Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-29
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
The Old Fight
Still Recalled
BY STEVE cUBAcK

STEVE MAMAKOS is STILL answering the bell He
pumps gas at the of and Sixth streets NV
and seems at peace with the world except for guy who
once wrote few years ago that he had taken couple Of
punches too many and showed it.
Look" he said, holding up couple of fists the size of
pork chops II don't trembe shake. Why it that some
guys always want to cut up another guy like that?"
In boxing he was told guy is either hero or a bum
and there's very little in between.
Twenty-Five years after his most memorable fight,
MamakoS is still hero at least to guy in Paris ILL.,
and to another in Frankfurt Germany of all places The
poStman for instance, rang twice within week with
requests for photos and this made Mamakos rather happy
To be remembered is nice thing And they never seem
to forget
in his request Sir" he began II do recall your excellent
and fine and wonderful ring best and you
deed great and fine and classy ring hero, real great
and kindly sportsman and wonderful and lasting credit
for Boxing always in American, and etc."
Sounds like Harry Balough, huh guy said
MAMAKoS HAS GRANDCHILDREN now-"Got four I"
he said He smiles easily and with his treeszed neck and
thick bceps he looks solid Southern Cal guard.
He weighs 198 which is about SO pounds than he
weighed the night he had Tony Zae the deck with
the middleweght title at stake.
II talked to Yale only four months ago." Mamakos said
II going to get him down for the grand opening Of
another gas station but the deal fell through and got
this one instead"
Mamakos was in talkative mood but his friends say
this isn't anything unusual He speaks fast has habit
many directions, like Broadway
The old clips told story of his big Zae fight but
Mamakos told another They wrote in Al that the fight
would go into the record books kayo by Zale in the
l4th round, but that wouldn't tell the half Of It, They
were right
THF OLD CLIPS SAID Mamakos was far ahead on
points when Yale launched sensational champion-ke
rally that Mamakos down though hit by machine
gun fire, rally that when 1t appeared almost GER
tain that the title would change hands"
Mamakos smiled. II had him down in the fifth" ht
said 81 was still trying for the knockout Then he got
with a left hook still don't know where 1t from
That Zae could take Ray Robinson or the rest He hi
like mule"
-Mamakos drew IA 800 people, turnout nowadays
that would make promoters eyes bulge 1T Chi
cagos biggest fight three years. yet Mamakos turned
out to be only 5000 II along too early too late
or somethin'" he said
MAMAKoS FOUGHT ZALE twice, George Abrams
Ezzard Charles Tami Maureo and others He said Il
he had to do 1t again. he wouldn't be fighter. Hec
get education and make something Of himself But HI
was Of eight kids and things tough In the sos
SO was Mamakos SO he became fighter.
II don't do much now" he said. Bowl some My wife
she always beats don't 60 TO the fights and
don't look for any try 10 make more friends thar
anything, which is the way you gotta live"
Within span OF 80 minutes he offered TO lend car
jack to with flat two blocks away waved okay
to lady who didn't have the deposit a soft-drink
bottle gave away two maps to tourists who didn't buy
thing and pumped in $l47 worth OF gas while taking)
TO guy who asked for only 81 worth.
What the hell" Mamakos shrugged Hes friend"
This is the philosophy Mamakos lives by nowadays
Oddly, after lifetime of fighting