The phone rings, and on the other end, a woman says hello Angelo 
Dundee's Office. I tell her who I am she says, hold on Brad I 
will tell Angelo your on the phone. There is a short pause and 
then, Angelo picks up and without hesitation says, "Brad, How are 
you doing?"  I replied, good and than he says, there ain't no fad 
when you talk to Brad.  This is the kind of man Angelo is. A man 
of humor, warmth, honor and above all, loyalty. A loyalty he has 
shown his fighters over so many years. I had the pleasure of 
meeting Angelo several times in the early 80's at the gym I used 
to train at in North Miami Beach Florida, named Allen Park.

Many years later, while home on leave from DesertShield/Desert 
Storm I would again run into Angelo with my late father at the 
famous Lorenzo's Italian Restaurant. The event was the close 
circuit fight between Tommy Hearns and Virgil Hill. My dad who 
knew Angelo over the years took me to his table and asked if he 
would take a picture with us. Angelo didn't hesitate. To this 
day, the picture hangs in my office at home. 

In my opinion, Angelo is to boxing what Frank Sinatra is to music.  
Both legends that moved their respected industries in a positive 
manner adding class and a body of work, to admire for many years 
to come. If you ever have the chance to meet Angelo as I did many 
times, you will know all that I have said above in about 30 seconds 
of talking with this sweet man.

The following is our interview:

Interview by: Brad Berkwitt 

Brad: In your 50 plus years of boxing, what is the greatest fight you have ever 
      seen?

Angelo: I have seen so many great fights. When you think back in your memory 
        and you don't want to be like the old Over-the Hill-Gang that gives you 
        some BS about some old time fights. Fact is, we see some great fights 
        coming on now and I have been personally involved in them by working the 
        corner. You have to say Muhammad Ali Vs. Sonny Liston I, Willie Pastrano 
        Vs. Harold Johnson where the impossible happened. Finally how can you top 
        the Thrilla in Manilla and the first Frazier Vs. Ali at the Garden. It's 
        hard to name just one.

Brad: In all your years of boxing, which fighter had the total package?

Angelo: It had to be Muhammad Ali. Muhammad changed the whole jist of boxing where 
        the media got to talk to the superstar.  I pride myself with that because 
        I pushed Ali to them because I knew if you get the proper media and you 
        don't beat on each other, this would cultivate a romance.  This is what 
        Muhammad created. The first superstar available superstar of our era was 
        Muhammad Ali. He could handle it inside and outside the ring with his 
        talent. Bottom line: He changed the whole complex of boxing.

Brad: Who inspired you to be a trainer?

Angelo: Nothing actually inspired me. I was in England during World War II. My 
        brother Jimmy and I were there. At that time I was in what was called 
        the Air Corp and with the 459 Service Squadron, 318th Service Group. We 
        naturally were in Europe and my brother Chris knew these guys with the 
        USO. They had boxing tournaments over there or boxing exhibitions ALA 
        Joe Louis. They needed guys for those inner military tournaments so Jim
        and I, low and behold use to second them. God help those fighters if they 
        really needed something. They were in deep stuff. I didn't even know how 
        to hold a bucket back then. When my time was up I came back to the states.  
        I was an aircraft inspector with a place in Philadelphia but the types of 
        planes I inspected had changed and I wanted to move on. I called my brother 
        Chris who was stationed in New York at the time and asked him if I could 
        come there and give boxing a shot. I took it all in by listening, watching 
        and learning from the best in those days with guys such as Charley Goldman 
        and Ray Arcel. I was the bucket guy in the corner. I used to watch these 
        guys in the gym and noticed that each guy was a different study. I admired 
        these guys because they truly gave of themselves. I had so many wonderful 
        teachers and got one heck of an education.

Brad: Do you favor a mandatory retirement fund for all boxers?

Angelo: Yes! We need to find a way to do this maybe like a slush fund for these 
        kids. I am all for it. Take the money off the purse, promoter or any place 
        you can. It will line up if you do it from the start. They did that in 
        California for a while. (We both agreed deeply that fighters should have 
        something afterwards when they retire because accolades do not put food
        on their families tables.)

Brad: What qualities must a boxer possess in order for you to train him?

Angelo: First of all, I must feel that they have a future. There is no tougher 
        profession than being a fighter. It's tough, due to the simple reason 
        that the managerial end of it has been taken away from it because what's 
        happening is the promoters are handling the fighters. I feel that the 
        personal touch is the thing you need with each other. I always have a 
        personal touch with a fighter.  By doing this it allows you to get out of 
        each other what's there. So when you get a fighter he needs to respect you 
        and vice versa. If they have the talent to exploit than you have a party, 
        yet you must still bring up the talent gradually. I am known for being a 
        slow guy. I like to take my time and allow my fighter to have every 
        advantage. I don't want to give away too much in a learning experience.
        In other words, when I have a young kid I don't want to give away to much 
        maturity, punch and want my guy to have the edge where he can win. So 
        with that said, the qualities are that the kid has got to want it.

Brad: What are your words of wisdom to the young man or woman that wants to become 
       a trainer?

Angelo: If you have the talent and the quality than it's a tremendous adventure.
        But you must have the talent and the quality to do it. You must persevere 
        because it's not gonna come easy.  

Brad: What was your favorite Ali fight that you were involved in and why?

Angelo: First of all I must say that Muhammad was so much fun and this is what you 
        need in the profession to excel at it. Brad I had fun since day one with 
        him and still to this day, when we see each other it's so much fun. I would 
        say my favorite was the Thrilla in Manilla. It's my favorite because, it 
        brought back that these guys have a way of sucking it up which is a mark 
        of greatness. Here was Muhammad who in the 11th round looked like he could 
        have tossed it in but he sucked it up and dominated Frazier causing him
        to throw it in. This was Muhammad!

Brad: Do you think it's fair to say that the years Muhammad was out because of 
      the War issue would have been his best years?

Angelo: I don't think Muhammad lost, I think the public did. They didn't see him 
        at his greatest. When he came back he did lose some of the magic he had 
        before the layoff.

Brad: What was your favorite Sugar Ray Leonard fight that you were involved in 
      and why?

Angelo: Marvin Hagler because everyone figured no chance that Ray could win. I 
        would also have to say the Hearns fight as well.

Brad: What do you think of each division having three titles?  

Angelo: I think it's nuts. We should have one title because too many champions 
        mix up the fans. They don't know who is around and the real McCoy in 
        there. You don't want to mix up a fight fan.

Brad: Is there any profession besides for boxing that you wanted to pursue?

Angelo: Brad I have been doing this since 1948 and have known about boxing from 
        way before that. (I took that as nothing other than boxing .)  

Brad: Who was your first fighter to challenge for a title and what was the 
      outcome?

Angelo: Carmen Basilio knocked out Tony Demarco in the 12th round to win the 
        Welterweight Championship.

Brad: If you could put together the perfect fighter, what qualities would you 
      pull and from what fighter?

Angelo: Boxing style would have to be Willie Pep because the quickness of the jab 
        and the mobility. Willie Pastrano would feint you out of your socks and 
        hit you with a shot and wouldn't be there. Willie was the original hit and 
        doesn't get hit. This is something you got to have because it gives you 
        longevity. I would take the left hook of a Carmen Basilo. As I said early 
        for the jab Pep but would throw Muhammad's jab in too. For defense, Luis 
        Rodriguez. Footwork Willie Pastrano and Ali. Right hand, Joe Louis.

Brad: Of all the honors bestowed upon you, which one are you most proud of?

Angelo: Brad listen I am proud of anything. I once got an award from a guy in Ohio 
        that said, "GOOD GUYS WIND UP FIRST!"  I loved that. (Angelo said with 
        such a wonderful honest laugh.) Look I am very happy that people still
        acknowledge my presence on this earth. (That's an understatement about 
        this wonderful man.)  

Brad: Finally, what would you like your legions of fans to remember you for?

Angelo: Not for anything special, just as a guy who enjoyed what he did. (We 
        sure do Angelo and more than you will ever know!)


As always fight fans, keep reaching for the stars and all your dreams can be 
fulfilled.