I spend a lot of time in NYC and when there work out in a gym where I often see Tony Danza. All these years I have ever talked with him, offering respect to a "celebrity" even though he has always seemed a laid back guy. Today I was in the elevator going up and he jumped in and spontaneously we started talking .. I told him I knew him from many years ago when as a kid I saw him working out at Gleason's and he immediately warmed to that .. I then flat out asked him about the Conrad "fight" , telling him that there are many people that think he not only lost but was knocked down, ect .. he was so unpretentious about the whole thing, he told me with a chuckle that he hit Conrad once with a left hook and badly hurt him and he felt bad about it and backed off as Conrad was a much older guy and taking it too seriously and he did not want to hurt him .. he said flat out he was a former pro, the whole thing was just an exhibition and he did not want to hurt the guy and then referenced the staged photo with him on his back holding back a laugh .. I used to see the gym spar in the gym and he was a golden glover and a professional fighter .. there is no doubt in my mind the guy was telling me the truth ..
I am pretty sure Danza could have beaten the snot out of Conrad. Tony was a real boxer - a decent clubfighter. He fought Johnny Lo Cicero. Conrad was a tough talking, tough posing guy. Who can forget the Everready Battery commercial. "Knock it off, I dare you." Plus, Danza was over 10 yrs younger than Conrad.
Great stuff! Even though he was known for not having the greatest chin, he could crack!!! Nice to know he's stand up.
I remember reading about Danza in ring magazine back in the 70s or 80s and I believe him, he was the real deal. Glass chin or no, he was supposed to have a fair crack. Personally I respect the bloke unlike Stallone who never set foot in the ring.
This is also my favorite Robert Conrad memory: http://espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3712343§ion=magazine
Yeah but Louie (Danny DeVito) Depalma made big bucks off of that 'glass chin'! "When I see my sofa I think "I got that from the Danza-Gonzalez fight!" When I see my stereo system and new bed I think "I got that from the Danza-Miller fight!" Good thread; always liked him.
