By Jack Welsh

Shelly Finkel probably didn’t know it at the time when he was book-deep at N .Y.U. in marketing.

However, the scholarly senior’s career in “ booking” would take two turns, first to a boxing arena for the annual  Golden Gloves he followed growing up In Brooklyn and then joining buddy Johnny Koplit promoting rock concerts on the east coast.

When Finkel made the break in 1984 for a serious fling managing professional boxers, Koplit kept the concert gig going just in case.

Finkel built a solid reputation hustling pugs and handled 25 world champions over two decades with the legend of the lot being the explosive Mike Tyson but that association would come later. Shelly was a spectator when Tyson wrote history Nov.22,1986 with a two-round blitz of Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 21,in Las Vegas.

Tyson and Finkel seem to be a good read for each other and that’s why the New Yorker has rejoined the former two-time champ, who is now on the mend after hurting his left knee in losing to Britain’s Danny Williams last July in Memphis.

Finkel was in a reflective mood the other afternoon at his headquarters in Manhattan and was proud he was able to memorize most of the former champions he has managed.

“Of course, Mike Tyson will always be premier in the hearts of myself and world-wide fight buffs. However, I’ve had other great world champions like Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Alex Ramos, Johnny Bumphus, Michael Moorer, John John Molina, Fernando Vargas, Vinny Pazienza, and among the current in our stable, there’s WBC heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko, and his brother, Wladimir, who is still a factor, there’s Jeff Lacy, the IBF 168-pound champion, and featherweight Manny Pacquiao, who is thriving as the biggest super star in Asia. I apologize for any of the current and former headliners I might have missed.”

When the media presses the versatile manager to weigh on the sports’ one-time Sweet Science compared to today’s controversial action, Finkel has never avoided an issue.

“One of the big problems today boxing doesn’t have the once-established networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS to build young newcomers. There are just too many fighters and too many weight divisions. When I was growing up there was just one world champion in the eight divisions. With all the divisions now, the traffic is so large, the public doesn’t know who is who at any weight,” Finkel stressed.

“When I am scouting young talent today, what I look for is a fighter’s work ethic, his intense determination, and a high athletic style. That’s all very important to the superb talents like Jeff Lacy and Juan Diaz when you sign a fighter to a contract. If you pick right, and hopefully, I’ll admit there was one fighter I didn’t pick who went on to have that great title trilogy with Evander Holyfield in the late ‘70s.That was Riddick Bowe. I didn’t go for Riddick because I didn’t think he really cared enough about being a champion. Eddie Futch the master turned it around. Uninhibited Finkel told his inquisitors if he was starting all over as a manager, he wouldn’t do one thing different.

“I would be looking for talented amateurs who would be coming in with more experience and would be very keen in surveying the fighters’ personality. Right now we have 14 boxers which includes a blue-chip prospect like Vanen Martrosian, an 18-year-old Olympic middleweight who is being trained  by none-better than Freddie Roach. From what I have seen I feel this ambitious youngster can be a multi-champion in the future.’

Finkel likes to create his own Hot Stove League with journalists, looking back on nights in the ring that took his breath away.

“In what I like to call my ‘one-fight stunner’ was when Holyfield challenged Buster Douglas Oct.15,1990 at the Mirage and scored a three-round knockout. It was Douglas’ first fight since the Tyson upset and Steve Wynn paid the Ohioan an incredible $25 million for his non-effort.

When people ask me who I pick as my three all-time great fighters, that was a piece of cake -- Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis.

“As far as the greatest action involving my fighters, that one spreads out. Of course, the recent thriller was Mar.19 when Erik Morales scored a close decision over Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden where all three judges had it 115-113 for Morales. And the night McCallum beat Donald Curry was something, but a fight that boxing history still talks about was Sept.10,1993 when Pernell Whitaker got heisted with a draw against favored Julio Cesar Chavez after finishing as an apparent clear cut winner before 63,000 bi-partisans in the Alamodome in San Antonio. Each fighter got one judge’s ballot while a third voted the 12-rounds even. There was never a rematch.”

Finkel cites two biggies that are unmatched for punishment involving world champions.

“When Sugar Ray Leonard faced Thomas Hearns for the unified world welterweight crown Sept.16, 1981 at Caesars Palace, it was up for grabs all the way. Leonard had dropped behind in the middle rounds but he trapped Hearns on the ropes in the 14th round and got the TKO when referee Davey Pearl stopped the bout.

Finkel added it was hard to believe the most vicious three rounds in history Apr.15, 1985 at Caesars Palace where Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Hearns were shooting from the hip from the opening bell. Hagler was cut in the middle of his forehead in the first round but he rebounded to machinegun Hearns unconscious early in round three.

Finkel smilingly said, “It looks like summer will be like old times again with Mike Tyson in action.

“When writers ask me the difference between Mike of 10 years ago and the Tyson of today, it’s  pleasing to report he seems to have matured along with his children, who are 14, 8, 6 and 3. I don’t have time during  the day to return every call that I get, so at night I try to return all calls.”

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist with headquarters in Las Vegas and a regular contributor to Boxing Press, Ringsports.Com, and Boxing In Las Vegas.com and Boxing Insider.com).