Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Trainer leaves great memories
One of the great trainers in professional boxing, Angelo
Dundee died yesterday at the age of 90.
Born Angelo Mirena in 1921, Dundee
worked with some of the greatest fighters of all time and will be fondly remembered
in boxing circles and beyond.
The likeable trainer’s most notable fighters were Muhammad
Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, who Dundee trained to multiple world championships
throughout his many decades in boxing.
The Philadelphian was in Ali and Leonard's corner for all of their
great fights, including Ali v Liston, Ali v Foreman, Ali v Frazier and Leonard’s
bouts with Hagler and Hearns. In 1994, Dundee also trained George Foreman to
becoming the oldest world champion of all time as he defeated Michael Moorer - before being overtaken last year by Bernard Hopkins.
Dundee was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of
Fame later that year and stayed around boxing all his life, including taking
part in his final big fight as consultant for Oscar De La Hoya as he lost out
to current WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in 2008.
Dundee attended Ali’s 70th birthday celebrations
last month before taking ill and died with his family surrounding him
yesterday. The legendary motivator leaves a lasting legacy in the
sport of boxing and will forever be highly regarded in the fight game.