In a Facebook post on Tuesday night, Christi LaMotta stated her famous ‘pop’ was no longer with us.
“Jake LaMotta: July 10, 1922 – September 19, 2017 – Rest in Peace Pop,” said Christi.
Christi posted several pictures of herself with Jake over the years as family members offered their condolences for her loss.
One of four children LaMotta had over the years, Christi had been estranged from her father until a recent rekindling of their family ties five years ago.
Full name Giacobbe “Jake” LaMotta and nicknamed ‘The Bronx Bull’ and later ‘The Raging Bull’ was amazingly portrayed by Robert DeNiro in the 1980’s movie of the same name.
The tough slugger was a middleweight champion and fought boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson six times, becoming the first to defeat him in 1943.
JAKE LaMOTTA on WBN
Speaking to World Boxing News in an exclusive but brief interview in 2014, the aged LaMotta recalled his victory as the sweetest of his 106 bout career.
“When I beat Sugar Ray Robinson for the first time in my life. We had six fights and I am the first one to beat him, so that’s my greatest memory,” LaMotta said.
On his fans, he added: “I need fans and good fans. I really like good fans.”
LaMotta will fondly be remembered as one of the hardest men ever to grace a boxing ring and WBN would like to send our condolences to Jake’s family at this time.
Phil Jay is Editor of WBN. An Auxiliary member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay.
