By David Brewster April 2004 (TT Express) It was a rare trip back to the 1970s with Ashton Antoine as he turned back the clock around the graveside at the Marabella Public Cemetery, when the top boxers of the past three decades assembled to say good-bye to "old warhorse" Fitzroy Guiseppi, who died suddenly three weeks ago as a result of a heart attack in Kingston, Jamaica, where he was working as a boxing trainer. There was Antoine, a highly competent middleweight in his day, reminiscing about his two bouts with Carlos Mark-both promoted by Kenneth "Jap" King Fook-before capacity crowds at the Grand Stand, Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain. Mark won the first encounter. The other was a drawn battle. But Antoine opined he had done enough to win the first, while the second was indeed a close contest. Antoine lamented there were no films of the great local fights of the past, a tragedy since a part of Trinidad and Tobago's pugilistic history remains lost to the young generation of fighters and fans. Asked to name his "greatest bout " the South Trinidad fighter, noted for a fast cutting jab, and ballroom legwork, did not hesitate to shout against Luis Vinales. Vinales, a Puerto Rican, fighting out of New York, USA, at the time, was brought down to tackle Antoine at the Grand Stand, in the semi final bout, with Mark confronting rugged Doc Holliday from New York in the main event. They were both brawling fights with Mark clinching a decision, while Antoine sneaked out a verdict over Vinales. The Puerto Rican, who shaved his head and wore a dishevelled goatee, was a world-ranked fighter, who had a win over Bennie Briscoe, the fearless fighter from Philadelphia, USA. He had past his best when he confronted Antoine, but the South Trinidad fighter said it was his considered opinion that Vinales was paid to "sell out". "Yes, I still believe that. The man was too good. He was holding back at crucial stages of the fight. He had so much class that he dished out a boxing lesson in stages," Antoine related. He talked about the sixth round when Vinales kept executing jabs which deliberately fell short. "There was once when he took a sudden step forward and flicked out a jab with an open glove, which caught me under the chin. I still feel the pain up to this day. I was in trouble. But all Vinales did was smile, wink his eye and backed away. I learnt sometime that night. I did the same thing to fighters and saw them flinch in pain, their eyes red and watery. I knew I was up against a master-boxer. But the fans did not know how skillful he was. I tell you the man was in complete control and although I got the decision I knew I was given a lesson in the fine art of boxing," Antoine related to an audience, comprising Wendell Joseph, Walter Peters, Michael Paul, Claude Noel, Urban Baptiste, Roy Harry and Michael Drayton. Recalling the bout 25 years later, I remember late referee Luis Barradas whispering to me at ringside that there was something "fishy" about the fight, since he (Barradas) felt that Vinales was far superior in technique and ring generalship that Antoine. "The man did not try to win this bout", said Barradas. Antoine said he was anxious to make a contribution as a Government coach in any one of the downtrodden areas in South Trinidad. "Please, tell them (the authorities) how dedicated I was. I lived for boxing, but I did not make it in the world ranking because of a lack of opportunities, but I can impart what I have learnt", he said. The venue later shifted from the cemetery to Harry's residence where the ex-champions carried on until well after midnight, reliving the great nights in the ring, but they were all bitter against the lack of initiative by the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control and the reluctance of Government to help the sport and past fighters. "Boxing is dead. How nice it would have been to see these old fighters meeting regularly on a fight night," said Paul. CARLOS MARK in a letter to the Express Sports this week, wrote that he was "terribly upset" when he heard of Guiseppi's demise. "May his soul rest in peace and please convey my condolences to his family in Trinidad. He was a real gentleman in and out of the ring," Mark said. Mark, who sent down an updated photo of himself, said he was still involved in the fight game and was licensed in the state of New York as a trainer and cutman. "I have teamed up with Lennox Blackmore (Guyana) at Gleason's Gym and I can be reached at 718-934-6862 from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Also based at Gleason's are the Guyanese Ford brothers-Patrick and Reginald. Mark remains Trinidad and Tobago's finest-ever middleweight with a record 104 bouts. Although he never got a shot at the world title he was once ranked sixth by Ring Magazine among the 160-pounders, and the World Boxing Association (WBA) had him third only to Carlos Monzon and Tony Licata. Mark also battled nine world champions in 15 foreign countries in a blazing 18-year career. One of his most memorable fights was at Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1970 against American Emile Griffith. Griffith, a five-time world champ, got the decision, but boxing writer Lester Bromberg, wrote in Boxing Illustrated that the editors of Ring Encyclopedia should have the courage to put an asterisk in the record book, indicating that Mark won the decision, but somehow it was given to Emile Griffith. IT HAS been confirmed that Matt Donovan is alive and still resides in Harlem, New York. News of his death, had been exaggerated, and according to several boxing fans, Donovan while in bad shape, has not given up hope. "His eyes are almost gone and he is unemployed, but faces each day at a time, hoping for the best," said former fighter and trainer Ken Mathias, who returned home recently from New York. Donovan, who like Mark fought the best of his era in the 1970s and '80s, is best remembered for his three victories over Mark in Port of Spain. He (Donovan) was the second Trinidadian to fight for a world title: (October 1973), losing to Koichi Wajima in Tokyo, Japan by knockout in the third round. Yolande Pompey was the first "Trini" to get a world shot, losing to Archie Moore via a 10th round knockout in London in 1956. THERE was also some good news from the wrestler TED HERBERT, now based at 1400 Winding Trail, Mississagua, Ontario, Canada. Herbert, a protege of the late Ray "Golden" Apollon has opened up a pro wrestling school in Canada. His son Santino is also a name on the mat in Canada. Herbert, who has been in Canada for two decades, said he remembers his old friends and can be reach at 905-238-6266. Herbert campaigned in Tokyo for years and was acclaimed as one of the finest grapplers to fight in that country. He had some bad luck in the 1990s when he was hit with kidney problems. According to insiders he was on dialysis for some time, but is now in fine health following a kidney transplant. |
Ashton Antoine (r) vs. Nathaniel Jones, Sept. 8.1978. The Referee is George Cumberbatch |
Carlos Mark |
Since April 2004 |
