The Ron Lipton Interview

You were also a sparring partner and friend of Rubin Carter and the man who helped to get Carter released from prison. How good was Rubin and how far do you think he would have gone if he had not been jailed. Would he have won the world title: How long do you think he could have gone on to become a dominant champion?

ANSWER:

If Rubin laid off the booze and trained diligently he could rise to the occasion and hurt anyone with one or two punches. People say he had no stamina, believe me he could fight all-night and run all day. Tiger had his number and I believe Emile would have beat him in a rematch His foot movement made him too one-dimensional and he was a natural 158 lbs., where Tiger was coming down to 160 from 172. Losing to Johnny Morris, Stan Harrington, Joey Archer, Rocky Rivero, Luis Rodriquez and others does not make him one of the greats. He was fierce, fluid, had both hands and a vicious mindset, but with Tiger, Giardello, Fullmer and Griffith out there, along with Archer and Jose Gonzalez, he would have some hard nights.

-------------------------

Ron 'Ready For Action' During His Days As A Fighter.

-------------------------

QUESTION FOUR:

You had a good amateur career and were a notoriously hard puncher, do you ever wish you had turned pro: and also to be able to spar with some of the great fighters you sparred with, you obviously had to be a very good and competent boxer, how far do you think you could have gone if you had turned pro?

ANSWER:

All the way at lightweight, all the way at welter. I had Emile in trouble when I weighed 144, as a kid, but could not have beat him then, I dropped Laguna in the basement of the Old Garden with what I felt was a light right hand, Tiger never dropped me, Carter only once, and if you see my pictures, no one was stronger within 20 pounds, pictures don’t lie, I have films of me now hitting the bag and I ask you to judge for yourself if anyone is faster with their hands you ever saw on any boxing film, or hits harder with either hand at 158. My waist was 29, chest 47, biceps 18, could do 82 wide grip chins to the front, 101 dips in one set, 1000 pushups, ran 6 miles a day, incline sit-ups with 50lb plates, I had 39 wins, 23 KO’s in the first round, 38 KO’s and my losses were when I was a babe of 16, and I had over 140 exhibition bouts, against the best Golden Gloves winners in the Tri State Area. Maybe over 400 street fights, so help me God. Never lost one, as a bouncer. Still have my black belt in Judo too. I now teach boxing twice a week at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

I got married very young, had a baby and worked as a cop doing double shifts, 8-4, 4-12 and then 12-8. I could not train and work. I kept getting the call to be a sparring partner and when I could I did. I was with Ali in 1977 for the Shavers fight.

-------------------------

QUESTION FIVE:

What do you think of the heavyweights today compared to the heavyweights of the past and most notably the heavyweights of the 70’s?

ANSWER:

At their zenith at full power, Ali, Foreman, Tyson, Holyfield, Holmes, Lewis, Frazier, Liston, Louis, would eat up most of the rest, with care and caution at all times to be used against fighters like Marciano, Dempsey, punchers like Baer and Schmelling, and cuties like boxer-punchers like Walcott and Charles. It’s all styles and the ability to get the power and damage in there early and continuously. Rose tinted glasses don’t work, in wanting the legends to win, On a given night maybe Shavers hits Tunney once and knocks him into the 8^th row ringside, or Holmes beats Jack Johnson from pillar to post. You have to look at these things with fighting knowledge and reality.

-------------------------

Ron With "The Greatest" Muhammad Ali, Ron Was A Sparring Partner And Friend Of Ali.

-------------------------

QUESTION SIX:

How do you think the prime versions of Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis would have done had they been competing with the 70’s legends? and would any of them have become champions in that era? or do you feel that they would have just been contenders?

ANSWER:

Ali would have eaten up Tyson like Pac-man, Frazier on paper would be very formidable but that 205lb best fighting weight of his against a version of himself in Mike Tyson at 218 muscular pounds of lightning fast reflexes might prove too much for Joe, but Mike would have to kill him to beat him and Joe could just possibly gut it out and Mike could get discouraged in there with a determined Frazier. Foreman in his heyday would take out Lewis,, even with George at 219lbs and overpower Holyfield. Foreman was extremely heavy handed and powerful with a determined lust to destroy. Just look at what the old George did with Holyfield who I refereed twice. Holyfield might not have beaten a younger Mike Tyson at Mike’s best, and might have had trouble with a younger, stronger, mobile Larry Holmes. Holmes was an extremely tough man mentally and was quite fearless. The Norton that gave Ali fits, and destroyed Quarry would have been tough although he folded against the big punchers. I should note that I feel on his best night that Riddick Bowe was formidible and could have beaten many of the champs of the past but ONLY and only if he conquered his weight problem. He was mean, hit hard with both hands and could fight on the inside as well as from long range. Lennox Lewis would have been a problem for all of them except Ali, who would have solved that puzzle like he did all others. The hand speed, mind set and lateral movement would nullify Lewis, and the jab would off set his balance. If Oliver McCall and Rahman KO’d Lennox, then Ali would have destroyed him, despite the rematches. I am talking about Ali at his best of course.

-------------------------

Ron During His Days Serving As A Police Officer.

-------------------------

QUESTION SEVEN:

In all the fights you have refereed, who is the best fighter you have seen from that standpoint?

ANSWER:

Holyfield, Duran, Whitaker and Roy Jones JR, the determination of Steve Collins against Chris Eubank I.

-------------------------

QUESTION EIGHT:

Who are your all time favorite fighters and what is it you admire most about them?

ANSWER:

I like different fighters for different reasons, the dynamite punchers always interested me, Bob Satterfield, Venezuela’s Carlos Hernandez and his good right hand, Dick Tiger, Artie Levine the left hooker who decked Robinson, Curtis Hatchetman Sheppard, Cleveland Williams, Lew Jenkins’ overhand right, Hurricane Carter, Max Baer, Liston in his prime, Tyson in his prime, Florentino Fernandez, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Frankie DePaula and Charlie “Devil” Green as punchers, Jeff “Candy Slim” Merritt, Joe Frazier, Tony DeMarco and Carmen Basilio.

The rugged tough ones, George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Gene Fullmer, Jose Monon Gonzalez, Kid Gavilian’s great chin, Joey Giardello the toughest of them all along with Chuvalo, Harry Greb, Mickey Walker, Zale, Cerdan, Archie Moore, Marciano.

The magic ones Muhammad Ali, Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong, Willie Pep.

-------------------------

QUESTION NINE:

As a referee what is the best fight you have handled?

ANSWER:

Holyfield v Mercer, Morrison v Ruddock, Collins Vs Eubank I, Merqui Sosa Vs Prince Charles Williams I, Junior Jones Vs Orlando Canizalez and Roy Jones Jr Vs Bryant Brannon.

-------------------------

Go Back To Page 1 Of The Ron Lipton Interview.

Continue To Page 3 Of The Ron Lipton Interview.