An American boxing legend who sparred with former World Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and who was trained by the great ‘Smoking’ Joe Frazier was the guest of honour at Cardigan Amateur Boxing Club last week.
Zeke Wilson a former United States amateur boxing heavyweight champion who boasted a record of 147 wins from 150 fights called in at the Maesyrhaf gym to chat with some of the new kids on the block and offered them a few inspirational words of wisdom.
Wilson, a 59-year-old promoter from the legendary fight town of Philadelphia, is touring Wales plugging the film of his life story and among those at the gym to greet him were Cardigan ABC president Chris Lawson and club secretary Gareth Davies.
The visit was covered by a team from the S4C programme Heno and broadcast the following night, complete with interviews with some of the boxers.
The Eighth Round – the title of Zeke Wilson’s autobiography which has now been made into a short film – tells how Zeke fought a precedent-setting court battle in the US over racial discrimination.
“I was a fight promoter and went to Massachusetts to do an event but different bodies of the state cancelled me because of the colour of my skin,” he said.
“The state law said anyone who did boxing events had to pay $5,000.
“I was asked to pay $10,000 and white individuals didn’t have to pay.
“I did all my deposition and summary judgement myself and won my case in front of a jury.”
I was determined and I persevered, no matter what the odds were,” adds Zeke Wilson.
“I wasn’t highly educated, I didn’t always have legal representation. But I was born a fighter, and I had set myself the task of fighting for what was right. My family is bi-racial and I felt I had to speak out against injustices on both sides.”
With Cardigan ABC head coach Guy Croft away on boxing duty, last Thursday’s training session was led by Fishguard-based trainer Kev O’Sullivan – aided by an enthusiastic Zeke!
The 6ft 3in Wilson told the young boxers. “I haven’t taken a smoke or had a drink in my entire life.
“Boxing is a life-changing experience – the skills and discipline you guys are learning in this gym will serve you well throughout your entire lives.”
Cardigan ABC chairman Mike Lewis said afterwards the boxers had been “inspired” by Zeke’s presence.
“The ‘Great White Hope’ era is still in living memory and the stand Zeke made in Massachusetts shows that racism still exists within the sport and needs to be confronted head-on,” he said.
“Zeke’s a great guy and our kids really enjoyed meeting him. Cardigan may be a long way from Philadelphia, but he said we instantly made him feel at home!”
Zeke boasts an impressive amateur career that reads 147-3 in his favour and regularly sparred with fight legend Larry Holmes at the Century West Club in Century City, Los Angeles as well as Leon Spinks, one time conqueror of the late Muhammad Ali and Ron Lyle and Gerry Cooney two big punchers who also stepped into the ring with Ali.
He also fought on the undercards of some of the best boxers of the day including Spinks at Madison Square Garden.
Serious illness- leg was amputated.
The former US Marine who made his professional debut at Madison Square Garden in 1980 is a former Golden Glove winning boxer but he suffered an illness two years ago which resulted in his left leg having to be amputated and this boxing hard nut was forced to learn to walk all over again with a prosthetic leg.
“The doctor told me plain it was a bad infection and if I don’t remove it fast, it could travel through my body and that’s what happened,” said Wilson. “I got rid of my leg to save my life.”
Wilson had surgery to remove part of his left leg and had a prosthetic fitted but he has bounced back from this experience and is back in the ring inspiring others.
Wilson timeline
Born in Frogmore, South Carolina the seventh of eight children.
1973 – began his boxing career and was trained by Macauley Washburn and the All-Marine Boxing Champion Sgt. David Robinson.
November of 1975 – fought David Thompson in Hilton Head, SC for the South Carolina State Championship.
1975 – won the South Carolina Golden Gloves.
1976 -relocated to Philadelphia, PA and trained under the tutelage of George Benton and the former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier.
1977 — Qualified for the USA AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Heavyweight Box-off. Won the Heavyweight Elimination held in the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, OH, which qualified him for a seat on the US Boxing Team.
1976 – enlisted in the US Marine Corps and became a member of the Marine Corps boxing team.
1980 – competed successfully in the Marine Base Championship at Camp Pendleton, CA.
Honorably discharged.
1982 (Jan 2nd) Won his first pro fight with a second round ko of Guy Ramey.
Pictures by Julie John: Sportsline Chief Photographer
