Andrew (Andy) Ganigan, the “Hawaiian Punch” was our NABF lightweight champion in the late 70’s and was rated among the 100 hardest punchers to that date by Ring Magazine in 2003. Andy won the title on a TKO 8 over Vicente Saldivar in 1978 and retained the belt with a decision over Saldivar and a 7th round stoppage of Robert Vasquez in 1980. Andy challenged Alexis Arguello for the WBC lightweight championship in May of 1982, decking the legendary champ in the first round but losing on a KO in 5 when Andy’s aggressive style left him wide open for Arguello’s countering attack. Born on September 7, 1952, Ganigan passed away on March 2nd of this year as the result of end stage liver cancer in Las Vegas were his children lived. —-
Eddie Perkins, former WBC and NABF champion died, in Chicago, on May 10th, after suffering from diabetes and dementia for several years. Eddie won the WBC super lightweight title in 1963 with a 15 round unanimous decision over Roberto Cruz and made two successful defenses (against Yoshinori Takahashi and Bunny Grant) before losing his championship to a split decision to Carlos Hernandez in ’65. He continued boxing for several more years and won the NABF welterweight title in 1973 against Armando Muniz and defending his belt against Muniz the next year. Perkins concluded his career with a record of 74-20-2 and is a member of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. —-
We have also received word that our longtime friend and member Bismarck Morales’ mother passed away last week in Los Angeles after an illness. Services will be forthcoming in their native Nicaragua. Please keep Bismarck and his family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.