REMEMBERING NOT FORGOTTEN “ALL NIGHT” BOS
Johnny “Fashion Plate” Bos
San Francisco, CA– It’s been three years since legendary insomniac (and matchmaker) Johnny Bos checked out of the hotel of life. A natural demise due to heart issues in his Florida home in May 2013, Bos, like Elvis, Madonna & Cher, rarely was he called anything but Bos.
BOS’ ABILITY TO KEEP SECRET ALMOST NILL
Shortly after his death I mused on how Bos might have faked his demise for he was the ultimate joker. The answer to that was also very clear. Unless it had anything to do with jail or taxes, Johnny Bos couldn’t keep a secret if his life depended on it.
Most people, at least since the advent of the Internet by email, social media, etc. But pre Internet, Bos had long distance bills that exceeded $4,000 a month. His diet for five straight years consisted of hamburgers and Cokes. That was it!
NASTY DRUNK SOBER OVER 25 YEARS
When Bos quit drinking, if he hadn’t he surely would not have seen the 21st century, let alone 2013, he became even more extreme in other ways than just a Coke & burger. And of course fashion, John Bosdale dressing like singer Al Green did on stage in 1973, his fashion became boxing folklore.
MIKE TRAINER’S “ONE MAN CONSPIRACY” VS. BOS
One of the most brilliant minds I’ve ever met, Maryland attorney Michael “Top Cat” Trainer, we were sitting at the post fight press conference in February 1989 in Atlantic City as Roberto had just upset Iran Barkely, setting up a third fight with Trainer’s client who was none other than “Sugar Ray” Leonard.
DIDN’T MINCE WORDS TOO OFTEN
Law school smarts didn’t prevent Trainer, nicknamed “Top Cat” from the Hanna/Barbara cartoon series by Team Leonard, from saying what he wanted, especially after a cocktail or two.
“JUST TAKE IT AND RUN”
Reaching into his pocket Trainer says, “I’ll give you $500 cash to take that dirty fake fur coat (Johnny Bos’) and go throw it in the garbage somewhere.” Moral of the story? I miss Bos and obviously, Trainer was right about the coat which leads me to beleive Bos and every dry cleaner in New York City were estranged.
Pedro Fernandez
JOHNNY BOS DEATH TWO YEARS LATER