick” Hunt fought under the name of Eddie Melson . . . and later, in professional ranks, the night he fought Joe “Kid” Fisher at the Apollo theatre in Gloucester. . . . Chick is our friend today . . . but we don’t believe he ever will forgive us for that night when we yelled at Joe to . . . well, we yelled at Joe . . . The days of Harry “Dick” Donohue, trainer and manager of Nick Nichols.
AND THE BEST, learning the business under the incomparable Eddie Prince . . . who knows how to condition fighters . . . then and now . . . with the best in the nation. . . . The days when they called Mister Georgano “Lemons” . . . but affectionately . . . not because he was ever sour.
When Johnny Sapio . . . who only days ago was honored at a banquet at Weber’s Hof Brau by so many people the walls bulged . . . fought under the name of Young Joe Grim.
HOW MANY will remember when our own Eddie Garrity, now the sedate deputy director of public safety in Our Town, was a boxer . . . with plenty on the ball? . . . When George Murphy boxed around here . . . and the Tighe brothers, Eddie and Jimmy . . . Remember Richie Hoehner? . . . Jimmie Jordan? . . . Eddie Douglas? . . . Bobby Graham, then a soldier stationed in Gloucester? . . . Steve Jackson? . . . Frankie McLaughlin (whose brother Neil WAS on Retreat with us, Mrs. McLaughlin, and gave us much of this information)?
Recall Johnny “Homo” Bryan? . . . Duncan Carswell, Jimmy and Jack Dean, referees, all three? . . . Theo Ellick, the matchmaker. . . . And who could forget Joe Spearing, afraid of nobody then and now . . . he fought our boy Fisher three times to our knowledge . . . once in Atlantic City . . . another at one of the ball parks here and the third (the windup, no less) in Gloucester. . . . Who won . . . who cares?
THE DAYS when a Cook was a promoter . . . and a Politician(?) got the gravy. . . . The time “Red” Haines fought Roxey Allen over top the old Standard movies at Second and Vine streets . . . amateur against a near-champ . . . and what a battle . . . when Everett Joslin and Johnny Taylor were on the First district wagon and backed it up to the door leading to the second floor, and all the people gathering around because they thought it was a raid . . . and all they came to see was a round or two of the fights.
Back when Joey Powell had an iron fist . . . and Soldier Freedman an iron jaw. . . . When Mayor Victor King was always in the front row at the bouts . . . when Augie Oswald “worked” the river in his boat for shad and other fish . . . when a dollar was a dollar and not 27 cents . . . when the downtown fight gym was operated by Charley Mack . . . whose brother Battling Mack was a great drawing card and a great fighter . . . and Charley was no softie, either.
THE SUMMER BOUTS in the ball park when you could get a swell bleacher seat for half a buck—and be closer to the bouts than $50 seats at some of the big clubs now . . . and see better fights, too.
When Camden had growing pains . . . and its people started moving to the suburbs . . . when a guy who made 40 slugs a week was a “big executive.” . . . When copy boys on the papers got $4 a week . . . and had enough left over from their salary to lend money to reporters who made the tremendous sum of $25 a week. . . . Great days, say you . . . great days, say us. . . . Nostalgia.