Boxing News Boxing News
By Per Ake Persson
Former Finnish heavyweight champ Tony Halme, age 47, was found dead this weekend. The reason for his death appears to be suicide. Halme compiled a 13-6 pro record fight from 1995 through 2002. He won and lost the national title a few times and also beat Iran Barkley for an obscure title.
A giant of a man with a background as a wrestler and bodyguard in Hollywood he turned pro in the US and then returned to Finland and quickly became the main attraction. For some fights there were crowds of 8000+ with the venue sold out and many more waiting outside. It´s fair to say that Halme couldn´t fight much but he could sell the event like few others.
He also had a book published about his life, made a record, then turned to politics and got a seat in the Finnish Parliament. In 2003 he suffered a bad collapse and when police raided his house they found illegal substances and one can easily see that use of steroids had a part in building his enourmous physique.
He never recovered and was said to have suffer from bad losses of memory as well. I interviewed him prior to one of this fights and he told me “my opponent is tough but I´m tougher, in fact I wrote the book about toughness!” He also entered the ring to a song composed especially for him called I am Ironman. In short Tony Halme was quite a character.
Former French cruiser champ Antoine Palatis passed away January 9 at the age of 39 in Chamoux. The reason for his death is unclear. Palatis was found lying in the snow after jogging outside of his home.
Antoine compiled a record of 32-27-3 and was first a good Euro-class cruiser – at one time 23-2-2 – and then a journeyman heavyweight known for his durability taking on all comers all over Europe. He also suffered from diabetes and his autobiography was called “Everything is possible: a victory over diabetes”.
Finnish Caramelito Promotions joins forces with Russian Jab Promotion for a show in Vasa February 6 billed as “Amarillo Boxing Night II”. Headlining are welters Sherali Mamadaliev and Frederic Serre who fight for the vacant WBO European title. Local man, the Finnish Butterbean, Janne Katajisto, a quickhanded, technically skilfull heavyweight built like Butterbean, faces Czech Ladislav Kovarik in the chief support.
Universum have today issued a press release where they insist on exclusive promotional rights to WBA middleweight champ Felix Sturm. It´s also made clear that Sturm has to make his mandatory defence against the very dangerous and capable Gennadyi Golovkin by April 2010.
