Fightbeat.com is reporting that cruiserweight contender Bobby Gunn of Culpepper, VA will donate a portion of his purse from the Saturday, August 25 card at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, VA to former world champion Iran Barkley.
Gunn was Barkley's chief sparring partner in preparation for Barkley's bout against Darrin Van Horn on January 10, 1992. Barkley won the IBF Super Middleweight title from Van Horn with a second-round knockout.
“Iran Barkley gave the fans a lot of great fights and I learned a lot from sparring with him” said Gunn. “He was also a very nice guy and the time spent in camp with him was truly a pleasure and something I will always remember. I feel that the boxing community should give back to him and other fighters in need. My cousin Mike Normile saw Iran at a fight recently and knew he needed help. I felt it was my place to do something about it.”
Gunn also pointed out that not enough current fighters elect to help out legends of the past. “Many of today’s fighters are financially blessed, but you rarely see them giving back to the legends of boxing who could use their financial support. Hopefully what I am doing will open up eyes of other current boxers.”
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6 comments:
Yes Bobby, you are very right. Many great or good fighters from the past are hurting financially. You are doing a good thing for Iran Barkly. All those great fights he gave us chances to see( Tommy Hearns, Duran...) You have good heart. I will donate portion of the gate if I dont lose too much. Han Kim-
Good man Bobby. Those that have should always give to those who have not. Amen
Mike Sawyer
PS. IMO, the Barkley knockout of Hearns in their first fight is one of the nastiest of all time.
I agree too many fighters who gave so much have so very little. More needs to be done. Barkley Hearns was a great fight. Mike if you get a chance stop by the gym or give me a call get my number from Hann.
Lawrence
The comment about not enough fighters of the present helping out the fighters of the past would be well-meant if someone was helping out the fighters of the present. It's not like they're making NBA-size salaries. I'd like to see the PROMOTERS of the present, and I mean the big ones, always offer an option to fighters earning more than, say, $500,000 for a bout, to set up a championship trust that helps a fighter earn a steady interest after retirement. Something on those lines should be explored. Barkley made a lot of money, didn't he? So what happened? Sometimes these guys are their own worst enemies and sometimes they are exploited. The spartan warriors need -- no, deserve -- safeguards and protections.
Anyway, I was ringside for Barkley-Van Horn, and the man who clobbered Hearns was in top form that night. Electric atmosphere. -- J.S.
John, you hit the nail right on the head. I was thinking about that after I wrote the post last night. It isn't the BOXERS with the money most often, it's the PROMOTERS. Of course, I don't mean all promoters particularly smaller, local ones. But the bigshots with the big money, especially when it's the same fighters they made all of their money with, should really be helping out. That said, anyone doing anything, should be commended.
Mike Sawyer
Thanks, Mike
Someone should explore a universal social security system for boxers. I wonder what would happen if all boxers put up, I don't know, $50 per fight into a universal pot, with promoters and government matching $50 each per fighter, and needy fighters could draw on that in retirement, say, when they reach 65 . . .
Just a thought -- J.S.
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