Boxing Great Jake LaMotta "Raging Bull" Dead at 95

According to his fiancee one Ms. Denise Baker, Jake LaMotta died yesterday at the age of 95. This at a Miami-area hospital, and at the hands of complications of pneumonia.

A former Middleweight champion, LaMotta's life and times were famously captured in the Robert DeNiro flick, Raging Bull. In his fighting days, under the nom de ring The Bronx Bull, he boasted an 83-19-4, 30KO record twixt the years of 1941 and 1954. Of most note, he fought the all-time great Sugar Ray Robinson six times, defeating him for the first time in his storied career. Then losing the Middleweight strap back to him in a fight for the ages. "The three toughest fighters I ever fought were Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Robinson. I fought Sugar so many times, I'm surprised I'm not diabetic." Said LaMotta on their rivalry.

In a life made for a Hollywood script, LaMotta's amazing beard which saw him knocked down only once in 106 fights -- and not by way of ducking nor dodging -- coupled with punches which seemed to come from under the ring. With a snubbing of his nose toward mob bosses and a willingness to admit he one threw a prize-fight. With rugged good look and leopard-print ring robe charisma. With all that and then-some, he will be sorely missed.

May his memory be for a blessing.