Hit Man - Brian Hughes [32]
Opposing the relatively young Steward was the veteran Angelo Dundee, a man commonly described as the best trainer in the boxing business. While Steward claimed to have been influenced more by coaches outside boxing, men like gridiron legend Vince Lombardi and basketball great Bill Russell, Dundee was steeped in boxing history, having learned his trade at the feet of masters like Charlie Goldman, Ray Arcel and Chick Ferrera at the famous Stillman’s Gym in New York. It was Dundee who had quietly masterminded Muhammad Ali’s victory over George Foreman in Zaire and who repeated the feat when Ali won the title for an unprecedented third time by beating Leon Spinks in a rematch. He had also tutored Leonard to win his title back, with a dazzling array of tricks and cunning, when he outsmarted Roberto Duran in their return fight. Mike O’Hara, another Detroit boxing writer, mused, “The corners will be crucial in this fight. The re-supply system in the sixty-second span between rounds is where a fighter receives strategy, psychology, repairs, admonishment, a scouting report and sometimes nothing more scientific than a whiff of ammonia. Angelo Dundee has proven himself to be the best sixty-second man in boxing. His record attests to that, with champions from Luis Rodriquez to Muhammad Ali and Ray Leonard.” Dundee, for his part, admitted he was excited but would check his emotions at the ring apron once the combat started. “I’m all juiced up and I’ll be juiced up until the bell rings. When you lose your cool, you’re no good to the fighter.”
The arrangement between Leonard and Dundee was quite different to the relationship between the two men in the opposite corner. Mike Trainer explained that Janks Morton was Leonard’s official trainer and Angelo Dundee only arrived two weeks before a major fight to fine-tune his charge. Dave Jacobs had also been with Leonard since he was a junior but he had subsequently left the team after the loss to Roberto Duran (he would heal the breach and return to the team years later). “Angelo Dundee’s role is clearly defined,” said Trainer. “He is officially listed as Leonard’s manager but he isn’t involved in any negotiations or the business side of things. Janks Morton trains Leonard and gets him into condition before Angelo comes into camp. He then puts the finishing touches together and works the corner. When the bell sounds, Angelo runs the corner.”
Both trainers claimed that their unique approaches would give their charges an edge. Steward believed that his relationship with Hearns was based on a mutual respect forged through the amateur ranks. “It’s not that I might be a better corner man. I think Angelo’s effectiveness is diluted because Leonard doesn’t listen to him. Tommy has the advantage because he has a corner he respects and he uses his corner. As great as Angelo is, I don’t think he has that kind of input.” Dundee was non-committal. He laughed, “I respect Emanuel and this kind of comparison just juices things up. If it gets people talking about the fight, that’s got to be good.”
People were certainly talking about the fight; indeed the boxing world was talking of little else. Boxing News called it, with only slight hyperbole, “the most eagerly anticipated fight probably since the 1971 clash between Ali and Frazier.” The magazine ran a poll of some of the sport’s most prominent writers and practitioners to see who they were tipping for what was dubbed “The Showdown,” and found the pundits were split down the middle. Some seemed very confident that Hearns would blow away Leonard, while others believed Sugar Ray was much more seasoned and would be too cool and clever for his younger foe.
“I like Tommy Hearns,” said master trainer Eddie Futch. “He’s such a good puncher that most people overlook his boxing ability. He’s got great use of his left hand, mobility and speed.” Former featherweight great Sandy Saddler, himself a rangy bomber like Hearns, went for the Detroit sensation. “Sugar Ray has to come to Hearns