<p><strong>Chris Walker</strong> sits down with Luis Resto &ndash; a man who will forever be remembered for one infamous incident</p>

- Chris Walker

LUIS RESTO stands on a Bronx street corner, outside the Morris Park Boxing Club where he sometimes offers valuable nuggets of advice. The ex-fighter, notorious for a single sickening moment in the sport’s chequered history, is now 63 years of age, the passage of time evident in his lined face, though not in his well-sculpted body. Our small talk involves me telling the smiley New Yorker that I’m from the same city as The Beatles and, afforded that information, a jovial Resto guides his right hand to a firm stomach before imitating a cheery guitarist. Initial conversations centred on music and accents but now, in the comfort of Resto’s favourite eatery, The Golden Eagle Diner, it’s time to talk boxing; a subject that has haunted Luis since 1983.

Throughout our chat, Luis is intermittently disturbed by locals of all ages playfully boxing with the jolly pensioner who is trying to enjoy a basic breakfast. A popular figure in this neighbourhood, Resto is invariably addressed by his surname and has called The Bronx home all his life. He was raised there by a single mother who moved to New York’s northernmost borough from Puerto Rico.

“It’s all changed now; the kids have all changed,” opines Resto, wiping his greasy hands on a worn tracksuit top that carries his name on the chest.

“Those streets right outside were chaos and crazy when I was a kid. We didn’t stay in playing phones or video games. Just outside you would have a baseball game. You would have kids getting chased everywhere after causing so

Dit verhaal komt uit de July 04, 2019-editie van Boxing News.

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