Saturday, July 12, 2014

Thursday, July 10, 2014

JUNE 23 1969 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

!6" x 20" Acrylic on canvas  Private Collection

This drawing is of the first professional prizefight my father and I attended.  I had taken up boxing as a kid at the Police Athletic league and was having some success, but my parents were against it.  I begged my Dad to take me to see this fight as I had heard that Joe Frazier was the only boxer who could beat Muhammed Ali. Frazier's opponent was Jerry Quarry, who himself was a top contender during the 1960's. Reluctantly my Dad took me and I now realize he did it so I could see for myself how brutal this sport is.  The fight was stopped in the 7th round because Quarry had a cut over his right eye.  Both of these fighters are now dead.  Quarry at 53 (brain damage sustained from prizefighting), Frazier at 67 from liver cancer.  I quit boxing because I lacked the killer instinct.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Tuesday, July 8, 2014