Ultimate Survivor: Don Elbaum and the story of two left gloves gifted to the greatest fighter in the world

IT WAS at a press convention to announce what would end up to be Sugar Ray Robinson’s final struggle in November 1965, the place the legend of Don Elbaum was born.

Looking to add a bit sentimentality to the proceedings, Elbaum informed the assembled media in Pittsburgh, that he had a shock for the six-time world champion. Turning to Robinson, Elbaum in a short time displayed a pair of gloves that he stated had been from Robinson’s professional debut, 25 years earlier than. Robinson’s spouse was teary eyed. Sugar Ray was choked with emotion over the gesture. The press went bonkers, asking Robinson to put the gloves on for images. Robinson began to attain for the gloves which had been in a field the place Elbaum had swiftly put them again, when he heard the promoter plead with him not to. Puzzled as to why Elbaum would decline the probability at such publicity, a second look made Robinson perceive why. Both the gloves had been left-handed.

“It’s my birthday,” says Elbaum at this time. “But I won’t tell you or anyone else how old I am.” Elbaum all the time not directly makes some extent of difficult individuals to guess his age however won’t ever give them a solution. His darkly dyed hair and enthusiasm make him look a lot youthful than the 92 years he’s reported to be.

That he picked up the cellphone in any respect was a gentle shock. Over the years Elbaum has been one of the more durable males to attain. Locations and cellphone numbers have incessantly modified, however the man himself has not. In some ways, Elbaum has been a trailblazer, a person forward of his time. We can solely surmise what he would have been in a position to accomplish had at this time’s discussion board of social media existed when Elbaum was doing his factor.

Any extended dialog with Elbaum outcomes in him reminding us that he was the man chargeable for getting Don King into boxing. Then saying, solely half-jokingly, that he’s regretted it ever since.

Elbaum has incessantly spoken about King’s begin in boxing, however what about his personal?

Born in Cincinnati, as an solely baby to his dad and mom Max and Sally Elbaum, the household relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania, when he was six. His mom was a live performance pianist, and his father owned a vogue firm earlier than stepping into the listening to support enterprise. “When my dad was a teenager he was a waiter in a restaurant in Chicago,” Don explains. “He waited on Al Capone’s desk regularly. He took a liking to my dad who by no means swore in his complete life. Capone left him ten greenback suggestions which was huge cash at the time.

“I had an uncle named Danny Greenstein who was unbeaten in 30 amateur fights. Al Weill, who would later manage Rocky Marciano, wanted to turn him pro. My mother’s family owned meat markets in Boston, New Bedford, and Fall River, Massachusetts. While there my uncle took me to see a fight show for the first time. I remember my exact words when watching one of the boxers. I said that’s the most beautiful music I have ever seen. The boxer was Willie Pep.” Little did younger Don know that he would at some point promote Pep towards the tail finish of the featherweight’s profession.

“I was about 13 or 14, when my dad took me to shows in Cleveland. The promoter was Larry Atkins. I kept suggesting matchups he should make. He allowed me to make two- and four-round fights on one of his shows. I would later box as an amateur, but knew where my future was in the sport.”

Elbaum claims he was 17, when he promoted his first present, in Erie. That he was licensed at such a younger age and may bankroll an occasion, or get another person to, is a story in itself. But the profession of Don Elbaum is unorthodox to say the least. Elbaum has all the time dreamed huge however has usually come up small. Elbaum’s integrity will not be the challenge, the outcomes are for these placing up the cash. As a detailed pal of Elbaum’s as soon as quipped, “Don makes millionaires out of multi-millionaires.”

Only Elbaum would take into consideration placing on a match billed as the world’s worst fighter. Only Elbaum would bounce out of the crowd and enter the ring in its place on his personal present when one of his fighter’s had pulled out. Only Elbaum would prepare for a boxer’s nuptials to happen in the ring earlier than a struggle.

Elbaum was winless in 4 fights throughout his professional profession however did have one draw to his credit score, and the losses had been all on factors. “I had no power whatsoever,” he says. “I could not break an egg. But I was always in shape and took a good punch.”

The first of his 4 fights, which all passed off in the Nineteen Sixties, was towards Joe Byrd, whose son Chris would later grow to be a heavyweight belt-holder. “Two fights fell out at the weigh-in” says Elbaum, who was that present’s matchmaker. “There was no State Commission in Ohio. We boxed to a draw.” According to BoxRec, Elbaum’s recollection is skewed. Byrd gained that one, the draw coming in Elbaum’s subsequent match towards Carl Jordan.

As for the wedding ceremony ceremony, Elbaum can’t recall the fighter’s identify. “I know it was on a show I promoted in Buffalo, and he was beaten on points.”

Somewhat gimmickry by no means damage anybody, however heavy monetary losses have.

For no matter cause, the evening of July 1 1992, at the Metropol Club in Brooklyn, has stayed with this author. The place was practically empty, with a reported 55 individuals in attendance. My eyes had been locked on the present’s promoter which, of course, was Elbaum. With no extra income coming in exterior of the reside gate he was a tragic sight to behold. What a troublesome method to make a dwelling I believed, however Elbaum has carried out precisely that. He is the sport’s final survivor.

“I usually had a backer put up the money,” Elbaum admits, “however I all the time made it clear that there aren’t any ensures. There is nothing like your fighter entering into the ring and successful the world title. Not everybody makes cash, however I by no means lied.

“When I used to be younger, I begged my mom to take me to Stillman’s Gym, the place I noticed [Sugar Ray] Robinson understanding. He took a liking to me and gave me his cellphone quantity, and we stayed in contact. Then years later I flew to New York, to attempt to get him to field for me on that present in Pittsburgh. He nonetheless had hopes of being champion once more, and requested me that of all the prime middleweights, who may he beat. I informed him Joey Archer. I knew it might be a troublesome struggle, however Sugar Ray was the greatest fighter of all time.

“I thought that he might still have one big performance left in him. That didn’t turn out to be the case. I begged Ray to retire in the ring right after the fight, but he refused. He never fought again, but his official retirement came at Madison Square Garden.”

It was in the early 1970’s when King first contacted Elbaum about placing on a charity occasion to profit a Cleveland hospital. King had not but began his legendary foray into boxing.  A partnership with Elbaum was shaped that might not final lengthy.

According to Elbaum, the hospital didn’t obtain a cent. “I obtained to witness the greatest and worst of King. He may have made simply as a lot cash if he had carried out issues the proper method.

“I saw what he was doing, stealing money and underpaying boxers. People in the business were physically afraid of him because of his reputation. I was getting disgusted with how he did things. I had a heavyweight named Jeff Merritt who Don signed. He said not to worry, that he would take care of me. I then decided to walk away from Don King. Let me make something clear: I left him, he did not leave me.”

If age has not softened Elbaum’s emotions towards King, it definitely has for his former adversary. “Is he okay?” requested King, exhibiting real concern when reached for this story. When informed that the name was not about Elbaum’s demise, King appeared relieved.

“He helped me quite a bit after I first started in conditions I wasn’t aware of.

“Don Elbaum would always tell stories. Whatever needed to be said he would say.” Asked why their relationship had not flourished, King laughed, then stated, “This is Don Elbaum we are talking about. He was the type of guy who was always moving on. But I love Don Elbaum. He’s a really good guy.”

Elbaum left King, however by no means tolerated a boxer below contract leaving him. “Most have been loyal. Very few tried to get out of the contract I had with them,” he says. “I always stressed that the legal costs would not be worth it to them and that we could always sit down one on one and work out any problems we had.”

When Elbaum goes over the spectacular checklist of fighters he was related to, be it as a promoter, matchmaker, or advisor, he does so with a excessive degree of satisfaction over what they completed. Some he had extra clout with than others. Nevertheless, he was a valued member of the crew.

Few promoters have the globetrotting historical past that Elbaum does. For instance, he promoted Floyd Patterson for 3 consecutive matches in the former heavyweight champion’s profession in 1971, all in completely different areas: Terry Daniels in Cleveland, Charlie Polite in Erie, and Vic Brown in Buffalo. Patterson gained all three on factors.

“I had a great relationship with Floyd, and with Sonny Liston as well,” says Elbaum. “I was involved in the promotion of his fight against Leotis Martin (Las Vegas). I had a contract with Martin that I would promote him if he won the fight. He did, but then suffered a detached retina and was forced to retire.”

Besides the names already talked about, Elbaum boasts a powerful roster of the males he has promoted at one time or one other. Among them are Roberto Duran, Aaron Pryor, Simon Brown, Maurice Blocker, Al Blue Lewis, Tony Tubbs, Hedgeman Lewis, Ronnie Harris, Vito Antuofermo, Mike Weaver, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, and Joey Giambra.

Brown had an unsightly break up from Elbaum. “I promoted him from his debut, but then people started telling him he could make more money without me. Eventually we got back together.”

In the Seventies, outdated rival King was embroiled in the scandal of the United States Boxing Tournament. During the identical time, Elbaum was placing on a event of his personal. It too was lower quick, however the matches had been of higher high quality than these staged by King. Working in conjunction with others, Elbaum’s event had matches akin to Eddie Mustafa Muhammad vs Matthew Saad Muhammad and Vito Antuofermo vs Eugene Cyclone Hart. But it was future WBA heavyweight belt-holder Mike Weaver’s thrilling factors win over New Yorker Bill Sharkey, which is talked about to this present day by those that witnessed it. Ultimately, regardless of; as inventive a hit as the event was, it may not likely compete with King’s effort which was bankrolled by ABC tv, the broadcasting large in the United States.

“Hank Schwartz approached me to put on the tournament,” explains Elbaum. “Our television deal did not pay much. We ran out of money and could not continue.”

People have various opinions of Elbaum however nobody can dispute he’s a boxing lifer having spent lengthy stretches selling in Erie, Buffalo, Ohio, the Tropicana Hotel in Atlantic City, and a spread of different locales. In truth, in a five-year stretch, Elbaum placed on 196 reveals in Atlantic City, which is a mean of, roughly, one each 10 days.

The late author Jack Obermayer, who arguably attended extra reside reveals than another particular person since boxing got here into existence, labeled Elbaum his favorite particular person in the sport. When Obermayer acquired the Long and Meritorious Service award from the Boxing Writers Association of America at a banquet in Las Vegas, in 2011, he ended his speech with the phrases, “the bum (for Elbaum), is a great man.” Who would have guessed that only one yr later it might be Elbaum receiving the identical award from the BWAA.

Include Teddy Atlas amongst those that are fond of Elbaum as properly. Atlas has used Elbaum as a camp coordinator and as a trusted advisor. “I go back many years with Don,” Atlas tells BN. “There are so many nice tales. He is a Damon Runyon sort of character. He has a core of decency about him, having carried out so many issues on a shoestring, dwelling out of a suitcase.

“I trained Simon Brown for five of his title defences, so I was around Don a lot and got to know him well as not only a boxing guy, but as a person as well. When he was going through times he did not have much he told my young son that for every A (grade), he got in school he would give him 10 dollars. And Don would make sure to send the money. Who cares if the cheque bounced,” jokes Atlas, “his intention was to give the 10 {dollars}.

“He is a lovable rogue. Being with Don Elbaum is a rollercoaster. You don’t know once you’ll cease. He’s a boxing man by and by. I used him as a camp coordinator as a result of I cared about him and was in a place to assist.

“Without the small club shows that Don and other promoters put on boxing would not exist. Those shows are necessary to keep the sport alive.”

“I met Teddy when he trained fighters,” says Elbaum. “I’d typically keep at his house in New York. I’ve had a hell of a relationship with him. There are a thousand trainers, however no academics. Teddy Atlas is a instructor.

“Mike Scanlon, a trainer from Buffalo, was also a teacher. Some of his fighters were Joey Giambra, Bobby Scanlon, Henry Brimm, and Vic Brown.”

Elbaum takes just a few seconds to digest the query when requested to identify his most fun second in boxing. “I would say Aaron Pryor’s first fight with Alexis Arguello (1982 in Miami) when he won by knockout. No one was giving us a chance in that one,” he exaggerates. “Officially I was Pryor’s advisor. No fight could be made for him without my okay and signature.”

Not wanting to be confined to one second, Elbaum proceeds to rattle off two extra matches he was fond of. “Doyle Baird boxing to a draw against world middleweight champion, Nino Benvenuti in a non title match in Akron (1968) was satisfying to me, as was bringing Roberto Duran to Erie, to box Lou Bizzarro (1976) for the world lightweight title.” Bizzarro was an extended shot going in however exceeded expectations by conserving on the transfer and lasting into the 14th spherical. “I may have been one of the few people who thought he could win,” stated Elbaum. “In boxing anything can happen inside of the ring.”

Although he doesn’t rank it amongst his fondest of recollections, Elbaum has a definite recollection of when one of his fighter’s, Al Blue Lewis, went to Ireland, to tackle Muhammad Ali. The dangers of placing on a big promotion rose to the floor that day.

“Tickets were going really slow. There were cops all over the place, but no one cared. All of a sudden people were climbing the fence and getting in without paying.”

Elbaum is old-fashioned, calling Jack Johnson the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. “He had everything, defence and punching power.” Don’t search for Muhammad Ali to get the runner up spot, both. “Joe Louis was greater Ali, and Rocky Marciano would have beaten Ali in a 15-round fight.”

He’s not completed but. “The referees today are so bad that they should be banned from boxing,” Elbaum reckons. “And the scoring of fights on points is something I don’t like. I wish they would go back to the rounds system.”

In 2019, Elbaum’s lengthy physique of work was rewarded when he was given his sport’s greatest honor, being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame alongside along with his pal Atlas. Both have expressed how a lot it meant to them to be inducted collectively.

While his former nemesis King resides in a mansion in Boca Raton, Elbaum is content material to be the place he’s, in Pennsylvania. “The VA got me a great apartment. And author Joe Botti is writing a book on my life. Things are good,” says Elbaum.

Considering what he’s just lately been by, that’s a aid to hear. A pair of months in the past, Elbaum was attacked and suffered facial harm in consequence. “I was coming back to my apartment from down the street and three guys got close to me,” he explains. “One said, you’re the fight guy. He then hauled off and hit me. The other two were startled, shocked it happened, but ran off with their friend. I did not go to the police. I did not want to file a report, but I do want to see them again and discuss what happened. I put the word out to people I know in the neighbourhood who are looking into it for me.”

That the mugging on the road didn’t trigger extra hurt to Elbaum at his superior age, needs to be no shock. He is boxing’s final survivor, spanning the generations and doing issues in a method that solely he may.