If it wasn’t for my grandfather, I wouldn’t have recognized a lot in regards to the Southern California boxing scene again within the Sixties and ’70s.
On Saturday nights, my grandfather watched boxing televised from the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The Olympic was a mere 20 miles from his driveway, however going there was out of the query. His routine was set for Saturday evening.
Each few months, he’d name me or drop me a line (I used to be residing in Oklahoma on the time) with info on fighters who impressed him.
I keep in mind him mentioning Mando Ramos, Ruben Navarro, and “Irish” Frankie Crawford, who all had simply begun their careers. He had a watch for expertise.
A couple of years later, we have been chatting about Armando Muniz, Zovek Barajas, Carlos Palomino, Tury “The Fury” Pineda, Danny Lopez, and Bobby Chacon.
Throughout one in all our many cellphone calls, he talked about Crawford once more.
“Crawford is so gritty,” stated my grandfather.
Sure, he was. A couple of weeks in the past, throughout a dialogue with former welterweight contender Randy Shields, the topic of Crawford got here up.
“My dad (Sunny-Defend’s coach) advised me that Frankie Crawford was the hardest little man he ever met.”
Crawford was one helluva of a fighter. The query will at all times be: How good he may he have been if he had been dealt with in another way?
Sadly, we’ll by no means know.
Rising up in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California, the scrappy Crawford was first seen when he captured the Cleveland Golden Gloves in reportedly his third novice bout. Suggested to show skilled, Crawford hitchhiked to California, the place smaller fighters have been extra revered.
He turned skilled a day earlier than his twentieth birthday. Because of his aggressive fashion, Crawford instantly turned a crowd favourite on the Olympic, preventing 10 instances in eight months.
Then he hit the street, boxing in San Jose, San Diego, Tijuana just a few instances, Mazatlan, and even Ecuador. Heady stuff for a rising fighter, however maybe not the easiest way to go.
Mentioned Jeff Crawford, “He fought powerful from day one.”
Sure, he did, and sometimes. Crawford had received 21 of 27 fights when he was matched towards rising famous person Mando Ramos on the Olympic on October 5, 1967. Crawford, outweighed by seven kilos and an enormous underdog, opened up an enormous gash over Ramos’s proper eye within the early going. The 2 children went toe-to-toe for 10 laborious rounds, with Crawford successful the battle by majority resolution. A rematch went down 4 months later. This time Ramos managed the motion, conserving Crawford on the top of his jab all evening. The choice for {the teenager} was unanimous.
Crawford was accepting of the loss.
“Outdoors of feeling embarrassed, I really feel fairly good,” Crawford advised AP after the battle. ”Mando fought a sensible battle.”
Crawford hit a tough patch after the Ramos bout. He misplaced a battle in Hawaii and was stopped, for the primary time in his profession, by Dwight Hawkins.
Earlier than the Hawkins bout, actor Robert Conrad (star of The Wild Wild West tv present) signed on as his supervisor, however that partnership lasted solely 18 months. Crawford by no means trusted Conrad, feeling the Hollywood massive shot was stealing from him. A narrative goes that Conrad appreciated to have Crawford practice on the studio. He beloved the publicity. Conrad additionally appreciated to get within the ring with Crawford and spar, although not significantly.
Apparently, based on the story, Conrad considered himself as an actual fighter. Earlier than a fast spar, he was requested how he would do in a “actual” battle towards Crawford. Conrad complimented Crawford’s boxing abilities, however he felt that, since he had a considerable weight benefit, the battle can be shut. Crawford, sitting close by, overheard the whole dialog. He didn’t react and stated nothing. As soon as within the ring, the pleasant sparring instantly turned lethal. Crawford fired his left hook, knocking Conrad into dreamland. After gathering his senses, Conrad noticed Crawford standing just a few ft away. Crawford wagged his finger in Conrad’s face.
Crawford and Conrad quickly parted methods. Crawford fought seven instances after the Haskins match, successful 4, and drawing in two others, highlighted when he captured the USA state featherweight title. Nonetheless ranked within the high ten, and solely 24, Crawford felt like his profession was caught in impartial. He wanted to make a change.
In 1970, he made a superb one, hooking up with future Corridor of Fame coach, Jackie McCoy.
“He may have been a lot better than what he was if he had had Jackie McCoy from the beginning,” stated Jeff Crawford. “He would have been a world champion for years.”
Crawford traveled to Japan to battle for a world title in 1970. The bout acquired off to a promising begin for Crawford when he floored defending champion Shozo Saijo with an ideal left to the jaw. The hometown hero beat the rely and battled again, seemingly hurting Crawford late in spherical 9. Each spherical was shut, making it troublesome to guage. Many gave Crawford the sting, however the resolution went to the champion by break up resolution.
Coach McCoy summed up what number of felt after the match.
“Once you battle within the different man’s hometown, you must determine you will have a few factors going towards you. I believe when hometown officers have it that shut, that type of tells the story.”
They fought once more eight months later in Japan. Crawford gave it his all, however Saijo, sharper this time, retained his crown by unanimous resolution.
Crawford was devastated.
“That’s once I misplaced my will,” Crawford advised author Jody Berry in 1977.
The details converse for themselves. Because of monetary causes, Crawford needed to let McCoy go. He fought 16 extra instances, dropping as many as he received. A few of his losses have been notable: former champions Vincente Salvador and Eder Jofre, and future title holders Ben Villaflor and Bobby Chacon. Some weren’t. All of them stung.
Crawford was within the midst of a comeback in 1976 when his new coach shot him within the again. He survived however fell right into a deep melancholy. His weight dropped to 90 kilos. He advised associates he’d stroll once more—preventing the considered being paralyzed for all times, however he couldn’t beat it.
In 1982, it was reported that he shot himself. He was useless at 36.
It was throughout, however many who noticed him battle will at all times marvel how good he may have been if…
