“He is a stubborn mule.”
Those were the words early Sunday morning of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum in reference to his valued chief matchmaker, Bruce “Southland” Trampler.
Trampler, whose age is about 60 or 61, started slurring his speech and having mobility problems with his legs at some point Thursday in Atlantic City, where the promoters were revving up for the Sergio Martinez-Kelly Pavlik middleweight title bout.
“Lee (pr chief Samuels) told me about Bruce and I insisted that he go right to the hospital but Bruce is such a stubborn mule that he did not want to go. I just got off the phone with him and he sounds fine but I’m sending him by plane to the Cleveland Clinic on Monday for more testing. We’ve got some good connections there and it is a great hospital.”
Most people outside of boxing don’t know it but Trampler, once my roommate in Manhattan years ago, has worked as a baseball agent all these years at Top Rank. He attended to boxing during the day and then stayed late into the night at the Las Vegas offices handling his budding minor league players.
Bruce “Southland” Trampler, matchmaker now for Manny Pacquiao and guy who helped build Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather careers when they boxed for Bob Arum’s Top Rank, is recovering from what is thought to be “a mild stroke.” A “mild stroke” is when it happens to the other guy (IBHOF Photo)
Trampler has had a few guys make it to the major leagues but no major stars.
Now, he’s being “designated for assignment” to Cleveland, as they would say in baseball.
Trampler’s favorite team is the Atlanta Braves and his alltime favorite player was slugger Eddie Matthews with his pal, Cy Young Award winning Twins hurler and boxing guy Dean Chance, a close second.
In boxing, Trampler is the go to guy when Arum is considering any opponent for Pacquiao and his other top champions.
Boxing Lifers: Coach Freddie Roach poses with Hall Of Fame level matchmaker Bruce “Southland” Trampler
Trampler gives his boss the whys and why not on a particular matchup and then Arum makes the executive decision on whether or not to make that particular bout a reality.
His many friends in boxing, including me, wish Trampler a complete recovery.
Time to cut down on the sweets, Southland.
They call “Southland” because of his formative years as a young matchmaker who was then fresh out of Ohio University with a journalism degree. Trampler was the matchmaker then for colorful Cowboy Pete Ashlock who ran fight cards in Orlando.
Even while in college, Trampler got deeply involved in boxing. The New jersey native started booking boxers, including Billy “Dynamite” Douglas whose son, Buster, would later shock Mike Tyson and the world, and working their corners.
Get well and get thin, BT, that’s an order from “Sheik” Arum!
