Jake LaMotta vs Eugene Hairston II

[TheGreatA]

One of LaMotta's last major wins:

[JAB5239]

One of LaMotta's last major wins:

Hairston was an excellent fighter who seems to be largely forgotten today. Great story too.

[JFB629]

Both fights between Lamotta and Hairston were action packed affairs.

Hairston was a good fighter, who's very forgotten now a days. He lost his ability to hear or speak after losing a bout with spinal meningitis.

He left school at age 15, and worked jobs to support his family. Joe Louis was his idol and it was Louis who introduced him to boxing,

''When I was young, I was not sure about boxing, but I knew I must try'' Said Hairston

Hairston learned general boxing techinques by watching other fighters train and was taught the intricacies of the game by the late Mike Miele, a man Hairston still shows affection for. Miele would slowly and deliberately demonstrate every movement and punch.

''He always explained things to me in acts. He always palyed to me in the gym'' said Hairston

As a amature Hairston won the New York Golden Gloves in 1947. He turned Pro just 5 days after his 17th birthday.

He fought some of the best of his era and beat some of them to. In 1950 he beat the likes of Kid Gavalin and Lester Felton. The next year he beat Art Towne, Paddy Young, and Paul Pender.

He also split two bouts with Laurent Dauthuille during that campaign he also lost a rematch with Gavalin.

Tony Mazzarella, a long time member of the NYSAC once said try putting yourself in Hairston's boots. ''It was hard enough fighting guys like Kid Gavalin, and Jake Lamotta'' Imagine fighting them and not being able to hear or speak''

''Imagine not being able to communicate with your trainer, the referee anyone''

Hairston is only one of a handful of deaf boxers to compete on world level.

World Rated Contender Joe Miceli once said ''Nobody knows how good Hairston could have been or if his hearing made a difference in how he fought''

''But he was a helluva fighter, I give him alot of credit for getting as far as he did''

''I trained hard. I fought hard. I didn't feel any different I enjoyed my attire boxing career'' said Hairston

Hairston and Lamotta actually use to spar each other in Gleasons Gym when it was still a Bronx institution. Hairston still think's he was robbed of a victory the first time him and Lamotta fought.

''We fought toward the end of my career'' said Lamotta. ''He was lucky to get a draw'' I should have beaten him. I came back and beat him in the next fight''

''He rated in the top 10 said Lamotta. ''The kid fought some good fighters. I can't say anything bad about him. He did okay considering what he was up against''

''Somebody told me he could feel the vibrations of the bell thats how he knew the round ended''

Former 160lb Title challager Joey Archer said he was a huge fan of Hairston and use to study him when he was still a teenager.

''I learned from wacthing guys like Hairston in the gym'' said Archer. ''I saw his draw against Lamotta and I thought he won it''

Hairston puts his loss down to Bobo Olson due to a Headbutt causing his right eye to swell so badly it closed. The eye would never healey properly.

He would fight one more fight against contender Charley Humez in a Paris. He lost a 10 round decision. ''I was told that if I continued to fight I would go blind'' said Hairston

Hairston in his career beat numerous contedners and former champions. But a shot at a World Title remanied beyond his grasp.

Hairston said ''I would of liked to have fought for the Middleweight Championship'' ''I could have been Champion''

''Ray Robinson wound't fight me because he hates it in his stomach''

Bobby Bartels a former fighter once said Eugene had the heart of a Angel.

Upon his retirement Hairston worked for the UPS for many years. He then met his wife Aline who is also deaf, at a wedding in Canada.

''She asked me for autograpth and I asked her for a here phone number'' said Hairston. ''The rest is history''

[Joey Giardello]

Both fights between Lamotta and Hairston were action packed affairs.

Hairston was a good fighter, who's very forgotten now a days. He lost his ability to hear or speak after losing a bout with spinal meningitis.

He left school at age 15, and worked jobs to support his family. Joe Louis was his idol and it was Louis who introduced him to boxing,

''When I was young, I was not sure about boxing, but I knew I must try'' Said Hairston

Hairston learned general boxing techinques by watching other fighters train and was taught the intricacies of the game by the late Mike Miele, a man Hairston still shows affection for. Miele would slowly and deliberately demonstrate every movement and punch.

''He always explained things to me in acts. He always palyed to me in the gym'' said Hairston

As a amature Hairston won the New York Golden Gloves in 1947. He turned Pro just 5 days after his 17th birthday.

He fought some of the best of his era and beat some of them to. In 1950 he beat the likes of Kid Gavalin and Lester Felton. The next year he beat Art Towne, Paddy Young, and Paul Pender.

He also split two bouts with Laurent Dauthuille during that campaign he also lost a rematch with Gavalin.

Tony Mazzarella, a long time member of the NYSAC once said try putting yourself in Hairston's boots. ''It was hard enough fighting guys like Kid Gavalin, and Jake Lamotta'' Imagine fighting them and not being able to hear or speak''

''Imagine not being able to communicate with your trainer, the referee anyone''

Hairston is only one of a handful of deaf boxers to compete on world level.

World Rated Contender Joe Miceli once said ''Nobody knows how good Hairston could have been or if his hearing made a difference in how he fought''

''But he was a helluva fighter, I give him alot of credit for getting as far as he did''

''I trained hard. I fought hard. I didn't feel any different I enjoyed my attire boxing career'' said Hairston

Hairston and Lamotta actually use to spar each other in Gleasons Gym when it was still a Bronx institution. Hairston still think's he was robbed of a victory the first time him and Lamotta fought.

''We fought toward the end of my career'' said Lamotta. ''He was lucky to get a draw'' I should have beaten him. I came back and beat him in the next fight''

''He rated in the top 10 said Lamotta. ''The kid fought some good fighters. I can't say anything bad about him. He did okay considering what he was up against''

''Somebody told me he could feel the vibrations of the bell thats how he knew the round ended''

Former 160lb Title challager Joey Archer said he was a huge fan of Hairston and use to study him when he was still a teenager.

''I learned from wacthing guys like Hairston in the gym'' said Archer. ''I saw his draw against Lamotta and I thought he won it''

Hairston puts his loss down to Bobo Olson due to a Headbutt causing his right eye to swell so badly it closed. The eye would never healey properly.

He would fight one more fight against contender Charley Humez in a Paris. He lost a 10 round decision. ''I was told that if I continued to fight I would go blind'' said Hairston

Hairston in his career beat numerous contedners and former champions. But a shot at a World Title remanied beyond his grasp.

Hairston said ''I would of liked to have fought for the Middleweight Championship'' ''I could have been Champion''

''Ray Robinson wound't fight me because he hates it in his stomach''

Bobby Bartels a former fighter once said Eugene had the heart of a Angel.

Upon his retirement Hairston worked for the UPS for many years. He then met his wife Aline who is also deaf, at a wedding in Canada.

''She asked me for autograpth and I asked her for a here phone number'' said Hairston. ''The rest is history''

Good post........

[cotto16]

great video. Thanks and great post JBF629