Comments on: John Claridge’s Boxers (Round Seven)

By: David Drakes

David Drakes — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:25:01 +0000

Shame JC’s magic lens couldn’t cloaked them all in festive Santa gear . . . might have made them seem less ferocious, even in their mellower years!

By: john edwards

john edwards — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:25:09 +0000

Dominic Bergonzi, looks like an Italian Greyhound … fast and quick, the scrolled syllables of his poetic name describe the [gently dented] elegance of his luminous eyed head exactly, as does Rocky Kelly’s name fit the battered features, a face that looks more quarried than sculpted.
Hope both their mothers loved them and lit candles to illuminate their paths to Mt. Hero.
Harry Smith [not featured here but I can see & hear dear Harry, what a gentle man] began boxing pro at 12 to 14 years.
He boxed for ‘Nubbins’ or coins thrown into the ring and did so with success mostly going rounds with his best pal, the exotically named Warley Benn. When the carpet chewer [ Teppenfruescher in German ] Schiklegruber alias Hitler declared war on my 2nd birthday [ still makes me wonder, as I was white-blonde haired ?! ] Harry, newly married to Mary – both of them young and both [ I know ,a pun..] stunners, Harry had been boxing for 11 years or so. He joined the army and, taking his young Mary with him got sent to Catterick where he boxed, and boxed and became Army Heavyweight champ.
They clamored for him to go pro in 1945 but Harry said – I’m 29 – boxed for 15 years … enough already Harry went on to be the best dockers clerk for Elder Fyffe [ Banana boats ] & Elder Dempster [Argentine meat – notably Fray Bentos corned beef ] He boxed some exhibition bouts, and did have a fight when challenged by a bitter docker that he was favoring the drunks and gamblers for work.
Harry had to get the walking wounded to work early & gone early to get anything out of them for his employers.
Harry had to walk the long walk to toe the line & laid the challenger with a bee in his bonnet flat
in about ten seconds if. The bee’s sure buzzed all round you when Harry ‘Kid Dynamite’ Smith got a straight one on you. Great boxing will always take any street battler apart so fast you wouldn’t see it.
Harry at one point boxed an ‘exhibition’ bout with Freddy [Dark Satanic ] Mills. Freddy was more brawler than boxer, so Harry had to avoid the haymakers and not use the [wide open] spaces Mills
exposed to him. After [ I know – pun ] The Brawl was Over – Mills said to Harry … ” The trouble with me Harry is, I just can’t pull my punches. Sorry.” Harry replied “Good job I can then, isn’t it Freddy” Thanks again Johnny for the latest in a long hit parade. Lets hear it for Sandy Saddler, Willy Pep, Peter Waterman …… Warley Benn & Harry ‘Kid Dynamite’ Smith.

By: Olga Secerov

Olga Secerov — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:33:07 +0000

these portraits are all extraordinary. Each one is unique.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:51:38 +0000

Incredible portraits !

Thanks.

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:47:35 +0000

Extraordinary!

By: Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:36:25 +0000

Another great round of shots from John. Can’t wait for the book, which this series surely must become.

By: Marien de Goffau

Marien de Goffau — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:14:24 +0000

This series is a special way of telling, a special way of looking, a special style. Great to look at, great stories, great portraits. Special and great photography.

By: Gerry Coe

Gerry Coe — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:49:05 +0000

Some of those guys have taken quite a bit of Facial re-adjustment. Powerful pics.

By: Paul Fairweather

Paul Fairweather — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:42:50 +0000

Another great set John,a must for a book

By: Jens Marott

Jens Marott — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:05:50 +0000

What a knockout, how close can you get to a boxer? John seems to have moved in and captured the spirit of the fighters.
The light is amazing and the feel of these amazing portraits are just what John Claridge is all about, truth and no messing around, John is the most honest photographer around today.