By 1985 most of the classic 70’s era fighters like Dave Schultz, Bobby Nystrom, Terry O’Reilly, Stan Jonathan, John Wensink, etc. were retired and out of the NHL altogether. Guys like Clark Gillies, Nick Fotiu, Curt Fraser, Behn Wilson, Larry Playfair, and Dave Semenko were now entering their twilight years as a new generation of fighters was slowly but surely trickling into the league. It began with guys like Tim Hunter and Marty McSorley around ‘82 or ‘83 and you could see them begin to come into the league and fill rosters and by the mid-80’s you start to see names like Dave Richter and Jim Kyte in the game summaries of your local newspaper picking up fighting majors on the regular. Before you knew it, it was 1985 and a tall lad from Windsor, Ontario was breaking into the NHL with a rep for having soft hands in front of the net and hands of stone when it came to a fight. Bob Probert was destined to leave his mark on the role of enforcer in ways no one could have possibly imagined back in the Fall of 1985.
Drafted in the third round of the 1983 NHL entry draft by the Detroit Red Wings, Bob Probert had size and skill and he had that X- factor GM’s loved: Toughness. It was once a highly prized commodity in the NHL back in those days but at the time I don’t think the Red Wings or Bob Probert knew exactly how tough he would prove to be. He was 6’3 and tipped the scales at over 200 pounds. He was primarily a right hander but could switch to his left. He had size and reach and tremendous stamina and slowly began building a reputation as a tough but also skilled player. As a fighter he was raw and unpolished given to brawling and wildness but his size and skill made him someone to watch out for on the ice. Probert played the game with an edge and he wasn’t afraid to go over it at times and it lent an air of unpredictability to his game. He was a big mean SOB who had the potential to be an all star and Heavyweight champ-dual roles he’d have to learn to balance in these formative years.
Sometimes it takes a few fights to see what a fighter is made of. After seeing them run through a few opponents you can see their strengths and weaknesses begin to show. You see them engaged in critical situations in a fight and you gauge how they react. How they respond can tell you a lot about a fighter. With Probert we got a glimpse of what to expect from him in his first NHL fight on November 11, 1985, when the Red Wings and Canucks battled it out at the Pacific Coliseum. It was here that the tall, lanky Probert, recently called up from the farm in Adirondack, took on young Canucks gunslinger, Craig Coxe. The American born Coxe was an all offense-no defense style of fighter who, like Probert, was also trying to make a name for himself.
When these two young lions met they engaged in an instant classic. They came together and began throwing furiously right out of the gate. At the outset it was even with both giving and taking savage blows. After a time, Coxe began to take over as Probert had trouble keeping pace with the California Kid. For a time it looked like Probert was going to be swamped as it was all Coxe, who landed solid right after solid right. Then, in one of those moments where everything seemed to teeter on the brink, Probert righted himself, got set and began to trade punches with renewed determination.Probert had weathered the storm and got back in the fight. First he responded by matching Coxe blow for blow and then began unloading some heavy long range rights as the fight wore on to the latter stages. By the end, both were completely gassed trading rights before, finally, Coxe’s legs gave out from under him, more so from exhaustion than anything else.
The fight was a true test for the young Probert who had to battle back from near oblivion to pull even. The fight in the end was very close but with a fight this great, both of these fine warriors came out on top. The fight would earn Fight of The Year honors and set the tone for Probert’s career as a fighter. You could see he was raw and needed to develop more but there are subtle qualities like heart and desire that were on display here for the young Probert. He could’ve ‘slipped’ when Coxe took over the fight or seatbelted him and played it safe, but he came roaring right back in a fight that would go on to become an all time classic.
Probert was now off and running with the big club and in the following weeks would take on tall, rangy southpaw Dave Richter and fast throwing Rick Tocchet of the Flyers in a good two fight game. Soon after, he would get into a hard bitten, down and dirty scrap with Maple Leafs Defenseman, Gary Nylund. The fight featured headbutting, hair pulling and using a helmet like a weapon. These two looked like there was some serious bad blood there and you had to believe there would be more coming on the horizon. Already proving to be good with his fists, Probert gained notoriety throughout the league for headbutting Maple Leafs tough guy Bob “Big Daddy” McGill. There is only newsclip footage of the fight available although I believe the full bench clearing brawl from this game exists somewhere in some collectors vault. On January 13, 1986, the Red Wings and Maple Leafs engaged in a major league bench clearing brawl that included a number of fights. One of the feature bouts that evening was a long drawn out affair between Probert and McGill. At the conclusion of the fight, when everything had seemed to settle down, Probert headbutted McGill, knocking him out cold to the ice. It was as vicious a headbutt as I had ever seen. Probert would be suspended four games for the misdeed. He would have a good go with Boston’s Gord Kluzak and a few nondescript fights with Brian Curran, Chris Nilan and Lee Norwood before being sent back to Adirondack to help them in their playoff bid. While with the Red Wings AHL affiliate, Probert got into some great battles with minor league Musclemen, Archie Henderson, Steve Martinson, Don Nachbaur and Mike Stothers.
Probert made some noise in the Heavyweight division as a rookie getting everyone’s attention for his fights and his over the edge antics. He was an up and coming Heavyweight star but there would be some growing pains in his sophomore season. The first of those growing pains would come in the form of Curt Fraser who was at this point playing for the Blackhawks. Fraser was a veteran tough guy with some major battles under his belt and he wasted no time giving, the young Probert a quick beat down, putting the kid on notice. Probert moved on with nice wins against Washington’s Scott Stevens and Bob McGill in the return match for Probert’s brutal headbutt the previous year. He would also get into a great slug fest with Maple Leafs power forward, Wendel Clark, in one of the best fights of the year. It was a real punch up with Clark taking the edge and setting the tone for a bitter Norris Division feud. Probert would go on to best Calgary’s technical Wizard, Tim Hunter, before finally getting his chance at Gary Nylund again. This time Nylund would be wearing the Indian Head of the Chicago Blackhawks, having moved on from the Toronto Maple Leafs. These two would meet up during a nasty linebrawl. At first Nylund had the upper hand,using his strength to control and tie up Probert, while getting off some solid right hands of his own. Before long though, Probert was able to get free and began to put his offense together, throwing a number of right crosses and uppercuts. In the late stages of the fight, a winded Nylund inexplicably put his head down giving Probert all the opening he needed. Probert landed a flush uppercut sending Nylund to the ice in a heap. A few days later Probert would hammer Maple Leafs gun hand, Kevin Maguire, in a great punch out. The fight would be payback for Maguire sucker punching Probert a few weeks before.
Probert’s star was on the rise but there would be a cost. It went hand in hand with being considered one of the best fighters in the league. That cost would be handling the challenges of every rookie scrapper looking to make a name for themselves. Probert had set himself up as the new man to beat and it wouldn’t be long before the young hungry heavyweights came calling. One of those newcomers to the field would be St. Louis Blues Strongman, Todd “The Animal” Ewen. Probert and Ewen met up on January 24, 1987 at St. Louis Arena. The Animal, as he was so dubbed, wasted little time getting Probie’s attention, flattening him with a single jolting right hand. Probert crumpled to the ice, suffering his worst loss as a pro. The fight didn’t sit well with Probie so, astonishingly, he went after Ewen again in the same game. I can’t recall a single instance where a fighter was absolutely KO’d and returned to try and avenge it in the same game. Such was Probert -who wasn’t leaving St. Louis without another shot at The Animal. In the rematch, Ewen got the better of the early going before Probert began taking over in the late stages. Probert would also go after Ewen again later that year in another long bout with the Animal doing a lot of wrestling. Hell hath no fury like Probert losing a fight.
Probert continued on that season getting into a great bout with Vancouver’s Michel Petit and bundling the Islanders Brian Curran. He would then meet up with Philadelphia’s newly minted heavyweight henchman, Craig Berube. The Chief had made some noise in the AHL early in the year and was now getting his shot in the show. He had a machine gun right hand and it gave Probert all sorts of problems. In their first battle, Berube scored a nice win by outpunching and breaking Probie’s nose. It was tough seeing Probert on his knees holding a towel over his face, his nose pouring. They would meet up again a few days later in an April Fools Day showdown, with Probert sporting raccoon eyes, a gift from Berube in their first bout. Round two was a nothing draw but Round three featured Berube again getting the better of Probie with that machine gun right. There is an old boxing adage: Speed kills. So it did.
There are times when you see a great fighter put everything together in what can only be described as a season for the ages. That’s what Probert did in 1987-88. All the potential had finally been realized. Not only as a fighter but as a player as well. Probert would go on a tour de force in 1987-88 amassing 398 penalty minutes and putting his name right up there in the champ discussion. Probert also would make his one and only all star appearance scoring 29 goals for the Red Wings and breaking Gordi Howe’s Red Wing record for most points in the playoffs. It was like the perfect season for a player who also carried the reputation of a top Heavyweight.
The year started off with a big game against the Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens on October, 17, 1987. Probert and Wendel Clark would renew acquaintances with Probert really handing it to the Maple Leafs power forward. This one sided beatdown set the scene for a showdown with newly signed Maple Leafs policeman, Dave Semenko. Semenko had made a reputation as a feared enforcer who was once the game’s greatest intimidator. He was known for sucker punching, headbutting, kneeing, hair pulling, elbowing-basically any kind of cheap or underhanded tactics in a fight. This one would be no different as Sammy mugged Probert, jumping him from behind and whaling away on him. At first Probert took the beating but then had no choice but to fight back. Then teammate Gerard Gallant rushed to Probert’s aid, perhaps spoiling a comeback from Probert. Very rarely did you see Probert in such a rage as he tried to get free from the linesmen, while Sammy still tried to throw right hands. You could tell there would be more coming from this-it was the late ‘80’s, Norris Division, Maple Leafs and Red Wings-it was just a matter of when and where.
Before that nasty bit of business could be settled, there was a season to play and other enforcers to deal with. On November 19, 1987, Probert would have another two fight affair, this time against the Vancouver Canucks at Joe Louis Arena. Probert would meet up with old foe Craig Coxe for round 2 and one would think the bar was already set too high after their first tilt which was already a certified classic. Probert and Coxe did their best to outdo that effort with another war that saw both fighters eschew defense and go all out for the win. After both began wearing down in an epic battle, Probert found himself in a great position to strike Coxe with two head snapping uppercuts to tilt the scales in his favor. The fight was another beauty, a perfect companion piece to their first epic encounter. It also would be the front runner for Fight of the Year that season and another instant classic. Later in the same game, Probert would take on Coxe’s partner in crime, Daryl Stanley. He doesn’t get a lot of press but Stanley was a very tough fighter in his own right who made his bones with the Flyers fighting wars against Jack Carlson, Scott Stevens and Marty McSorley. In this fight against Probert, he tried to get some offense going initially but Probert’s reach was too great and his punches fell short. Probert then began mounting an offensive and cracked Stanley with a right hand that sent his helmet flying into the organists booth. Stanley must’ve had the CCM on the front of his helmet imprinted onto his forehead after that shot.The bomb felled Stanley and Probie had another big win under his belt.
There would be other great fights that year against Boston’s Jay Miller and young Mark Tinordi of the New York Rangers. Probert would get into a wild incident with Buffalo Sabres antagonist, Kevin Maguire. Probert and Maguire had met before in a fantastic fight the previous year and he had no fear of Probert-or anyone for that matter. After Probert dumped Sabres Goaltender, Tom Barrasso on his arse, Maguire would return the favor nailing Red Wings Goaltender, Greg Stefan. Maguire would then go after Red Wings star center, Steve Yzerman, and his fate was sealed. As everyone jumped in and piled on Maguire, Probert circled the action like a great white shark hunting for prey. When Buffalo Goaltender, Tom Barrasso got too close, Probert punched him, knocking his face mask off. Probie would move on looking for a better angle to get at Maguire while Gallant and co. continued to push and pull. Finally an opening presented itself and Probert fired a missile at a downed and prone Maguire, covered by an official. Probie had to bounce that shot off the ice to hit Maguire and you can see the Sabres tough guy sag to the ice. Just another one of those “incidents” of enforcing that sometimes goes unnoticed when all we’re looking to see or hear about are “the fights”.
Probert would finally get his chance at Dave Semenko on January 28, 1988 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The much ballyhooed rematch between these two titans was finally here and in typical Probie fashion, he would not disappoint. Semenko made a fight of it at first as he was able to wrestle with the younger Red Wings Heavyweight. At one point, Semenko was able to pull Probert’s jersey over his head blinding him. Probert was able to get his head free but found his arms still wrapped in his jersey. As Semenko began to force the issue, Probert freed himself of his jersey and landed three bombs-each one like an exclamation point proclaiming himself the new Heavyweight power in the land.
Probert’s march would continue with victories over Calgary’s Jim Peplinski and former Memorial Cup foe Ken Baumgartner, before coming to grips with Chicago’s tough blueliner, Glen Cochrane. Glen Cochrane was one of the league’s best fighters in the early to mid-80’s with the Philadelphia Flyers. Yup, the Flyers once again returned from their lab having invented a caveman like creature who threw wildly and loved to strip free of his jersey. You can count Cochrane as another in a great line of home grown Flyers enforcers. After he left Philly in ’85, Cochrane went to Vancouver for a few seasons before settling in Chicago. In Vancouver, Cochrane slowed down as a fighter, not nearly as active-or effective-as he was in Philly. In Chicago Cochrane seemed to be rejuvenated. He fought a ton and was beginning to reassert himself in the Heavyweight Division until he ran into Detroit’s own “Wild Thing” on a frigid night in early March. I remember first seeing this fight on the Bruise Brothers tape. The way the fight was edited onto the tape-basically with both guys squaring off about to come to grips. It must have happened right after a commercial or interview because Red Wings color guy, Mickey Redmond is heard exclaiming “We’re back live! We’re back live and everything has broken loose here…” then Probert and Cochrane engage and Probie overwhelms Cochrane with the opening salvo-very Fotiu-esque- firing shots right when they came together. Cochrane went down but got back up and made a fight out of it-for at least a while.
The replay shows the fight in its entirety and I always enjoyed the lead up to it. Behind the play Probert and Cochrane are having words. At first a linesman is there as they talk. It begins to get heated as they are face to face, nose to nose. Then the linesman steps aside and you can see both fighters basically telling each other “Lets go!”. They step aside a bit, drop their sticks, then gloves and it was on. The square off was great. It was probably Probie’s best square off- in this one, he had the right up, fist clenched just under his chin in a good position to block any punches or go on the attack. He had that left out there sort of parrying Cochrane’s attempts to come to grips. It started right in front of the Blackhawk bench and this point wasn’t lost on Redmond. I still remember him saying, “You talk about a square off that meant something to both teams and more than a victory or points or anything else.” Redmond was one of those announcers that enjoyed a good fight and loved it when Probert and Kocur dropped the gloves. He was also a knowledgeable guy when it came to the fighters. He knew who was legit and who wasn’t. In this case, he gave Cochrane a lot of respect. He mentioned how Probert and Cochrane were two of the toughest in the NHL. He remarked how Cochrane was “tough and he’s coming back.” Redmond also noted how the Red Wings bench was “absolutely up!” after Probert put the finishing touches on Cochrane.
Probert would have further memorable bouts that year against Marty McSorley and Brian Curran to finish out a season that was out of this world. He made a huge statement with victories over Wendel Clark, Dave Semenko and Glen Cochrane. The two victories over Semenko and Cochrane would serve as a sort of passing of the torch moment as Semenko would retire at year’s end and Cochrane was effectively done as a legitimate force, retiring the following year. Probert at this point claimed at least a piece of the Heavyweight title. He was no longer an up and coming contender or a Heavyweight on the rise. Probert was for real.
The following year Probert would be arrested for drug possession and drug trafficking. He would be sentenced to three months in jail and three months in a rehabilitation facility. He was also banned from playing in Canada as well. These off ice issues robbed Probert of a huge part of the 1988-89 season and most of the 1989-90 season as well. When Probert returned for the 1990-91 campaign, he was eager to reassert his dominance over the Heavyweight field. His preseason went well with victories over Jay Caufield, Mark Kachowski and a green Tony Twist. At the outset of the season he would perform a demo job on New Jersey Devils forward, Allan Stewart which would serve as a tune up for the main event that night. New Jersey had a young up and coming Heavyweight contender named Troy Crowder and he was looking to make a name for himself. It wouldn’t take long as he and Probert dropped the gloves later that same game. Crowder wound up beating Probert, bloodying him in the process. The fight sent shockwaves throughout the NHL and would serve as a prelude to one of the great rookie campaigns for a fighter ever seen to that point in the NHL’s long and storied history. It would also be the first in a trilogy of EPIC encounters between these two highly touted Heavyweights.
Almost immediately after that fight, the hype began to build for the rematch as fans, the media and the players themselves circled the date for the next big showdown. In the meanwhile, Troy Crowder began lighting up the league with big victories smashing the likes of Tony Horacek, Jeff Chychrun and Craig Coxe. Probert remained busy himself while on this collision course, dispatching of Shane Churla, Jay Miller, Bob McGill, and Stu Grimson in the lead up to the great rematch with Crowder. Overshadowed in all the hype and hoopla surrounding the return bout with Crowder, would be a true Clash of the Titans between Bob Probert and Dave Brown on January 9, 1991 in Detroit. For the previous few years, many believed Probert and Brown to be the two biggest fighters in the league. While both engaged in an inconclusive fight in 1987-88, this fight would be much more decisive and, for some, would settle the question of who was truly #1 in the NHL. Brown attempted to get his patented fast start in this one but Probie shed his gear and thrashed the feared southpaw in what was fast becoming an all time season for Probert.
On January 28, 1991 Bob Probert and Troy Crowder would engage in two fights. The first bout, the rematch we’d been waiting for- “for fifty games” as Mickey Redmond so gloriously proclaimed at the bouts conclusion, got underway with both fighters getting set, throwing some preliminary blows before Probert was able to get his right free and land some power punches, one of which caught Crowder and sent him to the ice. The Joe Louis crowd was ecstatic –the roar deafening- as their hero skated to the box victorious. Probert got his revenge but Crowder was not finished yet. Having lost in dramatic fashion, Crowder wanted another go. This time Crowder took a page out of Dave Brown’s playbook, going after Probert, firing off a fusillade of punches before Probert even doffed the gloves to respond. Probert clearly didn’t want to fight but left with no choice, got it on. It turned out to be a long bout with Probert, seething and with that rare look of total rage on his face as he shed his jersey, then his gear and finally his undershirt in his attempt to get free and unload on Crowder. At one point, Crowder landed a Big Boy of a bomb that Probert, in his near deranged state, walked through without flinching. The fight ended with Crowder falling to the ice more so from having nothing of Probert to anchor himself to.
That third fight between Probert and Crowder was the subject of much discussion in its aftermath. I always felt the fight had a taint to it due to Crowder’s mugging tactics at its start. Crowder would later assert that he felt Probert caught him at the “end of his shift” in the first go that night and his coach sent him out to deliberately do the same to Probert for the next round. Either way, the fans got a wild trilogy of fights that helped tell the tale of the 1990-91 season. If fans looked for a fourth installment of the Probert-Crowder series, they’d have to wait as Crowder would become a member of the Red Wings the following year before back injuries derailed what might’ve been a true all-time career as a fighter. When he returned with the Vancouver Canucks he wasn’t the same fighter and was missing that explosive power that made him seem like a right handed version of Dave Brown in his prime. Probert would finish out the 1990-91 campaign with one sided victories over Darin Kimble, Neil Wilkinson and Kevin Maguire in what would go down as one of the greatest single seasons ever for a fighter.
Every year had its own challenges for Probert. At this point Probert was viewed as THE man, the undisputed champ. And just as 1990-91 had the scintillating trilogy with The young upstart, Crowder, 1991-92 had more young guns looking to make a name for themselves by taking on Probert. The first would be Link Gaetz who had finally settled in with the expansion San Jose Sharks after having a few brief cups of coffee with the Minnesota North Stars. The “Missing Link” was tough but wild on AND off the ice leading former North Stars GM Lou Nannie to remark: “We drafted Mike Modano in the first round and we drafted Link in the second.” Gaetz met with the Minnesota staff after he was drafted sporting two black eyes he received in a brawl which led Nanne to conclude, “I need to draft a lawyer in the third round.”. Link was no joke as a fighter, he was big-6’3 and spanned 235 pounds and he threw from both sides. He was a mean SOB who was like a modern Dave Semenko in terms of general nastiness and willingness to go over the edge. As a fighter he had the goods and he was another young scrapper looking to make his mark taking on Probert.
When he and Probert met up on November 14, 1991, Gaetz was in the midst of his first full season in the show and he was making the most of it. Having already scored some big wins to this point, he took his shot at the best. Without much preamble or introduction, these two sluggers began to throw hammers at each other. Probert actually attempted to throw lefts at the onrushing Gaetz, but switched back to his right once Gaetz began to find the range. Gaetz went all out firing away-defense be damned. Probert began to shed his gear and the final part of this fight featured Probert getting loose from his rigging and scoring the odd right while Gaetz held on, more from exhaustion than anything else. The fight was a close one and most at the time viewed it as a draw. Like a number of fighters before him, Gaetz gained in stature with this fight having proved he could hang with the best in the business. Sadly, this would prove to be Gaetz’ last year in the NHL. He was involved in a car accident during the off season and would spend the rest of his career playing in the minors and later being paid per fight in the Quebec senior league. Gaetz was a great fighter in his limited time in the NHL and there’s no doubt he would’ve had a big impact had he been able to put a few more years together in the NHL. Gaetz is one of those great ‘what if’ stories we see from time to time in the fight game.
Another challenge loomed on the horizon for Probert that season as a young brash scrapper in New York City had been throwing the dukes and making noise-mostly making noise. Tie Domi was a real runt of a fighter standing barely 5’10 with squat features, squat arms, squat legs and a bowling ball for a head that looked extremely unappealing to punch. Domi kept his hair buzzed close to get that full hand breaking effect. Domi had won a few fights but was mostly known for his post fight antics. He would taunt his opponents, talk trash and he’d do a speed bag routine with his hands, twirl his finger in the air and the whole time he’d have an ear to ear grin on his face. Domi was up and coming but when he and Probert linked up nobody viewed him as a threat. All that was about to change.
When Probert and Domi squared off on February 9, 1992, most thought Probert would have his way with the diminutive Domi. The Albanian Aggressor was looking to make a real go of it as he went right at Probert with a barrage of lefts and rights. Probert tried to use his great reach advantage but found himself being outpunched by the scrappy Domi and at one point was forced to throw his right arm up to block and deflect Domi’s lefts. When Probert finally got into the fight it was a tale of too little too late. After trying to use his reach, he tried to shrug off his jersey but the whole process took too long and by the time he was free, he was cut over the right eye and losing on the judges scorecards. Probert skated to the box bloodied and disheveled. Domi skated away with a huge grin on his face while mimicking a heavyweight championship belt gesture, declaring himself the new Heavyweight champ.
Probert hated to lose but he seethed over Domi’s post fight showboating. Probert was generally all business when he fought so Domi’s act didn’t sit well with him and since the next match up would not happen until the following year, he was left to stew over it. Meanwhile just like any other time Probert suffered a defeat, it was big news. The hype machine was already abuzz with talk of a rematch. The media, naturally, ran with it, building the fight up to epic proportions. The players themselves even got into the act, talking their share of trash before the league called both players in to shut it all down. Probert must’ve laughed at the league’s attempts at decorum, nothing was going to stop him from another go at Domi.
Probert and Domi would have to wait until the following season to settle the issue. Probert once again was in fine feather in the lead up to the rematch with Domi beating guys like Stu Grimson, Stephane Quintal, and Kelly Chase. When the two hounds were unleashed, it would be a much different affair than their first go round. This time Probert didn’t waste time trying to use his reach and he didn’t screw around with his gear. This time he got right down to business and got the right going right away, cranking Domi with a series of unanswered right hands. Domi was game and he attempted to get on track but he was being swamped by Probert’s barrage. Tiring of throwing rights, Probert switched to his left and continued the assault. Domi tried to get in the fight but Probert was relentless, switching back to his right and firing off a series of unanswered blows. In the end, Probert landed a sneaky right hand to Domi’s temple, knocking him down. Probert was the “champ” again and all was right with the world.
The fight itself received more attention and more hype than any fight before or after. Newscasts and sports highlight shows ran with it providing their own tale of the tape and detailed final punch count stats, declaring Probert the unanimous winner. There was so much going on in these two fights but the lasting image for me has always been Captain Stevie Y standing on the Detroit bench doing his own heavyweight championship belt gesture. Rubbing a little salt in the wound and giving Domi a dose of his own medicine. Payback’s a bitch.
Probert entered the 1993-94 season as the undisputed champ. I personally thought Probert came into the season heavy and sluggish. His hand speed seemed slow and he loaded up too much on his punches. Nevertheless, Probert went on a nice run beating guys like the ever pugnacious Jeff Odgers, Greg “Bird Dog” Smyth, and a young Donald Brashear. The highlight fight of the year was an epic on February 4th, 1994-the fabled ‘War in ‘94’-against veteran enforcer Marty McSorley. The fight itself pitted two experts in their field, two men who had the experience of hundreds of fights under their belts. The fight was a true slugfest with both going to war. Part way through the fight, McSorley was dropped to the ice but courageously got back to his feet in a true all time classic.This fight was a real beauty with both fighters going all out, using all their experience to put together one of the greatest fights of all time. By the standards of hockey fighting, this battle was a marathon clocking in at well over a minute. This fight was like a work of art between two all time greats-a true fistic masterpiece.
Probert seemed to be on the verge of another championship caliber year until he ran into a young enforcer from out west. Sandy McCarthy had quickly made a name for himself in his rookie year tearing up the heavyweight division and getting into some of the year’s best fights. This rookie phenom was a big hulking 6’3 and 225 pounds with long arms he used to fend off opponents or pick them apart with toe to toe punches. McCarthy was the latest young gun taking a run at Probert and he was a legitimate threat indeed having already put together one of the best rookie campaigns we ever saw to that point. When the Calgary Flames invaded JLA that night in April 1994, McCarthy was looking for the cherry on top of an all time season. He wanted Probert.
The fight started off in a strange fashion as Probert skated up to McCarthy full bore. McCarthy seemed ready for a go and Probert dropped the mitts and began firing away, but McCarthy appeared to be playing possum. He kept his gloves on while Probert wailed away with some solid blows. No linesmen appeared to take McCarthy’s bait-they had seen him do this too many times that season and let the fight go on. Probert had stopped punching, feeling duped by McCarthy, but with no rush from the officials to intervene, we had ourselves a fight. With Probert’s pause, the “Sandman” got himself in good position and began to land punches on the suddenly sluggish champion. McCarthy had a good grip on Probert’s right and thoroughly shut him down. McCarthy picked Probert apart and he was so frustrated he resorted to head butting at the end of the fight. The KING had been dethroned and a new young star was on the rise.
During the following off season, Probert’s off ice problems again came to the forefront. This time Probert was charged for OUI and disorderly conduct crashing his motorcycle. The League banned Probert for the 1994-95 season and the Detroit Red Wings, patient to a fault, cut ties with the troubled winger. After missing the entire lockout shortened 1994-95 campaign, Probert signed on with the Chicago Blackhawks, a team he once terrorized. Probert would now don the Indian head and would set his sights on his former team. For a Probert fan like myself it was tough to see Probert in anything but a Red Wings jersey. I had adopted the Red Wings as a sort of second favorite team behind my beloved Bruins. Now seeing him in the colors of the Wings arch rival was like a shock to the system. It was akin to Hulk Hogan joining the NWO and becoming “Hollywood” Hogan or the Rocket pitching for the dreaded Yankees… It was Probert’s turn to play heel. Dutifully, loyally, I followed suit. I turned my back on the Red Wings and sold my soul to the dark side as well.
There was hope at the outset that Probert would return to form. In the 1995-96 preseason Probert, donning a 95 jersey, perhaps signifying a rebirth of sorts in the Windy City, took on one of the AHL’s best in Dennis Bonvie. Probert looked good against the youngster in the limited news clip footage that was available at the time and he seemed to be raring to go in his return from his suspension. However, it became clear early on that this was a different Probert. For one thing, Probert suffered an early season set back-a shocking TKO loss at the hands of Pittsburgh’s Chris Tamer. Tamer was nowhere near the fighter Probert was and if there were cracks in Probert’s vaunted rep, they were fissures now. Tamer was a second tier style of fighter, added toughness for a team. By all accounts a tough and willing guy but not the kind of guy people flocked to arenas to see. Seeing Probert get stunned by a quick left hand from Tamer made it all too plain that Probert had lost something on his fastball. Tamer never did anything like that again and was a fairly mediocre back up style of fighter the rest of his career. What made matters worse and all too strange, there was no rush to avenge the loss or set things aright. A young, hungry Probert would have tripped over himself in his rush to settle the score. This version of Probert didn’t sweat a loss like he once did and wasn’t gunning for anyone unless someone stepped over the line or the situation called for it.
Probert would also suffer a tough loss to Tony “TNT” Twist. Twister’s star was on the rise and he was a power punching machine during the 1995-96 season and made a serious run at a title and that run would not be complete without beating the “man”. Probert started off well, landing a bomb that cut his hand badly, before Twist got loose from his gear and pounded out a victory over the former champ. If anyone made any excuses for Probert after cutting his hand in the Twist fight, there could be none made for his final fight of the year in the playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche’s fearsome brawler, Chris Simon. Simon was another heavyweight on the rise and put together what would be arguably his finest year in 1995-96 with some big time fights and none bigger than this bout vs. Probert. Simon wound up giving Probert a thorough thrashing, landing a series of unanswered lefts to finish off the bout and end Probert’s hopes of recovering his lost title.
It was clear at this time that the winds of change were blowing in the heavyweight division. No longer were the Probert’s and Brown’s the top dogs any longer. That post would be filled by guys like Sandy McCarthy, Tony Twist or even Chris Simon in the upcoming years and Probert would now find himself on the outside looking in of this new heavyweight hierarchy. It would get no easier for Probert in 1996-97 as Probie would suffer another couple of tough losses to Twist. By the end of the 1997-98 season, if anyone had any doubts that Probert was a changed fighter, they were finally put to rest. Probert failed in his bid to avenge losses to both Twist and McCarthy. Probert didn’t have that same kind of fire and while he still gave us some great fights at this time vs. notable tough guys like Reid Simpson, Bryan Marchment, Darren Langdon, Stu Grimson and Tie Domi, he was outside of the new crop of elite heavyweight‘s.
Things really came to a head during the 1998-99 season. Probert had arguably his worst season as a fighter, suffering a handful of bad losses. He would lose badly to Boston Bruins bad boy, Ken Belanger. Belanger worked Probert with a confusing array of lefts and rights and Probert was done before he even had a chance to get going. He would get beaten soundly twice by Donald Brashear, the same Brashear who once looked scared to death of coming to grips with a prime Probert had finally gotten over the proverbial hump. Probert would drop a decision to old foe Tie Domi and would get smoked by a beauty right hand from Dave “Moose” Morissette, a minor league gun hand who was the latest in a long line of young scrappers who broke into the NHL with dreams of fighting Probert on their minds. Probert was able to salvage what was left of the year with a big TKO victory over the much hyped young strong man Scott Parker. Parker came into the year with a great deal of hype and buzz from the AHL and juniors where he was a virtual man child. Probert’s victory helped show he still had it during what was a dark year for him as a fighter.
For as far as Probert fell in 1998-99, he was resurgent in 1999-00. I don’t know if Probie did some soul searching or if he went through his off season training regiment with renewed vigor, but Probert gave us one last great year to remember him by. It was one last grasp at a title and some, depending on who you ask, believe he did indeed claim a piece of it as his own once more. Probie started off the year with a bang taking on one of the minor league’s best fighters in Mad Mel Angelstad. It was a great fight with Probert being stunned part way through by a Mad Mel right but Probie took over in the later stages taking the victory. Once again Probert took the best shot from another young lion looking to prove himself against a legend. Probert would go on to have notable fights against Stu Grimson, Eric Cairns, George Laraque, Grant Marshall, Wade Belak and Donald Brashear, scoring decisions over each. Guys like Grimson, Laraque, Brashear and Cairns were amongst the best in the league while Angelstad was one of the best in the minors and Belak would go on to become one of the best in his own right. It was a fantastic come back season for Probert who surely looked done by the end of the previous year.
On September 20, 2000, Probert would fight a war with Buffalo Sabres newly made soldato, Eric Boulton. The fight would prove to be Probert’s last “great” fight. Probert would play two more seasons but would never have another truly memorable fight. Of course he would win some and lose some in that time and he would have the famed three fight game vs. Jody Shelley, but he was no longer the force he once was as a heavyweight. He still accepted the challenges of all the rookie ruffians who grew up watching the old Bruise Brothers tapes and forever since dreamed of fighting The KING but his turn as champ was over.
When Probert retired he left behind a career like no other. A fighting champion who actively sought to be the absolute best fighter in the game. His desire to be the best pushed him to heights unmatched. His accomplishments as a fighter stand unrivaled in the long history of fighting. He spent sixteen seasons fighting the biggest and baddest the league had to offer and fought his way to the very top. Probert’s amazing body of work consists of extended rivalries with all time candidates like Wendel Clark, Stu Grimson, Tony Twist, Craig Berube, Ken Baumgartner, Troy Crowder, Tie Domi, Marty McSorley, and Donald Brashear. He had a fight card like few others and as I mentioned previously, was taking on every young tough guys best shot as his legend grew.
His fantastic run in Detroit spoiled us fight fans as we expected Probert to be the champ every year and avenge every loss over the course of sixteen long and grueling seasons. I think we’ve been overly harsh to Probert in critiquing his more “lean” years Chicago. While not the Probert we became accustomed to seeing, he was still a very good fighter. No longer the champ, Probert was a solid top-5 heavyweight at this time and of course held that strange exalted status of a living legend. After a dreadful year in 1998-99, Probert rebounded to take a shot at another title-in his fourteenth season, no less. As a member of the blackhawks, Probert defeated guys like Scott Parker, Reid Simpson, Stu Grimson, Patrick Cote, Mel Angelstad, George’s Laraque, Donald Brashear, Wade Belak, Eric Cairns, Tie Domi and Matt Johnson… those were some very tough men. His final two years featured a clearly faded and disinterested Probert who was no longer a title threat but of course he was Probert so he continued taking on every stone cold killer coming out of the minors.
In the end Probert left no stone unturned in his quest for fighting immortality. Having taken on the best of the best of his own time as well as most of the guys featured in this all time project. He checks off in a number of key areas for me in terms of his all time worth. He had a great overall career punctuated by a great championship run in Detroit. He had numerous big victories over the top fighters of his time. Probert can legitimately claim victories -in some cases one sided demolishings-over some all time monsters. One immediately thinks of his wins over Dave Brown, Donald Brashear, Craig Berube, Tie Domi, Stu Grimson, Marty McSorley, Wendel Clark, Dave Semenko, Glen Cochrane-all of them legitimate all time candidates and a few are top-3 all time. I give him credit for engaging in some of the greatest fights of his time as well. His battles with Coxe and McSorley immediately stand out as some of the best fights of that era. Probert also had what I like to call big fights. This was a guy who was tested routinely as champ and a loss was big news throughout the league. His fights with Semenko, Brown, The Crowder trilogy, the second fight vs. Domi were all huge fights -championship fights with everything riding on the line. Few fought under that kind of pressure against that kind of opposition. It’s the reason Probert’s the All Time King.
