The Fighting Fisherman: Hard man faces hard time
Former light heavyweight contender Yvon Durelle, 77, who retired from boxing in 1963 with a 90-24-2, 51 KOs record, suffered a stroke earlier this week and is listed in serious condition at a hospital in Moncton, Canada, where he was transferred on Christmas Day.
Durelle’s wife, Theresa, told the Toronto Star, “He’s in serious, serious condition. We’re praying and hoping for the best. That’s all we can do”
Born Oct. 14, 1929, Durelle was one of 14 children who grew up in Baie-Ste-Anne, a small Acadian fishing village in New Brunswick, which earned him the nom de guerre the Fighting Fisherman.
Durelle turned pro in 1948 and proved he was a man who could box as well as punch, but he was a very hard man, an almost impossible man, to knock out. Durelle won the Canadian middleweight championship in 1953. In 1954 he had his first fight outside Canada, traveling all the way to Brooklyn, New York to fight an up-and-coming young panther named Floyd Patterson. Durelle lost that bout by decision, but he opened a lot of eyes and was suddenly ranked in the top-ten.
Durelle won the British Empire light heavyweight championship in 1957 and defended three times, setting up the bout for which he is best known, the Dec. 10, 1958 challenge at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec, for Archie Moore’s light heavyweight title. A 4-1 underdog going into the fight with the wily Old Mongoose, Durelle dropped the champ three times in the first round, shocking not just Archie, not just the world, but all of Canada.
After the fight, Moore described the first knockdown: “The first thing I remember was I heard the number five and I saw [referee] Jack Sharkey’s big mouth as he leaned over me, counting. I knew I had to get to my feet. I felt as if the top of my head was blown off. I walked the street of dreams.â€?
Moore not only walked the street of dreams, he fought the street of dreams, and with his tight defense and wizened ring generalship, Arch, although he was dropped again in the fifth, snuck his way back into the fight, battled his way back into the fight, to eventually wear down and KO the Fighting Fisherman in round 11.
In 1959 Durelle lost to Moore in a rematch via the KO route in the third. Also that year, Durelle lost a 12-rounder to Canadian heavyweight champion George Chuvalo, before finally winding it down and calling it quits after 117 fights.
We’re pulling for you champ. If anyone is tough enough to beat the odds it’s you.
I have seen a tape of the Moore vs Durelle first fight, it was a war, I am praying for Mr. Durelle to recover.
Being native to N-B myself,i have heard a lot about Mr.Durelle.Hope to see him recover soon and we have you and your family in our daily prayers….
Durelle left his mark on the sport with his near blowout of Moore. He wasn’t Willie Pep, but he was good, and the sport should be holding its breath for his recovery.
Thanks for the encouraging words. Yvon Durelle is my grandpa and we are praying for him to recover.
Thank you out there for all the kind words. Yvon is my grand father too and we are hoping for his best.
my best wishes go to yvon durelle and his family . yvon was one of my favorite fighters of the fifties and still one of the my alltime favorites come on champ you can beat this
I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Durelle a couple of months ago in Baie Ste Anne. He was kind enough to give me a tour of his museum and I also met his wife. I had originally met Mr. Durelle in the 70’s. I just fnished reading his autobiography and he is a fascinating individual. I am pulling for you Yvon.
Yvon’s wife is my great aunt and I know that this is a very difficult time for everyone. I would like to thank everyone for your kind words and get well wishes. Yvon is such a wonderful person who loves his family and is always so nice to everyone. I will be praying for him everyday.
This is Marty Klinkenberg. I am the senior writer at The Telegraph-Journal, the province-wide newspaper in New Brunswick. I wish Mr. Durelle and his family and friends well. I am working on a story about Mr. Durelle, the type of man he is, the New Brunswick icon he has become, and would love to hear from people. My email address is mklinkenberg@rogers.com
I visited with Yvon and Theresa a few times at their home and was always welcomed so warmly. Yvon was full of great stories and I got to know him as a caring and kind man and a guy so damned proud of his family and his successful fighting career.
This tough boxing ring veteran is called “doux” (gentle)and I soon learned why. He once told me about the death of his little dog and that man who fears no man cried like a little baby over that. He also told me about a very dark day in his life and I could feel the remorse and the sadness this emotional man still feels.
I hope this champion human being can get up off the mat because: “We are all cheering for you Champ! Keep fighting!!!”
I heard about Yvon today and I am his first cousin. I feel very bad as I did not know he was sick. I wish I had a chance to see him more and my son Brian was glad he had a chance to visit him last year. I still have his picture on my wall and I wish everyone through this tough time. God bless everyone especially the family I am deeply sorry he will never be forgotten in my heart. From Bruce,Sandy,Geraldine and Brian Sanford and all the rest sorry Theresa for your lost we are with you through your grief.
My condolences to Therese and her family. My husband’s grandfather was Therese’s brother and I met Yvon a few years ago at a family reunion. He and my young son “sparred” for a few minutes and my son thought it was neat that he met a real boxer. I grew up hearing of Yvon, as I don’t live too far from his hometown, Baie Ste. Anne, so I was familiar with his achievements. Although not related by blood, I am still proud to say he was my children’s great great uncle by marriage. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Therese. From Darren, Cori Leigh, Amy and Christopher Landry.
Statement to Media – Frank McKenna expresses sadness at the passing of Yvon Durelle
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Yvon
Durelle. Yvon was a longtime constituent and dear friend.
The Fighting Fisherman earned his reputation honestly. He went
head-to-head with some of the best boxers of our time in Canada and around the
world. Over a punishing career, bones were broken but his character remained
intact. Everyone who watched him fight knew he possessed the discipline,
determination and drive of a winner.
It’s been said that “a champion is someone who gets up when he can’t.”
That was the life of Yvon Durelle. He stood tall through the triumphs and
tragedies of his personal and professional life. Our native son of New
Brunswick, the pride of Baie-Sainte-Anne, left the boxing ring as he leaves
us: with courage and distinction.
I am proud to have known Yvon, and to call him a friend. The McKenna
family sends its deepest sympathies to his wife Theresa, as well as his family
and friends.
It seems like yesterday I listened to the crackling voice of the late, great sportscaster Earle Ross describe the blow by blow of Yvon’s greatest fight..the Dec. 10, 1958 slugfest with Archie Moore. I firnly believe Yvon Durelle was the greatest Acadien hero of the modern era and one of the greatest catalysts as the Acadien people started to see that they could “do things”. He was, in a nutshell, a great inspirational force. Bigger than life in so many ways, a proud man but a real softie. New Brunswick will never EVER see his like again. Rest in peace Yvon and, to his family, most sincere condolences.
Yvon was my “oncle Doux”. I was very saddened to hear the news of his passing.
My sincere condolences to my “ma tante Triste” and the entire family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all in this very difficult time.
Denise Martin-Gaudet.
Give my condolonces to Theresa and family.
Yvonne & I were good friends, and had a lot of laughs while travelling on the road together when we Wrestled.
As I am originally from the Baie, when I come home to visit in the summer, I would often visit Yvonne, tell a few stories and again had a laugh about our travels on the road.
My deepest sympathy and prayers to all (God bless)
Yvon is my second cousin. My grand mother was a Durelle,living in Shippagan, N-B. We always been so proud to be part of the Durelle family. We cross path a few times. The last time we meet was in Hamilton Ontario, 1991. He was receiving a award with George Chuvalo. I have a poster size picture of the three of us together hanging in my recroom. I praise him every chance I get. I just want to let the family know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all in this very difficult time.
Roy, Jo-Ann, Lee-Ann, Katelynn Vautour
To Theresa and family of Yvon Durelle
I’m sorry hear about Yvon passing away. I was told by a good friend of Theresa and Yvon Durelle Steve Uren he came to P.E.I almost every year and every year he told stories that got greater and greater I first heard the name Yvon Durelle when I was five years old and now i’m eleven and he was the only boxing great I ever heard I only heard of one other boxer Mike Tyson after I read The Fighting Fishermen I loved it now I know other boxers like Clarnce Floyd ,Arhie Moore ,Gordon Wallace ,Tony Anthony but none of those boxers even come close to the legacey of Yvon Durelle ,Yvon Durelle will missed by every member of my family
As I was looking after my father in the hospital I came across this poem in his room It describes what we went through to a T
God Garden
GOd looked around his garden, and found an empty place. He then looked down upon this earth and saw his tired face. He put his arms around him and lifted him to rest. God;s garden must be beautiful, he only takes the best. He knew he was in pain, he knew that he was suffering, he knew that he would never get well upon this earth again. He saw the roads was getting tough and the hills were hard to climb so he closed his weary eyelids and whispered:Peace be thine. it broke our hearts to lose him but he never went alone for part of us when with him the day god called him home.
Yvon Durelle was my Great Uncle. I was very dissapointed when I found out he was sick. I was hoping he would get better. He passed away and that really hurt. I’ve always wanted to meet the wonderful man who looks like my dad. My grandma was Patricia Durelle, before she married Arnold Fleiger. My grandmother died when I was about 3. My dad always talked with his brother about how Yvon was amazing at fighting and when I was just a little , I wanted to be just like him. I wanted to be able to be that strong, and until this very day, I do wish that I was that strong emotionally. I’m only 14 years old and I miss him very much. Like I said when I started talking about to wonderful Yvon Durelle, I’m very dissapointed that I never got to meet him. I still talk about him until this very day. He is one of my hero’s. I never knew him, but God, I loved the man. I send all my prayer’s to his wife, and family. RIP Yvon Durelle.
As someone who knew Yvon Durelle since the early 1950’s, boxing on his cards, in fact, as early as 1953, I had nothing but love and admiration for the gentle man they called “Doux.”
Not long after Yvon’s passing, Moncton sportswriter/Editor and lifelong friend to Yvon, Eddie St-Pierre and I set out to establish Yvon’s boxing record to the very best of our abilities. We established, via newspaper archives 113 professional fights for Yvon, who was outpointed only 11 times during his career, which spanned fifteen years. He lost a total of 23, some on stoppages, some on disqualifications, but he was a natural boxer, not the brawler some would have said.
In all, he was sanctioned to fight 1, 079 three-minute rounds. He was Canadian Middleweight and Lightheavyweight champion and British Empire Champion as well. In 2000 he was voted Acadian athlete of the century.
Many times, I fished and hunted with Yvon and experienced his generosity, wit, charm, and genuineness. He was a very bright man. He was larger than life, as they say. We will forever miss him. He touched us all.
In march of 2007, Yvon’s widow, Therese Durelle was given the Key to the City of Moncton. It is the hope of the boxing community to include her and her family in any and all boxing-related activities possible.
I have known Yvon since I was a kid and always HAD THE greatest respect for him as well as for his family.When I was fighting on Pro cards in Moncton ,it was great to see him at Ringside and I would work hard to impress the Champ because Yvon was what it meant to be a fighter and I only ever wanted to be like him,a true fighter.I WILL MISS HIM FOR YEARS TO COME.R.I.P my FRIEND……………
Yvon you were 11 years older then me but i watch many of your fight and far as am consern you put new brunswivck on the map specially baie ste anne and today even that you looking upon us from up there you are still the best there was the best there is and the best there ever will be so long fighter might see you up there some day put your wedding ring around saint joseph finger see if it would fit don.t think so love you always Geoege
I am the CHAMP’S son now living in Moncton. This Jan. 7th will mark the first year since dad passed away. Time has nor healed my hurt but to know that he was so loved makes me feel a lot better. I have a large picture of my dad on the wall and always say hello to him nd that I love him and miss him. Mom now lives in the Moncton area and we get to see her often now and I see dad in her when ever I ook or talk to her. It is with a heavy heart that I send you my appreciation and may GOD bless you all. Dad once told me he would never be forgotten and I believe him even more today than ever before. He was my dad, best friend and hero. Thanks again people Paul.
my heart goes out to all yvon’s kids as the anniversary draws near. i myself have so fond memories of us coming to the baie from oromocto. as yvon was my uncle, i would just like to say this. he was a man that i looked up to seeing everytime i came to the baie. he was a prankster, a teacher, and an idol in my eyes. but most of all he was family. and as i now meet people who knew yvon he made each person feel like a friend. welcome in his own home, as i felt welcome everytime i visited him in his home, and my aunt threasa was a big part of that as well. she is a very gracious woman. there are so many fond memories i have of yvon, i write this message with a broad smile. because all my memories of him are good… and even in the later years my of my father’s life yvon and dad were best friends. that was something that never changed through the years. i loved listening to dad tell stories of times in toronto, and times in the baie that nobody else knows about. except family. they are priceless stories that i will keep with me forever. i yearn for those days, and keep them fondly in my heart for always