Carl Starling

Carl Starling (born in Miami, Florida on November 7, 1944) was one of South Florida's most colorful personalities. Starling's adventures and careers included professional boxing, teaching, acting, politics, modeling, shark-hunting, coaching, military service, and professional boat captain.

Professional Boxing Career

Starling was born in Miami, Florida, but grew up in the Bahamas until he was a teenager. He returned to Miami where he attended Miami Jackson Senior High School where he became a high school football star, playing full-back.

In 1963, the 18 year old Starling happened upon the 5th Street Boxing Gym in Miami Beach. Looking to make a "few bucks";boxing and with no amateur background, Starling decided to become a professional boxer.

With his rugged good looks, blonde hair, muscular build, and football-fan following, famed boxing trainer Angelo Dundee with Sol Bunotta decided to train Starling. Blackie Bethel became Starling's manager, and on 18 July 1963, Starling knocked out Jim Rogers with one punch to start his professional boxing career.

Starling won his first twelve bouts, and in The Ring Magazine (December 1963 issue), staff-writer Tom Ephrem wrote in his column, "Under Southern Skies, "On the good side of the ledger, we have a coming-up middleweight from Miami whose five wins, four by kayoes, is catching on with boxing folks. The fighter is quite a Puncher. His name is Carl Starling."

Starling was also a favorite of the Miami News. On August 8, 1963, the News reported that Carl Starling knocked out Jackie Coolbrooke in 37 seconds of the 4th round at the Little River Auditorium, in Miami, Florida. By September 1963, Starling was making the headlines in the Miami News Sports Section. The News reported on an October 3, 1963, that Starling knocked out Ernie Burns in 3 rounds.

However, Starling's promising, and undefeated career was sidelined, when he was drafted into the United States Army. Starling went on to earn his paratrooper jump-wings and served with the famed 82nd Airborne Division.

Starling returned to professional boxing in 1965, but lost his undefeated record by dropping a decision to club-fighter Willie Taylor on April 21. After losing a decision to Linnes Johnson in Freeport, British West Indies, on November 12, Starling announced his retirement from boxing.

Three years later, the Miami News reported that on August 15, 1968, Starling returned to the ring and met WBA World Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Ellis in a 6 round exhibition(to aid a local charity) at the Brownsville Neighborhood Center in Brownsville, Florida. Former world lightweight champion Beau Jack acted as the referee.

In 1971, Starling launched an unsuccessful comeback in the Bahamas. In his first match, Starling was knocked out (for the first time in his career) in three rounds by Rennie Pinder. In his second match, Starling was knocked out in three rounds by future world light middleweight champion Elisha Obed. Starling retired following the Obed defeat.

Starling ended his professional boxing career with a record of 17-5-1. However, Boxrec.com lists him as 12-3-1. In 1991, while running for local office in Miami,Florida, Starling's record was listed as 22-3-1.

Professional Boxing Record

Life after boxing

In the 1970s, Starling relocated to Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas,and worked as an English teacher and coached for the Bahamas National Track Team. Starling earned not only a Master's Degree, but also became a certified boat Captain.

He also worked as a swimsuit model in the Bahamas. He became one of the few people to survive a bull-shark attack, and years later was featured in a Miami Herald newspaper article AbOUT arecent rash of shark attacks off the Florida coast. In 1983, he won the Spearfishing Nationals, and in 1991, he ran unsuccessfully for city commissioner in Miami-Dade County.

Film career

Starling appeared in the movie Tony Rome with Frank Sinatra in an uncredited role. Later, Starling continued working as a charter boat Captain. His 34-foot crusader sportfisherman-"Prince of Tides"- appeared in the Robert Redford motion picture Up Close and Personal, which was filmed around Miami, Florida.

Educational career

Starling retired after a 20-year teaching/counciling career with Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 2011.

Personal life

Starling has been married three times, and has two sons (Ryan and Drake),a daughter (Elena),a grandchild,and two step-children.

References

• Internet Movie Database
• http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UZ4yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t-kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3375,2650751&dq=carl+starling&hl=en<
• Ring Magazine, December 1963, page 57: UNDER SOUTHERN SKIES, by Tom Ephrem.
• Ring Magazine, October 1965, page 50: BOXING NEWS FROM MIAMI, by Hank Kaplan.
• Miami Herald, October 28, 1991, Local, page 2B: POLITICS IS JAWS II FOR MIAMI CANDIDATE.
• Miami Herald, April 10, 1992: Sports, page 1D: DIVERS DELIGHT.
• Miami Herald, January 12, 1997: Neighbors KE: CONFUSED CLIENTS MISSING THE BOAT CAPTAIN: PRINCE OF TIDES ALIVE, AFLOAT.
• Miami Herald, January 12, 1997, Neighbors, page 22: NAME CONFUSION HAS CHARTER CLIENTS MISSING THE BOAT.
• Miami Herald, July 27, 1997, Section B, page 1: NIGHT SHIFT ENGLISH.
• Biscayne Bay Tribune, June 24-July 23, 2002, page 4: POSITIVE PEOPLE AROUND BISCAYNE BAY, CARL STARLING, by David Pines.
• Miami Herald, June 29, 2005: BULL SHARKS EVEN SCARIER THAN JAWS.