Posted on 11/23/2006 8:20:42 AM PST by Sybeck1
It's been 40 years since Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton strapped on boxing gloves and stepped into the ring.
But next Thursday the 66-year-old mayor and amateur boxing champion will do just that in a three-round charity bout at The Peabody with 62-year-old former world heavyweight boxing champion Smokin' Joe Frazier.
Proceeds benefit the Shelby County Drug Court, an alternative program for nonviolent adult offenders with drug charges.
The feats of Frazier are not things that Herenton takes lightly -- he even had to sign a waiver releasing Frazier from liability should he hurt the mayor.
"He's been hit by the hardest hitters in the world, so I don't think I'll do much damage," Herenton says, laughing.
Then, quite seriously, he adds, "You wouldn't believe the things in there," Herenton said of the waiver. "It would scare you."
Herenton says he's been training seriously for the last 30-45 days or so with local police boxing gym manager Lt. Clarence Hawkins, a former boxer himself. He has private midday workouts twice a week that include sparring, hitting the heavy bag and shadow boxing.
Before that, the mayor admits he had to step up his own workout at home just to get ready for the gym and "Hawk." And he hasn't given up lunches at Piccadilly, though he says he's crossed off peach cobbler for now, and in the next few days he'll give up his favorite red wine, Merlot.
"He's an excellent student," Hawkins declares.
Herenton made it a full day Wednesday, starting with a quick mile-long run along the Mississippi River Greenbelt Park in the morning.
Dressed in a navy blue Nike jogging set and black cap, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound Herenton jogged easily alongside Hawkins.
"I watch a lot of these young guys, they can't run up the steps," Herenton said, barely winded after the run.
Sitting on a park bench later, an animated Herenton described how the coaching could go from his boxing corner:
Mayor, keep your hands up!
Mayor, watch that left!
Mayor, you're looking good, baby!
Mayor you ain't looking so good...
Herenton said he's been surprised by the national attention the fight is receiving.
Later Wednesday afternoon during a public workout at the boxing gym, Herenton goes through timed drills in the ring, alternating throwing jabs, hitting mitts, sparring and shoring up his footwork by running ring rotations.
This time he's dressed in gray sweats with a black cap. "You think this ain't tiring?" he asks reporters between breaths.
After a few minutes, Herenton can't resist a little bragging.
"When boxing fans see me and what I'm like at this age, imagine what I was like as a teenager. I was awesome."
The mayor won his first boxing championship at age 14.
Herenton said while he's well aware of Frazier's legendary killer left hook, he's not divulging his own secret weapon.
"I know what he has, but he doesn't know what I have."
-- Jacinthia Jones: 529-2780
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THE "FIGHT"
What: Charity bout between former heavyweight champ Smokin' Joe Frazier and Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton featuring three, 1-minute rounds.
When: Nov. 30. Begins with 7 p.m. dinner, followed by two undercard bouts, then the main attraction.
Where: The Peabody
Tickets: $350 and $500.
Information: Call Shelby County Drug Court Foundation at 553-1082
Copyright 2006, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights
Local video from his critics: http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=5721298
Ah yes, to see Smokin Joe in the ring again -- what a treat. Joe was one of the toughest brawlers to put on the leather and is a fine man too. Not necessarily his toughest opponent, Muhammad Ali got his yap shut by Joe on more than one occasion.
Yup. I gotta hunch that Joe still packs a wallop!
Sadly, he can barely put together a cogent sentence today.... :(
That'll be the case with much of America by halftime of the first football game. :-)
I'm from Philly area. As much as I like Joe Frazier (Foreman & Holmes, also), he couldn't speak a cogent sentence back in 1969 either. GO Joe!
Ah, yes! The Thrilla from Manila. The Man could Hunt, cut down the Ring, and Hurt.
BTW, does the Fox Network still do those celebrity boxing matches every now and then, or did they end doing those for good? I always found those to be pretty entertaining.
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