ET …. Harry Kid Matthews in the early 1970’s stopped in Silverton, Idaho, where Young Firpo was hospitalized. Matthews and Firpo were related by marriage. When Matthews unexpectedly arrived at the hospital, my brother and I were visiting Firpo in his room. We had no idea, never having previously met Matthews, who was entering the room. Matthews said, “Hello Firp!” Firpo, with an astonished look on his face, looked at Matthews, and said: “Well, Matthews!! My God!” Out of respect, my brother and I left the room so the two gladiators could talk in private. Matthews told us that he became a fighter at his father’s urging and added that his father’s favorite fighter was “The Wild Bull of Burke,” Young Firpo. There’s much more to relate to you. I’ll be back. Matthews had a stellar boxing record, no doubt, and he is vastly underrated as an all time great light heavyweight fighter! Thanks for posting your coverage of Harry Kid Matthews.
The three volume bio of Jack Hurley by historian John Ochs The One Is Jack Hurley describes Harry Mathews’s and Jack Hurleys relationship perfectly. Highly recommended read
Jack Hurely was the made behind Boone Kirkman. He made one of his few mistakes when he agreed to a Garden fight between Kirkman and George Foreman. Hurley wanted Floyd Patterson but the Garden talked him into Foreman. Kirkman got destroyed in two rounds and the two parted company after that fight.
ET …. Harry Kid Matthews in the early 1970’s stopped in Silverton, Idaho, where Young Firpo was hospitalized. Matthews and Firpo were related by marriage. When Matthews unexpectedly arrived at the hospital, my brother and I were visiting Firpo in his room. We had no idea, never having previously met Matthews, who was entering the room. Matthews said, “Hello Firp!” Firpo, with an astonished look on his face, looked at Matthews, and said: “Well, Matthews!! My God!” Out of respect, my brother and I left the room so the two gladiators could talk in private. Matthews told us that he became a fighter at his father’s urging and added that his father’s favorite fighter was “The Wild Bull of Burke,” Young Firpo. There’s much more to relate to you. I’ll be back.
Matthews had a stellar boxing record, no doubt, and he is vastly underrated as an all time great light heavyweight fighter! Thanks for posting your coverage of Harry Kid Matthews.
Thanks for this great story!
Could have been the champ. Could of been somebody.
A great line from a great film!!
The three volume bio of Jack Hurley by historian John Ochs
The One Is Jack Hurley
describes Harry Mathews’s and Jack Hurleys relationship perfectly.
Highly recommended read
Jack Hurely was the made behind Boone Kirkman. He made one of his few mistakes when he agreed to a Garden fight between Kirkman and George Foreman. Hurley wanted Floyd Patterson but the Garden talked him into Foreman. Kirkman got destroyed in two rounds and the two parted company after that fight.