"I'm getting excited about the upcoming Yuri Foreman vs. Miguel Cotto title fight at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night. I love the hype. Reminds me of the old days when stadium fights were a regular feature in the greatest fight town of them all!
Here is a fact about the original Yankee Stadium (opened in 1923) that might interest you: During construction the stadium an engineer and partner of Jacob Ruppert designed a hydraulic lift that was placed under second base. A boxing ring was erected on the hydraulic lift and when fights were held, the direct around second base was removed and a trap door opened through which the ring was hoisted and set at second base. That's how big boxing was in those days!
It's ironic that the first world title fight at the new Yankee Stadium involves a Jewish champion. The first world title fight at the old stadium involved not just one Jewish fighter but two! Both the champion Benny Leonard, and the challenger, Lew Tendler were Jewish. Guess you couldn't lose if you bet on the Jewish fighter to win!
For more facts about the golden age of boxing read my book "The Arc of Boxing" The rise and Decline of the Sweet Science."
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Your book is my all-time favorite.
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