Jimmy Bivins, a heavyweight boxer in the 1940s and 50s who broke eight world champions of the future, but despite his constant, never had a shot at the title, died Wednesday at a nursing home in Cleveland. He was 92 years.
A spokesman for the funeral chapel Luke Memorial Home in Garfield Heights, Ohio, confirmed the death.
If boxing is added to an assembly of cruelty and courage, fame and fear, Bivins was representative of life.
He realized the power of his punches from the start, and then saw the heights to which this was possible.
But bad luck, bad weather and maybe the bad guys who fought, and the end of his life was a shell of the warrior who had been overlooked.
From 1942 to 1946, Bivins crossed divisions and semipesado heavyweight, undefeated before losing to Jersey Joe Walcott in February 1946. Between 1940 and 1955, defeated a parade of fighters who would go on to become champions, including Gus Lesnevich, Joey Maxim, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore.
Playing the bad and make the language of his opponents, Bivins became one of the major attractions of boxing, a rudimentary toletero, squat, with a left jab sting. At one point he was one of the main divisions of both heavy and light heavyweight. Joe Louis was one of many in the sport who have been perplexed that Bivins was not given a shot at the championship.
"I can not understand why most of what has been done," Luis said in an interview with The New York Times in 1948.
Bivins did not say much in time, but in 1999, speaking with The Cleveland Plain Dealer, citing a conversation with "the mafia of New York." The man said Bivins "must play ball with him," said Bivins. For him, the message was clear - you are willing to throw fights when he was told to do so.
"Well, I said that was not a baseball player, I'm a fighter," said Bivins.
For a man who had been the champion belt, Bivins, known as Spiderman Cleveland, has left a lasting impression. In 1997, Boxing Digest named him the No. 16 semipesado weight of all time, in 2002, Ring Magazine, the magazine ranked No. 6 in the same category. Is inserted into the Hall of Fame of the International boxing in 1999.
This facilitated their disappointment, but not erased. "The only thing is, I fought my heart and have no pay," he told The Plain Dealer in 1994. "Now, boys and two rounds to go out with a millionaire. Could not cancel my nose. This is the way the game is struggling."
Although Luis has fought 6 round exhibition match in 1948 and again in 10 rounds, the fight nonchampionship in 1951, he lived the rest of his life regretting not fight for the title. "All I wanted was a chance," said Bivins. "I deserved a chance."
Luis was in the army at this time. In 1944, Bivins, also enlisted in the army.
In February 1945, Bivins retired with honors and was struggling. One of his most memorable battles of the war was against Moore in August 1945. Moore knocked down six times en route to a victory by knockout. But began to lose more often.
Bivins retired in 1953, before returning to fight twice in 1955. His lifetime record was 86 wins, 25 defeats and one draw. Eliminates 31 opponents and was ousted five times.
In his retirement, Bivins drove trucks carrying baked goods, chips and crackers, and asked the young man in boxing. He made a tradition of cooking Sunday dinners for them, always ending with ice cream and cobbler's trade. His third wife, Isabel, died in 1995.
Bivins was lost from sight and was largely forgotten until 1998, when police found him living in the squalid attic of the house of his daughter, wrapped in a blanket soaked in urine.
His 110 pounds was covered with sores, and had cut a piece of his right middle finger trying to force a can of beans with a knife, resulting in a partial amputation later.
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