This is a true story that all of a sudden came back to my memory as I sat with a bunch of retirees over coffee at Heav’nly Donuts on Merrimack St. in Methuen a couple of weeks ago.
As Vi came in the door someone loudly lets him. Believe me, this gang could have been actors in the Godfather movies; one guy even looked like Marlon Brando. I only knew one of them that being longtime Lawrencian boxer and baseball and softball player Frankie Ball formerly of Prospect Hill and now of South Lawrence.
I walked in as the current mustachios were in a deep discussion about a boxer that none of them could name. Enter Benjamin only half Italian and without blinking an eye or a little stammer, gave them the name they were arguing about that being a former champion from France a middleweight named Marcel Cerdan.
This answer brought a loud roar and at once I was accepted like Tripoli Pizza and this led to a long and interesting story telling session in which all these guys had stories of old time boxers all over the world and the good old days of this sport in the City of Lawrence – and boy, it was not a place for a neophyte! I quickly pushed the buttons to the cockles of my mind and shook the cobwebs from beneath my hairline to give them the following story.
About 25 or 30 years ago my great friend a big time boxing promoter Al Valenti called me to invite me to a big event in Randolph, MA at a club called Landolphi’s. They were holding the inductions to the Italian Hall of Fame in all Sports. Al’s uncle himself a boxing promoter was to be honored as an inductee.
There were all kinds of stars attending and not all were Italian. Mike Eruzione of Olympic championship history was another inductee and Frank Malzone of the Red Sox would also be an honoree on this night.
My story is about two famous boxers. Willie Pep was one of the world’s greatest and acclaimed by all boxing people as a smart, tough, dance master as a world featherweight champ. The only guy he couldn’t beat was a tall six footer named Sandy Saddler and their fights were epics and almost like street fights. Sandy had long arms and some said he could tie his shoes without bending over something the will of The Wisp – as Pep was called – couldn’t contend with because he couldn’t reach Sandy.
You may be thinking why Willie was receiving this honor in an Italian club when his name isn’t even Italian. Well, as I started to explain, his given name was Papalio and had been changed to Pep as his ring name something that still goes on in these days. I really had their attention and when I told them Willie’s dad was buried in Lawrence; they were mesmerized. We were now into big time boxing talk. Little did they know that this guy had a major league kicker to my story and here it comes!
Tommy Collins was a great knock out and although a lightweight could hit like a mule. Well, he sits next to me on this night and we’ve known each other through Valenti so the conversation was free and easy. At this time in life and retired, he was working as a deputy sheriff in Middlesex County. As a boxer he would sing the National Anthem in his corner before his fight.
Tom starts by telling me how Willie was his idle in this profession and they both being local pugs and both being champions, Pep a world title holder and Collins a NE champ.
This would be a match made in Heaven by any promoter and so it was at the Boston Garden on St Patrick’s Day.
Before a sellout crowd Collins knocks his idol out cold. “There was no joy to beating Willie; in fact, I actually cried as they lifted and carried him to his stool and you know something? Pep has not spoken to me since that fight 10 years ago,” Tommy continues while Willie was sitting at the honorees table, “and not even said hello to me.”
I’m in total disbelief hearing this story and call Al Valenti over and tell him this story. He went to get Pep to come to our table and brings these two stars together and they wind up hugging and kissing and we later found out they thought they were angry at the each other.
Can you imagine that this writer brought together two of the greatest fighters this area has ever known?
The mustachios at the coffee shop sat with jaws agape at this story that I swear to God every word is true and I am now a member in good standings with the Godfellow lookalikes.
And it was a former Wetherbee school graduate and Crosby St. resident pulling this reunion off!
