The Sweet Science A Legacy of Two Generations by Patrick Scholz

THE SWEET SCIENCE A LEGACY OF TWO GENERATIONS Patrick Scholz

Middleweight Russell Lamour Jr.

THE SWEET SCIENCE A Legacy Of Two Generations Patrick Scholz

Foreword by Steve Farhood

A LEGACY OF TWO GENERATIONS FOREWORD BY STEVE FARHOOD

hen Patrick Scholz first told me he was putting together a book of his photographs, my reaction was one of astonishment: How could a seven-year-old conceive and complete such a project? Patrick, of course, is no longer the little boy who used to run around the office when I was the editor of “KO” and “The Ring” magazines. But that’s how I remembered him. Patrick is the grandson of publisher Stanley Weston, who in 1978 started me in the fascinating world of boxing journalism. A few months ago, Patrick reconnected with me. It was great to hear from him after, oh, three decades, and when I heard he had developed a passion for boxing photography, I was both thrilled and intrigued. It made me think of Stanley, who was among the most significant influences in my career, and I could only imagine how proud Patrick’s late-grandfather, who was both a businessman and an accomplished artist, would have been. I have trouble using the camera on my cell phone. Perhaps for that reason, I have a deep appreciation of photography. As an editor of monthly magazines, a large part of my job was to select cover photos and arrange shoots. Capturing the action of a boxing match is sports photography at its most challenging; if you don’t know how to anticipate a punch, you’re going to be a split-second late in capturing the desired image. The flip side is that fighters are wonderfully willing subjects who are honest, expressive, and unfailingly photogenic. What more could an artist want? Patrick’s photos speak of a shooter with a sharp eye and a creative touch. I’d like to think that back in the day, when I was younger than he is now, he was influenced by his grandfather’s London Publishing art and editorial departments, which cranked out beautiful covers and layouts, and produced as many as eight or nine magazines per month. It was a busy time, but we were a young staff that always made sure to have fun. On his visits, I’m sure Patrick sensed that (I don’t recall whether we bribed him not to tell Stanley that in the late-afternoon, we’d play whiffle-ball and Stratomatic baseball), and perhaps a seed was planted.

As Patrick grows and his work becomes more distinctive and personal, I hope he remains committed to shooting boxers and boxing. I’ve been deeply involved in the fight game for 37 years, and I haven’t been bored for a single day. At my start, I was fortunate to cover the end of Muhammad Ali’s career and the beginning of Sugar Ray Leonard’s. Maybe there’s a teenager sweating in some grimy gym who will bloom into a world champion and become Patrick’s favorite subject. Better yet, Patrick’s love for boxing photography serves as a tribute to the legacy of his grandfather, the hall of famer Stanley Weston. In that sense, here’s to hoping the end of this book is a beginning.

Steve Farhood Works as an on-air analyst for Showtime’s “ShoBox” series, and “Showtime Championship Boxing.” Photo Credit to Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

Boxing provides a method, the only possible method, for a young boy born into poverty, to attain fame and fortune almost over night. Stanley Weston 1964 Boxing Publisher, Artist, Photographer, Historian

Boxing is more than a sport, it’s an obsession. Bob Russo “Coach” Portland Boxing Club, Portland, Maine

Boxing is a game of trial and error, over, and over, and over, until you get it right. Tony Luis Lightweight, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

Boxing is my passion, everything in my life revolves around boxing. I fight for my gym, my teammates, my fans, #207, my family and last but not least my son. Boxing will always be a part of me and my life. Russell Lamour Jr. Middleweight, Portland, Maine

I will never be able to explain in words why I love boxing and do what I do. I just have a love for the sport. I think you have to be a little crazy to be a boxer given all the sacrifices and grueling training regimen your body goes through. You have to love it to be willing to do that. Tony Luis Lightweight Cornwall, Ontario, Canada

No question, the toughest sport, bar none. Bob Russo “Coach” Portland Boxing Club, Portland, Maine

Barnburner

Noun: A good fight. One that is very intense and exciting and cannot be predicted until the very end.

Chin

Noun: Having a chin, whiskers or granite like jaw means having the ability to absorb punches when you get hit with a big shot and stay standing, to remain on your feet despite seeing black, flashing lights, blurred, double or triple vision and feeling a buzz that goes all the way to your toes.

Glass Jaw

Noun: A boxer that is susceptible to a knockout is said to have a glass jaw or chin.

Down for the

Count

Noun: A boxer who is knocked down for the count of ten.

Photographs taken between June 2014 and January 2015 Photographs from the Stanley Weston Collection

1 Cassius Clay with Baby Daughter 2 Russell Lamour Jr. Haircut. Portland, Maine 3 Russell Lamour Jr. Ice Bath, Scarborough High School. Scarborough, Maine 4 Face Off, Lamour vs Ahsandi Gibbs at Bruno’s Restaurant. Portland, Maine 5 Madison Square Garden March 12, 1963. New York City, New York 6 Foxwoods Resort, Fox Theater January 30, 2015. Mashantucket, Connecticut 7 Russell Lamour Jr. Locker Room. Portland, Maine 8 Portland Expo Center November 15, 2014. Portland, Maine 9 Tony “The Lighting” Luis, Lightweight 10 Larry “Hitman” Pryor, Light heavyweight 11 Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour Jr, Middleweight 12 Thomas Falowo, Middleweight 13 Keith “Machine Gun” Tapia, Heavyweight 14 Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston I. Miami Beach, Florida February 24, 1964 15 Russell Lamour Jr. Walking to the Ring 16 Russell Lamour Jr. Hard Left on Opponent Laatekwei Hammond. June 14, 2014 17 Russell Lamour Jr. vs. Laatekwei Hammond. June 14, 2014 18 Russell Lamour Jr. In His Corner Between Rounds 19 The Crowd 20 Russell Lamour Jr. vs. Ahsandi Gibbs. November 15, 2014 21 Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour Jr, Middleweight

22 Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles, Yankee Stadium New York, New York September 17, 1954 23 Tony Luis vs. Karl Dargan. January 30, 2015 24 Karl Dargan with cut man & trainer Naasim Richardson (White Cap) 25 Tony Luis vs. Karl Dargan. January 30, 2015 26 Sullivan Barrera vs. Jeff Lacy. January 30, 2015 27 Sullivan Barrera vs. Jeff Lacy. January 30, 2015 28 Sullivan Barrera wins against Jeff Lacy. January 30, 2015 29 Shane Mosley Jr. vs. Rafael Machado. January 30, 2015 30 Shane Mosley vs. Rafael Machado. January 30, 2015 31 “Sugar” Shane Mosely with son Shane Mosley Jr. and Trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. 32 Rafael Francis vs. Freddy Sanchez. Royale Club, Boston, Massachusetts. July 26, 2014 33 Rafael Francis vs. Freddy Sanchez. Royale Club, Boston, Massachusetts. July 26, 2014 34 Moises Rivera koyed by Jimmy Smith. Portland Expo, Portland, Maine. November 15, 2014 35 Anthony Everett koyed by Andy Gonzalez. Royale Club, Boston, Massachusetts. July 26, 2014 36 Floyd Patterson at Gramercy Gym, New York City, New York. 1954 37 Russell Lamour Jr. and Youngest Fan Post Fight. Portland, Maine 38 Russell Lamour Jr. Post Fight Getting Stitched Up 39 Russell Lamour Jr. Celebrating Win 40 Cassius Clay Fight Pose. May 17, 1962 41 Russell Lamour Fight Pose. November 29, 2014 42 Cassius Clay. November 15, 1962 43 Russell Lamour Jr. November 29, 2014

PATRICK SCHOLZ AFTERWORD

Having grown up around photographers and graphic designers, it only makes sense that I embrace both disciplines. My mother went to college for photography and later became a graphic designer. My father was great with the camera and my little sister found her way in the arts. Then there were the visits to my grandfather’s office where I would be exposed to the sport of boxing. My early memories of visiting my grandfather, Stanley Weston, include trips to the dark room to develop film, bothering Steve Farhood and others while they worked on stories and designs. I remember always being fascinated and hoping to one day be doing the same. My first fight was the Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno rematch on March 16, 1996. My grandfather took me to that fight and I will never forget it. Three decades later in Portland, Maine, boxing found me. What started as a study has become a passion. The fighters I have gotten to know are some of the best people I have met. They sacrifice everything for the sport. As I continued to photograph fights I started to appreciate the sport and find an unexpected beauty in it. I would like to thank “Coach” Bob Russo and everyone at Portland Boxing Club. None of this would have been possible without their help and support. Russell Lamour Jr., thank you for letting me be a part of your boxing career. I will never be able to thank you enough “Champ”. I hope to continue the journey with you. Lastly, I’d like to thank Scott Peterman for pushing me and my photography. Charles Melcher, Margo Halverson, and Mark Jamra for teaching me the skills necessary to design this book. Steve Farhood for writing my foreword. Most importantly my family, especially my mother, it has been a long journey and I will be forever grateful for all your support. The images of Cassius Clay, Sonny Liston, Rocky Marciano, and Madison Square Garden represent Stanley Weston’s work in boxing and come from his collection, some of which he photographed. His spirit lives within this book . Thank you grandpa.

2006 Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Stanley Weston

Rocky Marciano with daughter Mary Ann on Rockyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32nd birthday. He is training for title defense against Archie Moore at Grossingers, New York, September 1, 1955 Photo Credit Stanley Weston 1955

First edition published by Conveyor Arts © 2015 Patrick Scholz for the images © 2015 Stanley Weston Collection for the images © 2015 Conveyor Arts for this edition Design by Patrick Scholz Printed by Conveyor Arts