memories
Every now and then, an image or an idea bring back recollections of times past or even actual childhood experiences. A few nights ago, I sat down, flipped through the cable channels, and landed on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) just as Fat City was starting. The movie seemed familiar although I cannot recall seeing it, but the era, the cinematography, or the vaguely familiar story took me back into my memories. My trip down memory lane is not specifically about the movie but about a happening in my childhood sometime after 1971. First, to bring things into perspective, here is the Amazon review to help frame Fat City:
Jeff Bridges stars as an amateur boxer on a brief rise who catches the eye of an aging pugilist (Stacy Keach) heading downward in this 1972 film by John Huston and based on the novel by Leonard Gardner. Keach becomes the younger man's mentor, and the two hit central California's tanktown circuit of small matches for small money, interspersed with visits to smoke-filled bars and hellish gyms. Theirs is a cut-rate dream, all right, but as real and driving--and finally just as punishing--as the mythical black bird itself in Huston's The Maltese Falcon. The cast is outstanding, the cinematography by Conrad Hall stunning, and the climax one of Huston is most painfully memorable. The story is filled out by surrounding detail that never leaves the memory: boxers and trainers who whisper of injuries that could put them out of business for good; a lone fighter who takes a bus into town, bides time in a crummy motel room, takes a beating in the ring, then leaves on the next bus with a few dollars in his pocket. This film helped re-establish Huston's reputation as a major filmmaker. It was followed by the likes of The Man Who Would Be King. --Tom Keogh
My memory:
I was six in 1971 and in between the first grade and second grade, for me a very impressionable age. As I recall it was summer and returning from some boyhood activity one day, I noticed an unfamiliar truck in our driveway. I ran through the front door into the living room, which was occupied by my mother and two men. The men, I learned were the husband of my mom’s first cousin from Mississippi, Elkin, and their son Jimmy (something like my second cousin). They had driven in from Ignacio, Colorado where they were running a ranch. Their purpose for coming out to Los Angeles was to pursue Jimmy’s pugilistic endeavors. Jimmy was 19 or 20 and I suppose he had amateur bouts either back in Mississippi or in and around Ignacio. Therefore, the natural next extension was to turn pro. As I recall, they stayed with us for a few nights, at least, and then ended up getting a room somewhere. During that time I recall walking with Jimmy to one of the local supermarkets and getting Buddig lunchmeat, we ate it right from the bag. Jimmy told me “he needed it for the protein” and “this is what fighters eat when training,” or at least that is how I recall it. Regardless, I was enthralled with the “boxing” “fighter” concepts I was being exposed to during his stay but I am sure I was also influenced by the matches I watched on the weekend network sport shows.
Eventually, nearing the end of the summer, my mother, brother, and I tagged along when Jimmy and Elkin returned to Colorado. We spent a few weeks on the ranch in Ignacio, met the rest of our relatives, and experienced as much country life as a city kid could in that amount of time. Over the next few years, we traveled back to Ignacio on our summer vacations and Jimmy actually moved out with his brother Larry and stayed in a small rented apartment in Glendale while he continued his career.
News of Jimmy’s career was followed through the mid 70s by my parents and the relatives on my mom’s side of the family. We were quite proud at times of the strides he made in his career but I was disappointed not to be old enough to attend his matches. I suppose my age had something to do with it but by the late 70s, Jimmy fell off my radar until I thought of him in regards to Fat City.
At this point you may say, “Quaint story but what’s the tie in?” “Who’s Jimmy?”
Jimmy Heair.
In hindsight, Jimmy was quite accomplished but not without the turmoil and struggle that accompanied many fighters. Most notable was his string of undefeated fights, placing him as one of the top contenders for the WBA lightweight title. At one point, he was 33 wins with no losses. Injuries seemed to cut into his prime and circumstance postponed the fight for the title. Losses started to come and even though he scrapped back and was always within a few wins of being in contention, the biggest opportunity was the anti-climactic loss to the former holder of the title, Roberto Duran. Historically, Jimmy did as well against Roberto as could be expected; he fought Roberto to a 10 round loss by decision.
Here are a few newspaper clippings:
Oct 10, 1972
Jan 21, 1973
Jimmy Heair
Country US American
Hometown Memphis, TN
Birthplace Memphis, TN
Division Light Welterweight
Career Record © www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1984-08-01 Adam George Cade, LA, USA L KO 2
1983-06-02 Danny Ferris Atlantic City, NJ, USA L TKO 2
1983-04-22 Danny Ferris Latham, NY, USA L KO 7
1983-01-18 Jim Pixley Little Rock, AR, USA L PTS 10
1982-04-20 Donald King Atlantic City, NJ, USA L KO 4
1982-03-26 Isidoro Moreno Miami Beach, FL, USA L PTS 10
1982-01-23 Tony Doyle Meridian, MS, USA W PTS 10
1982-01-19 Bill Bradley Memphis, TN, USA L PTS 10
1981-12-11 Nino LaRocca Milan, Italy L TKO 1
1981-11-22 Ali Hassan Meridan, TN, USA W KO 7
1981-10-08 Mike McCallum Tampa, FL, USA L TKO 2
1981-09-02 Mike Senegal Lake Charles, LA, USA L PTS 10
1981-08-29 Ali Hassan Tupelo, MS, USA W PTS 10
1981-06-29 Roosevelt Green Chicago, IL, USA L PTS 10
1981-06-06 Don Morgan Tupelo, MS, USA W PTS 10
1981-05-12 Tony Jordan Memphis, TN, USA W KO 2
1981-05-04 Charlie Peterson Chicago, IL, USA W PTS 10
1981-04-18 Abdul Farakhan Tupelo, MS, USA W PTS 10
1981-04-07 Abdul Farakhan Memphis, TN, USA W TKO 6
1981-03-13 Rufus Walters Houston, TX, USA W KO 7
1981-02-24 Charlie Peterson Memphis, TN, USA W KO 7
1981-02-13 Freddie Harris Meridian, MS, USA W KO 8
1981-01-27 Clyde Spencer Memphis, TN, USA W KO 2
1981-01-17 Gilbert Miconda Houston, MS, USA W KO 5
1980-12-09 Billy White Birmingham, AL, USA W KO 3
1980-11-18 Robert Culp Belleville, IL, USA W KO 2
1980-10-23 Johnny Copeland Memphis, TN, USA W TKO 9
1980-09-09 Maurice Quillens Memphis, TN, USA W PTS 10
1980-07-01 Sal Lopez Sacramento, CA, USA L KO 5
1980-05-31 Raul Aguirre El Paso, TX, USA W KO 7
1980-05-09 Javier Rivas El Paso, TX, USA W PTS 10
1980-03-31 Clint Jackson Knoxville, TN, USA L KO 9
1979-12-07 Freddie Harris Memphis, TN, USA W KO 5
1979-10-03 Richard House Orlando, FL, USA L PTS 10
1979-08-24 Marvin Ladson Memphis, TN, USA W KO 1
1979-07-10 Don Morgan Memphis, TN, USA W PTS 10
1979-06-19 Emmett Atlas Orlando, FL, USA W TKO 2
1979-05-29 Tony Johnson Memphis, TN, USA W KO 1
1979-04-08 Roberto Duran Las Vegas, NV, USA L UD 10
1979-02-20 Juan Roman Panchi Orlando, FL, USA W KO 5
1979-02-06 Robert Spencer Orlando, FL, USA W KO 3
1978-12-12 Pete Ranzany Sacramento, CA, USA L PTS 12
NABF Welterweight Title
1978-11-02 Kelvin Jackson Orlando, FL, USA W PTS 10
1978-10-12 Adriano Marrero Memphis, TN, USA L PTS 10
1978-07-13 Jimmy Corkum Hattiesburg, MS, USA W KO 3
1978-06-20 Jessie Martinez Little Rock, AR, USA W KO 2
1978-05-23 Clyde Spencer Little Rock, AR, USA W KO 3
1978-04-25 George Madison Greenville, TN, USA W KO 1
1978-03-21 Paulino Garcia Memphis, TN, USA W KO 4
1978-02-21 John Morgan Greenville, MS, USA W KO 3
1978-02-07 Robert Tijernia Memphis, TN, USA W TKO 3
1978-01-25 Donnie London Greenville, MS, USA W KO 1
1978-01-19 Freddie Harris Memphis, TN, USA W TKO 6
1977-12-13 Mike Ramirez Memphis, TN, USA W TKO 4
1977-11-08 Robert Turner Memphis, TN, USA W KO 5
1977-10-15 Juan Garcia Palm Springs, CA, USA W KO 10
1977-09-20 Jerry Strickland Memphis, TN, USA W KO 1
1977-08-23 Scotty Foreman Memphis, TN, USA W KO 7
1977-07-07 Freddie Harris Memphis, TN, USA W PTS 10
1977-06-13 Joe Medrano Memphis, TN, USA W KO 4
1977-05-23 Dennis Haggerty Memphis, TN, USA W KO 2
1977-05-13 Rudy Hernandez Tucson, AZ, USA W KO 3
1977-04-26 Freddie Harris Memphis, TN, USA L PTS 10
1977-03-02 Harold Weston New York, NY, USA L PTS 10
1977-01-10 Arturo Leon El Paso, TX, USA L PTS 10
1976-12-11 Richie Puentes Ignacio, CO, USA W KO 5
1976-11-09 Dave Green Wembley, London, England L PTS 10
1976-11-06 Augustin Estrada Ignacio, CO, USA W KO 5
1976-10-12 Rocky Ramon San Antonio, TX, USA W PTS 10
1976-09-18 Santos Solis San Juan, Puerto Rico L PTS 10
1976-08-03 Lorenzo Trujillo Corpus Christi, TX, USA W PTS 10
1976-07-01 Rodney Cooper El Paso, TX, USA W KO 2
1976-06-17 Armando Muniz El Paso, TX, USA L PTS 12
1976-05-26 Tongta Kiatvayupakdi Bangkok, Thailand L PTS 10
1976-04-05 Jose Luis Soberanes Tijuana, BCN, Mexico L TKO 7
1976-03-16 Jesus Chucho Alonso Tijuana, BCN, Mexico W KO 5
1976-03-04 Arturo Leon Los Angeles, CA, USA D PTS 10
1976-02-05 Javier Muniz Los Angeles, CA, USA W PTS 10
1976-01-10 Andreas Gonzalez Las Vegas, NV, USA W PTS 10
1975-12-18 Rudy Hernandez Los Angeles, CA, USA W PTS 10
1975-10-07 Jorge Rodriguez Juarez, CHH, Mexico W KO 2
1975-09-10 Nicolino Locche Buenos Aires, Argentina L PTS 10
1975-07-28 Laudiel Negron San Juan, Puerto Rico W KO 5
1975-07-11 Sigfredo Rodriguez Durango, DUR, Mexico L PTS 10
1975-05-02 Jose Peterson San Diego, CA, USA L PTS 10
1975-04-16 Lorenzo Trujillo El Paso, TX, USA W PTS 10
1975-03-14 Centavito (Antonio) Herna San Diego, CA, USA W PTS 10
1975-02-28 Gerardo Ferrat San Diego, CA, USA W TKO 5
1975-01-18 Arturo Leon Anaheim, CA, USA L PTS 10
1974-11-22 Juan Collado San Diego, CA, USA W KO 8
1974-10-11 Miguel Mayan San Diego, CA, USA L SD 10
1974-08-30 Hector Thompson Brisbane, QLD, Australia L PTS 10
1974-08-09 Ignacio Castaneda San Diego, CA, USA W KO 8
1974-07-19 Raul Montoya San Diego, CA, USA W PTS 10
1974-06-06 Rito Torres Dallas, TX, USA W KO 3
1974-05-09 Rudy Barro Los Angeles, CA, USA L PTS 10
1974-01-01 Clemente Muciño Mexicali, BCN, Mexico W KO 5
1973-12-13 Ignacio Castaneda Los Angeles, CA, USA W TKO 9
1973-10-27 Arturo Pineda Los Angeles, CA, USA W KO 4
1973-10-04 Costenito Rodriguez Los Angeles, CA, USA W KO 5
1973-08-17 Raul Montoya San Diego, CA, USA W PTS 10
1973-07-20 Miguel Mayan San Diego, CA, USA W PTS 10
1973-06-23 Rene Morgan Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 2
1973-06-01 Clemente Muciño Los Angeles, CA, USA W TKO 5
1973-03-17 Chango Carmona Los Angeles, CA, USA W UD 10
1973-01-29 Hiroyuki Murakami Anaheim, CA, USA W TKO 5
1972-11-28 Angel Mayoral Los Angeles, CA, USA W KO 9
1972-10-31 Miguel Mayan Bakersfield, CA, USA W PTS 10
1972-10-09 Juan Collado Northridge, CA, USA W KO 3
1972-09-11 Cesar Sinda Anaheim, CA, USA W KO 10
1972-08-28 Quito Sugar Montgomery Inglewood, CA, USA W UD 10
1972-07-24 Ignacio Castaneda Inglewood, CA, USA W UD 10
1972-06-30 Jamie Campos Inglewood, CA, USA W UD 10
1972-06-19 Benito Hernandez Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 3
1972-06-05 Alberto Hugo Maldonado Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 1
1972-05-15 Lupe Orantes Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 5
1972-05-08 Chi Chi Ontiveros Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 1
1972-05-01 Ray Llamas Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 2
1972-04-17 David Herrera Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 6
1972-04-10 Gabriel Vega Inglewood, CA, USA W KO 1
1972-04-03 Antonio Alcala Inglewood, CA, USA W PTS 5
1972-03-25 Agapito Villegas Long Beach, CA, USA W PTS 6
1972-03-12 Richie Puentes Farmington, CA, USA W PTS 6
1971-08-28 Julio Lopez Santa Monica, CA, USA W PTS 4
1971-08-19 Julio Lopez Los Angeles, CA, USA W PTS 4
1971-08-14 Julio Lopez Anaheim, CA, USA W PTS 4
1971-08-12 Jorge Rivera Los Angeles, CA, USA W PTS 4
1971-08-07 Val Chapron Santa Monica, CA, USA W PTS 4
1971-07-22 Jorge Rivera Los Angeles, CA, USA W PTS 4
Record to Date
Won 96 (KOs 62) Lost 32 Drawn 1 Total 129
Looking over his record and the newspaper clippings made me realize how much I really missed. Nevertheless, the things I do remember are vivid and unique to me but because I am writing this, I feel I need to record it somewhere and share it with the curious.
On a final note, I came across this interview with Paul Thorn that mentions Jimmy in and notes the lingering ailments that follow a fighter into retirement.
“After struggling to beat well-traveled Buck Smith, the 14-4 Thorn came to the realization that he could easily end up like his best friend and hero Jimmy Heair, a 1970s lightweight contender from Memphis whose souvenirs today of over 150 pro fights are halting speech and a stumbling gait.”