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Some famous, some infamous, some legendary. Recently, Boxing lost five of its all-time greats: legendary heavyweight champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier, trainer Angelo Dundee, trainer Goody Petronelli, noted referee Wayne Kelley and boxer Don Fullmer.
It is worth noting the pro boxing contributions of each of these outstanding individuals. Each, in their own way, were noteworthy figures in the sport of boxing.
Joe Frazier (January 12, 1944-November 7, 2011)
Joseph William Frazier, also known as Smokin’ Joe, was the 1964 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist. On February 16, 1970, Frazier won the heavyweight title by TKO over Jimmy Ellis, when the trainer of Ellis, Angelo Dundee, did not let Ellis come out for the fifth round. Frazier defended against former champion Muhammad Ali, lost the title to George Foreman, and lost twice more to Ali including ‘The Thrilla in Manila’. Smokin’ Joe Frazier was truly one of boxing’s most colorful characters.
Angelo Dundee (August 30, 1921-February 1, 2012)
Boxing trainer Angelo Mirena, later known as Angelo Dundee after taking the last name of ‘The Scotch Wop’, featherweight and junior lightweight boxer Johnny Dundee. He became famous as a corner man when he worked for welterweight champion Carmen Basilio. Dundee was best known for his training of heavyweight champions Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), Jimmy Ellis, George Foreman, and welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard.
Goody Petronelli (October 12, 1923-January 29, 2012)
Guerino Petronelli, fondly known as ‘Goody’, was best known, with his brother Pasquale (Pat), as the manager and trainer of southpaw middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler in his gym in Brockton, Massachusetts, better known as hometown of the late Rocky Marciano. Petronelli was a close friend of Rocky and Rocky’s best friend Allie Columbo. The Petronellis also trained middleweights Robbie Simms and Steve Collins, and Irish heavyweight Kevin McBride for his upset of Mike Tyson.
Don Fullmer (February 21, 1939-January 28, 2012)
Middleweight Don Fullmer was the brother of former middleweight champion Gene Fullmer. Don went undefeated in 65 amateur fights. As a pro he was unable to beat Nino Benvenuti, Emile Griffith, Joey Archer, Terry Downes, Jose Torres and Dick Tiger the first time round, but he later beat future heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis, Bobo Olson, and he beat Dick Tiger and Joey Archer in rematches. Don won the world Junior Light Heavyweight championship in 1967 when he defeated Joe Hopkins, a belt known today as the super middleweight title, but little known then.
Wayne Kelly (1938-February 1, 2012)
Notable referee Wayne Kelly, who died of a heart attack while recovering from major gall bladder surgery at the young age of 63, had a brief career as a light heavyweight pro boxer between 1975 and 1979 with a record of 4-3, winning his last two pro bouts by first round knockout. Most of Kelly’s bouts as a referee were in the New York City area. He is probably best remembered as the man in the middle between Riddick Bowe and Andrew Golota on July 11, 1996, when his seventh round disqualification of Golota for low blows sent Madison Square Garden in an internationally televised riot. Kelly refereed bouts with many future, present and former champions, including Wladimir Klitschko, Arthur Abraham, Arturo Gatti, Kevin Kelley, Monte Barrett, and many more. Kelly was a Vietnam War veteran.
A fond farewell to all of these outstanding achievers in the world of pro boxing.
