Barney Eastwood was Mr. Boxing in Belfast

Published

5 years ago

March 10, 2020

Barney-Eastwood-was-Mr-Boxing-in-Belfast

Tributes are pouring in for Barney Eastwood, the former bookmaker who built a boxing dynasty in Belfast during the height of the Troubles, the conflict between Protestants and Catholics that plagued Northern Ireland for more than three decades. Eastwood guided the careers of five fighters who became world champions, most notably Barry McGuigan, a national hero, revered by both factions. Eastwood, who would have turned 88 later this month, died peacefully in his hospital bed on Monday, March 9.

Eastwood left school at age 15, married at age 19, and was in his early 20’s when he purchased an ale house in Carrickfergus, near Belfast, with a small inheritance from his mother.

The town had only one betting shop and the proprietor kept banking hours. Those with winning wagers usually had to wait until the next day to collect their winnings.

Eastwood would redeem winning tickets from his regular customers, saving them the inconvenience of returning to the betting shop the next day. Soon he started booking their action there in the pub which frequently got him in trouble with the authorities as he was operating without a license.

He eventually got a license and built a chain of betting shops which grew into the largest chain in Northern Ireland, 54 at the peak, which he sold to British bookmaking behemoth Ladbrokes in 2008. With the money he started a new career as a real estate developer.

A good Gaelic Football player in his teens, Eastwood fell in love with sports at an early age. There was a U.S. Army base on the outskirts of his hometown of Cookstown and the soldiers held tournaments and occasionally put on exhibitions for local schoolchildren. Eastwood was fascinated and although he never competed in the squared circle beyond a few amateur fights, boxing would become his passion.

In Belfast, Eastwood began promoting club fights at venerable Ulster Hall. Although the city was torn apart by sectarian strife, things were copacetic inside the arena. “There was never any trouble,” reminisced Eastwood in a conversation with Geoffrey Beattie of the London Guardian. “The Belfast crowd are very, very hard; they’re boxing fanatics and they’re tough, but they’ll acclaim a good fighter regardless of religion.”

In time he opened a boxing gym above one of his betting shops, a gym that became well-known throughout the global boxing community. Eastwood didn’t skimp when it came to hiring sparring partners. Venezuelan welterweight Crisanto Espana and Panamanian super middleweight Victor Cordoba came there to spar, took up residence in the city, and became world title-holders under Eastwood’s management. His other world champions, other than McGuigan, were featherweight Paul Hodkinson and flyweight Dave McCauley. But he never could get over the hump with super middleweight Ray Close, who twice came close to upending Chris Eubank in world title fights, or with Herol “Bomber” Graham, arguably his most talented fighter. During his association with Eastwood, Graham came up short in two stabs at the middleweight title, losing to future Hall of Famers Mike McCallum and Julian Jackson.

Barry McGuigan’s defeat of long-reigning featherweight champion Eusebio Pedroza will likely always remain the most glorious day in the history of boxing in Ireland. At the conclusion of the match, held at a soccer stadium in London, there were spontaneous celebrations. “From Dublin to Belfast,” said an Associated Press story, “thousands of fans took to the streets, chanting, singing, carrying banners and parading to the sound of honking car horns.”

McGuigan made two successful defenses on Irish soil before heading off to the United States for a match with Argentina’s Fernando Sosa at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. To acclimate himself to the desert heat, McGuigan trained in Palm Springs.

The match fell out when Sosa broke a finger in training. Rather than postpone the match until Sosa’s injury was healed, Eastwood consented to let Stevie Cruz fill the breach. A plumber’s assistant from Fort Worth, Texas, Cruz seemingly posed no threat.

McGuigan vs. Cruz was held on June 23, 1986. One of three featured bouts, the match started early as a concession to British television. The temperature at ringside was 109 degrees. It was a 15-round fight and McGuigan fell apart in the homestretch, losing a close but unanimous decision in what would be named The Ring magazine Fight of the Year.

The Eastwood-McGuigan partnership dissolved shortly thereafter and it was a very acrimonious divorce. Eastwood claimed that he first noticed McGuigan in a three-round amateur fight that he lost. ‘We built him up out of nothing,” he said. “I found him in a little village working for his mother in a grocer’s shop and earned him more money than any fighter in the history of British boxing.” But McGuigan, who bolted Eastwood for Frank Warren, claimed that he didn’t get all the money owed him and took Eastwood to court to invalidate his contract.

Eastwood lost this battle, it cost him a bundle, but he won the rematch. Years later, McGuigan would claim that Eastwood concealed pre-fight injuries to let the fight with Stevie Cruz go forward. Eastwood sued him for slander and won a substantial settlement.

Eastwood also won a judgment against fellow promoter Mickey Duff, an occasional collaborator but more often a rival. In his 2010 autobiography, Duff, who died in 2014, claimed that Eastwood paid him $100,000 to get McGuigan to drop his lawsuit which was settled out of court. Eastwood sued Mickey Duff for slander and was awarded damages. (Compared to the United States, the courts in the U.K. tend to be far more generous toward plaintiffs in cases involving defamation of character. The entertainer Liberace sued the British tabloid Daily Mirror over a 1956 article that intimated that he was gay and won a handsome sum.)

Although he was a hard negotiator, Barney Eastwood had more in common with old-time fight managers like Tom O’Rourke and Doc Kearns than with contemporaries like Bob Arum and Don King. Eastwood was hands-on, a manager/promoter who was also frequently a cornerman.

In the corner he was a great motivator. “Barney…made you believe that you could do things that others thought you had no chance of doing,” the aforementioned Dave McCauley told David Kelly of the Belfast Telegraph. “I would have never become world champion without him.”

“To be a bookie,” Eastwood once said, “you have to have a lot of nerve. Everybody has this idea that the bookie always wins. That’s nonsense.”

Boxing was a reflection of Eastwood’s risk-taking personality as were horseracing and greyhound racing, the other sports in which he was seriously involved. And not all of his real estate investments panned out. In 2012, some of his holdings were repossessed by the bank.

“The boxing world is not for the faint-hearted,” wrote David Kelly in his memoriam. “(Eastwood) had the financial clout, the pugilistic knowledge and cunning to make sure his fighters had an edge.” To this we would add that a close look at the resume of Eastwood’s top fighters, including domestic champions like Hugh Russell, a Lonsdale Belt winner, inform us that virtually all of them left the sport after a relatively short run. Whatever his faults, it redounds to Barney Eastwood’s credit that he never milked a fighter with a marketable name for more money once the fighter’s skills had frayed.

Eastwood is survived by his wife of 68 years, six children, 23 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. We here at The Sweet Science send our condolences to his loved ones.

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Arne K. Lang

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Results from the Chumash Casino where Akhmedov Gave a GGG-like Performance

Published

3 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Results-from-the-Chumash-Casino-where-Akhmedov-Gave-a-GGG-like-Performance

Shades of Triple G.

Kazakhstan has another middleweight killer as Sadriddin Akhmedov overran veteran Raphael Igbokwe to win by knockout on Friday evening.

“He’s a tough guy, but I’m a tough guy too,” said Akhmedov of his Texas foe.

Akhmedov (15-0, 13 KOs) excited the crowd at Chumash Casino with a strong performance against a gritty Igbokwe (17-6, 7 Kos). The Kazakh fighter has Gennady Golovkin’s old trainer Abel Sanchez at his side.

It was evident in the first round that Akhmedov wields power, but it was also evident that Igbokwe was not going to quit. Blow after blow was absorbed by the Texas-trained fighter and he continued to press forward.

Akhmedov telegraphed his overhand rights but fired quick and accurate left hooks. Igbokwe withstood the power for round after round.

At the end of the fifth round both fighters continued to fire punches after the bell rang. It angered the two middleweights.

Akhmedov must have still been angry when the sixth round began as he erupted with a 12-punch barrage. Several big blows connected and the Texas fighter was in trouble. Though Igbokwe escaped the first barrage he was unable to avoid the second and the fight was stopped by referee Rudy Barragan at 56 seconds of the sixth round.

The Kazakhstan fighter thanked his fan support and his new trainer Sanchez.

“Every morning at 7 a.m. he wants to kill me,” Akhmedov said of Sanchez.

Other Bouts

A battle between Olympians saw Carlos Balderas (15-2, 13 KOs) knock out Cesar Villarraga (11-11-1) in the sixth round for the win at super lightweight.

A one-two combination found the mark for Balderas at 56 seconds of the sixth round. Villarraga beat the count but once the fight resumed the referee stopped the fight after Balderas connected with another right.

“My coaches told me it was there,” said Balderas of the right cross that finished the fight.

Balderas fought for Team USA in the Olympics and Villarraga for Team Colombia.

Super welterweights Jorge Maravillo (10-0-1, 8 KOs) and Damoni Cato-Cain (8-1-2) fought to a split draw after eight back-and- forth rounds.

Cain-Cato sprinted ahead for the first three rounds behind subtle pressure and focusing on the body then the head against the taller Maravillo. Then, it stopped.

Maravillo stopped retreating and used his long stiff left jabs as a probe and counter punch and became the stalker instead of the prey. It turned the fight around. But Cain-Cato was reluctant to give up too much territory and fought through a damaged left eye to keep the match tight. After eight rounds one judge saw Maravillo the winner, another saw Cato-Cain, and a third saw it even for a split draw.

It was a fitting score.

Angel Carrillo (4-0-1) out-pointed Joshua Torres (0-2-2) with combination punching and in-and-out maneuvers to win by decision. Though 14 years younger, Carrillo wore a protector near his chest. Twice he placed it far above his belly button and was never warned.

Fidencio Hernandez (3-0) was the more polished fighter and used straighter punches and a tighter defense to shut out Laguna Beach’s Josaphat Navarro (1-3-1) and won by unanimous decision.

In her pro debut Perla Bazaldua (1-0) won by knockout over Mollie Backowski (0-4) in a super flyweight contest. Bazaldua fights out of Los Angeles and has long been touted as a one of that city’s best amateur prospects. Now she is a pro.

Photo credit: Lina Baker / 360 Promotions

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Published

15 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Decades ago, battles between regional warriors were as common as freeway traffic in Los Angeles during rush hour.

Bobby Chacon repped San Fernando Valley, Mando Ramos came from the docks of San Pedro, Danny “Little Red” Lopez lived in Alhambra and Ruben “Maravilla Kid” Navarro hailed from East L.A. And they rumbled repeatedly with each other.

The boxing sphere in California has grown much larger despite the closure of boxing palaces such as the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium, Great Western Forum, the L.A. Coliseum and Wrigley Field.

Those were classic venues.

Today in the 21^st century boxing continues to grow.

Golden Boy Promotions presents SoCal regional rivals Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) facing Hollywood’s Raul Curiel (15-0,13 KOs) in a welterweight clash on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. DAZN will stream the main card and YouTube.com the remainder.

Ontario is located in the Inland Empire known as the I.E.

Rocha, 27, has grown into a crowd favorite with a crowd-pleasing style developed by Orange County boxing trainer Hector Lopez. I remember his pro debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. He obliterated his foe in three rounds and the small venue erupted with applause.

Wherever Rocha goes to fight, his fans follow.

“Anyone I face is trying to take food away from my family,” said Rocha.

Curiel, 29, has traveled a different road. As a former Mexican Olympian he took the slower road toward adapting to the professional style. Freddie Roach has refined the Mexican fighter’s style and so far, he remains unbeaten with a 10-fight knockout streak.

“I want to fight the best in the division,” said Curiel who is originally from Guadalajara.

Super welter hitters

Another top-notch fighter on the card is super welterweight Charles Conwell from Cleveland, Ohio. Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) faces Argentina’s undefeated Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KOs) in the co-main event.

Conwell may be the best kept secret in boxing and has been dominating foes for the past several years. He has solid defense, good power and is very strong for this weight class. Very Strong.

“I got to go out there and dominate,” said Conwell. “This is a fight that can lead me to a world championship fight.”

Golden Boy Promotions got lucky in picking up this fighter who could compete with any super welterweight out there. Anyone.

Vergara, 30, is another Argentine product and if you know anything about that South American country, they groom strong fighters with power. Think Marcos Maidana. This will be his first true test.

“I really hope he (Conwell) backs what he is saying,” said Vergara.

Marlen Esparza vs Arely Mucino

Former flyweight world titlists finally meet, but at super flyweight.

Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza fights Mexico’s Arely Mucino in a fight that should have taken place years ago. Both are both coming off losses in title fights.

Esparza has the “fast hands” as she said and Mucino the “aggressive style” as she mentioned at the press conference on Thursday in Ontario.

It’s a 10-round affair and could mark the end for the loser.

Friday Night Fights

Undefeated middleweight Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0, 12 KOs) headlines a 360 Promotions and faces Raphael Igbokwe (17-5, 7 KOs) in the main event on Friday, Dec. 13, at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the event.

Akhmedov hails from Kazakhstan and if you remember legendary Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin also hails from that region. Tom Loeffler the head of 360 Promotions worked with GGG too among other legends.

Is Akhmedov the real deal?

Former American Olympian Carlos Balderas (14-2) is also on the card and fights veteran Cesar Villarraga (11-10-1) who has been known to upset favorites in the past.

Fights to Watch

Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0) vs Raphael Igbokwe (17-5).

Sat. DAZN 10:30 a.m. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1) vs Ricardo Espinoza (30-4).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Alexis Rocha (25-2) vs Raul Curiel (15-0); Charles Conwell (20-0) vs Gerardo Vergara (20-0); Marlen Esparza (14-2) vs Arely Mucino (32-4-2).

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

The final ShoBox event of 2025 played out tonight at the company’s regular staging ground in Plant City, Florida. When the smoke cleared, the “A-side” fighters in the featured bouts were 3-0 in step-up fights vs. battle-tested veterans, two of whom were former world title challengers. However, the victors in none of the three fights, with the arguable exception of lanky bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi, made any great gain in public esteem.

In the main event, a lightweight affair, Jonhatan Cardoso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, earned a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Los Mochis, Mexico southpaw Eduardo Ramirez. The decision would have been acceptable to most neutral observers if it had been deemed a draw, but the Brazilian won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

Cardoso, now 18-1 (15), had the crowd in his corner., This was his fourth straight appearance in Plant City. Ramirez, disadvantaged by being the smaller man with a shorter reach, declined to 28-5-3.

Co-Feature

In a 10-round featherweight fight that had no indelible moments, Luis Reynaldo Nunez advanced to 20-0 (13) with a workmanlike 10-round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Leonardo Baez. The judges had it 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

Nunez, from the Dominican Republic, is an economical fighter who fights behind a tight guard. Reputedly 85-5 as an amateur, he is managed by Sampson Lewkowicz who handles David Benavidez among others and trained by Bob Santos. Baez (22-5) was returning to the ring after a two-year hiatus.

Also

In a contest slated for “10,” ever-improving bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi improved to 12-0 (3 KOs) with a sixth-round stoppage of Filipino import Aston Palicte (28-7-1). Akitsugi caught Palicte against the ropes and unleashed a flurry of punches climaxed by a right hook. Palicte went down and was unable to beat the count. The official time was 1:07 of round six.

This was the third straight win by stoppage for Akitsugi, a 27-year-old southpaw who trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in LA under Roach’s assistant Eddie Hernandez. Palicte, who had been out of the ring for 16 months, is a former two-time world title challenger at superflyweight (115).

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