Some things just aren't fair. Naturally born gifts are not distributed equally. Strength, looks, smarts, virtue, faith are all measureable and individual gifts from God. Well I grew up with this kid Tim back in Brockton, Massachusetts who is rich in all of the above.

Even though I was just about two years older than Tim, I was never stronger than him. When the gang started rough-housing and wrestling etc, it soon became apparent that you didn't want to end up facing Tim. The kid was disturbingly strong, although he was so good natured that he'd never intentionally harm any of the kids he grew up with and loved.

Tim grew up with me on the east side of Brockton in a large development of small ranches set on 1/4 acre lots. He was actually raised by his grandfather and step-grandmother and lived with them as well as his 'aunts' and 'uncles', who are about his age and who call him their brother. It was a typical eastside home albeit a bit warmer than most. The family was and remains fiercely loyal toward one another.

Tim is part Italian and part Greek and just looks the part of a Spartan. Growing up in Brockton as an Italian in the 1980s had it's benefits. The powerhouse football teams of Brockton High School in those days had a certain persona. Most of the stars looked like Roman Gladiators. The Columbos, Millettes, Collettes, Hancocks, Marcianos, Asacks, to accompany the McMurtry's, McGees, Cambell's, Harris' and Lewis families who brought the city such pride when it came to "owning" high school football and Tim Flamos fit right in.

To start on the Brockton Boxer team, (Boxer mascot is the Boxer breed of dog but the name is dedicated to Brockton's undefeated world heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano) meant a wildly successful social acceptance there. One thing about growing up in Brockton, you'd better be good at one of the sports if you wanted to safely exit your yard!

Tim tried out and became a formidable defensive end, winning a state championship his senior year. He always had a following of a sort, you know guys just wanted to be near and be like Tim. Try as they might, there is only one Tim Flamos (sorry ladies). Yeah..about that; Since jr. high the girls swooned over him as though he was a rock star but Tim was somewhat unaware.

This was the case throughout high school. Popular senior and junior girls would flirt and make advancements toward the humble freshmen and again Tim was somewhat OK with that but somewhat unsure. He loved pretty girls and they all sure loved him but he didn't really know what to do about that, hey he was 14. As wildly popular and respected as Tim was in the school of 6,000, he was also the most kindest to the special needs kids, the invalids as well as the awkward pimple faced nerds and the unaccepted types. Not many saw that in the almost empty halls or in the area of the cafeterias not taken by the "In-crowd", but I saw the warm words of encouragement and the time he took to give respectful attention to those kids. He was the best.

Anyhow, Tim went to college and left soon after. I worked with him over the years at different places in Brockton, whether it was stocking shelves at Lambert's Fruit or building decks as 'businessmen', we trudged along without directive for at least six years.

Tim would hang out at my house or I at his or both of us at Franky Abbondanza's (his mom should have been a famous chef) and we would dream big. Tim was always going to "the gym", and he'd lift and he'd do that better than almost anyone and certainly everyone not on steroids. I was doing my kick-boxing/ karate thing and we'd always meet up later and dream big.

Tim's gym was owned by another Italian Brocktonian, Steve Munro. Steve turned out to be one of the most important influences in Tim's life. Steve, an accomplished bodybuilder, used the gym to inspire the younger bucks to concentrate on virtues. Steve was and is a devout Roman Catholic and saw something special in Tim. It was Steve who pushed Tim to box which is something Tim wanted to get involved with all along.

Tim loved the gym and he most certainly loved Steve. Tim was fascinated by Steve's faith. He wanted it and he explored the Christian faith. So now here is this guy like so many others in Brockton, not sure what he is doing with his life or where it is taking him but who has so many gifts which included a pretty good intellect. The combination of what is within Tim led to this confusion keeping his life in neutral into his mid-twenties.

Tim married a local girl from West Bridgewater and they had three beautiful children. When Tim got back into the ring, he did so with no support from his wife. He'd be on his way to do battle and hear " I hope you lose" from the front door of their home so when I tell you that the marriage is now over, you can understand why I will spare the details.

After comprising a record of 20 Wins 4 Losses and 1 Draw, Tim was close to hanging up the gloves, often asking me for advice on the matter. He was in Dartmouth at my home doing some work on my cedar shingles for me last year and pondering retirement from the ring. After all he was 40 and never got a shot at a big fight even though he was once the New England Cruiserweight Champion.

Tim's problem was that the local promoters never wanted him to get that TV fight. They liked the guy bringing the 400 who would come to see him and pay for the tickets at the gate, as opposed to getting the 10% of his TV fight prize money. So like most fighters, Tim got screwed.

Steve Munro never quit the dream though and motivated Tim to a rematch of a young upstart cruiserweight who stopped Tim in the 6th round in December of 2007. The rematch took place in March of this year at the "Twin Rivers" Casino in Rhode Island and Tim knocked the guy out cold in the 3rd round. The Patriot Ledger newspaper of Quincy wrote it like this, " Flamos' opponent was still airborne when the ref waved the fight over....."

Tim was back. Or was he? After failing to land a big fight over the summer, Flamos and Munro both felt retirement was not so crazy. Then something happened.

Brockton fight promoter Richie Cappiello called Steve and told him that Tim was being considered to be invited to "The Contender". The Contender is a reality TV show about boxers owned by Versus.

As I write this article, I can tell you that Tim signed a five year contract out in Hollywood and has been selected to be on this year's show. So many doors are going to open for him if he does well here. The producers love the Rocky Marciano and Brockton connection and the "40 is the new 30" schtick and the women producers lobbied heavily for him. * They took 53 photos of him and kept every one.

America is about to embrace one of my very best friends who I am and have always been proud of, Tim Flamos. We had a hush hush send off party for Tim at "Cork" Tapas Bar in beautiful downtown New Bedford last Thursday knowing that Tim will be out in L.A. and then off to do battle on the other side of the globe. Versus has set up a dynamic 4th season for The Contender, pitting Americans against an international team of Cruiserweights. The setting is Singapore with the championship fight taking place this December in Philadelphia. Versus won the rights to the show after a competitive battle with several other major television networks. There will be 12 one hour shows this fall culminating with the championship fight.

Tim's brothers Steve and Nick, his sons Stevie (14) & Alex (7) and daughter Zoe (11) have all been there for him and are the joys of his life on top of his 600 "closest" friends, so let me join all of them in wishing....praying for Tim to know the potential everyone else has known in him. Good luck Tim, finally for you my friend The Sky is the limit. I'll call you before you leave for Singapore.


Tim and good friend Pat Khoury, also a DE for the Boxer team in 1985


Mark Wilcox (Tim's cutman) Ken, Tim, Steve Munro and Tony Patti.



Ken and Tim at "Cork" in New Bedford for Tim's sendoff party 8/28/08


                                                  The Team

  Mark "Wilkes" Wilcox                 Tim Flamos                      Steve Munro