Curtis Parker. Tough as a nickel steak and fought absolutely everybody. Man there was so much talent at that time. Middleweight division was stacked. Great work again Rich!
Every Saturday afternoon you could tune in and watch parker, Fletcher, hard rock green , every fight exciting and competitive. Parker was a solid fighter very exciting
Curt Parker! I worked with him between 2002-2012. I was honored to be invited by him to watch his philly boxing hall of Fame induction. Great guy...I'm glad I found this documentary.
WOW , looking at these guys fight is like going through a time tunnel. I’m from Philly , and back in the early 80’s , I can remember seeing Parker do his roadwork and do shadow boxing on Roosevelt Blvd when I’d drive by on my way home from night work. Or countless times seeing Willie the Worm Monroe up on 52nd Str in W. Philly just hanging out. Or Bennie Briscoe working for the streets department doing sanitation work long after he retired from boxing. So proud to have been there when these guys were doing their thing !!! 🥊🥊
Those were great days. With Frank the Animal and his best fan,his mom,LOL.. Philly had some really good fighters,Matthew Franklin was another great one.and later on Bernard Hopkins just to mention a few.
Excellent as always. Somehow your work gets better and better and it's been nothing short of superb from day one. I'm so glad you are showcasing these relatively unknown fighters to today's average fans. I know who many of the fighters you feature are but you still manage to throw some in there that I haven't heard of. What you're doing is great because you are showing younger fans how tough the competition was in the past and how great champions of those eras were because they had to face these warriors that you showcase.
Thank you, Pizzulo81. It's kind of funny because I grew up on these fighters and am sometimes scratching my head as to why so many of the young fans have never heard of them. A pleasure to bring them to a new crowd.
Parker was a physical specimen. Really strong. He reminds me of Mike Tyson in his base. His defensive shell. His short snappy punches. Just small things that remind me of Tyson. The guy was a beast.
Marvin Hagler was so dominant that people forget how good the middleweight division was in those days. Was a fan of CP but his management did him no favors. Hamsho would’ve most definitely been a champ if not for Hagler. Still can’t believe Parker let Scypion beat him but he was worn out at that point. Keep it up, Rich! You are the best on UA-cam
Never heard of him. But a fighter who gave the game 100%. These men who can take and dish out that kind of punishment should be set for life With Money and Healthcare. Thank for your service to the Game and Bloodsport Mr. Parker.
Rich another great one on Curtis Parker one of my favorites during this period Love hearing the commentary from Marv and the fight doctor on NBC Saturday afternoon boxing. CBS was neck and neck with their own super sportscasters , Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy. Both stations were loaded with talented rosters of fighters. The best fighters were not always champions but they were gladiators like Curtis Parker and James Hard Rock Green to name a few, it’s good to see you shine light on guys like this. Great commentary and historical information as always
I remember reading about many good boxers such as parker in the 1970s. In the UK at that time you had no chance of seeing so many greats Zarate Gomes etc unless they boxed a British fighter which wasnt often. These docus are a real pleasure for me. Nice one Rich.
Curtis Parker definitely the Mini Joe Frazier. Parker was fighting in the Hagler years and Parker always looked a little smaller for a Middleweight. But man he was tough and fought the best that the Middleweight had to offer. He was USBA and NABF level. Just a notch down or two of being a Marvin Hagler world tittle contender. 🥊. So glad his life was safe and solid after his crowd pleasing boxing career 👍
Curtis Parker's boxing career was on the rise, until one day it wasn't anymore, & then he just kept on losing--which really surprised me. He was being referred to as "The Middleweight Joe Frazier," &, by all appearances, he looked like he was going to be the champion one day. Oh well, that's just the fight game, I guess...he just couldn't quite seem to.rise to the very top of his division. & stay there. At first, I thought the explanation was going to be (as is seems to so often be the case in your videos) that he started drinking, or using drugs, or slacked way off in his training. However, it just wasn't in the cards for him. Still, as you pointed out--he was a very tough & determined fighter--a true Philadelphia Fighter. Just an hard-working guy, who then went on to work for another 30 years at a regular job. Another excellent video--thanks again Rich!
The Middleweights of the 80's were a bunch of overrated bums. Their Champion Marvin Hagler had to make a name for himself by going to War with little guys like Duran 135, Leonard and Hearns 147 and John Mugabi 154. If any of them were legitimate Middleweights they all would have knocked Hagler out. 🥊🤕⚰️R. I. P.
@@melvinsims5379 160# is Middleweight...I was born in Philadelphia in 1960...so, during the 1980's, I was in my 20's, & I used to follow boxing fairly closely...I remember seeing Marvin Hagler up close & personal one time @ a live boxing event featuring Mike Tyson in Altantic City...I remember Hagler was dressed to the 9's, wearing one of his trademark top hats...he wasn't smiling @ anyone as he was walking around, & he looked to me one very scary looking dude...and, I'm 6'5", 250#....believe me, nobody was knocking out Marvin Hagler @ 160# back then, & they wouldn't be knocking him out if he boxed in today's era either
@@aitutaki50 Hagler fought in an era of mediocre Middleweights. That's why he had to make a name for himself by going to War against Lightweights like Duran and Welterweights like Leonard and Hearns. Who all by the way gave him tough fights. Hell, Leonard even beat him into extinction never to be heard from again. And that's the whole truth about the most overrated Middleweight in Boxing history. Real Middleweights like Roy Jones, James Toney and Bernard Hopkins would have wiped the floor with Hagler. 🥊⚰️🥊👎
@@melvinsims5379 Well, Bernard Hopkins is from my hometown, & the other Middleweights you mentioned are great fighters too...still, I think you're discrediting Marvin Hagler much too readily...my family is originally from Boston, & my parents moved back there after they retired, & they now live in the next town over from Brockton...you'll never hear me say anything negative about Marvin Hagler...I know he had the heart of a Champion 🏆
The dude sure as he'll never ducked anybody.Middleweight division was absolutely loaded.Loved watching Parker fight,TV loved him he was on a lot cuz he came to fight.
Such a lot of Memories watching these documentaries of these sadly / mostly forgotten fighters. A lot to be said RE: Management / Mismanagement of a lot of fighters from this era Interestingly, Clarence “Jody” White’s other loss was to none other than Frank “The Animal” Fletcher 🥊🥊💥💥🥊🥊 Great stuff RTFH. Great stuff
I remember with my dad watching these fights late 70s early 80s. Stacked division. Curtis, Don Lee, Wilfred Scypion. Frank Animal Fletcher. James Green. TonySibson, CavemanLee, Mustafa Hamsho etc. Hamsho had hair stylist girlfriend worked same block in Brooklyn where we lived. She was gorgeous he did not have a mark on him amazingly he cleaned out a buzzsaw division then Hagler ended that dream. Tough group
This guy was a little too Philly for his good .. He was thrown in tough too early in his career. Not too mention the brutal gym wars for which Philadelphia is famous and savage boxing style Made for a short career.
Curtis worked for me for over 20 years. He was always a hard worker and gentleman. Even in his fifties hugging him was like grabbing a concrete block. I had dinner with Angelo Dundee once and was surprised that Angelo knew his name right way.
I was wondering if I'd see him on here, thumbs up Rich! I had sparred with David Love in San Diego 5th Ave Boxing gym getting ready to fight Parker. Love was a learning lesson for me when moving around with him. I got my friends together to watch the fight, excited to see David fight.... I was hurt when David didn't fare well. He is such a gentleman and a soft spoken man. Always a champ to me! But Curtis was non stop hooking! Respect! Rich you do a great job putting these together! Respect ✊
Top-notch as always Rich. I remember Parker well. I remember thinking back when he lost those 3 in a row how those fights saved him from ending up in the ring with Hagler. I mean Hamsho was beaten to a pulp by Hagler and Scypion was sent into the twilight zone.....A guy like Parker was ready-made for a guy like Hagler...Just like Hamsho was.....Anyway, always liked watching Parkers fights, especially early on......he was always a fighter...
Another great video, slowly helping me peice together the MW scene in the late 70s and 80s. Parker was all action, a bit more refined than Frank Animal Fletcher, but still essentially a fighter who's engine was perpetually red-lining, a swarming pressure fighter who fought only 1 way. This video and others like it highlights the wealth of talent around 160 in this era, fighters like Hamsho, Scypion, Roldan, Fletcher, Parker, Monroe, Braxton, Mugabi. Coming up in that era it was tough if not impossible to get a easy break on the way to the title, and even if you managed to get a shot, you had little hope of winning, as Hagler sat on the throne... Undisputed for almost 7 years, what an era. Thanks Rich!
Had not heard of Parker, but had heard of many of his opponents. Great fighter in a stacked division. Great presentation, as always, Rich!!! Thanks again....
i box,i love boxing,i know the history of the noble art,but i did not know plenty of the fighters you showcase,amazing work,hello from Paris,France,not Texas...
Very much missmanaged. He needed more technical work with his defence at the elite level, for his style. What a heart in this man! Superb presentation again, Rich!
Parker could've come that Mugabi fight at 170. It wouldn't have mattered. Mugabi was an absolute savage beast. He hurt alot of men. He had unnatural power. Parker was a sacrificial lamb in that fight.
Too soon, yeah, they ruined him. Tough as hell, talented and packed a mean punch, they had a rough diamond and treated it with the finesse of a jackhammer operator.
Yes Rich.! Really appreciate this upload, as I only heard of Curtis at the end of his career. He really was like a little Joe Frazier early on. It was good to see Willie Reddish, as I'd only heard of him, along with other great Philly fighters on Scrapbook Boxing's museum of the forgotten fisticuffs channel. Great stuff you shining the light on these little spoken about warriors. Props to you. Bless up bro 👊
Yeah ,he had a lot of Joe Frazier, in him,Let's not forget ..Aaron the Hawk pryor,he was so relentless, he would throw punches in bunches, from angles that u didn't know exi
I remember sparring some rounds with curtis over at quinzel mccalls gym in north philly.He was one of the nicest i met up in those gyms.so glad to see him get some respect.Rich, some other good fighters and great people i met in philly that had good hearts and looked out for me where lionel byarm...jerome artis..james shueler and jimmy salerno.i know you did a story on james would love to see the others
Thanks again rich great 👍 memories I remember seeing him on NBC sports world program on the weekends back in the 1980s when i was still in high school. You are the best my brother God bless you and your family.
One of the great entertaining fighters of the late 70's and early 80's. Always gave 100 percent and carried himself with esteem. Would have won a title today. Tremendous fighter, tough as nails and fit as a butchers dog.
Another Great one Rich, excellent job, I love when you do the Philly Fighters, takes me down memory lane. Especially with me remembering and seeing, talking to some of these Philly Legends in the local boxing gyms, around Philadelphia. Rubbing elbows with guys like Fletcher, Parker, Watts, Qawi, Cooper, Little, Haddock, Brewer, Frazier(all of them, Tyrone and Marvis), Moore and even Hopkins. Who taught me how to jump rope because I kept hitting his arm with the rope at "Augies Gym", because it was damn small in there, lmao...yeah, Augie's Gym was a 3 story apartment building in South Philly off of Broad Street. Thank You for a job well done.
Good morning this brought back memories of a very good boxer who suffered because of poor management. He should not have been fighting contender after contender. Good documentary.
I always said these greedy managers push good talent along to fast, I remember the same thing happening to Greg Page, it cost him his life in the long run, this should be a lesson to up and coming talent, be smart, get you a good team and especially great trainer behind you, you shouldn't switch trainers to much because it will confuse your true talent, study fighters well before you get in the ring with them, bring in sparring partners with the size and style of the fighter that your going to fight, especially in big fights at the upper level.
They buy into the hype! They don't have a good eye for when to move a fighter along. You move him too fast and he may have a short career! Too slow and you hinder his development.
One of the best fighters in history to never receive a title shot. Shows you how stacked the MW division was then. Not trying to focus on the negative, but the loss to Mugabi was devastating, and a bit of a shock. Too many fights leading up to it. Too much weight to cut. Mugabi would have beat him anyway, styles make fights, but his managers did him zero favors indeed. Great to see he had a solid career after leaving boxing. That's always great to hear.
Another great documentary that combines a excellent mix of footage and gives us a meaningful experience into a boxer's career. These are gems that should be served to a broader audience. I commend you on the good work. Curtis Parker certainly deserves the acclaim of a very good boxer and your coverage has given him that. But let's examine the subject. Parker, perhaps a bit too small for the elite in the MW division. For a guy that small, you really need exceptional power & strength a la Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the LHW division For the elite MWs are the boxers who know how to smother an opponent, tie em up, rough him up on the inside (some questionable head activity by Hamsho in the footage), and some are physically stronger - such as Hamsho, Mugabi, Scypion & Nunn. What I enjoyed about this documentary however, is that Parker was able to pick up the pieces and transition into a career and resume a place in society. Thanks for adding that segment, it redeems boxing and establishes that some boxer's can beat the perils of being a devil in the ring and become human beings outside of it - when their careers are over. Long live Curtis Parker, a shining example of what is good about boxing
Curtis Parker definitely picked up the torch carried by the 1970s Philly Gauntlet guys at middleweight (Briscoe, Monroe, Hart, and Watts). He was worthy successor, that’s for damn sure. A true Philly-guy! He fought just about everybody at 160 who was anybody in the early 80s. However, he didn’t get to fight my main man James “Hard Rock” Green. Now, THAT would’ve been a SERIOUS fight…a non-title fight of the year candidate. Nothin’ but action!!!
The trainer was right. He was moved too fast and they put them in with too many killers. This may sound silly, but had he been from another city, he may have fared better/lasted longer. I think the Philadelphia mindset ruined Meldrick Taylor.
It sure was such a Golden age in boxing history and back then we just took it for granted we really did. It’s the decade I became a boxing fan/ Geek. Purchased all the KO and Ring mags taped fights watched fights life it was great. 1978 - 95 was awesome. Late 90’s 2000s sport started to go down hill wasent the same 🥊
Love your channel! Where did you get all of these high quality rare fights!? I started collecting fights in the early 90's and have around 700 tapes. Unfortunately all VHS. But some are were poor quality when I could obtain them. Like I have never been able to get a quality English version of Duran vs Lampkin and I think that was on CBS originally? Anyhow love the channel and the rare fight footage
Just demonstrates how great Hagler was, Mugabi, Scypion, Roldan, Hamsho - were all great fighters. They had to be to beat a really good fighter like Parker. Some claim Hagler didn't have much to beat, that middleweight wasn't a great division in the 80s. But the quality of the fighters that never got a shot, tell a different story. Hagler just made it look weak.
Agree completely. Hagler once said "I fight nothing but #1 contenders" and he pretty much smoked out the entire division. We watch Hamsho beat Parker twice here, and he was a tough fighter. Hagler would twice knock Hamsho out in dominating fashion. Scypion looked good against Parker. Hagler pounded him out too.
Reddish was right as his style burned out to fast with tough fights. Good career anyways but wish he had better management. Always ondered why Dwight Davidson didnt go farther also.
Great bio rich. This is an example of a promising talent that never progressed due to shoddy management, poor matchmaking and lack of a good trainer willing to bring him along rather than throw him to the wolves.. By his mid 20s he was in decline
I love how the Jewish commentators, who really don't know ANYTHING about what they're talking about, try to make the dude feel bad about "not going to the body" and those that are in the know, just lay it out, "it's not a good idea to go to the body with a shorter man"..
Curtis Parker. Tough as a nickel steak and fought absolutely everybody. Man there was so much talent at that time. Middleweight division was stacked. Great work again Rich!
Thank you, Baja.
Every Saturday afternoon you could tune in and watch parker, Fletcher, hard rock green , every fight exciting and competitive. Parker was a solid fighter very exciting
Curt Parker! I worked with him between 2002-2012. I was honored to be invited by him to watch his philly boxing hall of Fame induction. Great guy...I'm glad I found this documentary.
WOW , looking at these guys fight is like going through a time tunnel. I’m from Philly , and back in the early 80’s , I can remember seeing Parker do his roadwork and do shadow boxing on Roosevelt Blvd when I’d drive by on my way home from night work. Or countless times seeing Willie the Worm Monroe up on 52nd Str in W. Philly just hanging out. Or Bennie Briscoe working for the streets department doing sanitation work long after he retired from boxing. So proud to have been there when these guys were doing their thing !!! 🥊🥊
Tough, tough fighters...
@@RichtheFightHistorian Thanks for your awesome video !!! 👏🏽👏🏽
great memories,these guys were tough as hell...
@@blaisehanon Hell yeah, many of these middleweights today wouldn’t even be able to stand up to them.
My favorite doc along with Frank Fletcher. Brings back many memories watching those genuine Philly tough guys the 80s. Many thanks!
My pleasure, Mindy, thank you.
Those were great days. With Frank the Animal and his best fan,his mom,LOL.. Philly had some really good fighters,Matthew Franklin was another great one.and later on Bernard Hopkins just to mention a few.
I'm glad to now know about Curtis Parker it's a honor
Excellent as always. Somehow your work gets better and better and it's been nothing short of superb from day one. I'm so glad you are showcasing these relatively unknown fighters to today's average fans. I know who many of the fighters you feature are but you still manage to throw some in there that I haven't heard of. What you're doing is great because you are showing younger fans how tough the competition was in the past and how great champions of those eras were because they had to face these warriors that you showcase.
I couldnt agree more with you. Rich has the best boxing chanel bar none 🙏
Thank you, Pizzulo81. It's kind of funny because I grew up on these fighters and am sometimes scratching my head as to why so many of the young fans have never heard of them. A pleasure to bring them to a new crowd.
Thanks so much, L N.
Parker was a physical specimen. Really strong. He reminds me of Mike Tyson in his base. His defensive shell. His short snappy punches. Just small things that remind me of Tyson. The guy was a beast.
Marvin Hagler was so dominant that people forget how good the middleweight division was in those days. Was a fan of CP but his management did him no favors. Hamsho would’ve most definitely been a champ if not for Hagler. Still can’t believe Parker let Scypion beat him but he was worn out at that point. Keep it up, Rich! You are the best on UA-cam
Hey thanks, Blue Lives Matter71.
Never heard of him. But a fighter who gave the game 100%. These men who can take and dish out that kind of punishment should be set for life With Money and Healthcare. Thank for your service to the Game and Bloodsport Mr. Parker.
How the hell did I find this channel just now? This is fantastic
Thanks, Michael.
Nice seeing these lesser known guys get recognition. Parker was a tough dude.
I remember him back then. I still used to buy boxing magazines and he was featured in one i had. Had almost forgotten about him.
The modern bigmouths should take a leaf out of this man's book.
Another educational video!! much appreciated as always 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Hey thanks, David.
I was a fan initially because he did look and move so much like Smoking Joe. His fight with Mugabi was like a small Forman/Frazier. Loved it! Thanks
Sure thing.
Rich another great one on Curtis Parker one of my favorites during this period Love hearing the commentary from Marv and the fight doctor on NBC Saturday afternoon boxing. CBS was neck and neck with their own super sportscasters , Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy. Both stations were loaded with talented rosters of fighters. The best fighters were not always champions but they were gladiators like Curtis Parker and James Hard Rock Green to name a few, it’s good to see you shine light on guys like this. Great commentary and historical information as always
Hey thanks, Chris.
those two woul;d fight any one in the world and give a hell of a fight...may God bless both
I remember reading about many good boxers such as parker in the 1970s. In the UK at that time you had no chance of seeing so many greats Zarate Gomes etc unless they boxed a British fighter which wasnt often. These docus are a real pleasure for me. Nice one Rich.
My pleasure, Lester.
What a great boxer...thanks again rich for bringing him to our attention in the UK 🇬🇧
Curtis Parker definitely the Mini Joe Frazier. Parker was fighting in the Hagler years and Parker always looked a little smaller for a Middleweight. But man he was tough and fought the best that the Middleweight had to offer. He was USBA and NABF level. Just a notch down or two of being a Marvin Hagler world tittle contender. 🥊. So glad his life was safe and solid after his crowd pleasing boxing career 👍
When i am a very old man. I shall to be watching great fighters and fights like this man had. Cheers Rich.
I really enjoy watching these stories Rich, there has never been a greater sport !! Thank you !!
My pleasure, Ken, thank you.
Another superb doc Rich highlighting the depth of the middleweight division,full of talented fighters.Curtis deserves to be remembered.
Thank you, Robert.
Curtis Parker's boxing career was on the rise, until one day it wasn't anymore, & then he just kept on losing--which really surprised me. He was being referred to as "The Middleweight Joe Frazier," &, by all appearances, he looked like he was going to be the champion one day. Oh well, that's just the fight game, I guess...he just couldn't quite seem to.rise to the very top of his division. & stay there. At first, I thought the explanation was going to be (as is seems to so often be the case in your videos) that he started drinking, or using drugs, or slacked way off in his training. However, it just wasn't in the cards for him. Still, as you pointed out--he was a very tough & determined fighter--a true Philadelphia Fighter. Just an hard-working guy, who then went on to work for another 30 years at a regular job. Another excellent video--thanks again Rich!
My pleasure, aitutaki50. Your assessment is spot on.
The Middleweights of the 80's were a bunch of overrated bums. Their Champion Marvin Hagler had to make a name for himself by going to War with little guys like Duran 135, Leonard and Hearns 147 and John Mugabi 154. If any of them were legitimate Middleweights they all would have knocked Hagler out. 🥊🤕⚰️R. I. P.
@@melvinsims5379 160# is Middleweight...I was born in Philadelphia in 1960...so, during the 1980's, I was in my 20's, & I used to follow boxing fairly closely...I remember seeing Marvin Hagler up close & personal one time @ a live boxing event featuring Mike Tyson in Altantic City...I remember Hagler was dressed to the 9's, wearing one of his trademark top hats...he wasn't smiling @ anyone as he was walking around, & he looked to me one very scary looking dude...and, I'm 6'5", 250#....believe me, nobody was knocking out Marvin Hagler @ 160# back then, & they wouldn't be knocking him out if he boxed in today's era either
@@aitutaki50 Hagler fought in an era of mediocre Middleweights. That's why he had to make a name for himself by going to War against Lightweights like Duran and Welterweights like Leonard and Hearns. Who all by the way gave him tough fights. Hell, Leonard even beat him into extinction never to be heard from again. And that's the whole truth about the most overrated Middleweight in Boxing history. Real Middleweights like Roy Jones, James Toney and Bernard Hopkins would have wiped the floor with Hagler. 🥊⚰️🥊👎
@@melvinsims5379 Well, Bernard Hopkins is from my hometown, & the other Middleweights you mentioned are great fighters too...still, I think you're discrediting Marvin Hagler much too readily...my family is originally from Boston, & my parents moved back there after they retired, & they now live in the next town over from Brockton...you'll never hear me say anything negative about Marvin Hagler...I know he had the heart of a Champion 🏆
The dude sure as he'll never ducked anybody.Middleweight division was absolutely loaded.Loved watching Parker fight,TV loved him he was on a lot cuz he came to fight.
Such a lot of
Memories watching these documentaries of these sadly / mostly forgotten fighters.
A lot to be said RE: Management / Mismanagement of a lot of fighters from this era
Interestingly, Clarence “Jody” White’s other loss was to none other than Frank “The Animal” Fletcher 🥊🥊💥💥🥊🥊
Great stuff RTFH. Great stuff
Thanks very much, C T O.
Thanks for another awesome spotlight on amazing fighter. Much ❤
Thanks, John.
Parker was a tough warrior alot of teak hard middleweight in that era great post.
I remember with my dad watching these fights late 70s early 80s. Stacked division. Curtis, Don Lee, Wilfred Scypion. Frank Animal Fletcher. James Green. TonySibson, CavemanLee, Mustafa Hamsho etc. Hamsho had hair stylist girlfriend worked same block in Brooklyn where we lived. She was gorgeous he did not have a mark on him amazingly he cleaned out a buzzsaw division then Hagler ended that dream. Tough group
This guy was a little too Philly for his good .. He was thrown in tough too early in his career. Not too mention the brutal gym wars for which Philadelphia is famous and savage boxing style Made for a short career.
Curtis worked for me for over 20 years. He was always a hard worker and gentleman. Even in his fifties hugging him was like grabbing a concrete block. I had dinner with Angelo Dundee once and was surprised that Angelo knew his name right way.
I was wondering if I'd see him on here, thumbs up Rich! I had sparred with David Love in San Diego 5th Ave Boxing gym getting ready to fight Parker. Love was a learning lesson for me when moving around with him. I got my friends together to watch the fight, excited to see David fight.... I was hurt when David didn't fare well. He is such a gentleman and a soft spoken man. Always a champ to me! But Curtis was non stop hooking! Respect! Rich you do a great job putting these together! Respect ✊
Thank you, Martin. Really cool to hear from someone who knew Love first hand.
Top-notch as always Rich. I remember Parker well. I remember thinking back when he lost those 3 in a row how those fights saved him from ending up in the ring with Hagler. I mean Hamsho was beaten to a pulp by Hagler and Scypion was sent into the twilight zone.....A guy like Parker was ready-made for a guy like Hagler...Just like Hamsho was.....Anyway, always liked watching Parkers fights, especially early on......he was always a fighter...
Oh yes, and when Parker fought Mugabi I knew that wasn't going to end well for him...
Thanks, Dale. Yeah, I loved Parker's tenacity.
Another great video, slowly helping me peice together the MW scene in the late 70s and 80s. Parker was all action, a bit more refined than Frank Animal Fletcher, but still essentially a fighter who's engine was perpetually red-lining, a swarming pressure fighter who fought only 1 way.
This video and others like it highlights the wealth of talent around 160 in this era, fighters like Hamsho, Scypion, Roldan, Fletcher, Parker, Monroe, Braxton, Mugabi. Coming up in that era it was tough if not impossible to get a easy break on the way to the title, and even if you managed to get a shot, you had little hope of winning, as Hagler sat on the throne... Undisputed for almost 7 years, what an era.
Thanks Rich!
My pleasure, Andrew.
The list you supplied is impressive you left out Hardrock Green Antuofermo and Minter. You have some knowledge though.
Had not heard of Parker, but had heard of many of his opponents. Great fighter in a stacked division. Great presentation, as always, Rich!!! Thanks again....
Thank you, Britt.
i box,i love boxing,i know the history of the noble art,but i did not know plenty of the fighters you showcase,amazing work,hello from Paris,France,not Texas...
I remember him bona fide tough guy middleweight those days was the best alot of great fighters
I wish Parker would have got his shot, kind hearted and respectful as a man and an absolute hammer in the ring!!! 🥊🖤🥊
Very much missmanaged. He needed more technical work with his defence at the elite level, for his style. What a heart in this man! Superb presentation again, Rich!
Thanks, Todd.
Parker could've come that Mugabi fight at 170. It wouldn't have mattered. Mugabi was an absolute savage beast. He hurt alot of men. He had unnatural power. Parker was a sacrificial lamb in that fight.
Back when prize fighters came too fight...when prize fighters had pride in their profession.
Thanks AGAIN, Rich.
Curtis Parker was a Force to be Reckoned with.
Sure thing, Christopher.
Another excellent post
This is great Rich I have always loved boxing podcast
Thanks, Jesse.
Too soon, yeah, they ruined him. Tough as hell, talented and packed a mean punch, they had a rough diamond and treated it with the finesse of a jackhammer operator.
Yes Rich.! Really appreciate this upload, as I only heard of Curtis at the end of his career. He really was like a little Joe Frazier early on. It was good to see Willie Reddish, as I'd only heard of him, along with other great Philly fighters on Scrapbook Boxing's museum of the forgotten fisticuffs channel. Great stuff you shining the light on these little spoken about warriors. Props to you. Bless up bro 👊
Yeah ,he had a lot of Joe Frazier, in him,Let's not forget ..Aaron the Hawk pryor,he was so relentless, he would throw punches in bunches, from angles that u didn't know exi
Isted,,
Another great documentary Rich! You are the man!
Much appreciated, Karl.
Bro, another top quality production. Love this stuff.
Thank you, Tasadiq
I remember sparring some rounds with curtis over at quinzel mccalls gym in north philly.He was one of the nicest i met up in those gyms.so glad to see him get some respect.Rich, some other good fighters and great people i met in philly that had good hearts and looked out for me where lionel byarm...jerome artis..james shueler and jimmy salerno.i know you did a story on james would love to see the others
Thanks, Michael. I'll put Shuler on the docket for sure.
Good job. Greetings from Spain. I am a big fan of this channel.
Thank you, Juan.
Unknown for me. Great fighter! Thanks!
Thanks again rich great 👍 memories I remember seeing him on NBC sports world program on the weekends back in the 1980s when i was still in high school. You are the best my brother God bless you and your family.
Thanks for the kind words, Felix.
One of the great entertaining fighters of the late 70's and early 80's. Always gave 100 percent and carried himself with esteem. Would have won a title today. Tremendous fighter, tough as nails and fit as a butchers dog.
Great memories!
Curtis Parker was tough as nails. A true Philadelphia Slugger.
Another great documentary, we need to get you on our show 👏🏽
Thanks, MEBS. I'm not set up to do interviews just yet.
@@RichtheFightHistorian no probs keep up the great work 👍🏽
Back when most of the weight divisions were deep with competition.
Another Great one Rich, excellent job, I love when you do the Philly Fighters, takes me down memory lane. Especially with me remembering and seeing, talking to some of these Philly Legends in the local boxing gyms, around Philadelphia. Rubbing elbows with guys like Fletcher, Parker, Watts, Qawi, Cooper, Little, Haddock, Brewer, Frazier(all of them, Tyrone and Marvis), Moore and even Hopkins. Who taught me how to jump rope because I kept hitting his arm with the rope at "Augies Gym", because it was damn small in there, lmao...yeah, Augie's Gym was a 3 story apartment building in South Philly off of Broad Street. Thank You for a job well done.
Thanks for the feedback. I'm envious...you rubbed shoulders with the best.
Good morning this brought back memories of a very good boxer who suffered because of poor management. He should not have been fighting contender after contender. Good documentary.
Thanks, Keith
I always said these greedy managers push good talent along to fast, I remember the same thing happening to Greg Page, it cost him his life in the long run, this should be a lesson to up and coming talent, be smart, get you a good team and especially great trainer behind you, you shouldn't switch trainers to much because it will confuse your true talent, study fighters well before you get in the ring with them, bring in sparring partners with the size and style of the fighter that your going to fight, especially in big fights at the upper level.
They buy into the hype! They don't have a good eye for when to move a fighter along. You move him too fast and he may have a short career! Too slow and you hinder his development.
Thank you Rich ..so exciting!
Sure thing, John.
One of the best fighters in history to never receive a title shot. Shows you how stacked the MW division was then. Not trying to focus on the negative, but the loss to Mugabi was devastating, and a bit of a shock. Too many fights leading up to it. Too much weight to cut. Mugabi would have beat him anyway, styles make fights, but his managers did him zero favors indeed.
Great to see he had a solid career after leaving boxing. That's always great to hear.
Great video. Very interesting fight. It's great to know that figures we've seen in past videos also shows up here, kind of completing a cycle.
Thanks, yeah Parker's story crosses over to a few of the fighters I've profiled.
Another great doc👍
Thanks, Dennis.
Another great video of a Philly fighter…also I think Parker was self promoted.
Another great documentary that combines a excellent mix of footage and gives us a meaningful experience into a boxer's career. These are gems that should be served to a broader audience. I commend you on the good work. Curtis Parker certainly deserves the acclaim of a very good boxer and your coverage has given him that. But let's examine the subject. Parker, perhaps a bit too small for the elite in the MW division. For a guy that small, you really need exceptional power & strength a la Dwight Muhammad Qawi in the LHW division For the elite MWs are the boxers who know how to smother an opponent, tie em up, rough him up on the inside (some questionable head activity by Hamsho in the footage), and some are physically stronger - such as Hamsho, Mugabi, Scypion & Nunn. What I enjoyed about this documentary however, is that Parker was able to pick up the pieces and transition into a career and resume a place in society. Thanks for adding that segment, it redeems boxing and establishes that some boxer's can beat the perils of being a devil in the ring and become human beings outside of it - when their careers are over. Long live Curtis Parker, a shining example of what is good about boxing
Thanks, iwant2usethis. Parker is definitely one of boxing's good guys.
Curtis Parker definitely picked up the torch carried by the 1970s Philly Gauntlet guys at middleweight (Briscoe, Monroe, Hart, and Watts). He was worthy successor, that’s for damn sure. A true Philly-guy! He fought just about everybody at 160 who was anybody in the early 80s. However, he didn’t get to fight my main man James “Hard Rock” Green. Now, THAT would’ve been a SERIOUS fight…a non-title fight of the year candidate. Nothin’ but action!!!
Totally agree, Parker vs Hardrock would have been epic.
The trainer was right. He was moved too fast and they put them in with too many killers.
This may sound silly, but had he been from another city, he may have fared better/lasted longer.
I think the Philadelphia mindset ruined
Meldrick Taylor.
Every boxer I know that was pushed too early end up burned out before their 30
Your right then philly boxers left a lot on that sparring ring.
Yeah, the Philly Gym Wars certainly led to burnout.
It seems as though his management was only chasing fights Not 🏆,shame on them,He was a SOLID fighter...thanks rich👍
Sure thing, Tedrick.
Parker just stands "Flat Footed" and Pounds Opponents Tf Out NonStop👊👊🤣🤣🤣
Is Doug dewitt on the list of future docs
There were alot of interesting fighters in the 80"s...in every division. 🤔
It sure was such a Golden age in boxing history and back then we just took it for granted we really did. It’s the decade I became a boxing fan/ Geek. Purchased all the KO and Ring mags taped fights watched fights life it was great. 1978 - 95 was awesome. Late 90’s 2000s sport started to go down hill wasent the same 🥊
Love your channel! Where did you get all of these high quality rare fights!? I started collecting fights in the early 90's and have around 700 tapes. Unfortunately all VHS. But some are were poor quality when I could obtain them. Like I have never been able to get a quality English version of Duran vs Lampkin and I think that was on CBS originally? Anyhow love the channel and the rare fight footage
Thanks, Brian. I've been collecting since around 1984.
Frankford’s Finest ! Reddish Gym !
Excellent
Thanks, Lyman.
Thanks!
It is incredible how a father could leave his children. To me, it is close to murdering another person. Parker's father will have much to answer for.
Boxing in the 1980's was a tough way to make a living.
Wow Hamsho used his left and right hand and his head!
He was tough!!!
What is the name of the song in 10:35?
It's "Here to Fight" by Roman P
They say the wars in the gyms of Philadelphia destroyed a lot of fighters.
14:16 was a good right hand 👌
Just demonstrates how great Hagler was, Mugabi, Scypion, Roldan, Hamsho - were all great fighters. They had to be to beat a really good fighter like Parker.
Some claim Hagler didn't have much to beat, that middleweight wasn't a great division in the 80s. But the quality of the fighters that never got a shot, tell a different story.
Hagler just made it look weak.
Agree completely. Hagler once said "I fight nothing but #1 contenders" and he pretty much smoked out the entire division. We watch Hamsho beat Parker twice here, and he was a tough fighter. Hagler would twice knock Hamsho out in dominating fashion. Scypion looked good against Parker. Hagler pounded him out too.
The "Main Man" was #AaronPryor tho(the Hawk). Especially when it was "HAWKTIME🦅👊", FACTS!👍😁😁
Good Evening Rich! If you’re looking into doing a short bio on David Love, I can assist you. Hope all is well! 👊🏽
Thank you. I'll get back to you in a bit if that's okay.
@@RichtheFightHistorian Not a problem, looking forward to it. Thank you.
He worked at H.U.P. when I worked there.👍🏽
Curtis smoking Joe Young 🌱
Reddish was right as his style burned out to fast with tough fights. Good career anyways but wish he had better management. Always ondered why Dwight Davidson didnt go farther also.
Kinda reminds me of Joe Frazier.
I think he was dodged by the smart trainers.
Look up DEFINITION on how to NOT manage a fighter and you will see the face of Curtis Parker !!!
If he have thrown liver shots he could have stoped a lot fight early
Great bio rich. This is an example of a promising talent that never progressed due to shoddy management, poor matchmaking and lack of a good trainer willing to bring him along rather than throw him to the wolves.. By his mid 20s he was in decline
Did he really say "blood on the left arm which would indicate that the man is bleeding"? Lol
Omg the refs back then were dangerously bad..
Curtis Parker resembles Eddie Machen
I love how the Jewish commentators, who really don't know ANYTHING about what they're talking about, try to make the dude feel bad about "not going to the body" and those that are in the know, just lay it out, "it's not a good idea to go to the body with a shorter man"..
Bad time to be a middle weight none of them had any chance of getting near Hagler. They weren't good enough.
Weird that he suffered police brutality...and then went to the PAL to learn boxing.