I Muse...on Slania's Boxers

Silence. Suddenly lights flare to life, illuminating the battle arena. The spectators crowded around the boxing ring erupt in frenzied cheers and shouts. The gladiators stare at each other from opposite corners of the arena, their eyes seething with battle-lust. Then a man steps into the ring. The announcer. Grabbing the microphone dangling from a long wire before him, he takes a deep breath...

"L-l-let's get ready to rumble!" he shouts. Then leaves.

The crowd goes ballistic! The bell rings. The fight is on...

***

Anyone who is a fan of Czeslaw Slania probably knows that he was a huge boxing fan. So much so that hen produced a set of 23 engravings in postage stamp format of World Champion Boxers. These stamps were printed in 1964 and they are true masterpieces, each and every one. So without further ado, let us feast our eyes on some truly glorious engraved portraits.

John Lawrence "Boston Strong Boy" Sullivan

Born in Boston 1858

Defeated Jake Kilrain in 1889

Record: 40-1-2

James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett

Born in San Francois 1866

Defeated John L. Sullivan in 1892

Record: 11-4-3

Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons

Born in Cornwall, UK, 1863

Defeated James J. Corbett in 1897

Record: 63-8-4

James Jackson "The Boilermaker" Jeffries

Born in Ohio USA, 1875

Defeated Robert J. Fitzsimmons in 1899

Record: 19-1-2

Tommy "The Little Giant of Hanover" Burns

Born in Ontario, Canada 1881

Defeated Marvin Hart in 1906

Record: 48-5-8

John Arthur "Galveston Giant" Johnson

Born in Texas, USA 1878

Defeated Denver Ed Martin in 1908

Record: 73-13-10

Jess Myron "Great White Hope" Willard

Born in Kansas, USA 1881

Defeated Jack Johnson in 1915

Record: 28-6-1

William Harrison "Kid Blackie" Dempsey

Born in Colorado, USA 1895

Defeated Jess Willard in 1919

Record: 54-6-9

James Joseph "The Fighting Marine" Tunney

Born in New York, USA 1897

Defeated Jack Dempsey 1926

Record: 55-1-1

Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried "Max" Schmeling

Born in Pomerania, Germany 1905

Defeated Jack Sharkey in 1930

Record: 56-10-4

Jack "Sharkboy" Sharkey (real name: Joseph Paul Zukauskas)

Born in New York, USA 1902

Defeated Max Schmeling 1932

Record: 38-14-3

Primo "Ambling Alp" Carnera

Born in Sequals., Italy 1906

Defeated Jack Sharkey 1933

Record: 89-14-0

Maximilian Adelbert "Max" Baer

Born in Nebraska, USA 1909

Defeated Primo Carnera 1934

Record: 68-13-0

James Walter "Cinderella Man" Braddock

Born in New York City, USA 1905

Defeated Max Baer 1935

Record: 50-26-7

Joseph Louis "Brown Bomber" Barrow

Born in Alabama, USA 1914

Defeated James J. Braddock in 1937

Record: 66-3-0

Ezzard Mac "Cincinnati Cobra" Charles

Born in Illinois, USA 1921

Defeated Jersey Joe Walcott 1949

Record: 93-25-1

Arnold Raymond "Jersey Joe Walcott" Cream

Born in New Jersey, USA 1914

Defeated Ezzard Charles 1951

Record: 51-18-2

Rocco Francis "Rocky" Marchegiano

Born in Massachusetts, USA 1923

Defeated Jersey Joe Walcott 1952

Record: 49-0-0

Floyd "The Gentleman of Boxing" Patterson

Born in North Carolina, USA 1935

Defeated Archie Moore 1956

Record: 55-8-1

Jens Ingemar "The Hammer of Thor" Johansson

Born in Gothenburg, Sweden 1932

Defeateed Floyd Patterson 1959

Record: 26-2-0

Floyd "The Gentleman of Boxing" Patterson

Born in North Carolina, USA 1935

Defeated Ingemar Johansson 1960

Record: 55-8-1

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston

Born in Arkansas, USA Unknown

Defeated Floyd Patterson 1962

Record: 50-4-0

Cassius Clay AKA Muhammad Ali

Born in Kentucky, USA 1942

Defeated Sonny Liston 1964

Record: 56-5-0

Incidentally, if we turn our attention back to stamp one, of John L. Sullivan, one notices he fought bare-knuckled. Slania actually used his own hands as models for the engraving.

As a final note, I'd like to thank Roos Philately for the excellent images. I can't wait to acquire this set myself.

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!