Honey Boy Bratton:The Boxer Who Inspired Miles Davis And Muhammad Ali

Good article on Johnny Bratton

'Unfortunately, Bratton often gets forgotten in boxing history because of his proximity to arguably the two greatest welterweights to ever lace up a pair of gloves: Robinson(who he's often compared to,) and Kid Gavilan'

'Honey Boy was the idol of the Chicago youth, the most famous black athlete in the entire city and one that was becoming a household name throughout the entire country. "It's hard for people who are young now to get a sense of how admired and how much of a command of the culture a Johnny Bratton would have had," said author and historian Bijan Bayne.'

'In the grand scheme of things, only a select few boxing careers end as anything other than a tragedy. But even in the realm of tragedy, Bratton's fate was particularly heart wrenching. Most fighters eventually lose their ability to perform their job, or any other job, having spent their lives learning an otherwise useless skill. Bratton not only lost that, he lost all of his money, and according to people at the time, his mind. His tragedy only really begins when his career ends.'

' "I adopted all I could from those who made the trade, bloody vicious and savage as it might be, an art. As Sugar Ray, Kid Gavilan and Johnny Bratton had done.They were the Picassos among fighters, and they made it all seem a thing of pride, poise, courage, strength and class," wrote Muhammad Ali in his autobiography.'

http://fightland.vice.com/blog/honey-boy-bratton-the-boxer-who-inspired-miles-davis-and-muhammad-ali


Rocky Marciano and Jackie Gleason watch Bratton stops Joe Miceli, some good action in this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dmlakpgILM



http://www.boxing.com/joe_miceli_a_knockaround_guy.html

A shame this hasn't had more interest, Herman. Really good article that you've linked which has taught me a thing or two about Bratton I never knew before.

Have said it before, but if anyone just getting in to boxing wants to see a fight which demonstrates the differences in refereeing between boxing's golden generation (at least in terms of ratings) and the modern era, they need to watch that third fight between Bratton and Gavilan. Hardly surprising that the article you've linked suggests that the fight took a piece away from Bratton which was never returned.

Gavilan wasn't a great knockout puncher, of course, but he was always very aggressive and unrelenting with the shots he did throw - and he couldn't miss Bratton all night. Bratton looked a faded fighter in there and the amount of punishment he took was incredible. There are at least three or four instances in that one where he'd have been (rightly) stopped today with no controversy whatsoever.

He had to be lead back to his corner by the referee after the twelfth, and at the end of the thirteenth Gavilan himself had to turn him round and direct him back to his own corner, as he'd been so dazed he was wandering back to Gavilan's.

It's a sickening fight to watch, especially as Gavilan was one of those fighters capable of going the full fifteen at a hundred miles per hour without slowing down, but it proved that Bratton was one freakishly tough man. Perhaps a little too tough and brave for his own good, unfortunately.

Some great stories from the Gillette Friday Night eras to be uncovered. Thanks for posting a couple here.

Nice article. I love the history threads. Will make sure I read up a bit more on the subject. Cheers!

Yeh good read cheers hermy.

Knew of bratton as a brief belt holder and long time contender but didn't know his back story. A sadly fairly familiar one, in terms of sad decline but didn't realise he was a pop star of his day. Think he got some friendly judging to get a draw in Gavilán 2. Generally, lost in spirited performances to a who's who of his era bar Robinson.

Really enjoyed reading the link. Thanks for posting.