In Good Hands

Over the last few years, my colleagues and me at "The Boxing Standard," have had numerous debates and discussions regarding who were/are some of the greatest fighters, punchers and boxers of all-time. And on occasion, trainers, promoters and broadcasters have been part of the conversation as well.

Here's one I saw a few weeks ago on another boxing forum; what was the best corner ever?

The one that immediately comes to my mind is, Eddie Futch and Ray Arcel, when they worked the corner of Larry Holmes during his fight with Gerry Cooney. How over matched were Victor Valle, Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport, who worked Cooney's corner?

Seven years prior to Holmes-Cooney, Futch was part of another terrific tandem when he and George Benton were paired to work the corner of Joe Frazier, when he fought Muhammad Ali for their third and final time in "The Thrilla in Manila." In fact, Joe had another terrific brain trust working his corner when his trainer Yancy Durham, brought in Eddie Futch and Gil Clancy to work the corner for Joe's first fight versus Ali in 1971.

Roberto Duran, one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever, was led to the ring by Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown until after his rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. It doesn't get much better than that. Joe Louis was the benefactor of a first tier tandem, having Jack Blackburn and Mannie Seamon in his ear when he fought. Sadly, for Louis's opponent, Joe followed his battle plan to the letter.

Charlie Goldman, who trained Rocky Marciano, was HOF caliber, but I can't remember him being paired with another HOF caliber second, for a particular fight. The same applies to, Jimmy DeForest, who trained and tutored Jack Dempsey. And like Goldman, I can't remember reading where DeForest ever teamed up with anyone other than, Doc Kearns, whose role was manager, until after Dempsey fought Luis Firpo.

So I ask my colleagues, has there ever been a greater corner than Eddie Futch and Ray Arcel when they joined forces and helped Larry Holmes win the signature fight of his career?