Syd ‘The Jewel’ Vanderpool, Boxing Champion

Canadian boxing legend Syd 'The Jewel' Vanderpool talks about working out with his 4 older brothers in the makeshift boxing ring in the carport of their Kitchener home, winning his first bout at 6 and a half years old [!!!], meeting the emotional hurricane that is Iron Mike Tyson, missing out on meeting Wayne Gretzky despite arranging for his daughter Paulina to sing the national anthem before one of his bouts, his epic internationally televised championship title fights against Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins & Jaff ‘Left Hook’ Lacy, meeting his idol Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s mom [and admiring her gold Mercedes], being trained by the Godfather of Detroit Boxing Emanuel Steward & hanging out with Tommy ‘Hitman’ Hearns, developing his skills alongside boxing icons including his older brother Fitz/Lennox Lewis/Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho, choosing a Diana Ross song as his ring walkup music, the origin stories for his MANY nicknames as well as his ‘Vanderpeeps’ fan club following, continuing to get residuals for his acting appearance in a Meg Ryan/Omar Epps movie, and demonstrates an awesome spot-on impersonation of his outlandish promoter Don King!

TORONTO LEGENDS is hosted by Andrew Applebaum at andrew.applebaum@gmail.com

All episodes available at www.torontolegends.ca/episodes/

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