Sylvester Stallone channeled Yogi Berra after winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the Golden Globes. "I guess it's never really over 'til it's over," he told a reporter from Time magazine.
Indeed, who would have guessed that 39 years after the original "Rocky" hit the screen, Stallone would still be cashing in on the famous fictional character that he invented. And considering that the original Rocky spawned a host of sappy sequels, it's remarkable that Stallone now finds himself the darling of the critics once again.
In "Creed," Stallone puts his vanity aside to portray Rocky Balboa as an old, retired fighter confronting his mortality. He reluctantly returns to boxing in the role of a trainer, mentoring the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, played by the immensely talented Michael B. Jordan.
Watching Stallone accept the award got me thinking about the former boxer that was Stallone's altar ego, heavyweight Lee Canalito. The boxer, who retired undefeated (21-0), had a bit part in Stallone's movie "Paradise Alley," after which Stallone became his manager.
Canalito was one heck of a football player. His coach at the University of Houston, Bill Yeoman, once said "if Lee Canalito had two good legs, he would have been the best defensive linemen ever in college football." An old knee injury bobbed up, forcing Canalito to leave football after only two college seasons. He turned to boxing, backed by a Houston millionaire who turned him over to Angelo Dundee. He was 8-0 when Stallone took control of his ring affairs.
Canalito defeated no one of consequence. The most recognizable name among his 21 victims was Steve Zouski, who would be remembered as George Foreman's first opponent when Foreman launched his comeback. Why he walked away from boxing without at least one big payday, I have no idea. Perhaps he simply didn't want to get hit in the face any more. There's nothing wrong with that.
I have read that Canalito opened a boxing gym in Houston. Can anyone verify that?
Indeed, who would have guessed that 39 years after the original "Rocky" hit the screen, Stallone would still be cashing in on the famous fictional character that he invented. And considering that the original Rocky spawned a host of sappy sequels, it's remarkable that Stallone now finds himself the darling of the critics once again.
In "Creed," Stallone puts his vanity aside to portray Rocky Balboa as an old, retired fighter confronting his mortality. He reluctantly returns to boxing in the role of a trainer, mentoring the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, played by the immensely talented Michael B. Jordan.
Watching Stallone accept the award got me thinking about the former boxer that was Stallone's altar ego, heavyweight Lee Canalito. The boxer, who retired undefeated (21-0), had a bit part in Stallone's movie "Paradise Alley," after which Stallone became his manager.
Canalito was one heck of a football player. His coach at the University of Houston, Bill Yeoman, once said "if Lee Canalito had two good legs, he would have been the best defensive linemen ever in college football." An old knee injury bobbed up, forcing Canalito to leave football after only two college seasons. He turned to boxing, backed by a Houston millionaire who turned him over to Angelo Dundee. He was 8-0 when Stallone took control of his ring affairs.
Canalito defeated no one of consequence. The most recognizable name among his 21 victims was Steve Zouski, who would be remembered as George Foreman's first opponent when Foreman launched his comeback. Why he walked away from boxing without at least one big payday, I have no idea. Perhaps he simply didn't want to get hit in the face any more. There's nothing wrong with that.
I have read that Canalito opened a boxing gym in Houston. Can anyone verify that?
Whatever became of Lee Canalito, Sylvester Stallone's real-life Italian Stallion?
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