Tag: boxer

The Boxer

Photographer Unknown, (The Boxer in His Stance)

“The same hand that can write a beautiful poem, can knock you out with one punch—that’s Poetic Justice.”
― “Irish” Wayne Kelly

“Irish” Wayne Kelly was a former pro-boxer, boxing professionally as a light heavyweight, and a referee with a long distinguished career He served as an Army Ranger in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart for his service.

Kelly refereed bouts in the ring with numerous world champions: Oscar de la Hoya, Riddick Bowe and Wladimir Klitschko, among others. Among the most notable fights Kelly officiated was the first Bowe-Andrew Golota fight at Madison Square Garden. The bout ended with Kelly disqualifying Golota for repeated low blows.

One of the most popular and proficient referees, Wayne Kelly was a veteran of twenty-six world championship fights. He passed away on February 1st of 2012 at the age of sixty-three.

The Marble Boxer

Boxer, Marble, Stadio dei Marmi, Rome, Italy

Located in the Foro Italico, an Italian sports complex that was created under the direction of Benito Mussolini, the Stadio dei Marmi is covered in faux Greco-Roman statues that owe more to fascism than to the classical period.

Construction of the open air stadium was completed in 1928 as a training center for the students of the nearby Academy of Physical Education. The central grass field is ringed by a short stack of cascading stadium seats on the top level of which is a corresponding row of classical athletic statues holding modern sports equipment.

As was the classical style the figures stand naked and posed each one holding an implement of their sport, from a cricket bat, to a soccer ball, to a tennis racket, to the more traditional discus. Fifty-nine figures in all stand around the top of the playing field giving the overall appearance of a contemporary Greek stadium. Up close however, the figures belie the angular features and severe facial characteristics of more traditional brutalist fascist statuary.