Boxing was a big item once upon a time

“DING-DING-DING" is the sound of an announcer's bell at a major boxing match in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
In the early 1950s, I would go to our dairy barn on Hwy. 251 and pretend I was the ring announcer, the boxer and the manager at a boxing match.
My older brother Dave and I would strap on some old boxing gloves and have a boxing match. The gloves, given to us by a cousin, were rather tattered and had to be re-stuffed with rags to give the appearance they were an Everlast glove.
My brother always got the best of me and once popped a blood vessel near my rib cage. That didn't deter me from still being interested in this so-called sport.
My dad loved boxing and before we got our first television in 1954, we used to go over to my uncle Martin's house and watch boxing. During those days, they had Wednesday Night Fights, Friday Night Fights and Saturday Night Fights.
Heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson was my dad's favorite fighter. The undefeated Heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano was also a favorite.
As my interest in boxing continued, Muhammad Ali, aka Cassius Clay, became my favorite. I was mesmerized by his ability to bob and weave and avoid the punch focused on him by his opponent.
During Ali's days as Heavyweight champion, I was able to see a couple of Ali's fights on closed circuit TV. I saw Ali fight Joe Frazier on the large screen at the Minnesota Sports Center, which held more than14,000.
I also saw Ali fight Patterson courtesy of the Big Screen at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
I must admit I lost some of my favor for Ali when he refused to accept a draft into the U.S. Army because of his religious beliefs.
I loved to follow Golden Gloves and over 50 years ago when I was sports editor of the Albert Lea Tribune, I followed the Jiminez boys from Albert Lea. Judy and I drove Fred Jiminez and his wife to Rochester for Jiminez' first professional fight.
At the Mayo Civic, we also saw Patrick O'Connor on the boxing card. He was to be an up and coming Midwestern product. His career was shortened when it was revealed that he was a sucker for a left hook.
Over the years, boxing lost its favor and became ultimate fighting. I detest that so-called sport.
My dream was to some day meet Muhammad Ali. That never happened. I did receive an autographed poem from Ali.
Ali was not only quick in the boxing ring but also with his humor.
He supposedly once was driving to Indiana for an appearance. He was picked up by the Indiana Patrol. "Can I pay the fine here on the spot?" Ali asked the trooper. "Yes," he replied.
Ali was told the fine would be $70. He quickly gave the trooper $140. "It's only $70," the trooper responded. "Yeah, I know," Ali said, "but I'm coming through here on my way back home."