Those of you well-versed in boxing trivia are no doubt familiar with Broderick Mason. He was on the losing end of one of the shortest fights in recorded boxing history.
Here's what BoxRec recounts about Mason's 1984 (his last pro fight) meeting with Ricky Parkey at Atlantic City's Tropicana Hotel an Casino.
"When the bell rang for the start of the bout Parkey crossed the ring and cracked Mason so hard that the Referee immediately stopped the bout. At the time, this was the quickest KO ever--at 00:8 seconds"
The referee, by the way, was Vincent Rainone.
Starting his career in 1977, Mason toiled pretty much as an undercard fighter who slugged his way to a record of 18 (KO 11) against 6 defeats (two by way of early stoppage).
Generally, he fought four- and six-rounders in the standard small venues of Philadelphia...places like the Blue Horizon, Champ's Camp, and the Wagner Ballroom against fighters best not remembered.
During the last four years of his career, he was somewhat a fixture in the Atlatntic City casino circuit.
Besides that rather embarassing stoppage against Parkey, he's also remembered for being Gerry Cooney's 18th victim when the "Gentleman" kayoed him in four at New York's Felt Forum in August 1979.
After hanging up the gloves, he remained active in Philly affairs, and he currently serves as a body guard for Mayor Michael Nutter.
Although Mason packed on about thirty pounds over the last twenty-five years, he still works out and is circumspect about what he eats.
According to the article cited below, he's tried, with mixed results, to impress the importance of diet and exercise upon Mayor Nutter.
Pulse: Chatter: The Mayor: Double Duty - Philadelphia Magazine - phillymag.com
As a Jersey boy, I've always marvelled at the unique style of Philly boxing and its attendant color. Back in the day when I was developing my interest in boxing (late 1950s-early 1960s), there really wasn't too much going on in the Garden State (the Atlantic City casino thing only began in the very late 1970s).
Living about five miles from NYC, on our side of the Hudson, we had nothing like the Garden, St, Nicks, or Sunnyside Gardens. We had some good fighters...Jersey Joe, Galento, Jimmy Braddock, and later on Hurricane Carter. But those guys did most of their boxing out-of-state.
But Philly had a special charm if you were a boxing fan in Jersey. Colorful fighters and classic venues. Plus all those rivalries between fighters from different parts of the city.
At some point, I'd love to do a uni just focusing on the Philly fights scence, circa 1950s to 1970s. But that's a good distance down the road at this juncture!