Some nicer news involving Boxing and the legends. Grahame 'Porky" Brookes and Lauchie 'Baby Cassius' Austin were both honoured on Sunday 22nd Nov, by being inducted into the Victorian Past and Present Boxers Accociation. Both men were applauded during their careers for taking on all comers and dishing out some fantastic boxing lessons. Lauchie 'Baby Cassius' Austin, who shares his birthday with Muhammad Ali, is an icon of the game. Starting of in 1971 as a 4 round prelim fighter, he quickly made a formidable name for himself. Taking the Oz Lightweight crown from former opponent Matt Ropis in '76 over 15 rounds. Baby Cassius then whooped legend Hector Thompson for the Oz and Commonwealth Jnr Welter titles in '77. The two met twice more the same year in a give-and-take struggle over the titles with both men handing the titles back and forth. Jeff 'flash' Malcolm put and end to this in '78, twice beating Austin. Baby Cassius the looked at the Welter division, taking that National diadem from Steve Dennis in '79. Frank 'the tank' Ropis put a close to that party in 1980. Baby Cassius had won an Oz title from one brother, before losing another Oz title to another brother. Austin powered on, moving to Jnr Middle and taking the National crown from Eugene Eades in 1983. Having won and lost titles to great brothers, he was about to lose another title to a son of the greatest team of brothers this country has seen, in being beaten by Russel Sands jnr. In all, Lauchie won 4 National crowns, a Commonwealth crown, 2 Sate titles and a regional title. Grahame 'Porky' Brookes is one of the nicest people a person could meet. One of the hottest talents of the '80s who, for his 21st B'day, kicked the backside of former WBA Lightweight Champ Claude Noel. The Commonwealth Lightweight crown was a fitting gift. Although losing the same crown the following year to Barry Michael, 'Porky' Brooke had still managed a rare feat in taking such a crown without taking National honours first. A premature retirment from the game left a few unanswered questions, although he was certainly a class fighter. Congratulations to both men.
Good on you Lauchy and Porky - Congratulations to both boxers. Lawrence 'Lauchy' Austin is one of my favourite fighters of that era; he had "champ" stamped on his head right from the start; why? - he fights his first four professional fights, all four rounders, at the age of 15 years; at the age 17 he wins the WA State Title 10 rounds, at 20yrs he fights and wins the Australian Title (15 rounds), then at age twenty, he fights and wins Commonwealth title.......what took youze soze longz, I have always callz him a legend.
Touche".. had a beer with him and the losing combatent for the Lightweight Diadem this arvo. WHAT A PLEASURE!!!!! Its forever humbling to share any moments with these classic warriors... Their own humble and gentle demeanor makes it difficult to feel as being an outsider when chatting away over a beer. TRUE GENTLEMEN.
.............I dont pay parking fines either. Im not paying $7 for a glass of watered down Bourbon at any Boozer!!
