Скачать или смотреть Jake LaMotta vs Billy Kilgore 14.4.1954 (Selected Round Highlights)

Jake LaMotta's final fight against the durable Florida State Middleweight Champion Billy Kilgore. A controversial split decision would bring about the end of Jake Lamotta's 13 year career. More info below...

Jake LaMotta was a former World Middleweight Champion and the first conqueror of the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. A Sugar Ray Robinson who was in the prime of her career at that time as well... His defeat of Robinson was probably a larger accomplishment than winning the Middleweight World Title! Jake LaMotta started his pro career in 1941 and had fought some talented names in the world of middleweight boxing such as the aforementioned Sugar Ray Robinson (6 times!), Jimmy Edgar, Tommy Bell, Henry Chmielewski, California Jackie Wilson, Fritzie Zivic, Holman Williams, Billy Fox, Laurent Dauthuille, Robert Villemain, Tiberio Mitri and Gene Hairston to name a few. In 1947 LaMotta would lose by TKO to Billy Fox, a fight in which LaMotta would later admit he threw for the Mob so he could get a chance at a world title shot. In 1949 that became a reality when he forced Marcel Cerdan to retire on his stole after 9 rounds. Cerdan and LaMotta both suffered injuries during the fight which affected their performances. Cerdan hurt his shoulder in a fall during the first round and at some point in the 3rd or 4th round LaMotta injured his left hand. The 2 scheduled a rematch however Cerdan would die in a plane crash before a final date could be set. Following successful defenses against Tiberio Mitri and Laurent Dauthuille, LaMotta would lose his title to old foe Sugar Ray Robinson in the the last of their 6 famous fights referred to as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. LaMotta tried his hand at light heavyweight however his first few fights didn't go as planned. In 1952 LaMotta suffered the first and only knockdown of his entire career to WW2 Silver Star recipient Danny Nardico. LaMotta took a 15 month hiatus from boxing following the loss to Nardico before he returned in 1954 and picked up 2 easy wins over journeyman opponents, Johnny Pretzie and Al McCoy. His record heading into the fight with Kilgore was 83-18-4.

Billy Kilgore had an unassuming 29-16-4 record and had been Florida State Middleweight Champion since 1950 with 7 successful defenses over the next 4 years. His biggest wins up to this point included a 3rd round TKO over Steve Belloise (who immediately retired following the loss) and a 10 round decision over world middleweight title contender Lee Sala. Although Kilgore didn't have an exceptionally good boxing record he had fought mostly very experienced boxers making his actual in-ring skills deceiving... Kilgore was considered the top drawing fighter in Miami Beach during the 1950's by promoter Chris Dundee with both Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin said to be fans of his.

Both men fought in close for most of the fight, Kilgore was caught on the ropes a few times but LaMotta was unable to put him away. As the fight wore on it became increasingly clear LaMotta was running out of steam and the batterings he had taken in previous fights had taken there toll on the aging legend. LaMotta tried his old playing possum tactics during the final round which almost paid off however he could not maintain a sustained attack and Kilgore was able to stay on his feet and even stand toe to toe with the Bronx Bull. The fight was awarded to local favorite Billy Kilgore by a controversial split decision.

LaMotta immediately retired following the loss and went on to open a night club in Miami, write his now famous biography, Raging Bull and served time in prison for promoting prostitution. The Ring magazine still ranks him as the 5th greatest middleweight of all time.

Billy Kilgore lost his next fight 1 month later to former German Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Hanz Stretz over 10 rounds but then bounced back with a 10th round TKO over Ernie Durango in his next fight. The remainder of Kilgore's career bought nothing more than intermittent success and he retired in 1956 following a TKO loss to Bobby Lane. Kilgore retired while still holding the Florida State Middleweight title, a reign that lasted 6 exciting years.