The Fight of their Career!

[Howatt8]

Originally Posted by BaddaBing Badda Boom

BS25 - I am dating myself here but I remember the Atlanta Flames with Plett, Houston, etc...I was just a kid but occasionally I would catch them on NBC Saturday game........We did not se Atlanta that much in NYC television wise. I distinctly remember "big Ken Houston" he was a giant to me with that big black mustache - Remember that he had some rep anyway back then. So, fast forward to this afternoon I research KH and find less than nothing, other than the fact that Sittler TKO'd him.......Is there a back-story to Houston that I am missing?

Houston was a big guy who got a lot of mileage out of breaking the jaw of Dave Schultz (even though it was a cheap shot over the linesman). Not that I cared. Schultz delivered enough cheap shots in his career so he just got one back.

If I recall correctly, the fight that touched off that brawl in was between Bobby Clarke and Rey Comeau. As they were on the ice fighting, Comeau kicked Clarke which brought Orest Kindrachuk over the boards, followed by the rest of the Flyers.

I always thought Houston was tough, but no world-beater. He wrestled around with Gillies once, but it wasn't much of a fight. He also got the better of Howatt in a relatively uneventful fight. At the same time he was fighting Howatt, Nystrom was getting the better of Pat Ribble, and Lysiak was beating up Bob Bourne.

Those Atlanta teams were a pretty tough group. Besides Houston, they also had Plett, Bennett, Lysiak, Ribble, and Marsh. Throw in Harold Phillipof for a year or two and this team was a team to reckon with when the gloves came off.

[Howatt8]

Originally Posted by battleship25

Great thread Spider' :

Perrault- D.Maloney - although I didn't see it ...it was the epitome of this thread. Originally called a huge win for Gil, but many say it was close...regardless it was a war and the young Perrault...not a fighter shocked the hockey world. !!

Yeah, this is one that has always remained shrouded in a bit of mystery. I've often wondered if it really went down the way it was originally communicated or if that big Perrault win was more a figment of the imagination of Charley Barton, who was the beat writer for the Sabres and for whom they used to give out an award in his honor. They may still give out the Charley Barton award, but I'm not sure.

I don't know, I just find it difficult to believe that after this big win over Maloney that Gil Perreault never had another fight throughout his entire career. If anything, this, and his superstar status, would have made him a huge target for the influx of enforcers that were soon to enter the league.

Maloney went on to have a great career as a fighter and soon became virtually the undisputed champ of the NHL for a few years. Perreault spent the rest of his career as a pacifist with his gloves glued on. Something about this whole story has just never added up to me.

Of course, I wasn't there, so anythings possible.

[Johnny Pie]

Originally Posted by Howatt8

Houston was a big guy who got a lot of mileage out of breaking the jaw of Dave Schultz (even though it was a cheap shot over the linesman). Not that I cared. Schultz delivered enough cheap shots in his career so he just got one back.

If I recall correctly, the fight that touched off that brawl in was between Bobby Clarke and Rey Comeau. As they were on the ice fighting, Comeau kicked Clarke which brought Orest Kindrachuk over the boards, followed by the rest of the Flyers.

I always thought Houston was tough, but no world-beater. He wrestled around with Gillies once, but it wasn't much of a fight. He also got the better of Howatt in a relatively uneventful fight. At the same time he was fighting Howatt, Nystrom was getting the better of Pat Ribble, and Lysiak was beating up Bob Bourne.

Those Atlanta teams were a pretty tough group. Besides Houston, they also had Plett, Bennett, Lysiak, Ribble, and Marsh. Throw in Harold Phillipof for a year or two and this team was a team to reckon with when the gloves came off.

This fight was written about in a number of articles. Most saying they grappled and Houston hit him when they were breaking up the fight. I have a pic that shows them swinging it out so who knows but this fight happened before the bench clearing brawl. I had an audio of the brawl and I remember Terry Crisp was in the booth with Gene Hart and he was going crazy screaming at Comeau who was fighting Clarke. The think that confuses me is during this brawl Bob Kelly fights with Bill Flett who was on Atlanta at the time and Bloodies him. Crisp I remember says that Hound gave it to Cowboy good. The thing is I don't see any Penalties listed for them. I know they fought and it was a toe to toe go with Kelly winning big. I lost the tape but know it happened because I listened to it more than once. But nothing in the boxscore. Kelly and Houston had a go in a different brawl a little later on. There is video of that one.

[flyersvikes]

Garry Howatt Bob Nystrom vs Ken Houston Pat...

[Howatt8]

Originally Posted by Johnny Pie

This fight was written about in a number of articles. Most saying they grappled and Houston hit him when they were breaking up the fight. I have a pic that shows them swinging it out so who knows but this fight happened before the bench clearing brawl. I had an audio of the brawl and I remember Terry Crisp was in the booth with Gene Hart and he was going crazy screaming at Comeau who was fighting Clarke. The think that confuses me is during this brawl Bob Kelly fights with Bill Flett who was on Atlanta at the time and Bloodies him. Crisp I remember says that Hound gave it to Cowboy good. The thing is I don't see any Penalties listed for them. I know they fought and it was a toe to toe go with Kelly winning big. I lost the tape but know it happened because I listened to it more than once. But nothing in the boxscore. Kelly and Houston had a go in a different brawl a little later on. There is video of that one.

Absolutely right JP, Kelly and Flett definately fought in that brawl and Kelly bloodied him. I think there were several fights that are not listed in the boxscore, including Mulhern-McIlhargey, Flett-Kelly, and Bowness-Saleski.

[V12_Bi-Turbo]

Fight of a career does not have to be only a victory fight. Could also be a DANDY of a draw

parker vs laraque - YouTube

scott parker vs donald brashear dec'23'2000 -...

[ewen21]

Paul MacDermid dropping Berube

[bruiser11]

Mike Peluso vs Mike Eagles Jan 10, 1992 - YouTube

[Costanza]

Russel putting Kimble on his back.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by V12_Bi-Turbo

Fight of a career does not have to be only a victory fight. Could also be a DANDY of a draw

parker vs laraque - YouTube
scott parker vs donald brashear dec'23'2000 - YouTube

No, it doesn't have too be a victory, a knockout, knockdown or TKO, just their best showing or above and beyond their normal career performances .

Like for an example, my original post had Chris Tamer vs Bob Probert. Not only was it a great showing by Chris Tamer vs his other career outings but it was against one of the all-time greats, Bob Probert.

[fish7]

Originally Posted by bustoff

Garry Unger taking it to Dave Schultz.

I was watching the HBO Documentary on the Broad Street Bullies and they show the start up to this fight and then they cut away. I was a little guy when this happened so I don't remember the fight as well as I wish did; what I remember more is how much my dad and his buddies talked about it for years

[Blues 34]

Everett Sanipass gave it to Dave Richter when Richter was a Blue, he broke his nose pretty good

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

After 300+ fights and a whole lotta nonsense, I think Tie Domi's first fight with Bob Probert was the biggest of his career. Bob Probert was the reigning NHL champion. Domi had been talking this fight up through the media leading up to the fight. Whether Domi won the bout or not may be debateable, but whether or not he mocked Probert afterwards is not.

Domi had a lot of "moments" in his career, but the fight and belt gesture afterwards are Domi's (in my opinion) shining NHL moment. He stood in there with Probert, traded with him, bloodied him, and "took his belt." And above all else, he did it at home at Madison Square Garden.

DOMI vs PROBERT 1

======================

And on the flip side I think the biggest fight of Bob Probert's career was round 2. Probert was known for some fierce fights in his career, but I think Tie's antics after the previous bout made this one the most anger fueled. Probert was throwing rights, lefts, punches and elbows. Domi tried the "smile routine" like he was having a good time, Probert wiped the smile of his face with a big right. Domi went down, Probert followed him down with another big right.

Probert had some incredible bouts in his career (Coxe, Crowder, McSorley come to mind) but this fight with Domi really brought out some ferocity. I remember an interview where Probert was saying Domi didn't want to fight off the faceoff, that Domi said, "I'm not ready." Probert's response to that was, "so I slashed him a few times and made him ready."

PROBERT vs DOMI 2

[bruiser11]

Rob Dimaio vs Kimble

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by bruiser11

Rob Dimaio vs Kimble

Dimaio was a very underated fighter and those who took him lightly, paid the price. He was tough little guy and he proved it over and over again!