At my grandpops funeral, I learned that he was a professional welterweight boxer in NYC in the 40's. The question was why he never told us & how nobody knew. I continued to dig & discovered the sad reasons why.
I sat and stared at medals won and articles from my grandpops bouts in NYC in the 40's. But no one had any intel as to why his boxing career had been such a secret. I only learned the truth about 10 years ago. My grandpops passed in '88.
He had fought professionally in NY in the 40's before being drafted into the Army. He did 2 1/2 years of military service & returned home to continue his pro boxing career.
In looking up his record online, I saw a string of 11 straight wins. Then suddenly a few losses and a career ending DQ at Madison Square Garden.
My grandmoms said she had no idea why my grandpops quit boxing. Only to say he told her he wanted to go to culinary school. She said he swore her to never discuss boxing again when he abruptly quit.
When my uncle (grandpops brother) got sick years ago, he told me we needed to talk. He told me that he knew why his boxing career ended the way it did.
He got excited as he talked of how my grandpops was "whooping the shit outta them white boys" in the ring. But that in itself was a huge issue for the mob and money lost when my grandpops won.
He spoke of a moment before a fight where members of the mob came into the locker room and told my grandpops that he was going to lose or else his family be in danger.
I'm not sure what the results of those fights were, but my uncle claims that my grandpops refused to lose. Yet, when the big fight at MSG came up, he abruptly told his trainer that he was retiring.
So basically, due to pressure from the mob my grandpops gave up his boxing career to protect my grandmoms and my mom who was his only child at the time. He went on to be a chef at Howard Johnson for some 30 years.
I had only known that grandpops was one hell of a cook and nothing else until he died. About 5 years ago I began searching for more info in hopes I could find something. I found a boxing historian in Washington state who was selling old magazines on eBay.
In his listing of Referee magazines was one with my grandpops on the cover. I was stunned. I emailed dude with my story and he told me he had other articles and magazines with my grandpops featured.
I sent him money via PayPal and be sent me the items overnight. I opened up that envelope and listen, I cried like a baby. There he was, my grandpops as a young prizefighter in NYC on the cover of this boxing magazine. I'd never seen this before.
I spent the next few hours reading through all the articles and feeling proud. This cat was damn good. He had a career stripped away and it made me sad. But I appreciated why he quit.
I made copies of all the newspaper clippings and magazines. I then took all the originals and had them framed. I presented the framed magazines and articles to my mom on her birthday.
Man, listen. I ain't never seen my mom cry like that. I'm sure she had a bit of the same emotions that I had. But that was her father. She had never seen those magazines and articles either.
I keep framed copies of the articles and magazines on the wall in my man cave, while my mom has the originals in her home. Bittersweet memories of what could have been, but I'm extremely proud of my grandpops, his accomplishments & for loving and protecting for our family.
My grandpops, my hero 🙌🏾 🥊 
