Packy’s World: Prayers for Boxer Nick Blackwell, Anthony Joshua, Jersey Joe Walcott, Mafia Movies, My Pal Al, & The Chutzpah Award Posthumously Goes to Bobby Darin

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By Packy “Boom Boom” Goldstein

Oy Vay are you going to hear it today… It’s a cloudy day here on Key Biscayne, but at least it’s a warm 77 degrees. Much is going on in the boxing world both exciting and sad. So let’s get right to it RSR readers because Sadie, my dear wife, has her Poker Club coming over later today and just the sight of those old yentas breaks my bagels!

Nick Blackwell… My heart goes out to this warrior who collapsed after his loss to Chris Eubanks, JR. last week. I was at the Benny “The Kid” Paret – Emile Griffith fight that tragic night and I can tell you that like the boxing world did back then, they are doing now and praying for our brave warrior that he pulls out of the induced coma he’s in. Sadly, Benny didn’t, but he will never be forgotten.

Anthony Joshua…And the new IBF Heavyweight Champion of the World by KO between rounds 6-9.

Jersey Joe Walcott… I met Joe while he was shooting The Harder They Fall with Bogart in late 1955. What a gentleman who was the epitome of class. I will never forget when they told him that Joe Louis had died on live TV during the Hilmer Kenty Vs Sean O’ Grady fight, on April 12, 1981. Joe was shaken to his core and you saw him get up in tears. RIP Champ!

Mafia Movies… My favorite genre of movies with a close second being comedy. Here are my top five favorite mafia movies of all time.

5. Miller’s Crossing
4. Legs Diamond
3. The Untouchables
2. Goodfellas
1. The Godfather

My Pal Al (“Bad” Brad’s Father)…. Next month Alvin would have been 88 years old. Oh the things he would have to say about what is going on in the world both domestically and overseas. He hated injustices. He was an advocate of the Police who loved him locally, but he also called them out when they made a mistake like in the Miami case with Preston McDuffie back in 1980.

One time, then State Attorney for Dade County Janet Reno, personally thanked Al who was an eyewitness to a murder and came forward in solving it thus putting the people behind bars who killed an elderly woman when they robbed her and dragged her with their car back in 1981, in Eastern Shores, located in North Miami Beach. I had totally forgotten this story, but when Bradley and I spoke the other day on the phone, he mentioned he still had the letter from Reno. That was Al, never scared to stand up! I’ll never stop loving my pal Al and missing him!

The Chutzpah Award… The Chutzpah Award Posthumously Goes to Bobby Darin. Bobby had brass balls and had too. He knew from a young age he would not live long. He was right. When he died in 1973, he was only 37 years old. But in those 37 years, he lived life to the fullest grabbing it by the short hairs. He owned a nightclub floor and could sing rock and roll along with standards. I met him a few times with Al years back on Miami Beach. They used to do a duet of Splish Splash that had the broads on the floor laughing and returning to Al’s hotel room… Yes, you bet “Boom Boom” had one too going back to the room so she could see just how I got the nickname “Boom Boom”….

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