Ric Flair

From The highest Highs To The Lowest Lows

As I have written before when mom would take me to the store I use to run to the magazine rack read the wrestling magazines. I often read about world class championship wrestling. World Class was based in Dallas Texas and featured the Von Erich family.

While world class wrestling was syndicated around the country (and world) it was not available in the north west. The first time I saw the Von Erich's on T.V. was when they appeared on the George Michael sports machine.

The George Michael Sports machine was an NBC show that showed sports highlights on Sunday nights. They would often show highlights of Pro wrestling and have an occasional feature. They would always cover wrestling as if it was real.

Here are the Von Erich's on the George Michael sports machine in 1985


World Class Championship wrestling was HUGE from 82-86. As is stated in this clip The show was opposite Saturday Night Live in Dallas and almost double Snl's ratings in the Dallas Fort Worth market. I have also read that the syndicate version of the show was out drawing Hulk Hogan and the WWF in several markets including some of the WWF's home bases such as Boston and Philadelphia.

Drug use began to take it's toll on WCCW. several of the performers would end up dying at a Young age.

The biggest toll was paid by the Von Erich boys. They were the stars of the promotion and the son of Fritz. Fritz was a big star in wrestling in the 50's and 60's. Fritz owned the promotion and ran it with the goal of making his sons huge stars. They became matinee idols. Then it all went wrong.

Fritz had five sons who got into wrestling. Tragically four of them died young. The sad story of the Von Erich's led to the death Of world class wrestling.

Personally I can relate to this clip after going to the Portland Sports Arena last year and seeing that the arena that used to hold my childhood T.V. show was now a community center for a church.

We start by seeing the surviving brother Kevin going to the Sportatorium (wrestling arena) just before it was torn down



Here we have wrestling manager Jim Cornette with his view of World Class Wrestling

Boxing then and now: Joe Frazier and David Haye

Has I was watching the title unification bout between David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli it occurred to me that the the cruiser weights (under 199lbs) of today are physically larger than the Heavyweights from boxing's glory days.

Haye weighed in at 198lbs while Maccarinelli weighed in at 199lbs the day before the fight. What you have to realize is that fighter regularly cut 10 to 15 pounds to make weight and then rehydrate for the fight. When David Haye fought at heavyweight a couple bouts back he stepped on the scale at a lean 217lbs.

Here is the Haye VS Maccarinelli fight from March 8th in England. I really enjoy the British fans here. They make an average fight seem far more exciting by virtue of their energy



Here we have a 1969 heavyweight title fight between Joe Frazier and Jerry Quarry. Joe Frazier weighed in at 203 lbs while Quarry weighed 198lbs.

Six Hours Of Boxing and MMA Saturday march 8th

If you live on the west coast and have HBO and Showtime you'll be able to watch a six hour block of boxing and mixed martial arts.

HBO
6:30-9:00 Juan Diaz vs Nate Campbel lightweight title fight
Sam Peter Oleg Maskaev Heavyweight title fight

Showtime

9:00-10:30 David Haye vs Enzo Macernelli cruiserweight title fight

10:30-12:30 MMA from England featuring Ken Shamrock

Vazquez vs Marquez On Showtime

Saturday night Showtime has the third match in the Vazquez/Marquez trilogy. Bout #2
was voted fight of the year by most publications.

I couldn't promote the stinker of a heavyweight fight last week and then not mention this show. These two are incapable of having a dull fight.

Krav Maga part II and III

Some really nice technique as well as cool excercises are displayed here and it's more entertaining show then the Klitschko vs Ibragimov bout turned out to be.

Part I is available at Walla Walla Barer

E 9 b
by eMMA-TV

E 9 c
by eMMA-TV

Klitchko, Pavlik and Louis Saturday Night On HBO

Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov in 2008


Joe Louis and Billy Conn 1946


You Look like you just went twelve rounds with "insert heavyweight champion here"

Wait a minute who is the heavyweight champion?
Wladimir Klitschko, Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chaegaev, Oleg Maskaev

Well they all hold versions of the heavyweight title.

For the first time in 9 years we are going to see a unification bout. Wladidmir Klitschko will meet Sultan Ibragimov Saturday night on HBO.

It has become cool to make fun of the current state of the heavyweight division.
With that said, no one can make fun of the physical skills of Wladimir Kitschko.
Klitschko may be one of the most physically gifted boxers in the history of the sport. He is 6'6" tall 240 lb with solid technique, athleticism, intelligence and punching power.
He just seems to be missing that intangible.. that abillity to find a way to win when things get tough. The greats have had that ability ( Ali in Ziar) Mr. Klitschko has not displayed "it" to this point in his career. He has lost to inferior fighters such as Lamon Brewster and Corey Sanders.

I don't know if Sultan Ibragimov is the guy who is going to push Klitschko. Ibragimov at 6'1 218 pounds is tiny by 2008 heavyweight standards. Other then being a south paw and having fairly fast hands Ibragimov doesn't seem to pose a whole lot of problem for Wladimir. Although Mr. Ibragimov is far more talented then Corey Sanders or Lamon Breaster.

This bout is worth watching for several reasons

1. It's a unification bout. I believe fans should support unification bouts when ever posible.

2. Wladimir Klitchko is one of the most gifted boxers the sport has ever seen.

3. Wladimir as talented as he is is never a lock to win any fight due to his history of a glass jaw and fading stamina.

4. The bout is on regular HBO, not on PPV. It has become a trend in recent years to put every bout that can draw 2 bits on PPV. This is horible for fans and bad for the sport. When I get the chance to watch a quality title bout with out having to buy it on PPV I try to take advantage of the opportunity.


Also on Saturday night HBO will air a replay of Pavlik/Taylor II. Kelly Pavlik Is one of the most exciting performers in the sport and the man recognized as the best middle weight in the world. So if you want to see the best 160 pounder in the sport tune in Saturday night.

Along with with the heavyweight title fight and the replay of the Pavlik fight. HBO will debut a new documentary on the life of legendary boxer Joe Louis. HBO documentaries are usually excellent so I have I hopes for this program.

All in all this look like a great line up. I am looking forward to Saturday night.