markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

My Dad and I watched the fights on TV every Friday night. Our TV was a Magnavox, 10 inch screen with one of those old magnifying screens on a stand. Unless you were seated directly behind, the image was always distorted. Nevertheless, every Friday night we were glued to the TV. The link below is for the Heavyweight Championship in Philadelphia in 1952. My Dad suddenly passed away in Jan. 53', at age 41. So, this is a fond memory for me.

If you are old enough, it may be a fond memory for you too.

Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott - 1952
https://youtu.be/ZaKPg7gXtW4

Enjoy,
Mark

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Gillette Friday Night at the Fights - My dad didn't miss it Mark. He died back in 1978.
Don

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

THANKS!!

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

“Look sharp, be sharp!”
Mark

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

My dad and my brothers and I watched every Friday night. In later life, we continued watching boxing until he passed away. We even used to split the cost of pay-per-views. Yep. Lots of memories for me. Thanks for the link.

JimmyTB

Nice. My father interviewed Jersey Joe (Real name Arnold Cream) in the early '70s. I got an autographed picture out of the deal. He was also Sheriff of Camden County, NJ for a time

Dannj

I’m pretty sure “feel sharp” was in there, too😊 I remember watching with my Dad and rooting for “our” guy👍

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I’m not into boxing, but when I was about 8 years old my grandfather, who was a blacksmith in Ferndale, NY, knew Jenny Grossinger. He got permission from her to take me on the property where we watched Rocky Marciano trying in a Quonset Hut.
Very exciting. Good memory.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

I remember those days, although a little after that since I'm younger. I remember listening to Floyd Patterson championship fights on the radio and remember when Ingemar Johannson beat him and Patterson creamed him in the rematch. Other names that come to mind are Archie Moore and the original Sugar Ray Robinson.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Great matches!
Mark

Photomono

Willie Pep. Carmen Basilio. Ezzard Charles. Kid Gavilan. Johnny Saxton.

Just to name a few.

One of the things my dad and I did together on a regular basis was watch boxing on the television. He loved boxing, and it was broadcast Wednesday and Friday nights at 10 o’clock. One night was sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer – “What’ll you have? Pabst Blue Ribbon!” The other night was sponsored by Gillette Razors – “Look Sharp… Feel Sharp… Be Sharp with Gillette Blue Blades.” Hey, don’t you tell me advertising jingles don’t work.

Wednesdays were school nights, but on Friday nights I was allowed to stay up and watch the fights with Pop. We would open Pepsis and have a bowl of hard pretzels and sit down to watch guys in shorts hit each other. Mom would go to bed, and it would be just us guys. Every once in a while I would be allowed to stay up on Wednesday if the bout were a championship match. “Let him stay and watch, Anne. It’s a championship.”

My dad worked a long day and usually fell asleep in his chair right after dinner. Those Friday Night Fights was a chance for us to spend some time together.

Dalbon

Yes I really did enjoy that and I believe he stayed champ until he retired undefeated. We got our first TV in 1951 and I think it may have been an 11 inch screen but what I remember most of all during those days was Kate Smith singing God Bless America. Thanks for sharing this with us.
David

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

1952 I was 6 years old. We did not yet have a TV and I enjoyed watching boxing or baseball with my grandfather. I don't think their TV was turned on unless it was boxing or baseball.

4 or 5 years later, we were visiting my grandparents and their neighbor was taking a new TV out of the house. He was mad that his wife had bought it while he was at work. My dad offered him $ (no idea how much) for it... And we had a TV

francosp Loc: Arizona

I always followed Rocky Marciano's matches when I was a kid. When I grew up, in 1962 I had the chance to meet him in a restaurant in Long Island. It was different but still a great champion. Thank you for sharing memories. A great match and a vey powerful KO.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

When I was a sophomore in high school, there was an exciting young boxer named Cassius Clay. Fortunately, his early fights would be shown on the Wide World of Sports. I can remember getting home from J.V. baseball games just in time to see the fights.