Elevating Pugilists

Elevating Pugilists

Noel Laflin

9-2-18

Forty-five years ago I found myself crammed into an elevator at the Ambassador Hotel and was suddenly face-to-face with Gene Tunney, the former heavyweight champion of an era long gone. He was in high spirits as his son had just won the California U.S. Senate seat against former actor, George Murphy. I worked on the Tunney campaign as a young volunteer, thus accounting for my ending up in that high-flying elevator with the guy who beat Jack Dempsey in 1928.

Then, a couple of years ago, I found myself talking to former champ, Michael Spinks, in an elevator in a casino out in Indio. Mike Tyson had ended the man's career pretty dramatically thirty years earlier and Spinks had the smarts to retire with his faculties still intact. He was attending a boxing meet-and-greet event that night and I was there for the free food, so our paths briefly crossed. He was a very nice man, humble and soft spoken. I liked him.

Last night I was about to board that same desert elevator when a mob of folks surrounded a young fighter, seeking autographs and selfies with the champ.

I didn't recognize him, as I don't follow boxing nowadays. But there were some big bouts here earlier and adoring fans certainly knew this fellow.

I could have taken that elevator too, but waited for the next one as I felt guilty for not even knowing his name.

Guess I'm holding out for Tyson or Foreman next time, and lamenting that Ali is no longer a contender for such a chance encounter.