Robert "Pee Wee" Rucker - Harlem's Forgotten Fighter

Рет қаралды 8,949

3 ай бұрын

A look back at the career of Robert 'Pee Wee' Rucker, a top welterweight contender from the 1980s. Special thanks to Bruce Kielty for some of the information in this video.

Пікірлер: 89

@williamjordan9237 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the hard work on these videos.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, William.

@risboturbide9396 3 ай бұрын

I've never heard of him before. So it means I'm gonna learn something from Rich tonight, and it is great. Thank you, Rich 🍻🍻

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Sure thing, Risbo. Rucker was a good fighter.

@itsmemckee2110 3 ай бұрын

I love watching these older fights. It seems like these guys had more passion.

@cbad01 3 ай бұрын

Rich, thanks for this story on Robert Rucker. There was a such a deep trove of good fighters from the New York City area, either native born or transplants, during the early to mid-eighties. One would have had to frequent live cards such as those monthly shows at MSG's Felt Forum to know of Rucker, as only the most hard-bitten fight fans did. In highlighting Rucker's career, your scholarship is on full display, Rich. Thanks again!

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, Charles. Yes, the Felt Forum produced a lot of fighters during that time period that aren't talked about too much today.

@bennylevine387 3 ай бұрын

I first read it as Edward "Pee Wee" Parker, the former junior featherweight who fought at the Inglewood Forum a bunch. Then I was like oh it's another Pee Wee." Then I learned about this guy. Interesting story.

@mozfonky 3 ай бұрын

Macho tried to give him a pep talk against rodriguez, Rucker, I read, helped pay for Macho's burial.

@johnpittsii7524 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the amazing video ❤

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, John.

@LetitGolazziter-uk9xi 3 ай бұрын

Outstanding!

@bennyadler5882 3 ай бұрын

Wow. Forgotten about Rucker until this video. Very skilled boxer, if I recall, Fireball was Ray Leonard’s first pro opponent in ‘77.

@cycletouringoz5760 3 ай бұрын

No. Luis “The Bull” Vega As a footnote : Rodriguez fought some top fighters along the way, Ubaldo Sacco, Billy Costello, Frankie Warren, Buddy McGirt ……

@bennyadler5882 3 ай бұрын

got Fireball confused with Toro.

@stephengeorge3507 3 ай бұрын

I REMEMBER ALL THESE FIGHTS, 70 80S WERE GREAT,RICH REMEMBER JOSE THE THREAT Baret !

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Yes, I do. He was heavily hyped on east coast until he faced Marlon Starling.

@noahstewart6181 3 ай бұрын

Another great video, Thanks

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, Noah.

@emokellen 3 ай бұрын

Again, well done, Rich! The best of boxing on all of youtube. Keep them coming bud!

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Hey thanks, emokellen.

@petierican6079 3 ай бұрын

Rich the more i watch your fantastic videos i see so many i never heard of and I've been following boxing since 1970s late about 77 but i thank you for sharing these documentaries like no other can your gift from god is impeccable ..he gave you something no one else has 💪🥊💯🔥👑💣💥☝️👍🔉🔉🔉💯💯💯..willie 🔥 fire ball 🔥rodriguez..had a very fight with the sugar man ray leonard in his beginnings ❤

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, Petie. Yes, Leonard said Fireball gave him one of his toughest fights.

@petierican6079 3 ай бұрын

@@RichtheFightHistorian yes👍

@davidbolen8982 3 ай бұрын

Rich, this channel so good, someone gonna do a documentary on you one day. Three thumbs up 👍 👍 👍 !

@petierican6079 3 ай бұрын

Very very good idea 💡

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

haha, thanks David.

@testcyp767 3 ай бұрын

Another great little video about an NYC guy Rich. Thank you. Believe me, if the title shots and the big money fights were not in Robert's destiny, being a bus driver for the MTA is one of the best things that could have happened to him. Decent pay, fantastic family medical for life, and a nice, fat pension.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, testcyp767.

@drummersagainstitk 3 ай бұрын

You're the best Rich. Thank You. The research and production is fantastic.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, drummersagainstitk.

@towers950 3 ай бұрын

well worth the wait Rich ! thanks buddy

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Sure thing, Kim.

@brettpaterson8042 3 ай бұрын

Well done Rich, I have learnt of a lot from your research, being from the UK boxers like Pee-Wee Rucker I have no knowledge of. His career may of gone somewhere, the most a title shot, things didn’t turn out for him though , looked good though, had all the moves. Glad his story didn’t end in tragic way and he kept himself level headed. Thanks Rich.🥊

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Sure thing, Brett. Rucker certainly deserved more exposure, he had a lot of old school moves.

@lymanpauli517 3 ай бұрын

Rich a forgotten name. Great reminder with this one

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, Lyman.

@freddycasiano6354 3 ай бұрын

Great video like always, great job 👍🏼👍🏼 Consider to make a video of Harold Weston Jr. Great fighter from the 70s...!

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, Sugar Cains. Will look more into Weston Jr.

@Scrapiron-jq2cz 3 ай бұрын

A former New Face from Ring Magazine

@marksimmo8626 3 ай бұрын

Great upload all your videos are brilliant

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, Mark.

@DavidMolina-jq7im 3 ай бұрын

Another great story.

@hassanx9423 3 ай бұрын

I’ve been subscribed for some time now Thank you for all these videos

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure, Hassan.

@brianseneca3546 3 ай бұрын

Heard of him from Camacho fights. Never saw him fight. The last fight was quick stoppage

@gloveskillz 3 ай бұрын

I remember Pee Wee growing up in Harlem #LETZGOCHAMP

@robertdudley-rx8qo 3 ай бұрын

do you know what bacame of him or why he was forgotten ?

@PhilipMaldonado-kx9cb 3 ай бұрын

I use to see him at "Knights Community" boxing gym 125th near 5th Ave. in the early 80s.Him and Tyrone Jackson from Harlem were enigmas. 6:39

@PhilipMaldonado-kx9cb 3 ай бұрын

@@robertdudley-rx8qo No,but the documentary said he became a bus driver.He would pop in once in a while- rarely trained there since he was an up and coming pro and did his serious work in gyms like Gleason's or Times Square.

@BigCore- Ай бұрын

He’s a NYC Bus driver and real estate investor. Left the sport due to the shady aspects.

@egopower2264 3 ай бұрын

GREAT DOCUMENTARY👀👀👀🔥🔥🔥👊👊👊💪💪💪🏆🏆🏆😎😎😎💥💥💥💯💯💯👌👌👌👑👑👑👑👍👍👍CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE👍👑👌💯💥🏆🔥💪👊

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, egopower.

@frenchgoldenboyfan 3 ай бұрын

Great vidéo !

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, Frenchgoldenboyfan.

@brucekielty8180 3 ай бұрын

A+ work by Rich again. Ref LoBianco seemed confused at the end of the Clayton bout, but it is not an easy job when you have someone's life in your hands.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, Bruce.

@robertdudley-rx8qo 3 ай бұрын

thank you rich and happy easter. btw what became of robert rucker and why was he forgotten like so many boxers seem to be? he seem like a good kid listening to him talk with the guys after the fights, very respectful young man.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Sure thing, Robert. All I know is that it appears he went to work for the Transit Authority. The layoff after the Rodriguez fight pretty much killed his momentum and his career never recovered.

@phelpsmarc 25 күн бұрын

I saw him on nbc.

@MrCrystalcranium 3 ай бұрын

Interesting guy. I think despite being very talented, his heart just wasn't in the sport. The almost quit against Rodriguez on national TV was bizarre. I don't know if he was fatigued or discouraged by having hit Willie with so many of his best shots only to see him continue to go after him. He wasn't hurt or getting beaten up...he just wanted to stop fighting. Very entertaining piece. Kudos Rich!

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, MrCrystalcranium. I think you're spot on in your assessment.

@LetitGolazziter-uk9xi 3 ай бұрын

Hudson County = Jersey City, NJ, my home state 🎉🎉

@bookah8787 3 ай бұрын

Never heard of this guy before his name made me want to watch lol nice one Richie mate 👍

@bookah8787 3 ай бұрын

Just imagine calling yourself that lol stiff body shot would fold him like a lawn chair they are very small fighters

@bookah8787 3 ай бұрын

29 and 1 ok this guy must of been pretty good the name made me laugh 😄

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, bookah.

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Yes, he had to be good with a name like that :)

@bookah8787 3 ай бұрын

@@RichtheFightHistorian lol fooled his opponents

@BENWAR72 3 ай бұрын

🥊🥊🥊🥊🥊👍🏿

@nicholashannigan6930 3 ай бұрын

One of the only (a handful) channels that IMMEDIATELY gets a thumbs 👍 up in a new upload! RichTheFightHistorian.. Excellence personified!.. Thanks Rich 👍

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Hey thanks, Nicholas.

@stokesr08 3 ай бұрын

He sound like Tyson.😁😁

@SirLuciferVampiro 3 ай бұрын

I'm soooo confused by this guy's career....Why did he retire for 2 years after the Clayton fight? Only to begin fighting again and successfully at that. He finished a career with 30-2 and didn't parlayed that into at least a title shot. I don't get it? Did he take his career seriously? I just don't get it.....

@RichtheFightHistorian 3 ай бұрын

Your guess is as good as anyone's. I got the impression that he was hurt by the split with Billy Giles and his heart may have not been in the sport anymore. Not having a major promoter getting him fights on the regular didn't help either.

@BigCore- Ай бұрын

Long story short. He was tired of the shady aspects of the business.

@boxingchief9543 3 ай бұрын

This man @rich the fight historian puts all my knowledge to shame.

@2383Scorpio Ай бұрын

Interesting, but forgotten career of Robert "Pee Wee" Rucker. Had he fought more with bigger names in the welterweight division, he would have fought the likes of "The Cobra" Donald Curry, "Raggin Muffin Man" Lloyd Honeyghan, Mark Breland and Marlon Starling. However, Pee Wee would be an easy prey to all 4 I mentioned. Anyways, keep it up Rich and good job.

@RichtheFightHistorian Ай бұрын

Thanks, Scorpio. I agree, he was a tier below the fighters you mentioned.

@2383Scorpio Ай бұрын

@@RichtheFightHistorian You're welcome Rich and thanks for your opinion.