I'm gonna change it up just a bit and talk about a great man who never got his chance to prove how great a boxer he could have been. As a boxer, he is unproven at best. As a man, top notch. This man earned being remembered, so let us:
Born: 1905
Weight: 170s
Height: 6'
Born and died in Philly
Bobby fought out of the crouch similar to Marciano or LaMotta. He used head and upper body movement effectively enough to be praised for it. His early record is somewhat lost, with only allusion toward a string of KO's from 1925-27
By 27 he'd earned his shot against men with some level of reputation. He drops a close decision to a man named Babe McCorgary. Brown felt he'd won, and McCorgary was the more damaged fighter but the judges felt Babe had done the better work. Then Brown KOs Jeff Smith in five and gets noticed by manage Al Lippe
Lippe immediately matches Brown with the man who handed him his first loss. Brown KO'd Babe in five as well.
Lippe's next move is to put Brown in with Maxie, yes, that Maxie, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom. Slapsie proved too much for Brown and took a decision off him.
Brown would fight a string of HW, LHW, and MW fights to get back to Maxie. In their rematch it's reported Brown had control of the fight, knocked down Maxie twice, and when the judges favored Maxie again the fans boo'd. Brown lost officially but the reports do well to boast him all the same.
Brown went on a five fight KO streak ending in another decision loss to Rosy Rosales. Brown felt he'd won this fight and so went to Al Lippe to complain about being robbed too often. Lippe gave Brown this advice " You are the one who made it close"
Brown would try Maxie again, but Maxie was too good for Brown to KO and too favored for Brown to decision. Maxie picks up another decision over Brown.
Brown then rematches Rosey, who he KO'd in ten.
On June 3 1929 Cuban Bobby Brown goes to the local Philly hospital and gives two pints of blood to his sister. Later that day he'd go on to fight Jack Payne and Jack Reeves. Beating Payne by decision and Reeves by 5 round KO.
June 16 Cuban Bobby takes out six more opponents all while giving pints of blood to his little sis.
Brown would continue fighting, he gave his purses to his mother for her house, his older sister for her house, and his younger sister for her terminal medical care. Robert lived in poverty so that his family didn't have to, and, would not let them know the toll it took on him or the depths he was willing to go to help them.
While preparing for a bout with a younger Two Ton Toney Galento, Bobby became very ill. In combination with his lack of blood what was a common cold became so impactful in Bobbys body he shutdown during training. Lippe revived Brown and moved to cancel the fight. Cuban Bobby would have none of it. His little sister needed the purse to pay for her operation.
His body fighting illness, recuperating blood, outweighed and overreached, Bobby saw all ten rounds with the hard hitting heavyweight. He'd lose by decision. He had to be carried from the arena, his body unable to carry his weight for the duration it'd take him to walk out. He was carried into the hospital where he died due to double pnuemonia.
Maxie, Al, Kid Brown, Fowles, Jones, Mass, Adige, Levinsky, Tendler, Gunnis, Godfrey, Dougherty, Glassman, Wilson, and Payne would attend his funeral.
Al Lippe " He has one of the best men I knew. Not only have I lost a fighter and a friend, I have lost a son"
Robert Brown, you were a gentleman, you were a hero, we will remember you. You are a great one.
" He makes good money but doesn't have a dime to show for it.He gives most of it to his family, paying off bills and so forth. He is a true gentleman "
Weight: 170s
Height: 6'
Born and died in Philly
Bobby fought out of the crouch similar to Marciano or LaMotta. He used head and upper body movement effectively enough to be praised for it. His early record is somewhat lost, with only allusion toward a string of KO's from 1925-27
By 27 he'd earned his shot against men with some level of reputation. He drops a close decision to a man named Babe McCorgary. Brown felt he'd won, and McCorgary was the more damaged fighter but the judges felt Babe had done the better work. Then Brown KOs Jeff Smith in five and gets noticed by manage Al Lippe
Lippe immediately matches Brown with the man who handed him his first loss. Brown KO'd Babe in five as well.
Lippe's next move is to put Brown in with Maxie, yes, that Maxie, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom. Slapsie proved too much for Brown and took a decision off him.
Brown would fight a string of HW, LHW, and MW fights to get back to Maxie. In their rematch it's reported Brown had control of the fight, knocked down Maxie twice, and when the judges favored Maxie again the fans boo'd. Brown lost officially but the reports do well to boast him all the same.
Brown went on a five fight KO streak ending in another decision loss to Rosy Rosales. Brown felt he'd won this fight and so went to Al Lippe to complain about being robbed too often. Lippe gave Brown this advice " You are the one who made it close"
Brown would try Maxie again, but Maxie was too good for Brown to KO and too favored for Brown to decision. Maxie picks up another decision over Brown.
Brown then rematches Rosey, who he KO'd in ten.
On June 3 1929 Cuban Bobby Brown goes to the local Philly hospital and gives two pints of blood to his sister. Later that day he'd go on to fight Jack Payne and Jack Reeves. Beating Payne by decision and Reeves by 5 round KO.
June 16 Cuban Bobby takes out six more opponents all while giving pints of blood to his little sis.
Brown would continue fighting, he gave his purses to his mother for her house, his older sister for her house, and his younger sister for her terminal medical care. Robert lived in poverty so that his family didn't have to, and, would not let them know the toll it took on him or the depths he was willing to go to help them.
While preparing for a bout with a younger Two Ton Toney Galento, Bobby became very ill. In combination with his lack of blood what was a common cold became so impactful in Bobbys body he shutdown during training. Lippe revived Brown and moved to cancel the fight. Cuban Bobby would have none of it. His little sister needed the purse to pay for her operation.
His body fighting illness, recuperating blood, outweighed and overreached, Bobby saw all ten rounds with the hard hitting heavyweight. He'd lose by decision. He had to be carried from the arena, his body unable to carry his weight for the duration it'd take him to walk out. He was carried into the hospital where he died due to double pnuemonia.
Maxie, Al, Kid Brown, Fowles, Jones, Mass, Adige, Levinsky, Tendler, Gunnis, Godfrey, Dougherty, Glassman, Wilson, and Payne would attend his funeral.
Al Lippe " He has one of the best men I knew. Not only have I lost a fighter and a friend, I have lost a son"
Robert Brown, you were a gentleman, you were a hero, we will remember you. You are a great one.
Ben Bolt
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