By: Sean Crose
I suppose it’s a kind of instances the place you needed to be there. He might not have been the best light-weight in historical past – although he definitely was superb. He might not have had the longest title run – just some brief years, actually. But Livingstone Bramble, who died this weekend on the age of 64 was nothing if not memorable. No person anticipated to him to win the WBA light-weight title again in 1984, however that’s precisely what the native of St. Croix did, stopping the bloodied champion, Ray Mancini, within the 14th. The 2 fought a really shut rematch the next yr, however as soon as once more, Bramble obtained the win (this time on the choose’s playing cards).
Issues turned bitter for Bramble when he was walloped for 2 rounds by Edwin Rosario in Miami earlier than their 1986 struggle was halted by the referee. It could be the final time Bramble stood within the ring a world champion. After dropping his title belt to Rosario, the thrilling Bramble would by no means once more attain world championship standing. That didn’t imply the person couldn’t be an entertaining ring practitioner, nonetheless. The reality was that Bramble was good tv. Whether or not he was coming into the ring holding a big snake, buying and selling punches with Mancini, and even getting rolled over by Rosario, Livingstone Bramble fights had been entertaining.
Whereas his profession went by way of a decline that primarily lasted for many years, Bramble did effectively within the early 90s partaking in thrilling battles on applications like Tuesday Evening Fights. He might not have been a dominant fighter, however the man by that time was epitomizing good boxing – not nice boxing, however good boxing, which was one thing most former champions might’t say lengthy after their primes had come and gone. Bramble, merely put, was a boxer by way of and thru.
And whereas he’s not with us, Bramble left us with some very memorable ring performances. I nonetheless keep in mind watching him win the title off Mancini, simply as I watched him get rolled over by Rosario two years later. He fought in a legitimately nice period however there was greater than quirkiness and pet snakes that made Bramble stand out. “You already know,” my dad mentioned after Bramble had misplaced a detailed one within the early 90s “the man’s okay.” True sufficient. He was a legit standout, as effectively. These of us who noticed Bramble ply his commerce received’t be forgetting him.
Relaxation in Peace.
