Most of you will recognize the fellow on the right of this picture as the one and only Muhammad Ali ‘The Greatest"who passed away on June 3, 2016 from the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
The fellow on his left is another one of those charming, irascible characters that comes into your life and leaves an indelible impression. His name is Des Duguid, a former Amateur Boxer who represented Australia in the light welterweight division of the 1960’s Olympics.
It was during these 1960 Olympics Des met his life-long friend Muhammad Ali who began his journey on the way to becoming “ The Greatest” by winning the gold medal in the Light-Heavyweight division, representing the USA. (Photo taken in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, marking 40 years since they first met.)
Duguid bowed out after the quarter finals after suffering a little known controversial training injury while sparring a team mate. More on that later. Duguid himself would also succumb to the effects of Parkinson’s disease 9 years earlier than Ali on May 16th 2007.
To say Des Duguid left an impression on me and many other people who crossed his path would be an understatement. Let me share some memories of a simply sensational Aussie bloke, who while not as as widely known as Ali still lead a very colorful life that touched a lot of people
It is 1988, on a sultry Melbourne Summer afternoon. As Manager of the Coles Myer Fitness Centers, I am sitting in my office when life takes one of those ironic twists we call fate. I am woken from my slumber (be nice!) by a phone call and the startled voice of my assistant Manager Cathie.
“Mike, there’s a guy here named Des who wants to talk to you about something called boxacise,”
One could never be too sure who would just pop into see me in my role at Coles Myer. It was often a smart talking salesperson trying to sell the latest Fitness gadget or program. I often turned these types of cold callers away, but once I heard it had to do with Boxing, as a lifelong fan of the sport I had to say yes, and I’m so glad I did.
Five minutes later I was greeted warmly by a short (five feet seven inches) dapper, well-spoken gentleman in his mid 50’s. Boxing usually conjures up stereotypical images of slow talking, slow walking, and less than eloquent individuals with violent dispositions. The “old pug," (as former pugilists were known), was former Australian Olympic representative, Des Duiguid. The traditional boxing lexicon of dese, dems and dose, were not part of the Des Duiguid vocabulary. A slightly flat nose and thickening under the eyebrows were the only visible trademarks of his boxing career.
As a lifelong boxing fan I knew something about Duguid’s boxing history, but still had to be convinced about his concept of selling boxing training to the general public. But like so many people who came in contact with him he used his wit, guile and charm to make me agree to a 6 week trial period. If I was unkind I would use the slightly more coarse cliché oft used by Boxing Promoter Don King to describe Dugi’s personality as being full of "wit, grit and bullsh#t"
Who would know that this 6 week trial period would result in a very close friendship until he passed away in 2007? During these six weeks, Duiguid began teaching me the finer points of boxing. I soon realized that my previous boxing knowledge was very basic. I learned more about footwork, balance, and use of the boxing apparatus like the speedball, floor to ceiling ball and punching bag.
It was here I began to notice Duguid’s unique teaching style and ability to break down a complex skill into teachable movement patterns. To this day I always say thane ven after a 40 career in Physical education and being taught by some highly qualified teachers and later some top notch Group Exercise teachers that Des Duguid was definitely the best movement coach I have ever worked with.
Des charmed everyone not only with his wit, grit and whatever else, but also with his vast knowledge, earned the hard way via 130 amateur contests. Boxacise proved very popular at Coles Myer and at other fitness centers throughout Australia.
Duiguid was now 62 years of age. He needed help teaching at the many Fitness Centers wishing to offer boxacise. With my confidence growing, I began to help with the instruction. Now, almost 30 years later, my career has taken me to the World Bank Fitness Center in Washington DC. My teaching boxacise has been one of the key reasons I have met and engaged with so many people.
While there are many variations of boxacise most fitness clubs follow an aerobics class format, combining some boxing moves with aerobic routines. Because I have some boxing background, and absolutely no music sense, my classes have a far more intense boxing flavor. The aim of boxacise is to provide the fitness benefits of boxing. These benefits include superior levels of aerobic fitness, strength, muscular endurance and hand eye coordination without (hopefully), the lumps and bumps of real boxing.
Lumps and bumps that Des Duguid earned the hard way during his boxing career. Indeed following boxing’s finest traditions, Des has his own “I wuz robbed” story. While preparing for his light welterweight quarter final bout, Duiguid was sent into spar with team mate, Australian Light heavyweight representative, Tony Madigan.
“The selectors wanted someone fast so Madigan could sharpen up for his next fight with the sensational Cassius Clay,” he recalls.
“I was giving Madigan all sorts of trouble, boxing his ears off. Being thirty pounds lighter, I was too quick for him,” Duguid continued. “I was also a cheeky bugger and decided to give him some trash talk. You’re no good, Clay will kill you, you big girl, I said.”
Towards the end of the second round, the heavier Madigan decided Duiguid had said far too much. “I started repeating my insults, got up to ‘you’re no...’ Next thing I know, I was lying down with a crowd around me,” he said, his eyes gazing upwards, feigning unconsciousness.
Duiguid was also minus two front teeth, with a broken nose, and severely depleted hopes for his own fight the next day. Duiguid fought his quarter final in a daze. He fought well, but lost on a split decision to his South African opponent.
Duiguid is not bitter. “I got to meet Cassius Clay. At least he gave Madigan what he deserved a couple of days later,” he said with a half-smile, half grimace.
Looking back at the 1960 Olympics, Duiguid feels that he didn’t dream hard enough. “It was such a struggle to get selected. I thought I had achieved everything and didn’t concentrate enough on my boxing. I really think I could have won a medal,” he said his face now a furrowed brow of lost opportunities. “Sparring with Madigan probably didn’t help either,” he quipped.
Yes while boxacise participants can punch speed balls and heavy bags with no fear of being hit back, it definitely hasn’t been a case of “minus the lumps and bumps” for Des Duiguid. He suffered a stroke in 1992. “It was touch and go for a while” he said. “I remember lying in hospital thinking that I was going to die. I wasn’t scared, because it’s been a great life, and I’ve got plenty to be thankful for. But when I thought of my two daughters and how much I love them,” he said with eyes now more than a little misty, “I knew I couldn’t throw in the towel just yet
Apart from a slight paralysis in the left arm, his recovery was remarkable. Within four weeks of the stroke, Duiguid was back teaching five boxacise classes per day. Doctors attribute Duguid’s recovery to his years of devotion to physical fitness. Brain scans showed no evidence of brain damage from 16 years of boxing.
As for Duguid’s relationship with Muhamad Ali ? They met in the Olympic village and became firm friends. Duguid was proud to say that he really thought that Ali was the most beautiful human being he had ever seen. "His grace of movement and amazing body gave him reflexes and balance that nobody could train for" he said.
True to the ‘politically incorrect’ style fellow Aussie larrikins of his era shared Des went on to say “Mike I have been a heterosexual all of my life and by that time had a wife and a couple kids but when I saw Cassius Clay in in the flesh I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was. When he was in the showers and I skin his lustrous skin I couldn’t stop staring. I started to think I'd swapped teams" he said
Seizing on this moment to give Des a bit of old fashioned stirring I asked “Gee Des the way you describe him are you sure you’re not gay mate” … to which he replied “No Mike over the years when I look across at blokes like you I realize that I made the right choice and couldn’t possibly be homosexual” Once again Des had ducked and weave and given me a verbal clip under the chin for my stirring.
Over the years we became very good friends and shared some of life’s trials and tribulations as he went through a painful divorce and problems with his son who suffered who had mental health problems. All along the way Des never lost his sense of humor and affinity for people from all walks of life.
From Victorian Police cadets to Pentridge prisoners there many funny stories, perhaps for another time. Des also taught groups with profound learning disabilities and it was here that I saw his skills and human abilities shine. The look of joy on previous sullen faces when Des walked into the room to teach these folks how to skip or hit the speedball was a true testament to the strength of his humanity and friendly spirit.
Now some 30 years later after having taught boxacise in Australia athe USA I have embarked on new adventure. I am teaching boxing skills to folks afflicted Parkinson’s disease.
