Film Date
3/6/68
Film Reference Number
KRON 1777-10
Description
KRON-TV news footage from March 3rd 1968 featuring interviews in a boxing ring with welterweight world champion Curtis Cokes and middleweight fighter Jimmy Lester (1944-2006), aka the Bayview Blaster, who have a match in the Oakland Auditorium on March 15th. Cokes says he's only read about Lester before now and Lester explains that he was ringside for Cokes's victory over Charley Shipes in October 1967. Cokes went on to beat Lester on the 15th by a unanimous decision. From the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco, Lester was twice ranked during his boxing career at number two. It should be noted that Lester's father Vern Lester was a boxer who fought under his own name in the 1940s and also as Jimmy "Top Row" Allen, who lost a split decision to middleweight champion Jake LaMotta in 1948. Opening graphic designed by Carrie Hawks.
Format
16mm newsfilm
Copyright
Young Broadcasting of San Francisco Inc.