TURNED MIAMI BEACH INTO BOXING HOTBED

Every boxing fan knows who legendary trainer Angelo Dundee is. But few people today know who Angelo's brother Chris is. A promoter and manager since  1928, the boxing Icon that was Chris Dundee died Monday at the age of 91 at a Forida rest home. One report stated that Dundee had promoted over 1,000 cards during his time.

THE REAL BRAINS IN THE BOXING FAMILY

That's the way Angelo once described his late brother to me in the mid 1980's. This was before Chris had suffered a stroke about nine years ago that left him incapacitated for the most part.

NO MAS II

The last time I remember seeing Chris was after he bet a bundle on Roberto Duran in the Leonard-Duran fight. Chris couldn't believe Roberto didn't land one blow with mean intentions all night. "He went in the tank, " I
recall Chris bellowing post fight. That would be the last big fight the Icon would attend before suffering that devastating stroke.

FIFTH ST. GYM CHRIS' DOMAIN

After leaving the Big Apple boxing scene for Miami Beach, Chris Dundee ran the famed Fifth St. Gym. It is this gymnasium that is the backdrop for most of Muhammad Ali's video antics   of the 1960's.

I worked out there in 1987. By then, the Dundee's were no longer involved in the second story gym that was razed in 1993.

BROTHERS TO THE END

Angelo visited Chris on a regular basis at the rest home. Although he would tell me his brother was OK, Angie got a little moist in the tear ducts the night George Foreman beat Alex Stewart in Las Vegas while talking about his brother with me.

FUNERAL SERVICES FRIDAY

Chris Dundee will be buried on Friday. For the fallen Icon, I can only say he was an integral part of professional boxing for six decades.

Rest in Peace brother Chris. You always made Pedro smile!


Pedro Fernandez

The writer has his own site at www.fighters.com and can be reached at
flash@inow.com

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