James “Quick” Tillis (aka The Fighting Cowboy), former heavyweight boxer (1978-2001) 6’1″ born July 5, 1957, 42 wins (31 by knock out), 22 losses, 1 draw, fought Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield http://www.evanderholyfield.com/ and had 3 title fight losses
LVH (Las Vegas Hotel and Casino- formerly The Las Vegas Hilton) Las Vegas, Nevada, August 17, 2013
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“Vicious” Victor Ortiz (left), born January 31, 1987, 5’9″, 147 lbs, 29 wins (22 by knock out), 4 losses, 2 draws, an American boxer of Mexican decent, former WBC world welterweight boxing champion who told Gig that he offered to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a rematch for free, currently rated as one of the top 3 welterweight boxers in the world, in 2008 ESPN Prospect of the Year, and another professional boxer (right)
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2013, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 8, 2013
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Michael Gerard “Iron Mike” Tyson,
5′ 11 1/2″ fought at approximately 220 lbs, 44 years old, born in Brooklyn, NY June 30, 1966, 50 wins (44 by knock out), 6 losses, 0 draws, 2 no contests, youngest heavyweight boxing champion in history at 20 years of age, first heavyweight to hold WBA, WBC and IBF titles simultaneously, actor such as in the movie Rocky Balboa, The Hangover and more.
Gig was on set with Mike in December 2005 for the movie Rocky Balboa. When Gig and Mike met on January 9, 2013 Mike told Gig that he was currently reading a book about Gig’s “Uncle” Jersey Joe Walcott the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Painted With Oil Store, Miracle Mile Shops, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 16, 2010.
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James “Lights Out” Toney, current IBA heavyweight boxing champion, former IBF cruiserweight (190 lbs), super middleweight (168 lbs) and middleweight (160 lbs) boxing champion, 5’9″ 237 lbs 41 years old, 72 wins, 6 losses, 3 draws, 2 no contest
UFC 116 Lesnar vs Carwin post weigh-ins, MGM, Las Vegas, Nevada, July 2, 2010
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Richard Steele, Hall of Fame boxing referee, refereed 167 world title fights including
Mike Tyson (5 title fights),
Thomas Hearns http://thomashitmanhearns.net/ vs Ray Leonard http://sugarrayleonard.com/,
Ray Leonard http://sugarrayleonard.com/ vs Roberto Duran,
Julio Caesar Chavez vs Meldrick Taylor,
Alexis Arguello vs Aaron Pryor,
Marvin Hagler http://www.marvelousmarvin.com/ vs Thomas Hearns http://thomashitmanhearns.net/,
Steele Boxing Gym, North Las Vegas, Nevada, May 18, 2010
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Jack Mosley, Shane Mosley’s father, Mayweather vs Mosley weigh-ins, 1 day prior to Shane’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr, Gig told Jack he looks just like Shane to which Jack responded, “He looks just like me”
MGM, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 30, 2010
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Sugar Ray Leonard http://sugarrayleonard.com/, 53 years old, 5’10”, fought predominantly as a welterweight at 147 lbs, former world boxing champion in 5 weight divisions, Hall of Fame boxer, Fighter of the Decade for the 1980’s, Sports Illustrated Magazine’s Sportsman of the Year 1981.
AT&T Store, North Las Vegas, Nevada, April 30, 2010
Sugar Ray Leonard http://sugarrayleonard.com/, Gig is showing Ray a picture of Ray and Gig from the 1980’s. Ray said “Look at my hair” in the picture. Gig responded with “Look at MY hair”.
AT&T Store, North Las Vegas, Nevada, April 30, 2010
Miscellaneous Note:
Gig’s father told him a story about Leonard fighting “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler http://www.marvelousmarvin.com/ 62 Wins (52 knockouts, 9 decisions, 1 disqualification), 3 Losses (0 knockouts, 3 decisions), 2 Draws.
Before they fought, Leonard told Gig’s father, who was at the time the Chief Inspector of the New Jersey Athletic Boxing Commission, that he would not be fighting Hagler because he was too big for him. However, Leonard, who was returning to the ring after a three-year retirement (having fought just once in the previous five years) would later fight, and win in a controversial decision. This fight was one of Leonard’s most memorable, and historic fights with one fighter moving up in weight to fight a naturally bigger opponent. The fight took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987. Hagler was the betting favorite and lost the WBC and The Ring Middleweight titles. The fight was The Ring magazine’s “Fight of the Year” (1987). After the loss to Leonard, Hagler retired and moved to Italy, where he became a well-known star of action films.
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Michael Buffer, boxing ring announcer, catch phrase “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”
Top Rank Presents World Championship Boxing, LV Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 13, 2010
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Joe O’Neill, professional boxing referee, refereed many well known fighters including Mike Tyson. Gig’s father used to employ Joe as the referee for New Jersey State sanctioned fights, particularly in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Pennsylvania, 1999
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Jason Jenkins professional heavyweight boxer, Jason’s brother Bristol beside Gig who was also Gig’s boxing trainer and Jason’s boxing trainer Bob. Jason later won his fight by knock out.
Pennsylvania, 1999
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Showtime Championship Boxing TV Interview about upcoming fight between Mike Tyson https://miketysonlive.com/ and Atlantic City, New Jersey resident Bruce “The Atlantic City Express” Seldon, MGM, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 1996
Felix Trinidad, professional champion boxer (42-3) considered to be one of the best boxers in Puerto Rico’s history. Felix fought on the same card September 7, 1996 and won by TKO against Ray Lovato bringing his boxing record to 30-0.
Photo taken by Gig after Felix exited the boxing press conference and immediately before or after Felix facetiously threw a jab at Gig, He was smiling due to what he knew he was about to do, or right after he jabbed at Gig. MGM, Las Vegas, Nevada, September 1996
Footnote: this was the weekend that Tupac Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas after the fights concluded
but did not on March 6, 1983 at Harrah’s Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey at a fight between Carlos de Leon vs Leon Spinks. Gig’s father was the chief inspector of the New Jersey Boxing Commission and when he saw Muhammad Ali enter the building for the fight and take a seat ringside he asked Gig if he wanted to meet Muhammad and Gig said yes. Gig’s father then had an employee of his, probably one of the New Jersey boxing inspectors, go over to Muhammad and ask him to meet the chief’s son. Muhammad looked back at Gig who was standing further back from ringside and said to the employee that he would meet Gig after the fight. Gig saw a crowd of people around Muhammad after the fight and just decided not to bother him. To this day Gig regrets the decision not to just walk over to Muhammad and meet him. This was before the time of cell phone cameras and since Gig did not have a camera and did not ask for autographs, Gig did not see the benefit of them meeting at the crowded event.
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Sugar Ray Leonard http://sugarrayleonard.com/, former world welterweight boxing champion
CBS televised fight, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Around 1982
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Jersey Joe Walcott, birth name Arnold Cream, known to Gig as Uncle Joe due to his lifelong friendship with Gig’s father, New Jersey Boxing Commissioner and former world heavyweight boxing champion
CBS televised fight, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Around 1982
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Larry Hazzard Jr., boxing referee who later became the New Jersey Boxing Commissioner
CBS televised fight, Atlantic City, New Jersey, Around 1982
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Heavyweight Champion of the World Jersey Joe Walcott, birth name Arnold Creme, held the record for the oldest man to win the heavyweight title at the age of 37 before George Foreman. Known to Gig as Uncle Joe because of his relationship with his father. In the photo above Gig’s father is pictured at the top right over Joe’s left shoulder and Sam Florio is also pictured to the left who was Walcott’s trainer and Uncle to the future Governor of New Jersey Jim Florio (D).
Weigh-in for Heavyweight title defense against Ezzard Charles, Philadelphia, Pa, June 5, 1952.
“Jersey” Joe Walcott is a member of the Boxing Hall of Fame and had a record of 51 wins (32 by knockout) 18 loses and 2 draws, and is best known for his fights against Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano http://www.rockymarciano.net/home.htm.
Gig currently has the gloves worn by Jersey Joe Walcott when he won the heavyweight title which were given to Gig’s father by Walcott who later gave them to Gig.