Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard & Oscar De La Hoya: The Impact on Boxing of Angelo Dundee
Exclusive Interview by Dan Hernandez-May 1, 2009


Dan Hernandez & Angelo Dundee

“I’ve been blessed by a lot of good fighters and I’ve worked with a lot of good fighters.”--Angelo Dundee

He was born “Angelo Merena” on August 30, 1921, “Angelo Dundee,” the boxing corner man of champions. Having worked with the premier boxers of the 60 years, Hall of Fame fighters such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jose Napoles, George Foreman, Willie Pastrano, Carmen Basilio, and Oscar De La Hoya head the list of the plethora of talent encompassing the world of Mr. Dundee. Born in Philadelphia, Angelo moved to Miami to aid his brother Chris in establishing his Fifth Street Gym. It was there that he learned the tricks of the trade from such legendary corner men as; Charlie Goldman, Ray Arcel, and Chickie Ferrera. He was their “Bucket guy,” their aid and corner man in training Carmen Basilio, former Welterweight and Middleweight Champion was Dundee’s first champion, working his corner when Carmen defeated Tony De Marco for the world welterweight crown.

He is best known to the general boxing public for his association with former Heavyweight Champion, Muhammad Ali. Ali is on most peoples’ list of the top heavyweight champions in the history of the sport. Angelo was the corner man in each and every one of Ali’s battles. After Ali’s retirement, Dundee became involved in most of the “Big” fights in the career of Sugar Ray Leonard whom Dundee referred to as, “A smaller version of Ali.”

In the famous first fight between Leonard and Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, Dundee uttered the now oft-quoted phrase, “You’re blowing it son, you’re blowing it!” This was said at the end of the 13th round with Leonard behind on all scorecards. He proceeded to overcome the deficit and score a shocking 14th round stoppage and winning the bout in dramatic fashion. Later, Angelo teamed up with George Foreman in his successful return to boxing, highlighted by Foreman’s unprecedented title winning victory over previously undefeated World Heavyweight Champion, Michael Moorer.

I met Angelo prior to a major fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I recall asking him to allow me to photograph him. He stopped me and said “Sure, but only if you take a picture with me.” He then asked his friend to take “Our” picture. It was a
memorable moment for me and I felt as if I’d been touched by royalty, certainly, boxing royalty. I reminded him of that story as we began our interview and he just laughed and said that he appreciated being recognized. Dundee at 80 plus years of age is active, very sharp, and committed to the betterment of boxing.

DH: You’ve done so many interviews over the years, how do you feel about that?

As long as people want to talk to you, that’s a good sign. When they don’t want to talk to you, then you’re in trouble. I enjoy talking to people because of the different outlooks and different approaches. A different setting makes it all interesting.

DH: The last thing I remember with you was your involvement with Oscar De La Hoya when he fought Manny Pacquiao.

I was there in an advisory capacity and I didn’t do a good job. I’d hoped that I would’ve done a better job because he’s such a good guy and a hard training guy. I enjoyed being around him and the people with the Golden Boy group. They are real nice people and their good for boxing.

DH: I’m glad to hear that because I questioned some of their promotions.

Well, you know, you can’t always bat a thousand. We had a bunch of good fights this weekend, Jermain Taylor/Carl Froch, and the others. And I watched them all. I’d go back and forth and check them because you never know when you’re gonna have somebody fight one of those guys.

DH: That’s true, you had better know the competition.

That’s right, like on the second of the May, I’m gonna be in Fairfax, Virginia, with Jimmy Lange and then on the ninth I’ll be in Atlantic City with “Macho” Camacho. Macho is fighting Yori Boy Campas. It’s an interesting fight because of the styles, Yori Boy Campos is an aggressive guy and he’s right on top of you. Camacho, thank God, is a little slicker.

DH: Did you enjoy working with De La Hoya?

I enjoyed him, I enjoyed going up to the mountains. But, if I had known that Big Bear mountain was such a big mountain, I would have hesitated about going up. I got there at night and I tell ya, it’s really magnificent. That’s a big, big, mountain.

I live in Florida you know, it’s flatland. So being a kid from Philadelphia with a little bit of an asthmatic problem, it was heavy breathing.

DH: It seems that you are busier than you’ve ever been, is that correct?

I could be busier, but I’m as busy as I wish. I take them as they come and I enjoy them. I enjoyed doing the book, “My view from the Corner,” me and Bert Sugar coordinated it and it’s doing well, thank God.

DH: Congratulations.

Thank you.

DH: The first time I heard your name was when you were connected with Muhammad Ali.

I know, but I’ve done a lot. I’ve been around since 1948. I’ve been blessed by a lot of good fighters and I’ve worked with a lot of good fighters. They are fun, they are different, and they keep you sharp.

DH: Do you have a list of favorite fighters that you’ve worked with?

They are all my favorites. The closest kid I got to was Willie Pastrano, I was like a father image to him. Ralph Dupas was another one; I’d known those kids since they were 16. I went through their whole careers together and now Ralph has passed away and Willie Pastrano passed away.

Pastrano was a heck of a fighter. I went to Vegas with him many times. He died of problems with his liver, a little bit of cancer, who knows. It’s a variety of things, they pass away it’s a shame. I hate to see them go because they were so good.

DH: Pastrano was one of the best boxers I’d ever seen.

Well, I prided myself for that; I like to teach my kids to box, it gives them longevity.

DH: Dupas was also a tremendous fighter.

He was great. See they had a genius teaching them how to box, a guy by the name of Whitey Esneault. He took them off the streets to teach them boxing, he was a great teacher. New Orleans has a great history of coming out with great fighters, they had: Petey Herman, and so many others. Thank God.

DH: Please tell me what you felt happened to De La Hoya in the Pacquiao fight?

There’s no explaining, no looking for excuses. The other guy was the better fighter that night. That’s what happened. You don’t look for excuses, he fought a great fighter in Pacquiao and he got beat. Pacquiao is just a tremendous fighter. He is going to have a tough fight with Ricky Hatton because of styles, it’ll be a difficult fight, it’ll be a great fight and I’m looking forward to seeing it.

I can’t be there because I’ll be working with Jimmy Lange that same evening. You better believe that I’ll be checking out the Pacquiao-Hatton fight every chance I get.

DH: How about Jimmy Lange, is he a good fighter?

Oh you’ll like him. Here’s a kid that fights in his own hometown and their not bucking closed circuit because the people that come to his fights are local kids. He’s a local kid there and the fight will draw three or 4 thousand people. Jimmy Lange is a nice looking fighter and I’m having lots of fun with “Macho” Camacho, he trains like he’s 22 years old.

DH: I had an interview with Macho a few months back and he sounded very positive.

Well he’s fine, he enjoys what he does. He has fun and he’s around this west coast of Florida, where I’m living right now. The kid enjoys what he does and we’re having fun together. That’s the big key, if you can have fun, do it.

DH: Tell me about your association with Muhammad Ali.

I had a great time with him, and I still do. We stay in touch and whenever I make an appearance at his Foundation we have fun doing it and talking about Zaire. We stay in touch, he’s a friend.

DH: It must have been sad for you as Ali’s career was coming to an end.

It was sad, but what are you going to do? Life goes on; he’s a very happy guy, by the way. Physically he’s messed up with the Parkinson’s but mentally he is as sharp as ever, it affected his speech not his thinking process.

DH: I just spoke with an opponent of Ali, Ken Norton.

Yeah, Ken’s having open-heart surgery.

DH: Yes, he is in recovery now. The surgery was considered a success.

I talk to him, I stay in touch, and Kenny and I are very friendly. I told him to hurry up and get better because we see each other at the Hall of Fame every year, so I told him that he has to be there so I can bug him. We have a lot of fun together; he tells me “Why are you always picking on me.” Imagine little old me picking on that big guy. He is a very nice man. He is a great family man.

DH: How about you…do you have family?

I’ve got a lot of family, that’s why I’m living up here right now. I have a son and a daughter that live up here and six grandchildren. I’m blessed. And they are great because you don’t have to babysit them, they take off on you. It is a great feeling to have children and grandchildren.

DH: It is amazing. Apparently, you’ve had a similar feeling with many of your boxers, is that correct?

Yes, it was fun.

DH: What are your immediate plans?

Well, there’s the fight this Saturday and I’m going to be in Atlantic City on May 9, 2009. I tell you, I can be as busy as I want to be.

DH: To complete the interview, are there any thoughts that you’d like to share with the fans and upcoming fighters?

All we need is a bunch of Jimmy Lange’s in each local town and boxing will be alive and well again. That’s all we need, that’s all, get fighters that the public recognizes. That’s why Pacquiao and Hatton are going to be such a great attraction, because the people know who the heck they are. The other thing is that if you don’t speak Russian you’re in trouble with the heavyweight division.
(Laughter)

DH: They do seem to have a stranglehold on the heavyweights these days, don’t they?

They’ll disappear; big guys can’t survive (More Laughter). God bless you and thanks for the interview.