December 30, 2008

Hipp to resume boxing?

Former Heavyweight Contender "Indian" Joe Hipp To Make Comeback Next Year?Back in the early part of this year, this writer had the pleasure of interviewing 90's heavyweight contender Joe Hipp, a member of the Blackfoot Indian tribe (hence his "Indian" nickname.) Hipp, who got as far as challenging for a version of the heavyweight title in 1995, and who had a great and memorable losing battle with Tommy "The Duke" Morrison in 1992, told me how he was planning to fight again in April or May of 2008. Now aged 46 and inactive since August of 2005, the 6'1" southpaw will apparently get his ring return, almost a year later than he had originally planned.

According to BoxRec.com, Hipp, 43-7(29), will box one Corey Williams on March the 7th in Billings, Montana. With something called the CBA heavyweight title on the line, Hipp will be contesting what will be only his fourth fight in almost ten years. Obviously, coming back after such inactivity and at such an advanced age, the likeable fighter will not be rushing things. Williams, a guy who will turn 30 on January 1st next year, is a fighter with a modest 7-9-2(4) record, and as such he will not present Hipp with any overt danger-although at his age and after having been out of action for so long, no fight can be considered a gimme for the 46-year-old veteran.
More on Hipp:

Spooner Brings Indian Youth Closer to London OlympicsWith the sparring behind the scenes rivaling the boxing superstars in the ring, Native Voices Foundation's (NVF) "Future Olympian's Day Benefit in Spooner April 16, turned out an uplifting landmark for American Indian youth competing in the London Olympics," according to Olympic skier, Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee, NVF's organizer.

Caption: Spooner's Future Olympians Benefit. Photo: Terrell BoetcherWorld Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Hipp (Blackfeet), 2003 Native American Heavyweight Champion Harry Funmaker ("Ho-Chunk Hammer"), and South Dakota Golden Gloves director, Chissie Spencer (Seminole), wowed the region's rising stars with priceless coaching, and fans with exciting sparring at the Northwest Sports Complex.

"I'm thrilled how the benefit united Indian Country's leading casinos behind developing youth for Vancouver's 2010 and London's 2012 Olympics," said Barry ZeVan, beloved Minneapolis weatherman and original PR Director for Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Chaffee honored ZeVan there for raising her tribal consciousness 15 years ago, and producing "American Indian Homelands," an award-winning eye-opener.
Comment:  I wonder if some tribal leader gave Hipp permission to wear the headdress, or if he decided to wear it on his own.

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