Powered by:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
Contains commercial content
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Remembering the Tragic Death of Willie Classen

Remembering the Tragic Death of Willie Classen

One of too many tales
Publish Date: 10/08/2023
Fact checked by: Simon Briffa

In some ways, Willie Classen was typical of the fighters who inhabited many of the city’s gyms, far from championship bouts and million‐dollar purses. Like most boxers back then and even today, he grew up poor with no schooling, he spent time in jail, and he had scars to show for a life hard-lived–the tracks of heroin addiction on his arm; a three‐inch scar on his neck from a broken bottle wielded by a crazy girlfriend; the marks of his profession around his eyes and on his body; and even in his soul. Willie’s total earnings for a seven‐year career, covering 16 victories, 7 losses, and 2 draws, was less than $35,000. The $10,000 in insurance benefits his widow got was sadly his biggest payday.

Who was Willie Classen

Classen was the proverbial street fighter, tough and durableβ€”a banger, a beast in the language of cornermen. Classen wasn’t afraid of anything and that heart would lead to a tragic night that would end his life. Despite his middling success, he talked of title shots as almost boxers all do, scratching out a living as a supermarket security guard while running the streets of the Bronx at dawn to keep his legs strong.

Willie was one of five children and early in life he was running with the toughs and avoiding school. His first arrest was in 1967 for robbery and felonious assault. He was later put on probation in connection with a school burglary. Not a great start to any life.

He then moved to the South Bronx area and was encouraged by his mother to take up boxing and he did. Classen won the city Golden Gloves championship as a sub‐novice welterweight.

Then things took a turn for the worse as he was convicted of statutory rape of a woman who later became his first wife. Yes, you read that right, Classen’s life was very complicated. He was placed on probation and a while afterward he was sent to jail for six months for a parole violation. About this time, he met Marco Minuto, who would become his last manager. Marco owned a pizza parlor on Burnside Avenue and used to try to interest neighborhood youths into St. Mary’s program. One night, during an attempted robbery at the store, Classen stepped in to help Minuto and they became friends. Minuto started attending Classen’s fights and driving him to do his roadwork.

A troubled existence

By 1976 Willie was on his third marriage and already had four kids when he was once again arrested for armed robbery. To make matters even worse it was obvious to Willie’s friends that he was a heroin addict.

Willie had begun his career in 1972 but fought too sporadically to really do anything, but he did carry a 6-fight win streak into the ring to fight Eddie Gregory but a loss set Willie’s win streak aside and made him question why he was even fighting. He also had lost a tough fight to Vito Auntofermo.

Classen’s decline and eventual downfall began in his next bout, on April 6, against a young up and coming prospect named John Locicero at the Felt Forum. Classen took a pounding and in the eighth round was pushed to the canvas. He rolled under the ropes and was counted out before he could return to the ring. It was the first time in his career that Classen had been stopped. Classen was put under the mandatory 30‐day suspension required after a knockout. (The waiting period has been lengthened to 90 days as a result of Classen’s death.)

Video: Macho: The Willie Classen Story - Teaser

Macho: The Willie Classen Story – Teaser

A disaster overseas

Next up came a disastrous trip to England to battle Tony Sibson. The fight was on short notice and Willie did not even have an active license to fight in England at the time the fight was set up. Ordinarily, the British Boxing Board of Control would require that New York fighters have a valid New York license, but because of the shortage of time, Classen was given a physical in London and was pronounced fit to fight.

He wasn’t! Classen took a hellacious beating from the up and coming Sibson and was knocked down repeatedly and eventually stopped in just the second round. In his post-fight examination, he complained to the ringside physician of double vision and was told to go to Moorfields Eye Hospital immediately for an examination. The trouble was he didn’t, he said he was hungry and disappeared for most of the night and never went to the hospital.

A disturbing and tragic ending

Minuto, Classen’s manager at the time, then scheduled a club fight for Nov. 23 and Classen went through the process of regaining his New York license. On Nov. 13 he was given an electroencephalogram, a test of brain reflex, and on Nov. 20 a complete physical. He told Dr. Edwin A. Campbell, the medical director of the athletic commission, that his London fight had been stopped because of β€œcuts.” Back then there was normally no exchange of information about contests between London and New York, and the commission did not try to check Classen’s version. Minuto did not contradict the fighter. As you can see the problem here was lack of communication between commissions and ultimately Minuto did not take care of his fighter.

The club fight was postponed after Classen got clearance, so Minuto signed for a 10‐round bout the same night at the Felt Forum against Wilford Scypion of Houston, who had a perfect record of 12 knockouts in 12 bouts. Classen was to get $1,500. Scypion was a soon to be ranked contender that a few years later would get a shot at Marvin Hagler’s World Middleweight Championship, so throwing Classen in the ring that quickly with a fighter of Scypion’s quality was downright criminal!

On fight night the bout was more competitive than anyone could have imagined, but it did not start out that way as Classen was knocked down in the third round but came back smartly until the ninth. One judge had a score of 4‐3‐1 in Scypion’s favor after eight. With 47 seconds left in the ninth, however, in a five‐second burst, Classen was struck on the left side of his head by three devastating rights. He stayed on his feet and took a standing 8‐count from Lew Eskin, a referee who had also handled two of Classen’s previous fights, both victories. After asking Classen if he was okay and getting an approving nod, Eskin allowed the bout to continue. Scypion himself looked at Eskin questioningly. Classen struggled through the rest of the round, then felt his way along the ropes to his corner.

The doctor in charge was Dr. Richard Izquierdo, a pediatrician, and the backup was Dr. John Warner, a urologist. Yes, you read that right, a pediatrician and a urologist! Both men testified they had not seen the ninth-round punches. Dr. Izquierdo had never supervised a fight before, having served previously as a backup. Dr. Warner said he had never treated a knockout. Dr. Izquierdo said Classen answered questions about his name and the round of the fight satisfactorily in both English and Spanish.

The end came in the very next round as it took seven seconds for Classen to just get up from his stool when the bell rang. He took three side steps to his left and was leveled by a right to the head by Scypion. Eskin tried to step in but Scypion, following through, hit Classen again in the same place as he was falling. Classen was semiconscious for a few seconds. Then his left side became paralyzed, followed by the right. He fell into a coma and never regained consciousness, dying five days later at Bellevue Hospital. The cause of death was given as acute subdural hematomaβ€”a hemorrhage between the lining of the brain and the brain itself.

Punishment ensued as boxing was suspended for a period of time after the fight because the commission looked into what could be done to make boxing safer for the fighters. It is a shame during the history of the sport that the only change comes from the death of the boxers. What rules came from the death of Willie Classen was to extend suspension from 30 days to 90 days after being knocked out and better training for ringside doctors. Too bad nothing was done to Minuto, who should have been looking out for his fighter, but as we all know that is the way boxing goes.

Most fight fans will never know of the story of Willie Classen or who he was, but even if you have never heard of him you already know the story: Born poor, fighting was a way out, he had some talent and was destroyed by the people that were supposed to watch out for him.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
BetMGM Promo
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
Jack Moriarty and 1880’s Canadian Boxing
Sports journalist, Ed Fitkin, worked in print journalism atΒ Toronto’s Daily GlobeΒ would find ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
Top 20 Purdue Boilermaker Basketball Players of All Time
Current players are not eligible for this list, ...
Battling Jim – The Johnson Who Fell Just Short
Battling Jim - The Johnson Who Fell Just ...
The Legend of Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Billy McCool
William John McCool, the son of Carl and ...
Betting Tips
11/26/2023 - 4:30 pm
Gainbridge
Tip:
Harvard to Cover
6.50
FanDuel
11/25/2023 - 12:00 pm
Michigan Sradium
Tip:
Ohio State to Cover
4.00
FanDuel
11/24/2023 - 8:30 pm
Autzen Stadium
Tip:
Oregon to Cover
-13.50
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Video: Indiana basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: IU vs Maryland Preview and IU/Harvard recap
Indiana basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: IU vs Maryland Preview and IU/Harvard recap
Video: The Game Of The Year - 49ers at Eagles #NFL #FlyEaglesFly #FTTB
The Game Of The Year - 49ers at Eagles #NFL #FlyEaglesFly #FTTB
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet
Unibet Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
$1000 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Place your first cash bet up to $1,000, and if the bet loses, you will have your wager refunded in Bonus Bets. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
$100 Second Chance Bet
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+10
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
aukje
aukje
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
berina
berina
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site