GRAND RING ANNOUNCER A SPECIAL INDIVIDUAL
Capitola, CA-To a fan sitting in the balcony of the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium, for more than 30 years Jimmy Lennon looked and sounded the same. Slender, elegant, eloquent, a picture of tonsorial refinement in bow tie and dinner jacket. And a master showman, able to slip from one language to another in mid-sentence, as on those evenings four decades ago when the house lights were turned down to introduce a particular Southland favorite.
LENNON RING INTROS SOME OF THE BEST EVER!
Then a searchlight swept over the darkened house, a trumpeter stood in one corner playing a golden fanfare that even gringos recognized as bullfight music, and a small man in a blue satin robe came jogging down the aisle, warming up for another night’s work. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Lennon’s voice rang out., “the former lightweight champion of the world, from Monterey, Mexico, el asesino do los gigantes…Lauro Salas!” Given the chance, Jimmy Lennon could make the beginning of a routine 10-rounder seem more exciting than the alphabet soup title fights do these days.
TIME STANDS STILL FOR NO MAN
But as the 1980’s wore on, Jimmy began to share the workload with his son Jimmy Lennon Jr., who was to become a world-class announcer in his own right. And from ringside, Jimmy’s most ardent fan had to admit that not even he could escape the shipwreck of time.
ON THE MUNSTERS & BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
Jimmy Lennon, born James Frederick Lennon in St. Paul, MN, did more for the game than many so-called champions. Recognized throughout the world as an all time great in his field, he was also been a butcher, a salesman, and a singer, as well a veteran of uncounted movies and TV shows. On April 20, 1992 in Santa Monica, CA, Lennon died of heart failure at age 79.
FRASER JUST ONE OF MANY ADMIRERS
“I knew him 40 yearS,” retired promoter Don Fraser told Boxing Update. “I think he was the best by far. There was Harry Balogh, the old Madison Square Garden announcer, he was great. But I think Jimmy was superior. He was unique. His whole style, his voice. He had the Mexican names down pat.”
FROM BOXING UPDATE/FLASH MAGAZINE ARCHIVES
For this article we thank Virgil Thrasher, publisher for almost three decades of Professional Boxing Update & Flash magazines, for our exclusive access to these fine articles. At one time Thrasher had Jack Fiske, Graham Houston, Jack Welsh, Pedro Fernandez, Jack Obermayer, Bruce Bebb, who covered the Southland beat and wrote this piece on Jimmy Lennon Sr., there were many more, I could go on and on. Bottom line was that before the Internet, it was Boxing Update & Flash hitting your mailbox every ten days. Again, much thanks to Mr. Thrasher.
Bruce Bebb Boxing Update magazine May 10, 1992
