Boxer Frank Nolan Sr. and karateka Rudy Timmerman tested styles in a three-round showdown during the Bon Soo carnival of 1975<\/p>\n
From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:<\/p>\n
Could a well-conditioned boxer challenge an experienced karateka to fight and win?<\/p>\n
Boxing is a sport in which fists are used to attack and defend; karate is a form of unarmed combat, using feet and hands to deliver and block blows. Though both sports share characteristics, they represent quite different fighting styles, and supremacy between the two has long been debated.<\/p>\n
In January of 1975, the Sault Star reported that a fight between two local athletes was scheduled as part of the Sault\u2019s Bon Soo Festival. Two men, one a skilled boxer and the other a second-degree black belt, were slated to meet for a three-round bout at Sault Collegiate.<\/p>\n
The fight had been billed as an end to the question of who would win in a fight between a martial artist and a boxer. Spectators and fight enthusiasts wondered what would happen when the men got in the ring and had to defend against an unfamiliar fighting style.<\/p>\n
The bout would be no act. Both Rudy Timmerman and Frank Nolan Sr. told The Sault Star that the match would be taken seriously. They were both out to win and prove their respective sport the superior fighting style.<\/p>\n
Admission to the Bon Soo event was $3\u00a0at the door, and $2.50 in advance. A large crowd was anticipated to witness the three one-minute rounds (Sault Star, February 4, 1975).<\/p>\n
The match differed from other fights Timmerman and Nolan had been in, according to the Sault Star, because although it was held in a familiar ring atmosphere, the ropes normally surrounding the ring were missing. And inside the ring was one referee with two judges keeping score, one with a karate background and the other an experienced boxing judge.<\/p>\n
In February 1975, at the time of the bout, the Sault Star recorded Rudy Timmerman as a second-degree black belt and an instructor at the Ancient Fighting Arts Club, while Frank Nolan Sr. was the coach of the Sault Boxing Club. Both men were in great physical condition, but Rudy had a size advantage. At 6\u20197\u201d and 240 lbs., Rudy outweighed Frank by more than 50 lbs. and stood over a foot taller.<\/p>\n
Frank had said he wasn\u2019t really excited about the fight. Rudy\u2019s size was causing concern, but so many people had told him a black belt\u00a0could beat a boxer, and he wanted to prove those people wrong.<\/p>\n
Rudy had said that even though he had the capability to break concrete with his bare hands, he would try his best not to injure Frank. He did say that he had worries about how to react to Frank\u2019s speed and quick moves in the ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to do my best to keep him far enough away from me so he can\u2019t land a hard blow.\u201d (Sault Star, February 4, 1975).<\/p>\n
Frank, on the other hand, said that if he got the chance, he would knock Rudy\u2019s head off! As a boxer, Frank knew that his stamina and speed would be deciding factors in the bout.<\/p>\n
\u201cI work out with the boys every night, and in Karate they don\u2019t stress conditioning all that much\u2026I am hoping I can outlast him.\u201d (Sault Star, February 4, 1975).<\/p>\n
Upon entering the \u201cring,\u201d both men were dressed as they normally would be for a fight: Rudy in loose pants and tunic-style top, and Frank in his trunks, shoes, and gloves. For this match, though, Rudy also wore gloves and pads on his feet.<\/p>\n
Frank Nolan Sr. was the more aggressive of the two men and hit Timmerman with punches to the head and stomach right away, giving the black belt\u00a0a taste of something he wasn\u2019t used to.<\/p>\n
The Sault Star provided readers with a recount of the fight action.<\/p>\n
In the first round, Rudy came at Frank and landed a hard kick to his face that sent him back-paddling with blood streaming.<\/p>\n
Later, Frank had said of the kick, \u201cI thought my nose was gonna come off. As it was, my mouth and upper part of my face started to go numb\u2026\u201d (Sault Star, February 10, 1975).<\/p>\n
A later kick to the stomach from Rudy would prove less effective due to Frank\u2019s conditioning. Rudy was later questioned about not using his legs after the first round; he had said he was tired and just could not lift them.<\/p>\n
There was evidence that Frank had been in a fight, but Rudy was the man walking out of the ring in a beaten condition. Rudy had taken several hard punches to the mouth and had a swollen left eye.<\/p>\n
Rudy said, \u201cHe\u2019s a hell of a tough guy, and he was the better man in the fight\u2026I did expect to do better than I did\u201d (Sault Star, February 10, 1975).<\/p>\n
Rudy said he would use the loss as a learning tool, saying the fight was \u201ca very good experience in that I can now teach my students what to look for in a fight of this kind.\u201d (Sault Star, February 10, 1975).<\/p>\n
After the match, both Frank and Rudy reflected. Rudy indicated that he would consider a rematch, while Frank had no interest in a repeat of the bout.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026this is my first and last. We put on a good show\u2026we didn\u2019t pull any punches, and I\u2019m glad it\u2019s all over.\u201d (Sault Star, February 10, 1975).<\/p>\n
After the fight, both coaches were friendlier, and there was a discussion about getting their respective clubs together to practice.<\/p>\n
Frank Nolan Sr. passed away in March of 2003 at the age of 71. His obituary in the Sault Star recounted how Frank had dedicated himself to boxing, with over 30 years of experience as coach of the city\u2019s boxing team and the national team. Frank Nolan Sr. received the city\u2019s Sportsmanship Award in 1975 and the Merit Award in 1980.<\/p>\n
Until very recently, Rudy Timmerman continued to coach passionately as an instructor of the Legion Hapkido Martial Arts Group in the Sault.<\/p>\n
This article was written using information compiled from the Sault Star Collection at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library.<\/p>\n
Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provide SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city\u2019s past.<\/p>\n
Find out more about what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca<\/a> and look for more “Remember This?” columns here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Sault Star References:<\/p>\n
\n\tJanuary 18, 1975
\n\tFebruary 4, 1975
\n\tFebruary 10, 1975
\n\tMay 6, 1975
\n\tNovember 20, 1999
\n\tMarch 10, 2003,
\n\tMay 6, 2004.
\n\t\u00a0
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